1. How do I submit an application to the Visa Foundation U.S. Small Business Growth and Innovation Program?

You can access the application portal here. You will be asked to create an account and register your organization, as the program is only accepting applications from verified organizations.

If you would like to see a list of the application questions in PDF form, you can find them linked here.

For questions on using the application portal, please see here⁠. If you have specific questions about registering and applying as an organization, please see here⁠.

Please note we cannot accept submissions via email.

2. What is the application deadline?

All applications must be submitted via the portal by October 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) PT. Please note we are unable to consider late applications.

3. I can’t log in to my application portal. What should I do?

If you already have a SurveyMonkey Apply account, you may be able to log in using your existing credentials. If you’re having trouble accessing your account, try using the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. Please see here⁠ for additional SurveyMonkey Apply FAQ.

If you still cannot log in, please contact EntrepreneurialSupportRFP@rockpa.org with your name, organization, and the email address associated with your account.

4. Can my organization submit more than one application?

No. Organizations may submit only one application per EIN / organization.

5. What financial documents will you accept in the application?

Applicants will be asked to upload financial documentation that reflects both historical financial activity and the most recent board-approved operating budget.

Required documents include:

• Audited financial statements for the organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years.
• If audited financial statements are not available, applicants may instead submit two years of IRS Form 990s.
• The organization’s current board-approved operating budget showing anticipated revenues and expenses for 2026 and 2027.

1. Who is eligible to apply for funding?

Any U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity organization that has at least two years of audited financial statements and/or IRS Form 990s, has an annual operating budget between $1 million and $10 million, and that provides direct services to small and micro businesses (SMBs) is eligible to apply. In addition, fiscally sponsored organizations with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor are eligible to apply, if the fiscally sponsored organization meets all other eligibility criteria.

2. Can organizations that are fiscally sponsored apply for funding?

Yes, fiscally sponsored organizations can apply as long as their fiscal sponsor has 501(c)(3) status and the fiscally sponsored organization meets all other eligibility criteria. Please note that fiscally sponsored organizations will also be asked to upload their fiscal sponsor’s governance materials, a list of directors and their affiliations, two years of audited financials, IRS Form 990, and a signed fiscal sponsorship agreement or MOU between their organization and the fiscal sponsor.

3. My organization is a past or current grantee of the Visa Foundation or Visa Inc. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, both past and current grantees of Visa Foundation or Visa Inc. can apply.

1. What types of organizations are the strongest fit for this opportunity?

Organizations that provide direct business support services to operating small and micro businesses (SMBs) are encouraged to apply. Competitive applicants will demonstrate a track record of helping SMBs access the training, technical assistance, resources, and support needed to grow and remain competitive in a rapidly changing economy.

Priority may also be given to organizations that demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of SMB challenges and opportunities and trusted relationships with the communities they serve.
• Ability to adapt and innovate to changing market needs, including helping SMBs navigate AI, digital tools, and technology adoption.
• History of meaningful, measurable impact on SMB growth and resilience.
• Commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Capacity to strengthen or expand services through grant funding.

2. How does the program define small and micro businesses (SMBs)?

The program defines small and micro businesses (SMBs) as independently owned, currently operating businesses that are actively selling products or services and are generally smaller in scale. While there are no strict cutoffs, businesses would typically have 50 or fewer employees and $1.5 million or less in annual revenue.

3. Will the program prioritize support for specific industries or types of businesses?

No. This program is designed to strengthen the capacity of Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) that provide business support services to SMBs across the United States. Rather than focusing on a particular industry, the program seeks to support high-performing ESOs that demonstrate strong outcomes for SMBs and contribute to a stronger small business support ecosystem. In selecting grantees, the program will consider how the cohort as a whole reflects a range of geographies, service models, and communities served.

4. What types of organizations are less likely to be competitive for funding?

While all eligible applications will be reviewed, organizations may be less competitive if they:

• Are not primarily focused on providing direct business support services to SMBs.
• Primarily support aspiring entrepreneurs or idea-stage businesses rather than currently operating SMBs.
• Reach fewer than 200 SMBs per year.
• Cannot demonstrate outcomes or evidence of impact.
• Propose a use of grant funds that is not clearly connected to strengthening SMB growth and resilience.

1. What size grants will the program distribute?

The program anticipates making grants ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, with the grant amount determined by organizational budget size.

2. How can grant funding be used?

The program will provide flexible grant capital to strengthen organizational capacity to deliver direct services to SMBs, including support for existing or new programming (direct training, technical assistance, coaching, digital adoption, etc.) as well as support for operational needs (staffing, administrative costs, etc.). Applicants will be asked to summarize how they would use grant funding to strengthen their work and increase their impact.

3. Will grantees have opportunities to participate in learning or engagement activities?

Yes. Visa Foundation plans to facilitate engagement opportunities throughout the grant period to help grantees share learnings, challenges, and best practices with each other.

4. Who ultimately makes final grantmaking decisions?

As the legal grantor of record, RPA ultimately holds final authority on all grantmaking decisions.

1. When can we expect to hear back?

All applicants can expect to be notified of funding decisions by January 2027.

2. If my organization receives funding, how long is the grant period?

Grants from this program are one-time awards for 12 months, beginning January 2027.

3. If my organization receives funding, what reporting requirements are associated with the grant?

Grantees will be expected to submit a final narrative and financial report to RPA sharing progress, results, lessons learned, and key performance indicators such as the number of small and micro businesses (SMBs) reached, number of jobs supported, and revenue growth among supported businesses.

4. If my organization receives funding, who can I contact with grant-specific questions?

For any grant-specific questions, including how to access grant-related information, contact grantsmanagement@rockpa.org. For any programmatic questions, contact EntrepreneurialSupportRFP@rockpa.org.

5. I missed the deadline. Do you accept proposals outside of the application window?

No. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applications submitted after October 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) PT.

6. I have a question that’s not answered here. Is there somewhere else I can go?

You may reach us at EntrepreneurialSupportRFP@rockpa.org. We will do our best to respond to applicant questions, but due to anticipated volume, we may not be able to reply to all inquiries before the application deadline.

We are unable to provide feedback on applications or discuss individual proposals.

1. What other terms and conditions apply to my application?

Application submissions will not be treated as confidential. Applicants should not include any proprietary information, trade secrets, or other confidential information in their applications that they wish to keep confidential. Neither RPA nor the Visa Foundation assumes any obligation to protect the confidentiality of any materials submitted as part of the application process.

Application submissions and related data may be shared with Visa Foundation’s program partners, including RPA and Maigent Partners, for purposes of program evaluation, administration, and reporting. All submissions will be handled in accordance with the Visa Privacy Policy, available at https://usa.visa.com/legal/privacy-policy.html. By submitting an application, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of its application data as described in these Terms and the Visa Privacy Policy.

By submitting an application, you grant Visa Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and distribute the application materials solely for purposes of program evaluation, administration, and reporting. This license does not transfer ownership of any intellectual property to Visa Foundation.