AT&T Small Business Contest 2026: $50,000 Grand Prize Plus Four $5,000 Runner-Up Grants for U.S. Small Businesses

AT&T Small Business Contest 2026: $50,000 Grand Prize Plus Four $5,000 Runner-Up Grants for U.S. Small Businesses

Most small business grants ask for audited financials, multi-year track records, or a polished pitch deck. The 2026 AT&T Small Business Contest takes a lighter approach: a single online entry puts your business in the running for a $50,000 grant, a year of AT&T service with a new device, mentorship resources, and a feature in AT&T’s “She’s Connected” docu-series. Four runners-up each walk away with a $5,000 grant. Applications are open from May 1 through July 31, 2026, and any qualifying small business in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Washington, D.C. can apply — regardless of the owner’s gender, and even if the business applied in a prior year.

Now in its fourth year, the contest is built to spotlight the small businesses that anchor and improve their communities. Because entry is free and the application is short relative to a traditional grant proposal, it is one of the more accessible funding competitions on the calendar for micro and small businesses. This guide explains exactly what the contest offers, who qualifies, how the timeline works, and how to make your single entry as strong as it can be before the July 31 deadline.

Key Details at a Glance

What the Contest Offers

The headline prize is a $50,000 grant for a single grand-prize business. On top of the cash, the winner receives a prize package that includes:

• One year of AT&T service with a new device, which reduces a recurring operating cost for the year.
• Mentorship resources and access to a community of small business owners.
• A feature in “She’s Connected” content — AT&T’s docu-style series spotlighting leaders breaking barriers across sports, business, and their communities. Past subjects have included athletes and entrepreneurs such as A’ja Wilson, Flau’jae Johnson, and Sarah Gorden. For a small business, that kind of exposure is marketing reach that would be expensive to buy.

Beyond the grand prize, four runners-up each receive a $5,000 grant. That means five businesses in total are funded in each contest cycle, so a strong entry has more than one path to an award.

The grants are cash awards to invest in your business. AT&T does not restrict the funds to a specific spending category, so recipients typically direct the money toward equipment, inventory, hiring, marketing, technology, or working capital. As with most business grants, award money is generally treated as taxable business income, so plan to account for it accordingly.

Who Should Apply

This contest is a good fit for a broad range of very small and small businesses, and it is especially worth considering if you are:

• A micro or small business owner who would struggle to compete for grants requiring long financial histories or formal proposals. The eligibility bar is defined by size (up to five locations and 99 or fewer employees), not by revenue milestones.
• A community-rooted business with a clear story about the impact you have on customers, employees, and your neighborhood — the kind of narrative the “She’s Connected” series is built to highlight.
• A previous applicant. AT&T explicitly allows prior entrants to apply again, so a past near-miss is not a reason to sit this cycle out.
• A time-constrained founder who can invest in one focused online entry but cannot dedicate weeks to a formal grant application.

It is a weaker fit for large or multi-unit companies above the size threshold and for pure non-profits that do not operate a qualifying for-profit venture.

Eligibility Requirements

Based on the official contest information, to enter you must meet all of the following:

1. Operate a certified small business located in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Washington, D.C.
2. Qualify under AT&T’s small business definition: an organization with one to five locations and 99 or fewer full- or part-time employees.
3. Be the sole or majority owner of the business and have reached the age of majority in your jurisdiction.
4. Operate a for-profit business — or a non-profit that runs a for-profit venture and otherwise meets the small business criteria.
5. Submit only one entry per eligible business.

The contest is open to all eligible owners regardless of gender, even though it runs under the “She’s Connected” banner. You do not need to be an existing AT&T customer to enter. Full rules, terms, and conditions are published on the official contest page, and you should read them before submitting, since eligibility and administrative details are governed by those official rules.

Application Process and Timeline

The mechanics are straightforward:

1. Go to the official page at more.att.com/shesconnected during the application window.
2. Complete the online entry form. Enter your business information and respond to the prompts about your business and its impact.
3. Submit before the deadline. Only one entry per eligible business is allowed, so treat your single submission as your best shot.

