2023 FedEx Small Business Grant Now Accepting Entries
Each year FedEx hosts the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest, which offers ten finalists the opportunity to win $30k each. FedEx launched the grant opportunity in 2012 with the goal of helping small businesses to enhance their companies. The deadline to submit an entry for the 2023 grant is February 21st.
FedEx lays out the entry process, which is pretty simple, on its website. Those interested in applying should first create a FedEx account, write a short company bio, and upload their company logo and photos. Entrants will also have the option to create a two-minute pitch video.
The top 100 finalists and the top 10 finalists will be selected by a FedEx selection committee. There are a number of factors that go into whether or not an entrant is considered to be a finalist including how well they answer the application questions and their shipping volume with FedEx. You can see the full list of judging criteria here.
The top 100 finalists will receive a financial consultation with Accion Opportunity Fund and free access to the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (I.C.I.C. ) Annual Conference, Digital Learning Platform, and up to 3 webinars.
In addition to $30k each, the top ten winners will also receive nine additional prizes like a $1,000 print credit at FedEx Office, mentor matching with Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and access to FedEx Premier Customer Service. You can see the full list of prizes by reviewing the rules here.
One of the 10 finalists will be a veteran, who will receive an additional $20,000 from the USAA Small Business Insurance.
Lastly, the competition also includes a “People’s Choice Vote,” and you can win a $1,000 cash gift card. You don’t have to be a finalist to win. All you need is the most “likes” on your entry for a day during the contest.
Entrants must be for-profit businesses to be considered and cannot be a for-profit business that is mostly donation-based.
The entry period is January 31st – February 21st. People’s Choice voting runs from February 27th – March 8th. The top 100 finalists will be announced on April 12th and the winners will be announced on May 11th.
See all the details and enter the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest by visiting https://www.fedex.com/en-us/small-business/grant-contest.html.
