Nominate A Small Business For A $20,000 Grant Through Intuit QuickBooks’ Small Business Heroes Initiative

Everybody has that small business in their community that goes above and beyond to help others. Maybe it’s a restaurant that hosts neighborhood events that bring the community together. Or a shop that raises money for local students. Or just an owner who always goes the extra mile to help their neighbors, customers and employees.

Now there’s a chance to spotlight those unique businesses and thank them for their hard work. Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp’s Small Business Hero Program is giving people the opportunity to nominate a local standout small business for a chance to win $20,000 and yearlong support.

Small businesses are so important to their communities, yet they often don’t receive the recognition or support they deserve. Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp founded Small Business Hero Day to honor the people making a difference. Emma Rodgers, SVP of marketing at Intuit, aims for this initiative to “help provide a greater support system for small businesses across the country and the communities they serve.”

Every Small Business Hero Day, Intuit selects three businesses that give back to their community and demonstrate courage, perseverance and integrity, awarding them a $20,000 grant to help with their continued success.

This year, Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp announced the exciting expansion of Hero Day into the Small Business Hero Program. With this new initiative, they will now award three grants every quarter, quadrupling the number of small businesses that will receive the support and resources they need to continue their inspiring work. The awardees don’t just receive a $20,000 grant. Intuit also makes a yearlong commitment to give owners access to other important resources to help them grow and support their communities.

How to Nominate a Small Business

Do you know a small business that deserves recognition? Head to the site to nominate them! All you need to do is click the “Nominate now” button and fill out a bit of info about the business, and your nominee could be on their way to being recognized as a Hero and winning $20,000. You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the U.S. to nominate someone.

This year, three outstanding businesses were each awarded a $20,000 prize: Perry’s Joint, BJ’s Nevada Barbecue and the Homeless Garden Project. Perry Bennett of Perry’s Joint contributes to his community in many ways, and that includes donating a full day’s profits to scholarships for local students every year. For Bennett, running a small business is about more than making a profit: “This is about the people. This is about the community,” Bennett said. “This is about seeing where you can do something…and it has to come from the heart.”

Chef Jay Rathmann of BJ’s Nevada Barbecue helps his local culinary community by mentoring local students and enhancing culinary education, while the Homeless Garden Project helps those experiencing homelessness with programs like job training, transitional employment and other vital support services.

Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp have been honoring standout businesses since 2022 through the Hero Day program. Past winners have run the gamut from cafés to workshops to dance studios. One of the 2022 recipients, a café called The Hive, is a nonprofit that employs individuals with varying abilities. Run by special needs teacher Melissa Skaggs, the eatery serves both as a community hub and as a career launchpad for people with disabilities. MASS Collective, a recipient from 2023, provides woodworking lessons for marginalized groups, and in 2024, Elite Formation Studio of Dance was awarded the grant for bringing jazz, tap and ballet to students of diverse backgrounds.

Nominate a small business, and learn more about Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp’s Small Business Hero Program here.