Small Business Grants Closing in November 2026 (Verified)

Last verified: October 17, 2026. Every deadline below was checked on the program’s official page or SAM.gov notice. Programs change dates, so always confirm on the official link before you apply.

In November, monthly grants keep rolling, a few big programs hit their cutoffs, and agencies push out set-aside contracts before the holidays. Most “grant lists” mix in programs that closed months ago. This one doesn’t. Here is every verified opportunity we found closing by November 30, 2026, sorted by deadline, with the catch on each one spelled out.

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Quick list: deadlines at a glance

Deadline	Opportunity	Amount	Who it’s for	Fee
Oct 31, 2026	Galaxy Grant (Hidden Star)	$2,500	Women and minority business owners	Free
Oct 31, 2026	Amber Grant (WomensNet)	$15,000	Women-owned businesses	See official page
Oct 31, 2026, 11:59 pm ET	Hey Helen Grant (October round)	$10,000	50%+ women-owned, under $1M revenue	$15
Nov 3, 2026, 11:59 pm CT	Georgetown (TX) Lifting Up Small Businesses	$5,000 × 25	Georgetown, TX businesses	None listed
Nov 8, 2026, 11:59 pm ET	EPA SBIR Phase I	Federal R&D award	Small businesses with environmental tech	None
Nov 15, 2026	Business Freedom Grant (2nd deadline)	$1,000	Idea-stage to operating founders	Free
Nov 30, 2026, 11:59 pm ET	Hey Helen Grant (November round)	$10,000	50%+ women-owned, under $1M revenue	$15
Nov 30, 2026, midnight ET	Freed Fellowship (November)	$500 + year-end $2,500 chance	Any US micro or small business	$19
Monthly	YippityDoo Small Business Grant	$1,000	Women-owned for-profit, US, 18+	See official page

Last call: grants closing October 31

If you’re reading this before Halloween, these are the most urgent money on the list.

1. Galaxy Grant: $2,500 for women and minority business owners

Hidden Star, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, awards the $2,500 Galaxy Grant to women and minority business owners. It’s free to apply, and the official page says the deadline is October 31, 2026, with winners announced the following week.

The catch: the site pushes a paid Galaxy Plus+ membership. You don’t need it, because the free 30-second form gets you in.
Official page: galaxyofstars.org/galaxy-grants

2. Amber Grant: $15,000 for women-owned businesses

WomensNet gives away Amber Grants every month, and monthly winners become eligible for one of three $75,000 year-end grants. The official page lists October 31, 2026 as the cutoff for the next $15,000 Amber Grant. One application makes you eligible for all related WomensNet grants.

The catch: check the application page for the current fee and the next month’s cutoff before you submit.
Official page: ambergrantsforwomen.com

Small business grants closing in November 2026

3. Georgetown, Texas: 25 grants of $5,000 (deadline Nov 3)

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Optimum Business are putting $125,000 into the Lifting Up Small Businesses program, which awards up to 25 local businesses $5,000 each. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central on November 3, 2026.

Who qualifies: businesses in Georgetown-area ZIP codes listed on the form (78626, 78628, 78633, 78641, 78642, 78660). The form asks whether you’re a brick-and-mortar storefront (not home-based) or a vehicle-dependent business like construction or landscaping, among other types.
The catch: it’s strictly local, and the administrator can change or extend the deadline. You also grant broad rights to use any photos or recordings you submit.
Official page: Georgetown Chamber application

4. EPA SBIR Phase I (deadline Nov 8)

The EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program funds small businesses developing technology that solves environmental problems. The 2026 Phase I solicitation opened September 24, 2026, and closes November 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Unlike most grants on this list, this is real federal R&D money, and you keep your equity.

The catch: SBIR proposals are technical and take weeks, not hours. You’ll need active federal registrations, so if you aren’t in SAM.gov yet, start today. Read EPA’s How to Apply page and webinar materials first.
Official page: epa.gov/sbir/sbir-funding-opportunities

5. Business Freedom Grant: $1,000 (second deadline Nov 15)

Coach Darcy’s Business Freedom Grant awards $1,000 to help entrepreneurs start, launch or scale. There’s no application fee, and idea-stage founders can apply. The 2026 schedule has an early deadline (September 30, passed), a second deadline of November 15, 2026, and a final deadline of December 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Applications that aren’t picked in an earlier review may still be considered in the final judging.

The catch: the page includes an optional Bluevine bank account link that earns the organizer a commission. The site says signing up does not affect eligibility or selection, so you don’t need it. Some bonus points are available for meeting extra requirements, so read the judging criteria.
Official page: businessfreedomgrant.com

6. Hey Helen Grant: $10,000 a month for women founders (November round closes Nov 30)

The Hey Helen Grant gives one woman founder $10,000 in unrestricted cash every month. You must own 50% or more of a for-profit business that’s legally registered in the US and makes less than $1 million a year (pre-revenue is welcome). Rounds close on the last day of each month at 11:59 p.m. ET, so the November round closes November 30. One application stays on file for 12 monthly rounds.

