The Genesis For Good Catalyst Empowerment Grant Program will award grants up to $10,000 to eligible small businesses and will provide membership in the Genesis Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship (GBIE).
The grant application process consists of a number of steps. Please make sure you complete all of these steps that determine initial eligibility for the grant. If you do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements for this grant, you will not be allowed to continue with the application process.
To be considered an eligible recipient for a grant award from this Grant Program, the small business and/or owner must meet all the following criteria:
- Business must
have gross revenues of $500,000 or less
- Business must have been in continuous operation for 1 year or more
- Business must have 10 employees or less, including the owner(s)
- Business must operate in a low-to-moderate income area as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Business must have all necessary and required licenses and registrations as required by the city (cities) and county (counties) in which it operates
- Business listed in the application must be registered and operate in at least one of the following Southern California counties: Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, or San Bernardino County
- Grant application
submission must include a brief 3-minute maximum video outlining the following:
- Business owner background
- Business vision and mission for community impact
- How grant funding will help accelerate business growth
Note: The video is an opportunity for us to get to know you and your business and may be as simple as you speaking on camera to your phone. We do not expect professional-grade videography, editing, etc.
The following applicants are not eligible for this grant:
- Any business whose owners and/or investors include any of the following (collectively, the "Program Parties"):
- Employees, officers, directors or agents of Genesis Bank or its affiliates
- Immediate family members and/or persons living in the same household of any of the parties listed above (e.g., spouse, parent, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or spouse of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren)
- Any business that participates in influencing legislation or taking part in political campaigns on behalf of candidates
- Any business that is classified as a tax-exempt organization under IRC 501(c)(3).
Genesis For Good Foundation (GFG) shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether an application meets the eligibility criteria to participate in this Grant Program. GFG’s decisions regarding eligibility and all other aspects of the Program are final and binding. This Program is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and is void in all geographic locations where prohibited by law.
This grant program is administered by the Genesis For Good Foundation. For more information on eligibility and application requirements, please visit https://genesisforgood.org/catalystgrant/