The Visa Foundation has launched the U.S. Small Business Growth and Innovation Program, a new grant opportunity designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations that provide direct support to small and micro businesses across the United States.
Through the program, Visa Foundation is committing $2 million in grant funding to nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs). Selected organizations will receive flexible, 12-month grants ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 to strengthen their capacity, expand their services, and help small and micro businesses become more resilient, competitive, and positioned for sustainable growth.
Applications are open and must be submitted by October 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) Pacific Time.
The program is administered by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), which is responsible for managing the Request for Proposals process and grantmaking activities.
Overview of the Visa Foundation Grant Program
Small and micro businesses play an important role in creating employment, generating income, supporting local communities, and contributing to economic development. However, many small businesses face challenges in accessing the knowledge, technical assistance, technology, training, and other resources required to grow and remain competitive.
The Visa Foundation U.S. Small Business Growth and Innovation Program seeks to address some of these challenges indirectly by investing in organizations that already work closely with small and micro businesses.
Rather than providing grants directly to individual entrepreneurs, the program provides funding to nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organizations that deliver services to operating small and micro businesses.
The goal is therefore to strengthen the organizations that make up the small-business support ecosystem and enable them to reach more businesses, improve their services, and increase their impact.
According to the program information, Visa Foundation is committing $2 million to the initiative, while RPA is administering the application and grantmaking process.
What Funding Is Available?
Successful applicants are expected to receive grants ranging from:
- $100,000 to $250,000
- 12-month grant period
- Grants beginning in January 2027
- Flexible funding that can support both programming and organizational operations
The exact grant amount will be determined in relation to the size of the applicant organization.
This flexibility is an important feature of the opportunity because organizations can use the funding to strengthen both the services they provide and the internal capacity required to deliver those services effectively.
What Can the Grant Funding Be Used For?
The program allows grant funding to support a broad range of activities connected to strengthening an organization’s ability to serve small and micro businesses.
Eligible uses may include:
1. Business Training
Organizations can use funding to strengthen or expand training programs that provide entrepreneurs and business owners with practical knowledge and skills.
Training may form part of an organization’s existing programming or be introduced or expanded through the grant.
2. Technical Assistance
Funding can support technical assistance designed to help small and micro businesses overcome specific operational or business-development challenges.
3. Business Coaching
Organizations may use grant resources to expand coaching and support services that help operating businesses make informed decisions and improve their resilience and growth prospects.
4. Digital Adoption and Technology
The program recognizes the growing importance of technology and digital tools for small businesses.
Funding may therefore support services that help businesses adopt technology, use digital tools, and respond to changing market conditions.
The program specifically identifies helping small and micro businesses navigate AI, digital tools, and technology adoption as an area that may receive priority consideration.
5. Staffing
Grant resources can also contribute to organizational staffing needs where this strengthens the applicant’s capacity to provide direct services to small and micro businesses.
6. Administrative and Operational Costs
The funding is flexible enough to support certain operational needs, including administrative costs, where those expenses contribute to the organization’s ability to deliver and expand its work.
Applicants will need to explain how the requested funding would strengthen their organization and increase its impact on the small-business community.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The opportunity is intended for nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) that directly support operating small and micro businesses.
To qualify, an organization must meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
U.S. 501(c)(3) Status
Applicants must be U.S.-based public charities with valid 501(c)(3) status and must comply with applicable 501(c)(3) requirements.
Organizational Budget
Applicants must have an annual operating budget between:
$1 million and $10 million.
This requirement means the program is aimed at established, mid-sized to large organizations rather than very early-stage nonprofit organizations.
Direct Services to Small and Micro Businesses
Organizations must directly provide business-support services to operating small and micro businesses.
Examples of qualifying services include:
- Business training
- Coaching
- Technical assistance
- Peer learning
- Technology adoption support
The purpose of these services should be to help small and micro businesses strengthen their growth, resilience, and competitiveness.
Financial Documentation
Applicants must have two years of audited financial statements and/or IRS Form 990s.
Applicants will also need to provide their current board-approved operating budget showing anticipated revenues and expenses for 2026 and 2027.
