The Sephora Beauty Grant
Enter for your chance to win $100,000 to grow your beauty business!
Fifteen Percent Pledge and Sephora are thrilled to open applications for the 2027 Sephora Beauty Grant -- a $100,000 grant designed to support and elevate beauty businesses led by underrepresented founders. This transformative program delivers the funding, mentorship, and visibility that bold, boundary-pushing brands need to scale and thrive.
This year, the Sephora Beauty Grant recipient will receive:
- $100,000 in grant funding
- Pro-bono consulting support
- An opportunity to meet with Sephora merchants
We congratulate last year’s grant recipient, Denise Vasi of MAED, recognized for her leadership, innovation, and dedication. In 2026, we are proud to continue building on this legacy by empowering another outstanding founder.
How to Apply: Applicants must create, update, or complete their business profile in our Business Equity Community in order to access the application questions. The application will be open for four weeks.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business sells a CPG product and has annual revenue of $100K
- Business is located in the United States
- Business must have 51% or more ownership by an underrepresented founder or founding team. Underrepresented founders include, but are not limited to, Black/African/African American, AAPI, Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, women and first-generation immigrant founders; founders whose parents’ earned income was below the poverty level; and founders from any other background historically overlooked in venture capital funding, regardless of race
- Must have been in business for at least 1 year
- Must sell a product in at least one of the following categories: Beauty, Haircare, Makeup / Makeup tools, Skincare, Fragrance, Bath & Body
Application Process + Timeline
Applicants can apply on our website here. The application will be open for four weeks, September 29th through October 30th 2026. Applicants will be notified of their application status via email. Before you get started on the application, we recommend reviewing a resource document we created for you to submit your strongest application: Application tips and resources.
September 29, 2026
Application opens
Application opens
October 30, 2026
Application closes
Application closes
Early January 2027
Finalists notified
Finalists notified
Early February 2027
Winner notified and announced
Winner notified and announced
See FAQs for more information. Got additional questions? Email brands@15pp.org
About the Fifteen Percent Pledge
The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a racial equity and economic justice non-profit organization addressing the inequities that exist throughout the American consumer economy and working towards closing the racial wealth gap. In recognition that Black people in the U.S. compromise nearly 15% of the population, the Fifteen Percent Pledge calls on major retailers and corporations to commit a minimum of 15% of their shelf space, sales revenue, and annual spend to support Black-owned businesses. In 2022, the Pledge was the recipient of Fast Company's Most Innovative Company of the Year Award.
Donations
Are you are a founder, venture capitalist, corporate employee, or other leader who wants to invest or contribute to funding a grant for a Black business owner?
Individuals can also donate here to support the Pledge's general operations and long-term organizational growth.