Content and SEO Services to Help Businesses Grow

Get six months of free content and SEO support, because good businesses deserve to be discovered.

‍Applications due by June 12th, 2026

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What Is the Compose.ly Growth Grant?

The Compose.ly Growth Grant is a 6-month content and SEO partnership awarded to one small business or nonprofit with a clear mission who is looking to grow. 

Good businesses don't always have the budget to compete online. We know that, and we think it's worth doing something about. We’re selecting one company to partner with, helping them build visibility, attract the right audience, and turn that attention into meaningful growth.

For us, this is an investment in a brand we believe in.

Apply for the Grant
SEO strategist holding laptop to boost search visibility and engagement

What the Compose.ly Growth Grant Includes

This 6-month content, SEO, and AI visibility partnership, valued at $7,500, includes:

Month 1

The Foundation

  • Keyword research to uncover your best growth opportunities
  • Technical SEO audit with a clear action plan
  • Kickoff strategy meeting with your dedicated Compose.ly Account Manager
Months 2–6

The Work

  • 2 SEO-optimized blog posts per month (up to 1,000 words each)
  • Topic ideation with content briefs for each article
  • Monthly report meetings to review progress and adjust strategy

Who Should Apply?

This grant is geared toward small businesses and nonprofits that are ready to grow and just need the right partner.

We welcome applications from any industry. What matters most is your mission, your momentum, and your readiness to do the work.

I’m Ready to Apply

You should apply if you:

Have fewer than 20 employees or under $3M in annual revenue
Are a for-profit or nonprofit organization based in the US
Have an active website and basic analytics in place (Google Analytics and Search Console)
Have a clear mission where growing your business creates real-world impact (think: community support, sustainability, accessibility, economic opportunity)
Have someone internally who can collaborate monthly and manage the relationship
Are willing to share your story after the program

How To Apply

Step 1

Submit your application

Fill out our online application form by June 12th. You'll answer questions about your business, mission, audience, and growth goals. You'll also have the option to record a short video (2 minutes or less), sharing why your business should be selected. Videos over 2 minutes will not be reviewed.
Step 2

We review all applications

All applications will be reviewed based on the scoring rubric below. The top 10 applicants will advance to a panel review. Four judges with varying marketing experience will review, score, and select the final recipient. AI tools will assist in the initial review, but our judges make the final call.
Step 3

We announce the winner

We select one recipient based on mission impact, growth potential, and execution readiness. We will notify the winner by June 30th and kick off the partnership in July.

Timeline

May 12

Applications Open

June 12

Deadline to Apply

June 15 - 28

Evaluation Period

June 30

Winner Selected

July 1

Public Announcement

July – Dec 2026

Program Runs

Submit My Application

Scoring Rubric

We’re looking for the company where this partnership will do the most good, both for their business growth and for the people their mission serves. Here’s what we’re weighing in our application review:

Weight
Category
What We’re Looking For
25%
Mission & Impact: How meaningful and impactful is your mission of doing good?
Show off the real-world difference your work makes. The stronger the connection between your growth and your impact, the better.
20%
Content-Driven Growth Opportunity: Will good content and SEO strategy help you find new customers?
Help us see that content and SEO can meaningfully move the needle for your business. Show us you understand your audience and what they're searching.
20%
Ability to Execute: Do you have the foundation to implement the partnership?
We're looking for someone who will be a great partner and collaborator. Tell us who will own this relationship internally and how you plan to build on our work together after the program ends.
20%
Quality of Application & Program Alignment: How compelling was your application for this program?
Be specific about why this grant, why now, and what metrics you'll use to measure success. A compelling application helps us see exactly what we'd be building together.
15%
Traction & Business Viability: Is your business in growth mode?
Early traction and a viable model tell us you're ready to grow. Tell us what motion and momentum look like for you right now.

Meet the Review Panel

Nicole MacLean
CEO,
Compose.ly
Robert Bernsteen
Sr. Account Manager,
Compose.ly
Elizabeth Irvine
Sr. Director of Growth Marketing, Siteimprove
Martin Hamery
Production Team Lead, GetYourGuide

FAQs

Why did you create this Growth Grant?
  • We work with a lot of companies that have strong products, clear missions, and real potential—but they struggle to get in front of the right audience. Not because they’re doing anything wrong. But because visibility today is hard.
  • Search is changing. AI is reshaping how people discover brands. And great companies often get overlooked simply because they don’t have the right content strategy in place.
  • We created the Growth Grant to give these companies the chance to work with a partner and make the investments in their business without the fear of agencies overpromising and underdelivering.
Does this cost me anything?

Nope! This is a fully funded 6-month partnership. It’s free to apply, and won’t cost the final recipient anything. All we’ll ask is for collaboration and the opportunity to share the results as a case study.


How many companies will be selected?

Just one. We do plan to make this a bi-annual initiative, so if you’re not selected this year, check back in Q4 this year when applications will open up for the second grant.

What happens if I’m not selected?

Great question! If you’re not selected, but still want to invest in content and SEO, we will make this package available at a discounted price point for everyone who applies.

How do I know if my business is a good fit?

If your company is under 20 employees and/or $3M in revenue, US-based, has an active website, and a clear story about how growing your business creates impact. Unsure? Apply and let us decide. We'd rather you submit and hear back from us than talk yourself out of it.

Do I need an existing marketing team?

You don’t need a full team—but you do need someone who can work with us and implement recommendations.

What kind of results can I expect from this grant?

While that depends on your starting point, the goal is simple: more visibility, better traffic, improved credibility, and a foundation you can build on long-term.

What happens after the 6 month grant? 

While the grant will end in December 2026, it doesn’t mean the relationship has to. If the recipient is seeing results and wants to continue, we’d love to keep working together. Our team will work with you to create a scope that works with your budget and growth goals.