The Big Dreams Grant Terms and Conditions

1. Sponsor & Partner 

1.1 The Big Dreams Grant (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Simply Business, LLC, with its registered address at 53 State St. 19th floor, Boston, MA 02109 (“Simply Business”, “we”, “us”). The Contest is administered in partnership with Skysthelimit.org (“Sky’s the Limit” or “STL”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with its registered address at 945 Grosvenor Place, Oakland, CA 94610. Simply Business is the sole funder of the prizes awarded under the Contest.   

2. How to Enter and Applicable Terms

2.1 As an applicant (“Applicant,” “you” and “your”) in the Contest, you must abide by these terms and conditions (“Contest Terms and Conditions”) in order for your entry and participation in the Contest to be valid.

2.2 In order to enter the Contest you must complete the application by entering all of the information listed in this clause before selecting the ‘Submit Entry’ button:

  • Full name
  • Business name
  • Certification that you are over 18 years old
  • Certification that your business has generated a minimum of $25,000 in gross revenue over the last 12 months
  • State your business is located in
  • Email address
  • Answer to the question “Why do you think you should win?”
  • Answer to the question ”How would you use the grant and support?”

2.3 Please only submit information and material that you or your company have ownership of or are fully authorized to use. By submitting an entry to the Contest, you confirm that all information submitted is accurate and complete in all respects, not misleading, and does not infringe on any third party’s intellectual property rights.

2.4 Simply Business and Sky’s the Limit shall not be liable for any loss or claim made against Simply Business, Sky’s the Limit or you, arising from your submission of materials and information as part of your entry to the Contest and Simply Business’ and/or Sky’s the Limit’s subsequent use of that material and information for the purposes of the Contest and any associated marketing as described in these Contest Terms and Conditions.

2.5 By entering the Contest, you hereby indemnify Simply Business and hold us harmless against any claims (however such claims may arise) for any use or display of such material submitted by you, including without limitation any such material published or referred to by us that infringes the intellectual property rights of any third parties.

2.6 Entries which are incomplete or incomprehensible are void and will not be entered into the Contest.

2.7 One entry per person and business. Any entry made in violation of this clause (including without limitation by any connected person or other entity) will be void and that person or those persons will be excluded from the Contest.

2.8 Participants providing false or misleading information will be disqualified. If a disqualified entry wins, the Prize may be withheld or recalled, and an alternative winner chosen. Disqualified individuals or businesses are ineligible for future entries.

2.9 By entering the Contest, you consent to the receipt of any updates and information relating to the Contest from Simply Business and Sky’s The Limit via email.

3. Eligibility

3.1 Eligibility Requirements. The Contest is open to small business owners who meet all of the following requirements:

  • Age 18+ at the time of entering;
  • Are legal residents of the United States;
  • Business must be headquartered in the United States; 
  • Business must have generated a minimum of $25,000 in gross revenue over the last 12 months; 
  • Possess a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (for sole proprietorships) and able to provide a valid W-9 upon request to Simply Business;
  • If the business is a registered business entity, it must be in good standing in the state(s) it is registered in; and
  • If the business is a sole proprietorship, the applicant must be able to provide upon request proof of business activity, such as a DBA registration, a valid local business license, professional license, or permit, or a redacted invoice issued in the last 60 days (removing all client identifying information).

Simply Business may request documentation to verify the above eligibility requirements. Failure to provide the requested documentation within two (2) days of Simply Business’ request may result in disqualification from the Contest in Simply Business’ sole discretion.

3.2 No Purchase Necessary. No purchase or payment of fee is necessary to enter the Contest. Opting into Simply Business’ or Sky’s the Limit’s marketing emails is optional and will not improve or decrease your ability to win a Prize. 

3.3 Restrictions. Please note the following restrictions apply:

  • Employees of Simply Business and/or Sky’s the Limit and their immediate families are ineligible to enter the Contest.
  • Any company owned or controlled by a Judge is ineligible to enter the Contest.
  • Businesses or owners engaged in any illegal activity are ineligible.

4. Start and Closing Dates

4.1 The Contest will open on April 29, 2026. All entries for the Contest must be received by June 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM EST. Any entries received after 11:59 PM EST on June 18, 2026 will be rejected.

