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Small Business Grant

Grant Overview


At Zachary’s Jewelers, we believe that small businesses are the heartbeats of our communities. As a locally rooted company we have participated in the positive difference a business can make when it serves, connects, and uplifts it community.


We created this grant to celebrate and support one local small business that embodies these values and intentions. We’re offering a $5,000 grant to a thriving, community-centered business that is answering the question at the heart of our mission:


"What more can we do to bring humanity to retail?"


This question isn’t just a statement of values — it’s a challenge we live by. It speaks to the way we engage with our customers, care for our employees, and show up for our community. It's a philosophy that has been modeled from the very beginning by our owner, Steve Samaras, who has always believed that business must give back to the people who sustain it.


Over the past three decades, Zachary’s Jewelers has been built with the support of this community — many of whom are small business owners themselves. We've had the honor of walking alongside our customers through celebrations, challenges, and milestones. Their life stories have shaped ours, and this grant is one way we hope to pay that honor forward.
This year, our commitment to doing business with heart deepened even further through a journey our COO took to Botswana. There, she witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of Diamonds Do Good—a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting community development in natural diamond-producing regions. Through initiatives funded by the natural diamond industry, she saw how ethical and sustainable practices help uplift families, empower youth, and strengthen communities. Her experience reaffirmed what we’ve always known: when businesses invest in people, entire communities thrive.


We’re looking to support a local business that shares this belief — one that:


  1. Uplifts its community
  2. Invests in its people
  3. Operates with empathy, intention, and heart

If this sounds like your business, we’d be honored to hear your story.


Eligibility Criteria


Applicants must:

  • Be a small business operating locally (Anne Arundel County or surrounding areas)
  • Have been in operation for at least one year
  • Demonstrate a commitment to community, employee support, and people-first values


Clarifying Note:

While our guiding question mentions “retail,” this grant is not limited to retail businesses. We welcome applications from all types of small businesses — from service providers and producers to tradespeople and makers —  Our use of the word "retail" reflects our own background as a local jeweler, but the spirit of this grant extends far beyond storefronts.


Application Instructions


Follow the prompts to submit your form below. Your responses will help us understand your business, your values, and the impact you’re making.

Grant Application

Deadline: July 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST

Zachary’s Jewelers Grant Application – [Your Business Name]
Tell us about your business: who you are, what you do, and why you started your business. What are your values, and how do they guide your daily work?
How do you engage with and support our local community? Share any initiatives, partnerships, or personal stories that demonstrate your community impact.
How do you care for your employees or team members? What practices do you have in place that promote a supportive internal culture?
Reflect on our guiding question: “What more can you do to bring humanity to your business”. How does your business live out this question? What role does empathy, connection, and purpose play in your customer experience?
How would this $5,000 grant help grow or deepen your business’s impact? Be as specific as possible — how will this funding help you give more, do more, or support others?
Submit