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Grant applications close on June 30, 2025.
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Check out our FAQ for all other questions. View the full Terms & Conditions on LISC’s website here.
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Visit the Small Business Funding Marketplace for more funding options.
Explore a marketplace of small business grants and loans to find financing that fits your needs - curated by our partners at Next Street.
Making impact across the country. Hear from some of your peers on how Digital Ready impacted their business.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore additional success stories from past grantees on our partner LISC's site.
Jaja Chen
Cha Community
2021 Grant Recipient
"The courses helped me stop wasting time and put things into action."
Mario Jaramillo
The Robot Agency, Inc.
2023 Grant Recipient
"I feel like now I’m more equipped to go on to the next chapter in entrepreneurship.
Nakia Vestal
DollMaker Lashes
2021 Grant Recipient
"With the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program, I was able to learn how to run my business professionally."
Frequently Asked Questionsabout our grants
What is the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant?
The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant is part of Verizon's commitment to equip one million small businesses with the tools and resources they need to thrive in today's digital economy, ultimately strengthening their local communities.
In addition to the hundreds of hours of free courses, coaching sessions, and networking opportunities offered through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program, Verizon, in partnership with LISC will award a total of $500,000 in grant funding during this grant period. Fifty (50) grantees will each receive a $10,000 grant, further advancing Verizon’s commitment to support small businesses.
Who is eligible to apply for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant?
To be eligible to apply for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready grant, you must meet the following criteria:
Have an account on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Creating an account is free and takes less than five minutes and gives you access to hundreds of free resources designed to help your small business thrive.
Complete any combination of two courses or virtual events (including recorded events) on the Digital Ready platform between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025, and submit a grant application by June 30, 2025. For example, you can unlock the application by completing one course and one virtual event or two courses, or two virtual events. Engagements through in-person events associated with Digital Ready are not included towards grant eligibility.
Be a for-profit U.S.-based business. Nonprofits are not eligible to apply.
Be 18 years of age or older.
Can share and provide proper business and financial verification documentation (W-9s, ACH) if selected as a finalist.
Current directors, officers, employees and contractors of LISC or Verizon and such individuals' family members (spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and spouses of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren) may not be eligible to receive an award. Priority is given to applicants who have not received a prior grant; prior Digital Ready grant recipients are still eligible to apply but not likely to be awarded a second grant.
Awards will be made to a selection of qualified businesses who apply (not all applicants). Eligibility is based on accurate and complete submission of the application.
What is the current grant application timeline?
Grant applications are now open and close at 11:59 pm PT on June 30, 2025. All applicants will be notified about whether or not they have been selected as a grant finalist by August 10, 2025.
Is the application available in Spanish?
Yes, the application is available in Spanish. Once you have unlocked the grant application, click on the link to the application. There, you will see the option to complete the application in Spanish. If you are viewing Digital Ready in Spanish, the application will default to Spanish.
How are selections made?
Visit our partner LISC’s site to learn more about the selection process and view the full Terms & Conditions.
Who has received this grant in the past?
Since 2021, we’ve awarded grants to approximately 1,350 unique small businesses. You can explore stories from some of our past grantees on our partner LISC’s site.
How can I verify if I’ve completed the eligibility requirements?
Once you have completed the required combination of courses and virtual events, the application will unlock on the Grant page and you will see the option to “Get Started”. If you have completed two resources on Small Business Digital Ready between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025 and the application has not unlocked, you can reach out to our support team at digitalready@verizon.com.
If I applied in a previous round, do I have to re-apply, or will my application roll over?
Applications do not roll over to later rounds. You must submit a new application for each grant cycle in order to be considered for funding. Each round has unique aspects and application eligibility requirements. If you meet the current round’s eligibility requirements, you can apply again, even if you applied in a previous round.
How will I be contacted or know if I will receive a grant?
LISC will primarily utilize email to communicate with all applicants. You can expect to hear whether or not you have been selected for funding by Aug 10, 2025.
Be sure to check your email regularly, including spam folders. Email updates to all applicants will come from the LISC Small Business Grants. Finalists will receive next steps from an “@lisc.org” email address domain. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the legitimacy of an email about your grant application status, please contact smallbusinessservices@lisc.org.
Finalists will be notified by email and must respond promptly. The return of any grantee notification message or document as undeliverable may result in disqualification of the applicable grantee, the forfeiture of his or her interest in the grant, and the selection of a substitute from among all remaining eligible finalists.
What does it mean to be a “finalist” and will there be additional documentation required?
If your business is selected as a finalist, you will be notified via email. Being selected as a finalist does not guarantee that you will receive a grant. As a finalist, additional documentation will be required to screen and verify business information. This may include a background search that LISC will conduct at our expense and submission of additional information including verification information such as date of birth, SSN, TIN/ITIN, EIN, W-9, and appropriate banking information in order to receive funds via ACH if awarded. The background verification does not involve a credit check or credit score pull. LISC will never request copies of personal documentation such as driver’s licenses, passports and/or green cards.
Does anything need to be repaid?
No, these grants do not need to be repaid. However, all taxes associated with the acceptance and/or uses of cash awarded are the sole responsibility of the individual grantee. LISC will issue a Form 1099 for these grants.