5. Prizes

5.1 Description of Prizes

  • Grand Prize: Five (5) winners (each a “Grand Prize Winner”) will each receive:
    • $5,000 cash grant;
    • One (1) year of free access to Sky’s the Limit’s Launchpad platform* (“Launchpad” or “Launchpad Program”); and
    • Opportunity to attend one (1) one-hour group mentoring session with the other Grand Prize Winners hosted by Sky’s the Limit
  • Runner Up Prize: Twenty (20) runner ups (each a “Runner Up”) will each receive six (6) months of free access to Sky’s the Limit’s Launchpad platform*.

*Accessing Launchpad will require Grand Prize Winners and Runner Ups to create an online account with Sky’s the Limit. Access to Launchpad as part of either the Grand or Runner Up Prize does not include any add-on on tools, features, or services available within Launchpad that require an additional fee. 

5.2 Prizes are non-transferrable and must be accepted as awarded.

5.3 Sky’s the Limit Website. The Prizes include access to Launchpad, Sky’s the Limit online business resource platform via Sky’s the Limit’s website (the website and Launchpad are collectively referred to herein as the “STL Website”). The STL Website is owned, operated, and controlled exclusively by Sky’s the Limit, an independent entity. Your use of the STL Website is governed solely by Sky’s the Limit’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Simply Business is not the owner of and has no control over the STL Website’s content, security, availability, or performance. Simply Business disclaims any and all liability arising from your use of, or inability to use, the STL Website, including but not limited to data breaches, technical failures, or the quality of business resources provided. Any claims, disputes, or issues related to the STL Website are the sole responsibility of Sky’s the Limit and must be directed exclusively to Sky’s the Limit.

6. Judging process & Criteria 

6.1 Judging Process. This is a skill contest where the Grand Prize Winners will be judged and selected based on the merits of their answers to the application questions about their business in accordance with the criteria set forth below. The judging process will be as follows: (1) Simply Business will review and score the Contest submissions based on the criteria below (the “First Round”) and the top 25 highest-scoring eligible submissions (the “Shortlist”) will proceed to the next round; then (2) a panel of judges from Simply Business and Sky’s the Limit (each a “Judge” and collectively the “Judges”) will review and score the Shortlisted submissions based on the criteria below (the “Second Round”) and the top (5) five highest scoring entries from the Judge’s review will be the Grand Prize Winners. The remaining twenty (20) submissions on the Shortlist will receive the Runner Up Prize listed above. If fewer than five (5) submissions are deemed legitimate and submitted in accordance with these Contest Terms and Conditions, up to five (5) submissions will be selected as Grand Prize Winners. If fewer than twenty (20) submissions are deemed legitimate and submitted in accordance with these Contest Terms and Conditions, up to twenty (20) will be selected as Runner Up Prize winners. All judging results are final. 

6.2 Criteria. The submissions during the First Round and Second Round will each be judged and scored on their answers to the two following questions and associated criteria listed below each question. All criteria categories will be given equal weight during the First and Second Rounds judging, except in the event of a tie.

  1.  Why should you win this prize? 
  • Criteria 1: What makes your business unique and impactful?
    • Tell us about the special skill, the niche market, or the innovative way you serve your customers that sets you apart.
  • Criteria 2: A ‘Big Dream’ needs a solid foundation. How have you validated that your business is ready to scale?
    • Show us the demand through your numbers, customer feedback, or market research that proves you’ve found the right “sweet spot” in your industry.
  • Criteria 3: What is your plan for financial stability and growth?
    • A big dream needs a sustainable plan. How will you scale your current revenue, and what financial milestones are you aiming for to ensure your business continues to grow year after year?
  1. How will you use the grant and the Launchpad program to grow your business?
  • Criteria 4: How do you plan to use the grant money?
    • Be specific. Is it equipment, marketing, operational systems? Give us a breakdown of how this cash will remove a specific hurdle to your growth.
  • Criteria 5: What do you need to learn to help you grow alongside your business?
    • Tell us what you want to gain from the Sky’s the Limit Launchpad Program. Financial planning and mastery? Leadership skills? Strategic planning?

