Small Business Grants

The Rural Gone Urban Foundation awards grants to women small business owners with slim margins and big dreams. Grants fund critical marketing assets like websites, social media strategy, and advertising plans, key elements in standing out in today’s crowded marketplace.

Brooke Taylor, Rural Gone Urban Foundation founder, launched her strategic communications business, Rural Gone Urban, LLC, from an apartment in a horse barn with one client and a prayer.

With three figures in her bank account, the margins were slim and the stakes were high.

With tenure as an account executive in advertising agencies on her résumé and enough grit to rival an old school western, she leaned into the impossible and did the damn thing.

When Brooke was diagnosed with allegedly incurable metastatic breast cancer she launched the Rural Gone Urban Foundation to show her then 2 year old daughter how supporting brave and strong women is the rule, never the exception.

Details

  • Eligibility: any U.S., women-owned small business headquartered in a rural area.

  • Preference will be given to small business owners showing grit, determination, and a plan.

  • Grants fund critical marketing assets like websites, social media strategy, and advertising plans, key elements in standing out in today’s crowded marketplace.

  • Recipients may receive a combination of:

    • Financial assistance,

    • Brand fundamentals online course registration from Rural Gone Urban, LLC.

    • Up to six months of monthly brand strategy coaching calls with the Small Business Grants Program committee

  • Grants will be awarded by end of year 2023.

Timeline

  • Application open Friday, December 5 2023

  • Applications close Friday, December 15, 2023 at midnight.

  • Committee review and follow up with applications week of December 18, 2023

  • Grant recipients notified week by December 27, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Census Bureau defines rural as any population, housing, or territory not in an urban area. This definition is closely tied to its urban definition, of which there are two geographical types:

    "Urbanized Areas" have a population of 50,000 or more.

    "Urban Clusters" have a population between 2,500 and 50,000.

    Learn more.

  • Your business is at least 51% owned and controlled by women. This means having direct control (not through another entity) to handle day-to-day management and long-term decision making for the businesses.

    Learn more from SBA.gov

  • Business owners will need to upload business entity paperwork.

    Sole Proprietor
    A sole proprietor is someone who owns a business individually. They have not separated the business from the owner's tax or legal liabilities. It is possible that the business is under a different name than the individual, often known as a doing business as (DBA) name.

    Proof of sole proprietorship ownership can be accomplished with:

    1. A copy of the owner's tax return with the Schedule C included.

    2. A copy of the DBA proving that the individual established the alternative business name.

    Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Corporation, Limited Liability Company (LLC)
    These four structures are called formal structures and must be registered with their Secretary of State to be formed. Secretary of State will provide a certificate of that business structure.

  • All business structures are eligible to apply as long as they meet the rural and women-owned requirements and are able to provide documentation of their business status.

  • Grants fund critical marketing assets like websites, social media strategy, and advertising plans, key elements in standing out in today’s crowded marketplace.

    Recipients must use the financial grants as they pertain to the projects they outlined in their application and must provide appropriate documentation.

  • Applicants will create an account when applying for grants, which will allow all applicants to review and edit as needed prior to submission. Additionally, if an applicant is not awarded a grant, they can access their previous application information to resubmit for upcoming award cycles.

  • Ideal references can speak on behalf of their first-hand knowledge of an applicants work ethic, character, and/or financial need.

  • The Rural Gone Urban Foundation invested in a platform to respect applicants’ private information, reduce unconscious bias, and to streamline the application process for applicants.

    We use Good Grants.

  • Grants will be awarded directly to the business receiving the grant.

  • One minimum.

    Through your application portal, you will request recommendations, which means you will need their email address.

  • Yes. Whether you receive a grant or not, you will hear from the grant committee.

  • The Rural Gone Urban Foundation is funded by individual and corporate donations.

  • Yes. You will provide documentation of your business filing status.

When a storm arises - literally or figuratively - we have an opportunity to lean into it, or run.

Bison do what any of us hope we’d do it in that situation — they face the storm.

While the others — elk, deer, moose, et al. - run, bison turn into the storm. And in doing so, they’re in midst of the storm for less time than those who are running with it.

The Rural Gone Urban Foundation supports brave and strong women. Those who turn into their storms. Those who refuse to backdown from a challenge.

Application Tips

Be detailed.

Do not assume we know anything. The committee has never met you or heard of your brand. The ball is in your court to share why you’re the right human for this grant.

Be real.

The small business grant committee is looking for more than the highlight reel. We’re interested in your character, your passions, and your work ethic.

Be honest.

All small business grant committee members have signed non disclosure agreements, which means we cannot legally share any information you provide within your application without your permission, unless that information can cause harm to yourself or others.

Ask for help.

Work with a trusted advisor, mentor, or friend who can help you see the forest for the trees. They may remember an anecdotal story that may elevate your application to the next level.

Review.

Even the most renown authors have an editor. Review your application before submission. However, please know, we will not discount your application because of grammatical errors.

Still have questions?

Please share, in detail, what questions or clarifications you have or need. Submissions are directed to Small Business Grant Committee.

Committee Transparency

The Small Business Grants Committee is comprised of women who have launched their own brands based in rural America.

Amber Wright (Dreamcatcher Sports, Sunset Corner, Vian T-Shirt Company)
Brooke Taylor (Rural Gone Urban)