Deadline: 2 March 2020
Enter the 2020 FedEx Small Business Grant Contest for a chance to elevate your business.
Funding Information
- Grand Prize: 1 winner of $50,000 + $7,500 in FedEx Office print and business services
- Silver prize: 1 $30,000 winner + $5,000 in FedEx Office print and business services
- Bronze prize: 10 $15,000 winners + $1,000 in FedEx Office print and business services
- There will be up to 4 additional Prize Packages based on prize level:
- Website Optimization or Website Audit Prize Package:
- Grand Prize: Custom in depth Technical SEO Website Audit detailing all SEO (search engine optimization) deficiencies and detailed recommendations for improvements, valued between $2,500 – $5,000 depending on number of website pages; audit takes approximately 30-45 days.
- Silver Prize: 1 Website Conversion Optimization Audit detailing potential conversion issues and recommended enhancements to improve conversion, valued between $1,500 – $2,000 depending on number of website pages; audit can take up to 30 days to complete.
- Bronze Prize: 1 Website Audit with high level review and recommendations for enhancements to SEO, valued at $50; audit can take up to 14 days to complete.
- Trip to FedEx World Headquarters:
- All winners: All expense paid trip for up to 2 people/owners per business to FedEx World Headquarters in Memphis, TN. Includes group meetings with all winners and high-level FedEx executives across Marketing, Sales, Innovation, along with special behind-the-scenes tour of the FedEx Express World Hub (dependent upon availability). Other meetings/opportunities as available may be added during the trip. Valued up to $4,000 per business.
- Print Expert Consultation Prize Package:
- All winners: 1 30-minute consultation with a dedicated FedEx Office representative to discuss opportunities for usage of FedEx Office prize towards print and business services including custom branded packaging at FedEx Office. Consultation and print services prize package available until May 31, 2021.
- FedEx Rewards Voucher:
- All winners: Each winning business will receive 1 $300 voucher redeemable through My FedEx Rewards limited catalog. Voucher expires August 4, 2020.
- Website Optimization or Website Audit Prize Package:
Eligibility Criteria
The Contest is open to only legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who at the time of entry are independent owners/operators of an eligible for-profit small business that:
- is domiciled in the 50 United States or District of Columbia which has been in continuous operation selling a product or service for not less than 6 months.
- has a valid 9-digit FedEx shipping account number. In order to be considered an eligible “small business” for purposes of this Contest, the business must meet all of the following criteria:
- Entrant/owner must be at least 18 years of age at the time of Entry Submission;
- The business must be currently active, lawful, have all necessary and required licenses and registrations;
- Entrant/owner must be an authorized agent of the registered business;
- The business must be in good standing as of the date of Submission and must remain so through the end of the Contest;
- The business must have a valid 9-digit FedEx shipping account number
- The business must have no more than 99 employees on its payroll at the time of Submission (sole proprietors are considered as an employee and part-time employees are included);
- Neither the business itself or any owner of nor any investor in the business may be:
- a previous FedEx Small Business Grant Contest Winner;
- a past or current member of the FedEx Entrepreneur Advisory Board;
- in any way affiliated with a franchised or direct seller business;
- or an authorized FedEx reseller;
- The primary purpose of the business must not be in competition with FedEx or any FedEx operating companies;
- The business must not be under bankruptcy protection or have judicial liens or attachments.
How to Apply
- To enter the Contest, entrants (“Entrants”) are required to visit the Contest website and submit an entry (the “Entry” or the “Entry Submission”).
- A 9-digit FedEx shipping account is required to enter the Contest.
- Entrants will be required to provide responses to the following:
- Give them your elevator pitch (tell them what you do, what you sell) in 140 characters or less including spaces;
- Tell them about your business, what inspired you to get into it, what makes your business stand out and what difference it makes on you, your community or the environment, in 500 characters or less including spaces; and
- Tell them how you would use the FedEx Small Business Grant money to make a significant impact on your business, in 500 characters or less including spaces.
For more information, visit https://www.fedex.com/en-us/small-business/grant-contest.html