6.3 Tie Breakers. In the event of a tie between two or more Applicants at any stage of the judging process, the tie will be broken by applying the following criteria in sequential order until the tie is resolved:

  1. Primary Tie-Breaker: The Applicant with the higher individual score for Criteria 1 category will be deemed winner of the tie. 
  2. Secondary Tie-Breaker: If a tie still remains, the Applicant with the higher individual score in the Criteria 4 category will be deemed the winner of the tie. 
  3. Final Determination: In the unlikely event that a tie persists after applying the above, Simply Business will appoint a Tie-Breaking Judge (who was not involved in the First or Second Round) to re-evaluate and score the tied entries based on the criteria above. The highest score after the Tie-Breaking Judge’s review will win.   
  4. Under no circumstances will a tie be resolved by random drawing or any element of chance. 

7. Winner Announcement

7.1 The five (5) Grand Prize Winners and Runner Ups will be selected on or before July 29, 2026 and will be notified by email by that date. The Grand Prize Winners will be announced on or before July 29, 2026 on the Contest webpage. 

7.2 The names of the businesses that won the Grand Prize will be sent to anyone who writes to us at the address above, within 3 months of the Grand Prize Winners being announced, provided you enclose a stamped addressed envelope and mark your request as “requesting details of the Grand Prize Winners of the Big Dreams Grant.”

8. Prize Receipt Details & Requirements

Grand Prize: Cash Grant

8.1 In order to receive the cash grant portion of the Grand Prize, each selected Grand Prize Winner must: 

  • successfully complete OFAC screening before the Grand Prize is awarded. Grand Prize Winners will be contacted on or before July 29, 2026 to provide the following information necessary for Simply Business to conduct such OFAC screening: Applicant’s full name (first, middle, and last name), date of birth, home address, name of business, tax ID, and business address.  Any Grand Prize Winner that does not successfully complete OFAC screening will be deemed ineligible for the Grand Prize and disqualified from the Contest, and a replacement winner will be selected from the Shortlisted businesses of Runner Ups;
  • Provide a valid and complete IRS Form W-9; and
  • Provide either Paypal or U.S. bank account information for receipt of cash grant.

Each Grand Prize Winner must provide the above information and documentation within two days of receiving the request from Simply Business. Failure to provide required information and documentation within two (2) days of the request may result in forfeiture of the Grand Prize.  

8.2 The cash grant portion of the Grand Prize will be paid by Sky’s the Limit by either Paypal or wire transfer to the Grand Prize Winner’s bank account, at Grand Prize Winner’s option, no later than 45 days following the successful completion of OFAC screening.

Grand Prize: One Hour Sky’s the Limit Mentor Session 

8.3 The one-hour group mentoring session hosted by Sky’s the Limit (the “STL Mentor Session”) is a collective prize awarded to all five Grand Prize Winners. Grand Prize Winners will be contacted via email by Sky’s the Limit to schedule the STL Mentor Session (in accordance with the date selection process below) within 14 days of being notified of their win by Simply Business to determine. 

8.4 To ensure the Session occurs in a timely manner, Grand Prize Winners must respond to any scheduling outreach (whether via email or digital scheduling link, such as Calendly) within five (5) days of the date the communication was sent. If a Grand Prize Winner fails to respond within this five (5) day window, they will forfeit their right to participate in the STL Mentor Session. In such an event, Charity reserves the right to proceed with the remaining responsive Grand Prize Winners.

8.5 The following date selection process for the STL Mentor Session shall apply:

  • Phase 1 (Mutual Agreement): Sky’s the Limit will first attempt to secure a date and time that is mutually agreeable to all five (5) Grand Prize Winners.
  • Phase 2 (Majority Rule): If, despite reasonable efforts, a mutual date cannot be agreed upon within 45 days of the initial outreach, the STL Mentor Session date will be determined by the availability of the majority of responsive Grand Prize Winners,, subject to STL’s mentor availability.
  • Phase 3 (Finality): Once a date is finalized via majority availability, any Grand Prize Winner unable to attend that specific time slot will forfeit the STL Mentor Session portion of the Grand Prize. No make-up sessions, substitutions, or cash equivalents will be provided for the missed session.

