FedEx® Small Business
Grant Contest
Grant Contest
FedEx® Small Business
Grant Contest
We've given away $1.9 million to help small businesses thrive. You could be next. Step one is becoming a customer.
Photo: The Cupcake Collection, 2023 Grant Winner
We've given away $1.9 million to help small businesses thrive. You could be next. Step one is becoming a customer.
Photo: The Cupcake Collection, 2023 Grant Winner
We've given away $1.9 million to help small businesses thrive. You could be next. Step one is becoming a customer.
Photo: The Cupcake Collection, 2023 Grant Winner
Sign up for email updates so you’re all set to enter the next contest.
Sign up for email updates so you’re all set to enter the next contest.
Contest starts in: 0 0 : 0 : 0
Get one of the cash grants that are awarded annually to multiple small businesses
Collaborate with other winners in virtual and live forums
Participate in feedback sessions with high-level FedEx executives
Gain opportunities to participate in small business networks, like our Entrepreneur Advisory Board
- Get one of the cash grants that are awarded annually to multiple small businesses
- Collaborate with other winners in virtual and live forums
- Participate in feedback sessions with high-level FedEx executives
- Gain opportunities to participate in small business networks, like our Entrepreneur Advisory Board
Congratulations to this year's winners!
Discover the inspiring stories of our Small Business Grant winners below.
Our U.S. veteran winner
received an additional $20K from USAA Small Business Insurance
Ready, set, succeed: Tips on entering the Small Business Grant Contest
Use this list to help you create an entry that gets our attention. It gives you an idea of what the judges are looking for.
- Create a FedEx account if you don't have one already.
- Make sure you are eligible to enter the contest.
- Start thinking about a short company bio. Get inspiration from this example.
- Gather your logo and high-quality images that best represent your business.
- Develop an idea for a two-minute video (optional).
- Get tips on how to enter from previous winners.
Create a FedEx account if you don't have one already.
Make sure you are eligible to enter the contest.
Start thinking about a short company bio. Get inspiration from this example.
Gather your logo and high-quality images that best represent your business.
Develop an idea for a two-minute video (optional).
Get tips on how to enter from previous winners.
Meet FedEx Small Business Grant Contest winners
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest FAQs
General information
Since 2012, the FedEx Small Business Grant has awarded U.S. based small businesses with grants to be applied towards growing or enhancing their business.
Dates for future applications have not been finalized and will be posted to this page when available.
You can sign up for emails at https://www.fedex.com/en-us/email.html.
Start by opening a FedEx business shipping account and start shipping with FedEx. Both will be required to apply.
Yes, this is a scam and we encourage you to report the offender through the reporting process where you received the message. FedEx does not contact you about a grant via messages on any social media platform.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible a small business must: be for-profit, have a valid FedEx business shipping account number, currently ship with FedEx, and have fewer than 99 employees. Additional eligibility requirements may exist and will be posted here once details are finalized.
Yes, a valid FedEx business shipping account is required.
Yes, shipping with FedEx will be a requirement.
Non-profits are not eligible to apply.
No, these business types are not eligible to apply. Examples of direct seller businesses are Mary Kay, Rodan and Fields, Doterra, BeautyCounter, Young Living, Color Street, etc. Examples of franchised businesses are any businesses where you are not the creator of the brand (McDonald’s, Budget Blinds, etc).
No, any directly competitive shipping or printing companies are not eligible.
Yes, finalists are eligible to apply again as long as they were not previously selected as a winner.
No, members of the FedEx Entrepreneur Advisory Board, past or present, are not eligible to apply for the grant.
Prizing
There will be a total of 10 winners who will each receive $30,000 in the form of a check along with a $1,000 print credit at FedEx Office. One of the 10 winners which is also Veteran-owned will receive an additional $20,000 courtesy of USAA Small Business Insurance. There are up to 9 additional prizes and offers the winners will receive as outlined in the Official Rules.
Yes, The 100 finalists will receive two (2) helpful resources for their business:
a. Financial consultation with Accion Opportunity Fund
b. Free access to the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (I.C.I.C. ) Annual Conference, Digital Learning Platform, and up to 3 webinars
No, the grant amounts are not the same each year.
No, the grants are not a loan and do not need to be repaid.
How to enter
When the contest application period opens, you can enter the contest at fedex.com/grantcontest.
Yes, a FedEx shipping account number is required to enter the contest.
Selecting finalists and winners
A selection committee within FedEx will select the top 100 finalists from the pool of entrants using the following elements:
- Clear, compelling, and engaging essay answers, and review of any applicable video
- Answers to application questions
- Review of social media sites, including all posts and/or images by the business and/or the business owner(s)
- Reviews of the business product/service available online through review sites
- Website ease of navigation, ease of ordering services or products (if applicable), product availability (in stock or not, if applicable)
- How well the entrant’s brand aligns with the FedEx brand
- Whether the small business owner is prepared to be a Small Business Ambassador or mentor to other small businesses
Those selected as Top 100 finalists will be notified via email from FedEx on April 12, 2023.
Finalists may also be requested to submit information for a background check to remain in consideration for winner selection and will be notified from USGrantContest@fedex.com.
A selection committee within FedEx will use the following elements, among others, to choose winners:
- Clear, compelling, and engaging essay answers, and review of any applicable video
- Answers to application questions
- Review of social media sites, including all posts and/or images by the business and/or business owner(s)
- Reviews of the business product/service available online through review sites
- Website ease of navigation, ease of ordering services or products (if applicable), product availability (in stock or not, if applicable)
- How well the entrant’s brand aligns with the FedEx brand
- Shipping volume with FedEx
- Whether the small business owner is prepared to be a Small Business Ambassador or mentor to other small businesses
Extra credit will be given for those entrants exhibiting any of the following elements:
- Unique or innovative product or service offering
- Sustainability/environmentally friendly business, product, or business practices
- Business gives back to community or the environment
Answers to most questions can be found by reviewing the FAQs. If your question still cannot be answered in the FAQ, you may send an email to USGrantContest@fedex.com and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.