What is Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (SELF)?
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (SELF) is delivered by BDC / ISED / Black-led organizations as a loan. Funding is typically up to $250,000. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $250,000 |
|---|---|
| Cost share | N/A (loan) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Loan |
| Delivered by | BDC / ISED / Black-led organizations |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open — applied through Black-led financial institutions |
| Last verified | Apr 2026 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All sectors
- Eligible activities: Business startup; expansion; working capital; equipment — Black-owned businesses
Watch out for
Non-Black majority ownership
Deadlines & how to apply
Part of Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP); apply through certified Black-led IFIs at ised.gc.ca
How NorthGrants helps with Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (SELF)
Most business owners read about Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (SELF), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.