Pay It Forward is Spectrum Reach's commitment to inspiring and growing underserved businesses. The program awards grant packages to small businesses nationwide. These grants include

• Complimentary traditional TV and streaming ad campaigns
• Creative services
• Educational resources
• Business-building mentoring and insights

Since 2001, over 2,200+ diverse grantees have received more than $50M in media and services through Pay It Forward. In 2025, 255 additional businesses will be empowered through the Pay It Forward program.

The program fulfills Spectrum Reach's commitment to foster growth and opportunity within our communities.

Spectrum Reach is committed to supporting the economic growth of all small businesses, as well as community investment.

We welcome applications from all businesses in our local markets. For detailed eligibility, visit our Terms & Conditions.

From advertising grants to educational resources, the benefits are designed to propel your business forward. Check out our About page for more.

To be eligible for a Pay It Forward grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a legal resident of the United States currently residing in an eligible designated market area (DMA). The participating DMAs include Albany, Alpena, Austin, Bolivar, Buffalo, Central NY, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Dayton, Dyer, Evansville, Flint, Greensboro, Greenville, Ashville, Honolulu, Huntsville, Kansas City, Lexington, Los Angeles, Louisville, Marquette, Myrtle Beach, Milwaukee, Montgomery, New York City, Orlando, Paducah, Raleigh, Rochester, St. Louis, Southwest Ohio, Tampa, Tuscaloosa, and Terre Haute.
• Your business must have been in operation for at least one year as of the application date.
• You must not have active or pending bankruptcy.
• Your businesses cannot have done any advertising with Spectrum Reach in the past 13 months.
• A business cannot be a competitor of Sponsor (including its Spectrum, Spectrum Business or Spectrum Reach divisions), as determined by Sponsor.
• Your business must be a for-profit organization.
• A business must be legally registered to do business in an eligible market.

Meeting these eligibility requirements allows you to submit an application for consideration in the Pay It Forward program grant selection process.

The Pay It Forward grant recipients are carefully selected through a competitive review process. Applications are evaluated by a selection committee based on these criteria:

1. Completeness of the application submission.
2. Demonstrated need for the grant by the qualifying business.
3. A clearly articulated plan for how the business will achieve growth goals if awarded.
4. Ways the business aims to uplift their local community through advancing or investing in the economic health of the area.

Applications are scored by the review committee across these qualification areas. Top applicants that best meet the criteria will be selected to receive a 2025 Pay It Forward grant package.

The process is designed to identify motivated and deserving businesses that demonstrate need, readiness for growth, and commitment to community. If you have additional questions on the selection process, please contact our team.