The Sephora Beauty Grant
Enter for your chance to win $100,000 to grow your beauty business!
The Fifteen Percent Pledge and Sephora are excited to open applications for the 2026 Sephora Beauty Grant, a $100,000 grant designed to support and elevate beauty businesses from underrepresented founders. This program provides funding, mentorship, and visibility to help brands scale and thrive.
This year, the 2026 Sephora Beauty Grant recipient will receive:
- $100,000 in unrestricted grant funding
- Pro-bono consulting support
- Recognition on stage at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala in Los Angeles on February 7, 2026
We congratulate last year’s grant recipient, Hannah Diop of Sienna Naturals, recognized for her leadership, innovation, and dedication to textured haircare. 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*
- 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
- *To be eligible to apply, a team must have at least one founding member from such a background, including, but not limited to, backgrounds such as Black/African/African American, AAPI, Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, parents with earned income below the poverty level, first-generation immigrants and women. Founders from any background traditionally overlooked in venture capital funding may apply regardless of race.
Application Process + Timeline
Applicants must first create, update, or complete their business profile in our Business Equity Community in order to access grant application questions. The application will be open for four weeks. Our grantee will be announced at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala in Los Angeles on February 7th, 2026. 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.
October 28
Application opens
Application opens
November 28
Application closes
Application closes
Early January
Finalists notified
Finalists notified
February 7, 2026
Grantee is announced at the Pledge’s annual gala
Grantee is announced at the Pledge’s annual gala
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.