The timeline for the 2026 cycle is:

• May 1, 2026 — Applications open.
• July 31, 2026 — Application deadline. This is a hard cutoff; late entries are not accepted.
• By September 30, 2026 — The five finalists (one grand-prize winner and four runners-up) are notified via email and/or phone.
• 48-hour response window — Finalists must confirm their status within 48 hours of being contacted, so watch your email and phone closely in September.

Because notifications go out by phone and email and require a fast response, make sure the contact details you enter are ones you monitor daily during late September.

Required Materials and Preparation

The contest does not demand the heavy documentation package of a traditional grant. In practice, you should be ready to provide:

• Accurate business details — legal name, location(s), number of employees, and ownership information that confirms you meet the size and majority-ownership criteria.
• A clear description of your business — what you do, who you serve, and what makes it distinctive.
• A compelling impact statement — how your business contributes to its community and how you would put a $50,000 (or $5,000) grant to work.

Even though the entry is short, the narrative matters. Contests like this reward businesses that can explain, concisely and specifically, why funding them produces a visible benefit. Prepare your answers before you open the form so you are not writing under time pressure.

Preparation Strategy

A few practical steps can strengthen your entry:

• Lead with impact, not just need. Judges and audiences respond to a business that improves lives — jobs created, customers served, a neighborhood strengthened. Frame your story around outcomes.
• Be concrete about the money. “Purchase a second delivery vehicle to reach three more towns” is more persuasive than “grow the business.” Tie the $50,000 to a specific, credible next step.
• Confirm you meet the size definition. Double-check your location count and employee headcount against the one-to-five-locations, 99-or-fewer-employees rule before you invest time in the entry.
• Get your contact details right. Finalists have only 48 hours to respond after being contacted in September, so use an email and phone number you check daily.
• Apply early in the window. There is no advantage to waiting until July 31, and applying early protects you from last-minute technical problems.
• Reuse your best material. If you applied in a past year, refine that narrative rather than starting from scratch — prior applicants are welcome to enter again.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing the July 31 deadline. The window is fixed; there is no grace period.
• Submitting more than one entry. Only one entry per eligible business is allowed. Multiple submissions can jeopardize your eligibility.
• Assuming it is women-only. The contest runs under the “She’s Connected” banner but is open to all eligible owners regardless of gender.
• Ignoring the size cap. Businesses above five locations or 99 employees do not qualify. Confirm your numbers first.
• Using a contact you rarely check. With a 48-hour finalist response window, a missed call or email in September could cost you the award.
• Writing a generic entry. A vague “we want to grow” statement is weaker than a specific plan tied to a real community impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to enter? No. The contest is free to enter.

Do I have to be an AT&T customer? No. Being an AT&T customer is not stated as an eligibility requirement; you must meet the small business and ownership criteria.

How many businesses win? Five in total — one grand-prize winner receiving the $50,000 grant and prize package, plus four runners-up who each receive $5,000.

Can non-profits apply? A non-profit that runs a for-profit venture and otherwise meets AT&T’s small business criteria is eligible. A purely non-profit organization is not the intended entrant.

Can I apply if I entered in a previous year? Yes. Previous applicants are encouraged to apply again.

When will I know if I’m a finalist? Finalists are notified by September 30, 2026, via email and/or phone, and must confirm within 48 hours.

Is the grant taxable? Grant awards are generally treated as taxable business income. Consult a tax professional and plan accordingly.

Official Links and Next Steps

Start at the official contest page: https://more.att.com/shesconnected/. There you will find the entry form along with the full official rules, terms, and conditions, which govern eligibility and the selection process. Read the rules, confirm your business meets the size and ownership criteria, prepare a concise and specific description of your business and its community impact, and submit your single entry before the July 31, 2026 deadline.

The smartest approach is simple: enter early, lead with a clear and credible story about the difference your business makes, and be reachable in September when finalists are contacted. With one $50,000 grand prize and four $5,000 runner-up grants on offer, a well-prepared entry has multiple paths to funding — and the only cost to try is the time it takes to tell your story well.