8.6 The STL Mentor Session is a one-time group event. The inability of one or more Grand Prize Winners to attend the finalized date shall not obligate Sky’s the Limit or Simply Business to reschedule or delay the STL Mentor Session for the remaining participants.

Grand Prize and Runner Up: Launchpad Access

8.7 Sky’s the Limit will email the Grand Prize Winners and Runner Ups with an activation code to access their Launchpad membership within 14 days of Simply Business notifying the Grand Prize Winners and Runners Ups of their prizes. Launchpad activation links will remain valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. If a Grand Prize Winner or Runner Up fails to activate their account within this timeframe, the link will expire and access to Launchpad will be forfeited. 

8.8 The approximate retail value of a one year membership to Launchpad is $828 and the approximate retail value of a six month membership to Launchpad is $414.

9. Taxes

9.1  Any and all federal, state, and local taxes (including income and withholding taxes), as well as any other costs and expenses associated with the acceptance and use of the Prizes not specifically stated herein, are the sole responsibility of the Winner. Neither Simply Business nor Sky’s the Limit shall be responsible for any tax liabilities arising from the awarding of the Prizes. The winner’s receipt of the Prize is contingent upon full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local tax laws and regulations. Simply Business will issue the appropriate tax form to the Grand Prize Winners based on the value of the Grand Prize, which exceeds the $2,000 IRS reporting threshold in 2026 for games and prizes. Winners are advised to seek independent guidance regarding the tax implications of their prize with qualified tax professionals.

10. Grand Prize Winner Publicity and Release

10.1 By accepting any portion of the Grand Prize, each Grand Prize Winner grants to Simply Business and Sky’s the Limit (collectively, the “Licensed Parties”) a world-wide, royalty-free, fully paid-up, perpetual, irrevocable and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, distribute, display, create derivative works from and otherwise use the Grand Prize Winner’s name, business name, business logo, likeness, voice, photo, business location and any materials or information submitted as part of the contest application or provided to the Licensed Parties during any follow up outreach (excluding any payment details, W9 information, or documentation requested to verify eligibility for the Contest) (collectively, the “Materials”). The Grand Prize Winners agree to waive any moral rights or rights of privacy or publicity they may have in the Materials. 

10.2 The Licensed Parties may use the Materials in any media, including but not limited to, websites, social media platforms, email newsletters, digital advertisements, print materials, internal collateral and press releases for any purpose related to promoting or discussing the Contest. Such uses may include, but are not limited to:

  • Featuring the Grand Prize Winners’ photos and biographies on the Licensed Parties’ social medial channels;
  • Featuring the Grand Prize Winners photos, biographies, and business descriptions on the Licensed Parties’ websites;
  • Following up with Grand Prize Winners on or before October 19, 2026 to discuss how the Winner utilized the cash grant and feature those stories on the Licensed Parties’ social channels, websites, future contest promotional materials, and internal collateral. 
  • Leveraging Grand Prize Winners’ stories in press releases, media outreach, and media placements.

11. Data Privacy

11.1 We use the information collected in your submission and as otherwise provided to us by You during the Contest to administer the Contest, verify eligibility, judge entries, contact the winner, administer the Prizes, issue applicable tax forms and for certain marketing and promotional activity as described in these Contest Terms and Conditions. 

11.2 As set forth in Section 2.9, we will keep you informed of the Contest via email. Please write to us at the address above if you specifically do not want to receive this information by email or you can email us at [email protected]. You will also be asked to give your consent to receiving marketing emails from Simply Business and Sky’s the Limit when entering the Contest. Consenting to receive Simply Business and/or Sky’s the Limit marketing emails is optional, does not improve your chances of winning, and is not a condition of entry. 

11.3 By entering this Contest, you acknowledge and agree that your application data, if you qualify for the Second Round, will be shared with Sky’s the Limit for the limited and sole purpose of conducting the judging and distributing the Prizes; however, if you elect to visit the Sky’s the Limit website or opt-in to receive their marketing communications, you agree that Simply Business is not responsible for their independent data handling practices, and such interactions shall be governed exclusively by Sky’s the Limit’s own privacy policy and terms of use.

