The Charter FundWhy we award equipment, not cash
The Charter Fund exists because the biggest barrier for many small business owners isn't ambition, it's the cost of the tools needed to do the work.
Our mission
A camera, a laptop, a reliable point-of-sale system, the right equipment can be the difference between an idea and a working business. The Charter Fund awards equipment grants directly to small business owners and entrepreneurs so they can get the tools they need without taking on debt or waiting years to save for them.
We work with people who already have the skill and the drive, what they're missing is the capital tools require up front. A grant from The Charter Fund closes that gap directly, putting the actual equipment in someone's hands instead of asking them to find their own way to it first.
Our vision
A future where the cost of equipment is never the reason a business doesn't start, or doesn't grow. We want small business owners and independent workers to compete on their skill and their service, not on who could afford better tools going in.
Every grant we award is a bet on someone who's already doing the work. Our aim is to keep making that bet, one piece of equipment at a time, and to keep the process simple enough that applying for help never feels like its own barrier.
Why equipment, not cash
We award equipment because it's the most direct way to help a business get to work. Every approved application results in a real piece of equipment ordered and shipped, not a check. This keeps the grant tied to its purpose and easier to account for on both sides.
Cash can get redirected to whatever feels most urgent that month, rent, payroll, an unexpected bill. Equipment can't. It arrives as the exact camera, laptop, or point-of-sale system a business asked for, already tied to the work it was meant to support.
It also makes the grant easier to account for on both sides. We know exactly what was awarded and why, and the recipient has a tool in hand, not a balance to explain later.
How it works
Create Account
Sign up with your email and complete your profile with basic information about you and your business.
Apply for a Grant
Browse open grants and choose the one that fits your business. Tell us about your business, share some photos for context, and let us know what equipment would help.
Review Process
Our review checks your application against the grant's eligibility and the completeness of your request. This isn't automatic, every application gets an actual read.
Get Approved
If approved, you'll sign a short grant agreement confirming the award and what's being provided.
Receive Equipment
Once your agreement is signed, we order your equipment and keep you updated until it arrives.
General eligibility
Each grant has its own eligibility criteria based on the kind of business or work it's meant to support, you'll find those on each grant's page. Across every grant, a few baseline requirements apply:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must own, or be actively building, a small business or freelance practice
- The equipment you request must have a clear business purpose
- You'll need to agree to the grant's terms before an award is finalized
