Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Hero Program: $20,000 Grant for Community Leaders

Grant Overview

Nominate a Deserving US Small Business for a Cash Grant and Growth Package

Donor: Intuit Inc. (QuickBooks and Mailchimp)

About: We all know one. That local business that feels like more than just a business. It could be the bakery owner who knows everyone’s order by heart, the mechanic who sponsors the local little league team, or the small bookstore that has become a real neighborhood hub. Intuit, the company behind tools like QuickBooks and Mailchimp, has put together the Small Business Hero Program to find and lift up these exact people. This program appears to be less about rewarding the company with the steepest growth chart and more about celebrating the ones with the biggest heart. It’s a search for stories of grit and character, with a $20,000 prize waiting at the end. This is a perfect example of a business and commerce grant that values people over pure profit.

What Exactly is a ‘Business Hero’?

The term ‘hero’ can feel a little big, can’t it? But what Intuit seems to be searching for are the real, human stories of struggle and success. Maybe it’s a founder who cashed in their 401k to chase a dream. It might be a team that worked around the clock to support their town after a natural disaster. Or it could just be a quiet, steady business that has made giving back a part of its DNA for years. The judging criteria don’t focus on revenue, but on resilience and impact. What’s great is how wide the net is cast, welcoming everyone from tiny for-profit startups to established nonprofit organizations. If you know a U.S. business that has been around for at least a year with 99 or fewer folks on payroll, they could be a perfect fit.

Your Nomination is the Key

Here’s the twist: the program is built entirely on nominations from the public. You can’t put your own company forward, which keeps the spirit of it focused on community appreciation. Submitting a nomination is surprisingly simple. It involves a basic form and a short, 50-to-300-word story explaining why you think the business is a hero. That little essay is everything. A genuine, heartfelt story is what will catch a judge’s eye. Honestly, getting that narrative just right can be challenging, which is one area where getting help from professional grant writing services can provide a real edge for your nominee. If the business you nominate doesn’t win in one phase, the application automatically rolls over, giving them another chance down the line.

The Prize is More Than Just a Check

Let’s talk about what the winners get. The $20,000 in cash is a massive deal, no question. But the total package is actually worth closer to $40,000, and it’s designed to kick a great business into a higher gear. Winners get a full year of QuickBooks Online Advanced and the Mailchimp Standard Marketing Plan. That’s a serious upgrade. And Intuit doesn’t just stop there; they put their own marketing power to work, writing blog posts and creating social media features about the winning businesses. This isn’t just a prize; it’s a platform. It pushes a small company onto a national stage, validating their hard work. For any small business in the U.S., it stands out as one of the most compelling nationwide grants out there.

Focus: Small Business, Community Impact, Entrepreneurship, Nomination Grant, For-Profit, Nonprofits

Region: United States, District of Columbia

Eligibility:
– The nominated business must be a for-profit company or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is legally established.
– Its operations have to be within the fifty (50) United States or D.C.
– It needs to have been in business for a minimum of one (1) year before being nominated.
– The business can have no more than 99 W-2 employees, which includes the owner.
– The owner of the business has to be at least 18 years old.
– The company cannot have been a winner of this same contest in the last two years.
– Nominators need to be 18 or older, a legal U.S. resident, and cannot be an owner or employee (or a relative of one) of the business they nominate.

Benefits:
– A $20,000 check for the business.
– A full prize package with an approximate total value of $39,308.
– One free year of QuickBooks Online Advanced.
– One free year of the Mailchimp Standard Marketing Plan.
– A promotional boost via features on official QuickBooks and Mailchimp social media and blog posts.

Deadline: August 15, 2025 (for the current phase; the program is recurring with multiple nomination periods)

Terms:
– Nominator: A person who puts forward a small business for the award. Crucially, they can’t have any financial interest or employment role in the nominated company.
– Community Impact: This is the main thing judges look at, making up 60% of the score. It’s all about how the business helps its local community.
– Perseverance: A quality the judges consider, reflecting a business’s ability to navigate tough times and bounce back.