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Celebrate EDU Microgrants — up to $500 for entrepreneurs with intellectual or developmental disabilities

Phone number
none (hello@celebrateedu.org)
Category
Small Business
Money
Auto tags
Eligibility
People 16+ with an intellectual or developmental disability whose own new or emerging business idea has earned under $3,000 and needs under $2,500 to start; US or Canada; not for nonprofits
Auto Summary
Celebrate EDU, a 501(c)(3), awards microgrants of up to $500 for the business ideas of people 16+ with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The idea must be driven by the self-advocate, new or emerging (under $3,000 earned), need under $2,500 in start-up costs, and be in the US or Canada. Nonprofits can't apply. Recipients take a finance and budgeting course. Three rounds a year; the 2026 rounds were Feb 2–Mar 13, May 11–Jun 19 and Aug 17–Sep 25. Verified 2026-09-28.
Value
Up to $500
Espanol
Microsubvenciones de Celebrate EDU — hasta $500 para emprendedores con discapacidades intelectuales o del desarrollo
URL
celebrateedu.org/microgrants/
Who it's for: people 16 or older with an intellectual or developmental disability who have their own business idea, driven by the self-advocate and not mainly by a parent or support person.

Rules

  • The business must be new or emerging. Businesses that have earned more than $3,000 are not eligible.
  • Start-up costs must be under $2,500.
  • The business must be in the United States or Canada.
  • Nonprofits cannot apply.

What you get

  • Up to $500 for supplies, equipment, materials or other things you need to start or grow the business.
  • Recipients take a finance and budgeting course and can use Celebrate EDU's self-advocacy and entrepreneurship courses.

How to apply

  1. Take the eligibility quiz on <https://celebrateedu.org/microgrants/>.
  1. Download and fill in the application worksheet, then submit the online application.
  1. The Microgrant Committee meets 3 times a year. 2026 rounds: Feb 2 – Mar 13, May 11 – Jun 19, and Aug 17 – Sep 25 (decisions in mid-November). Watch the page for 2027 dates.
Sources (checked 2026-09-28): <https://celebrateedu.org/microgrants/>; <https://celebrateedu.org/microgrant/announcing-celebrate-edu-microgrants/>.