Can Fiscally Sponsored Organizations Apply?
Yes.
Fiscally sponsored organizations can apply if their fiscal sponsor has valid 501(c)(3) status and the fiscally sponsored organization meets all other eligibility requirements.
Additional documentation may be required, including:
- Fiscal sponsor governance materials
- List of directors and their affiliations
- Two years of audited financials
- IRS Form 990
- Signed fiscal sponsorship agreement or memorandum of understanding
Therefore, being fiscally sponsored does not automatically exclude an organization from consideration.
Can Local Chapters of National Organizations Apply?
Yes, local chapters may be considered if they have standalone 501(c)(3) status and meet the remaining eligibility requirements.
Organizations should therefore carefully verify their legal and financial structure before beginning an application.
Can Previous Visa Foundation Grantees Apply?
Yes.
Past and current grantees of Visa Foundation or Visa Inc. are eligible to apply, provided they meet the other requirements of the program.
What Types of Small Businesses Does the Program Support?
The program defines small and micro businesses as independently owned businesses that are currently operating and actively selling products or services.
While there are no strict numerical cutoffs, the program states that qualifying businesses would generally have:
- 50 or fewer employees
- $1.5 million or less in annual revenue
The focus is therefore on operating businesses rather than individuals who are only considering starting a business.
What Organizations May Be Particularly Competitive?
Although all eligible applications will be reviewed, the program identifies several characteristics that may strengthen an organization’s application.
Organizations are encouraged to demonstrate:
- A strong understanding of small and micro business challenges and opportunities
- Trusted relationships with the communities they serve
- The ability to adapt to changing market needs
- Experience helping businesses use AI, digital tools, and technology
- Meaningful and measurable impact on business growth and resilience
- A commitment to continuous learning and collaboration
- The organizational capacity to strengthen or expand services using grant funding
These priorities indicate that applicants should be able to demonstrate not only what they do, but also the measurable difference their services make for the businesses they support.
Which Organizations May Be Less Competitive?
The program states that eligible organizations may be less competitive if they:
- Are not primarily focused on providing direct business-support services to small and micro businesses.
- Primarily support aspiring entrepreneurs or idea-stage businesses rather than currently operating businesses.
- Reach fewer than 200 small and micro businesses per year.
- Cannot demonstrate outcomes or evidence of impact.
- Propose grant uses that are not clearly connected to strengthening small-business growth and resilience.
Meeting the basic eligibility requirements therefore does not necessarily mean that an organization will receive funding. Applicants should clearly demonstrate their track record, reach, measurable outcomes, and connection between the proposed funding and improved services for operating small and micro businesses.
Is the Program Focused on Particular Industries?
No.
The program does not prioritize a specific industry or business sector.
Instead, it is designed to strengthen Entrepreneurial Support Organizations that provide effective business-support services to small and micro businesses across the United States.
When selecting organizations, the program will consider how the overall group of grantees represents different:
- Geographic areas
- Service models
- Communities served
This approach means that applicants do not need to operate in one particular industry to be considered.
How Does the Application Process Work?
Applications must be submitted through the designated online application portal.
Applicants will need to create an account and register their organization because the program is accepting applications from verified organizations.
The application portal is administered through SurveyMonkey Apply.
Importantly, applications cannot be submitted by email.
Applicants can also review the application questions in advance through the program’s application-question document.
Required Financial Documents
Applicants should prepare their financial documentation before submitting an application.
The program requires:
- Audited financial statements for the organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years; or
- Two years of IRS Form 990s if audited financial statements are not available.
- The organization’s current board-approved operating budget showing anticipated revenues and expenses for 2026 and 2027.
Having these documents ready can help organizations prepare their applications efficiently and ensure that required financial information is available before the deadline.
How Many Applications Can an Organization Submit?
Organizations may submit only one application per EIN/organization.
Applicants should therefore make sure that their submission represents the organization’s strongest and most complete application before final submission.
When Will Applicants Receive a Decision?
Applicants can expect to be notified of funding decisions by January 2027.
Successful grants will be one-time awards lasting 12 months, beginning in January 2027.
