Grants to Small Businesses - Local Initiatives Support Corporation
LISC provides flexible grants and technical assistance to help small businesses in historically excluded and low-income communities overcome barriers and achieve long-term sustainability.
Funder: Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Due Dates: Rolling (as funding becomes available)
Funding Amounts: Past rounds: $270M+ total awarded; individual grants typically vary and are flexible, unrestricted, and non-repayable.
Summary: Supports small businesses in historically excluded and low-income communities with direct grants and technical assistance.
Key Information: Grant rounds open periodically; sign up for alerts to be notified of opportunities.
Description
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) provides direct grants to small businesses, particularly those in historically excluded or low-income communities, to address inequities in access to capital. These flexible, unrestricted grants are designed to help entrepreneurs overcome barriers, cover operational costs, bridge revenue gaps, upgrade technology, and plan for future growth. LISC’s grant programs are often paired with technical assistance and supportive programming, ensuring recipients have the resources and guidance needed for long-term sustainability. Since 2020, LISC has distributed over $270 million in grants to more than 26,000 small businesses, with a focus on those owned by historically excluded entrepreneurs.
