The Community Quarterback Grant

The Coalition’s Community Quarterback for Small Business Grant is designed to support nonprofit organizations located within 14 designated market areas that have a demonstrable track record or strong commitment to serving small businesses in under-resourced communities.  The grant aims to equip and support local nonprofit organizations in their role as “community quarterback,” working to effectively build and strengthen their small business ecosystem using a community-centric approach.

Applications are being accepted now until March 20th 2026 at 5pm. Grants awarded will be up to $50,000, and the funds will support staff or projects to develop a coordinated small business ecosystem. In addition to funds, grantees will receive advisory services, technical assistance, and customized templates from The Coalition to support the design and implementation of a local small business ecosystem building.

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About the Grant

Small Businesses Need a Community Quarterback Champion

Small businesses across the US are the economic engine of a neighborhood, community, and region. Small businesses drive local economies through the creation of economic opportunities, job access, innovation, and tax revenue. That’s why, now more than ever, small businesses need a community quarterback — a local entity or organization committed to ensuring small businesses have ready access to resources, support, and information — to help them start, sustain, and grow their businesses. Community quarterbacks are especially essential in underrepresented and underresourced communities, which face additional challenges and barriers to access, information, and support.

That’s why The Coalition, thanks to support from the Truist Charitable Fund, is launching the Community Quarterback for Small Business Grant. It is our ultimate goal to take what we’ve learned about small business ecosystem building and coordination in Washington, DC, and export that knowledge to other jurisdictions within Truist’s 14 Market Areas.

Organizations that are well-positioned to take on the role of community quarterback within their region exemplify the following key attributes:

  • The organization serves as a convener, fostering and creating opportunities to network and partnerships.
  • The organization serves as a liaison between small businesses, support organizations, and other key stakeholders in the ecosystem, including government agencies and community lenders.
  • The organization works to break down barriers in access and communication throughout the entire ecosystem, improve the coordination between stakeholders, and streamline access to services and supports.
  • The organization helps assist business owners and entrepreneurs navigate the many programs, resources, and support organizations within the small business ecosystem.

Eligibility & Requirements

Organizations Must:

  • Be designated by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization or have a fiscal sponsor that is designated by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization
  • Have the ability to measure and report on established outcomes-based success metrics aligned to strategic objectives, which includes providing a forecast of expected outcomes in the application and may also require periodic impact reports with actual project/program results.
  • Be located in an eligible Market Area: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio (Cincinnati Only), Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

We will not consider grants for:

  • Individuals
  • Political campaigns, political activities, or lobbying for or against pieces of legislation
  • Labor, alumni, or fraternal groups
  • Recreation, athletic, or sports teams, programs, or leagues
  • For-profit entities, including start-up small businesses
  • Grants specifically for travel, including student trips or tours
  • Direct service work/social services, self-help/empowerment programs, educational programs, or advocacy
  • Research
  • Schools, scholarships, fellowships, or grants to individuals
  • Endowments, building campaigns, or capital costs, including construction, renovation, or equipment

What the Grant Covers

Through this grant program, selected organizations will not only have access to funding, resources, and technical assistance, but also learn best practices and sustainable models to build a coordinated small business ecosystem in their community.

The Coalition will be working closely with grantees to support them as they step into the convener role as a community quarterback by assessing the local small business ecosystem. The first step is for grantees to complete a Learning Lab on Ecosystem Building and the key components of a community quarterback. This foundation will be the building block for grantees to better understand and assess their own local ecosystem.

From there, selected organizations will map their communities’ small business ecosystem, design a robust, high-impact approach to help support and cultivate this ecosystem, and take the first steps toward implementation.

Capacity

Support the work to develop a coordinated small business ecosystem.

Advisory Services

Support the grantee (the nonprofit organization) and local stakeholders in replicating and tailoring the design and implementation of a local small business ecosystem building.

Technical Assistance

Guide the prospective grantee (nonprofit) on customizing the templates and tools in the buildout of the nonprofit’s resources for small businesses.

Customized Templates

Access to The Coalition’s data gathering and sharing models with the ability to customize for best fit

Best Practices

Access to The Coalition's lessons learned in the design and implementation of a nonprofit organization’s small business ecosystem initiative.

Are you ready to position your organization as a community quarterback in your region? Submit your application today!

Apply Now

Award Criteria

A panel of representatives from both The Coalition and Truist will review applications. Finalists will be contacted in early April for virtual interviews.

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • The organization’s history and experience as a convener
  • The organization’s sustained cross-sector relationships with the small business community
  • The organization’s track record as a reputable and respected group among local small businesses and community stakeholders
  • The organization’s track record of collaboration or partnership, and stakeholder engagement
  • The organization’s current staff capacity and ability to execute the grant activities

 

Guidelines and Process

Interested organizations should closely review the eligibility requirements, the FAQ, and the application preview before applying. Applications are accepted now until March 20th 2026 at 5pm. Applicants will hear back in early April, and finalists will be scheduled for virtual interviews.

Click below to download important information about the Community Quarterback Grant, read about the process, and apply online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Download Community Quarterback Grant FAQs.

Download

 

For nearly a decade, the Coalition has championed the needs of small businesses by serving as a community quarterback, collaborating across small business support organizations and other entities to enhance funding, support services, resources, and information for small businesses in the District of Columbia. Through the generous support of The Truist Charitable Fund, The Coalition has enhanced and streamlined its community-centric approach to supporting the District’s local small businesses through our Small Business Ecosystem Building Initiative.

Now, as nationally recognized experts in this space, Truist’s investment enables The Coalition to partner with other organizations to share insights, provide support, and assist in replicating our Small Business Ecosystem Building model.

The Community Quarterback for Small Business Grant blends long-practiced community development strategies and innovation to create environments where small businesses – particularly in under-resourced communities — can plan, start, grow, and thrive.

The Coalition is deeply grateful to The Truist Charitable Fund for their support of our Small Business Ecosystem Building work, as well as the Community Quarterback Grant. For more information, visit our Small Business Ecosystem Webpage.

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