The Vertical Giving Grant Program
Vertical Giving’s Cannabis Business Grant Program awards recipients a monetary prize and business resources from a leading team of industry executives. This extensive program offers small business owners the opportunity to collaborate with an array of experienced leaders and promote their products across our company distribution and retail connections. By offering these opportunities we seek to advance groups disproportionately affected by flawed cannabis policies in our fight for racial equity.
We are mindful of the racial disparities in the aftermath of cannabis prohibition and are eager to be a part of the solution by creating extensive grant and business resource programs.
The grant is set to be offered twice a year, which includes a $10,000 grant and additional business resources recipients can utilize. Applicants will be awarded based on their unique brands/cannabis-adjacent business run by individuals (or pairs) who promote diversity, have a willingness to put in sweat equity, and care about the impact they have on the community at large.
All applications will be completed and submitted online using our grant application form.
Application Process
*Vertical strongly recommends creating a detailed timeline of goals for your business with estimated dates and intended grant fund allocation.*
1. Applicant Criteria
– Applicant should currently own a cannabis brand or a cannabis-adjacent business OR have an idea for a cannabis brand or cannabis-adjacent business
– Must be located in California – Must be over 21 years of age
– Applicant can either submit a written or recorded statement.
2. Application review period
– Judging will be based on our V-Giving rubric.
– Applicant Rubric will be judged by a panel of (5) individuals.
– Winner to be named after application process closes and review phase is completed.
Grant application Schedule
2022 Spring Grant:
Application process: December 1, 2021 – January 15, 2022
Review process: January 15, 2022 – January 23, 2022
Winner announced: January 28, 2022
How To Apply
1. Review Scoring Rubric Below
2. Apply Using Online Application Below