The catch: there’s a $15 administrative fee, and nonprofits aren’t eligible. Because there’s a roughly 45-day review, an application sent in November is first considered in a later announcement, not this month’s.
Official page: visionaries.co/helen-grant

7. Freed Fellowship: $500 every month, plus a $2,500 year-end grant (Nov 30)

Each month the Freed Fellowship picks one US small business owner for a $500 no-strings grant. Fellows are also considered for an extra $2,500 grant at the end of the year. Applications are rolling, and to be considered for a given month they must arrive by midnight Eastern on the last day of that month. Every applicant gets feedback and two months free in the Freed Studio community.

The catch: there’s a $19 application fee, and the grant itself is small. Think of it as paying for feedback, with a chance at cash.
Official page: freedfellowship.com

8. YippityDoo Small Business Grant: $1,000 a month for women-owned businesses

YippityDoo awards one $1,000 grant each month to a woman-owned (at least 50% owned and run by a woman) for-profit business or idea in the US, for founders 18 or older. Applications are scored on Vision (40%), Passion (40%) and how you’ll use the money.

The catch: the page doesn’t post a monthly cutoff date, so apply early in the month. You’ll also see upsells, like a paid directory listing, that have nothing to do with the grant.
Official page: yippitydoo.com

Bonus: federal contracts set aside for small businesses, closing in November

Contracts are bigger, repeatable money. Each notice below is listed on SAM.gov as a small business set-aside, which means only small businesses can bid. We checked each live SAM.gov record on October 17, 2026.

• Nov 3, 1:00 p.m. MT: VA Portland, Circle CVI software (NAICS 541519). SAM.gov notice
• Nov 6, 12:00 p.m. ET: U.S. Special Operations Command, PMCP support services (NAICS 541330). The catch: an NDA is required to get the documents. SAM.gov notice
• Nov 9, 3:00 p.m. ET: Smithsonian construction contractor pool, $1M–$8M per project (NAICS 236220). The catch: it asks for big past projects, audited financials and a bonding letter. SAM.gov notice
• Nov 18, 12:00 p.m. CT: Little Rock Air Force Base, elevator maintenance (NAICS 238290). The catch: the only site visit is Oct 26, the RSVP is due Oct 22 at 4:00 p.m. CT, and you need a REAL ID to get on base. SAM.gov notice
• Nov 21, 5:00 p.m. ET: GSA, virtual law enforcement training facility in Massena, NY (NAICS 236220). Questions are due by close of business Oct 30. SAM.gov notice

In fiscal 2025, small businesses won nearly 28% of federal contract dollars, about $179 billion, according to the SBA’s FY2025 scorecard. Set-asides are how a lot of that money reaches companies like yours.

How to apply without wasting your month

1. Pick three, not ten. Choose the ones you clearly qualify for and give each a real effort.
2. Read the eligibility line twice. Most rejections come down to location, revenue cap, ownership share or for-profit status.
3. Count the fee as a cost. A $15 or $19 fee can be worth it, but add them up before you apply to five paid programs in one month.
4. Reuse a strong core story. Most forms ask what you do, why it matters and how you’ll use the money. Write it once, then tailor it.
5. Get your federal registrations started early. SBIR and federal contracts require SAM.gov registration, which can take a while to activate. Don’t leave it for deadline week.
6. Watch for scams. Real grants never ask for a “processing fee” after you win. Read our guide to seven red flags in “business opportunity” offers.

How we verify every lead

Each opportunity on this page was checked on the funder’s own website or on SAM.gov, not copied from another list. If we couldn’t confirm a deadline on an official page, we left it out. You can read the full process in How The Money Lead checks every opportunity. If you like smaller, faster wins, see microgrants, pitch competitions and other small money worth chasing.

Looking for more? Our free list of 14 small-business grants closing before Thanksgiving has more options, and the grants and contracts hub collects everything in one place.

FAQ

Are there small business grants with no application fee in November 2026?

Yes. The Galaxy Grant (Oct 31), EPA SBIR Phase I (Nov 8) and the Business Freedom Grant (Nov 15) don’t charge one, and Georgetown’s form (Nov 3) doesn’t list a fee.

Which November grants are for women-owned businesses?

The Hey Helen Grant ($10,000 a month, $15 fee), the Amber Grant ($15,000 monthly) and the YippityDoo grant ($1,000 a month) are for women-owned businesses. The Galaxy Grant is open to both women and minority owners.

Can a brand-new or idea-stage business apply?

Some can. The Business Freedom Grant and YippityDoo accept idea-stage founders, and Hey Helen accepts pre-revenue businesses. Local programs like Georgetown’s usually require an operating business in their area.

The Money Lead is an independent newsletter. We are not affiliated with any program listed here, and we don’t accept payment to feature a grant. The official page is always the final word.