active Private Grant

NASE Growth Grant

National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)

Up to $4,000

See if you qualify — free Visit official program ↗

Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 6 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓

The short version

Quarterly-reviewed micro-grants of up to $4,000 for NASE members

Grants of up to $4,000 for self-employed individuals and micro-business owners who are NASE members. Funds support business expansion through hiring, marketing, equipment, or software. Applications are accepted any time and reviewed quarterly, with about seven awards per quarter (28 in 2025); annual members may apply immediately, monthly members after 90 days of membership.

Funding type: Grant
Level: Private
Amount range: $1,000 – $4,000
Realistic amount: $1,000–$4,000 (award amount at NASE discretion; may award less than requested)
Deadline: Rolling — apply any time; applications are reviewed quarterly (April, July, October, January)
Status: active
States: Nationwide
Payment model: lump sum

Who qualifies

Must be an active NASE member in good standing
Annual members: eligible immediately upon joining
Monthly members: must have been a member for 90+ days prior to application
Business must be self-employed or micro-business (typically sole proprietor or very small LLC)
Must have a documented business plan and clear use of funds
Dependents of NASE members are also eligible

What it covers

Eligible expenses

Hiring employees or contractors
Marketing and advertising campaigns
Equipment purchases
Software and technology tools
Business expansion costs generally

Ineligible expenses

Personal expenses
Debt repayment
Non-business purchases
Political or lobbying activities

How to apply

1

Join NASE (if not already a member)

Sign up for NASE membership. Annual members can apply immediately; monthly members must wait 90 days.

~30 min
2

Create SMApply account and start application

Access the application portal at apply-nase-gs.smapply.io and create an account.

~30 min
3

Document your business and use of funds

Prepare a concise business description and specific plan for how you will use the $4,000 grant (hiring, marketing, equipment, or software).

~2 hrs
4

Submit application

Complete and submit the online application. No application fee required beyond NASE membership.

~1 hrs
5

Await quarterly review

Applications are reviewed quarterly. NASE notifies winners; selection is final with no appeals process.

Insider tip

The hidden cost is NASE membership (~$11–14/month). Monthly members must wait 90 days — join as an annual member to apply immediately. Specificity wins: state the exact expense, dollar amount, and expected outcome.

Deadline & timing

Applications are reviewed quarterly (April, July, October, January). Annual NASE members may apply immediately; monthly members must wait 90 days after joining.

Applications are open — don’t lose the window

GrantCompass tracks NASE Growth Grant’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll warn you before this window closes — and tell you when the next round opens.

Free. One email when the window moves, deadline warnings on your watchlist, and the monthly closing-soon digest. Unsubscribe anytime.

Programs that stack well

Apply-Ready

Looking for more grants to enter?

We don't draft NASE Growth Grant applications: it needs a paid NASE membership and a sign-in. We do draft these seventeen. Answer a few short questions once and we draft your application from what you tell us: only your facts, with a blank wherever the judges want a detail only you know. You submit it yourself. Six are for women-owned businesses; eleven are open more widely.

You see a free preview first and pay only if you want the full draft: $9 per grant. You can add the other month-end grants you qualify for at $5 each (never more than $15 extra).

For women-owned businesses

Open more widely

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Last updated October 22, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.