Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 National Grant 2026: Apply for $10,000 in Small Business Funding

Overview

The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready National Grant for 2026 is run by Verizon in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). It gives selected small businesses 10,000 dollars in non-repayable funding. About 10 businesses are expected to be selected each month from June through December 2026. The programme uses a rolling model, so eligible applicants who are not chosen in one month can stay under consideration for later selections. LISC says a Form 1099 will be issued for the award, so recipients should consider possible tax implications.

Who can apply

The grant is intended for eligible for-profit small businesses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible. Owners of several companies may apply for only one business. Previous Digital Ready recipients are not excluded, but priority goes to applicants who have not received a grant before. Applications are available in English and Spanish.

How to apply

Applicants first register on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform and complete any two qualifying courses or events, including courses, virtual or recorded events and eligible in-person events. This unlocks the grant application in the Funding section, which takes about 30 minutes, and Google Chrome is recommended. Applications cannot be changed after submission.

What you get

Beyond the 10,000 dollar grant, participants get free business education, digital resources and networking, covering areas such as marketing, intellectual property, digital tools and entrepreneurship.

Selection process

LISC runs a multi-stage process that starts with an anonymous drawing, followed by possible algorithmic balancing across industries and regions. Priority goes to businesses in under-resourced and low-to-moderate income communities. Some applications get further review of accuracy, community impact and planned use of funds, and selected businesses must complete verification, which does not involve a credit check.

Key dates

Qualifying activities must be completed between 1 January and 7 December 2026. Monthly selections run from June through December 2026, and final status is expected for all applicants by 12 January 2027.