11.4 For more information about our data handling and collection practices, please visit our privacy policy.

12. California Privacy Notice

12.1 Notice at Collection

When you apply for the Contest, Simply Business collects the following categories of personal information:

  • Identifiers: First and last name, email address, and whether you are over 18 years of age.
  • Professional/Business Information: Business name, state your business is located in, details about your business and your reasons for applying for the grant.

If Simply Business needs to verify your eligibility for the Contest, we may ask you to provide documentation to support the eligibility requirements listed in Section 3.1.

If you are selected as a Grand Prize winner, we will also ask you to provide the following information to conduct an OFAC screening prior to issuing to you payment of the grant money, prepare any necessary tax forms, and disburse payment:

  • Full legal name (first, middle, and last)
  • Home address
  • Business address (if different from home address)
  • Payment details (either U.S. bank instructions or Paypal account information)
  • IRS W9 Form with valid EIN or if sole proprietorship, a valid SSN

Purpose of Collection: We use this information to administer the Contest, verify eligibility, judge entries, contact the winner, administer the Prizes, issue applicable tax forms and for certain marketing and promotional activity as described in the Contest Terms and Conditions. We will also share your information with Sky’s the Limit as described in and subject to Section 11.3 of the Contest Terms and Conditions. If you choose to opt-in to our marketing emails, we will also use your email to send you marketing communications. If you choose to opt-in to Sky’s the Limit’s emails, we will provide your email address to Sky’s the Limit. 

Retention: We retain the personal information collected as part of the Contest for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in these Contest Terms and Conditions and for the length of time thereafter during which we determine may have a legitimate need to retain your information, including to comply with any legal obligations or to address any issues that may arise. To determine the appropriate retention period for personal information, we will consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of that personal information, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure, the purposes for which we retain your personal information and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means. 

For more information about our data handling and collection practices when you use our website and/or services, please visit the privacy notice for CA residents.

12.2. Notice of Financial Incentive

Because the Contest offers Prizes in exchange for your application and information, it may be considered a “financial incentive” under California law.

Material Terms: No purchase necessary to apply. You must provide the requested application information, accept the Contest Terms and Conditions, and meet the eligibility requirements to be eligible to apply. Participation in Simply Business’ or Sky’s the Limit’s marketing emails is optional and does not increase your chances of winning.

How to Apply: Submit your application here. 

How to Withdraw: You may withdraw from the Contest at any time by emailing [email protected]. If you opted into marketing emails, you can unsubscribe via the link in any email.

Value of Data: Our good-faith estimate of the value of the data collected as part of this Contest is $20.00 per applicant, which is based on the total cost of the Prizes awarded and administrative costs paid by SB ($25,000 in cash grants plus $15,000 in fees to Sky’s the Limit, which will provide contest administration support, access to their Launchpad platform, and one-hour mentoring session), divided by the expected number of entrants, which in our estimate will be around 2,000 businesses.

13. Release of Liability 

13.1 By participating, Applicants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless Simply Business, Sky’s the Limit, and their respective officers, directors and employees from any and all claims or damages arising out of participation in the Contest, the use of any Prize, or any marketing or promotional activity done in accordance with the Contest Terms and Conditions.

14. Miscellaneous

14.1 If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, Simply Business reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. In the event it takes any such action, it may, in its discretion, select winners from among all eligible entries received prior to the action taken.

14.2 These Contest Terms and Conditions shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Boston, Massachusetts.

14.3 If any provision of these Contest Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from the remainder of these Contest Terms and Conditions, which will otherwise remain in full force and effect.

14.4 The descriptive section and subsection headings used in these Contest Terms and Conditions are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of the Contest Terms and Conditions, nor shall they be used to construe, limit, or modify any of its terms or provisions.

14.5 These Contest Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between the Applicant and Simply Business and Sky’s the Limit regarding the Contest. No oral or written representations, warranties, or inducements have been made other than those expressly set forth herein.

14.6 Simply Business’ failure to enforce any term of these Contest Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

14.7 This Contest is void where prohibited or restricted.