What Happens After Organizations Receive Funding?
Selected grantees will participate in the grant program for 12 months.
Visa Foundation also plans to facilitate engagement opportunities throughout the grant period. These activities are intended to allow grantees to share:
- Lessons learned
- Challenges
- Best practices
- Experiences from implementing their programs
This creates an opportunity for participating organizations to learn from one another while implementing their funded activities.
Reporting Requirements
Organizations receiving funding will be expected to submit a final narrative and financial report to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
The final reporting process will cover areas including:
- Progress made during the grant period
- Results achieved
- Lessons learned
- Key performance indicators
Examples of indicators specifically identified by the program include:
- Number of small and micro businesses reached
- Number of jobs supported
- Revenue growth among supported businesses
Applicants should therefore consider how they currently measure impact and how they will demonstrate results during the grant period.
Important Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting an application is:
October 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) Pacific Time.
Late applications will not be considered.
Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their applications, particularly because the application requires organizational registration and supporting financial documentation.
Important Confidentiality and Application Terms
Applicants should also pay attention to the terms governing application submissions.
The program states that application submissions will not be treated as confidential. Applicants should therefore avoid including proprietary information, trade secrets, or other confidential information that they want to keep protected.
Application information may be shared with Visa Foundation’s program partners, including Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Maigent Partners, for program evaluation, administration, and reporting.
The application information will be handled according to the Visa Privacy Policy and related application terms.
By submitting an application, organizations also grant Visa Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and distribute application materials for purposes related to program evaluation, administration, and reporting. The terms specify that this license does not transfer ownership of intellectual property to Visa Foundation.
Who Makes the Final Grant Decisions?
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is administering the program and the Request for Proposals process.
As the legal grantor of record, RPA ultimately holds final authority over grantmaking decisions.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON Visa Foundation U.S. Small Business Growth and Innovation Program
Questions About the Program
Applicants with programmatic questions can contact:
EntrepreneurialSupportRFP@rockpa.org
For grant-management questions, applicants can contact:
Applicants are encouraged to review the available FAQs before contacting the program team. The organizers note that, because of the expected volume of inquiries, they may not be able to respond to every question before the application deadline. They also do not provide feedback on individual applications or proposals.
Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program | Visa Foundation U.S. Small Business Growth and Innovation Program |
| Opportunity Type | Grant |
| Total Funding Commitment | $2 million |
| Individual Grant Size | $100,000–$250,000 |
| Grant Duration | 12 months |
| Expected Start | January 2027 |
| Target Applicants | Nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organizations |
| Geographic Focus | United States |
| Eligible Areas | 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories |
| Required Legal Status | U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity |
| Annual Budget Requirement | $1 million–$10 million |
| Financial History | Two years of audited financial statements and/or IRS Form 990s |
| Primary Beneficiaries | Operating small and micro businesses |
| Typical SMB Profile | Generally 50 or fewer employees and $1.5 million or less in annual revenue |
| Application Deadline | October 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM PT |
| Decision Timeline | By January 2027 |
| Applications by Email | Not accepted |
Conclusion
The Visa Foundation U.S. Small Business Growth and Innovation Program provides a significant funding opportunity for established nonprofit organizations working directly with small and micro businesses in the United States.
With grants ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, the program is intended to strengthen organizational capacity rather than simply finance individual business ideas. Eligible organizations can use the flexible funding to expand training, coaching, technical assistance, digital adoption initiatives, staffing, administrative capacity, and other activities that strengthen their ability to serve operating small and micro businesses.
Organizations considering applying should carefully assess their eligibility, particularly their 501(c)(3) status, U.S. geographic focus, $1 million–$10 million annual operating budget, direct-service track record, financial documentation, and demonstrated impact on small and micro businesses.
Applicants should also ensure that their proposed use of funds is clearly connected to improving business growth and resilience and that they can demonstrate measurable outcomes.
The application deadline is October 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Time, and late applications will not be accepted. Organizations interested in applying should begin preparing their financial documents, organizational information, impact evidence, and proposed use of funds well before the deadline.
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