Over the past two decades, women-owned businesses in the U.S. have experienced an astounding 114% growth, and now 42% of all businesses now owned by women, showcasing the increasing influence and impact of women in the economy.1 Despite these significant achievements, women entrepreneurs continue to face unique challenges, particularly when it comes to accessing capital.
Surprisingly, startups with all-women teams received only 1.9% of venture capital funding, highlighting the gap in business financing.2 To help address this disparity and support the growth of women-owned businesses, numerous organizations and government agencies have established small business grants specifically designed for female entrepreneurs. These grants provide essential financial resources that can be used to start, sustain, and expand women-led ventures, empowering them to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential in the business world.
Here is a list of legit small business grants for women to help you get started.
Also See: Small business grants for everyone
Amber Grants for Women
The Amber Grant, provided by WomensNet, is a grant program established in 1998 to honor the memory of Amber Wigdahl, a young woman who passed away at the age of 19 before fulfilling her entrepreneurial aspirations. The program aims to support women-owned businesses in achieving their goals.
The Amber Grant Foundation offers $10,000 every month and an additional $25,000 grant at the end of each year to one of the 12 monthly winners. The grant can be used for various business expenses, such as equipment, inventory, or marketing. To be eligible, applicants must be women 18 years or older and have a for-profit business based in the United States.
Giving Joy Grant Program
The Giving Joy Grant Program, provided by the Giving Joy organization, offers financial support to women entrepreneurs seeking to start or expand their businesses. This program aims to empower women and create a positive social impact in their communities.
Giving Joy grants range from $250 to $500 and can be used to fund various aspects of a business or social initiative. The program is open to women aged 18 and above from any country worldwide. Applicants must propose activities that focus on women, girls, and/or families, and their business ideas must have a legal and socially beneficial impact on their communities.
EmpowerHER Grant Program
The EmpowerHER Business Grant, provided by the EmpowerHER Foundation, is a grant funding opportunity designed to support and empower women entrepreneurs. This grant program aims to help women launch new businesses or expand existing ventures by providing financial support and fostering a supportive community of female entrepreneurs.
The EmpowerHER Business Grant offers funding that can be used for various business expenses, such as startup costs, equipment, inventory, or marketing. To be eligible, applicants must be women who are starting or growing a business.
Ladies Who Launch Grant Program
The Ladies Who Launch Program is an initiative designed to support women and non-binary small business owners in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. This program aims to remove barriers to access and provide funding and resources for these entrepreneurs to scale and grow their businesses.
The Launch Program offers a $10,000 grant, mentorship from industry experts, and six months of free education to support participants on their unique journeys. Applicants must be women or non-binary founders or co-founders of CPG businesses with annual gross revenue between $100,000 and $499,000, be US citizens or legal residents, and meet other eligibility criteria.
She’s Connected Grant Program
The She’s Connected by AT&T program is an initiative designed to support and highlight women-owned small businesses in the United States. This program offers female entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their businesses and potentially win substantial prizes to help them grow and succeed.
The grand prize winner of the She’s Connected by AT&T program will receive $50,000 to invest in their small business, along with a full year of AT&T service and a new device. To be eligible, the business must be woman-owned, have 50 employees or fewer, be registered in the United States, and have an owner who is 18 years or older.
Enthuse Foundation Grant Program
The Enthuse Foundation Grant Program provides financial assistance to women entrepreneurs with established businesses in the United States. This program aims to support female business owners by offering grants to help them meet critical business needs and grow their ventures.
The Enthuse Foundation awards grants of $2,500 each to 10 female entrepreneurs annually. To be eligible, applicants must identify as women, have an established business that is their full-time job, prove the use of funds, and be U.S. citizens.
Women Founders Network
The Women Founders Network (WFN) Fast Pitch Competition is an annual event designed to support women entrepreneurs in the United States. This competition provides a platform for female founders to showcase their businesses and compete for funding and recognition.
The Fast Pitch Competition has two tracks: Tech/Tech-enabled and Consumer/CPG/Other Non-Tech. Eligibility requirements include being a woman founder, co-founder, or majority owner, having raised no more than $750K in outside funding, and being based in the United States.
Cartier Women’s Initiative Award
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Regional Awards support women-owned and women-led impact-driven businesses worldwide. The program offers grants, access to a loan fund, and a comprehensive fellowship program focusing on human capital support.
The Regional Awards provide grants of US$100,000, US$60,000, and US$30,000 for the top three businesses in each of the nine regions. Eligibility criteria include being a for-profit, early-stage business generating revenue, having raised less than US$2 million in dilutive funding, demonstrating positive impact, and being majority-owned and led by women.
High Five Grant For Moms
The High Five Grant program, provided by The Mama Ladder, is an international grant initiative designed to support mom entrepreneurs in building confidence, clarity, and community. Since 2018, this program has been helping ambitious mom business owners grow their ventures.
Applicants must own at least 50% of a for-profit product or service-based business, have earned revenue in the past 12 months, and be serious about growth. The grant is open to mothers with children of all ages, including expecting, step, and foster moms.
Women Of Color Grant Program
The Women of Color Grant Program, provided in partnership with the Tory Burch Foundation, is an initiative designed to support and empower women of color entrepreneurs in the United States. This program offers financial grants, access to educational resources, and community support to help these businesses grow and thrive.
The Women of Color Grant Program selects 75 women-owned businesses to receive grants of $10,000 and $20,000. To be eligible, businesses must be for-profit, at least 51% owned by a woman of color, preferably one to five years old, and formed and operating in the United States. A minimum annual revenue of $100,000 is strongly preferred.
Publish Her Business Impact Grant
The Publish Her Business Impact Grant (BIG) program, provided by Publish Her in partnership with BankCherokee, is designed to support women of color business owners in the United States. This grant program aims to empower and recognize female entrepreneurs who are making a positive impact in their communities and the world.
The BIG program will award a $5,000 grant to a woman of color small business owner. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. residents, 21 years or older, and own 100% of a legally established business that generates $50,000 or more in annual revenue and has been operating for at least one year.
BOSS Impact Fund
The BOSS Impact Fund, a program by The BOSS Network, is dedicated to supporting and empowering Black women entrepreneurs. This initiative provides grants and access to a 1-year mentorship program to help Black women-led businesses grow and succeed.
The BOSS Impact Fund aims to address the issue of less than 1% of minority founders receiving investment funding for their small businesses. By providing grants and entrepreneurial mentorship, the program seeks to help Black female founders level the playing field and build scalable, growth-aggressive companies. The goal is to grant funding to over 500 Black women entrepreneurs in the next three years.
Waves Of Change
The Waves of Change grant program is a program designed to support women of color entrepreneurs with early-stage businesses. This program focuses on relaunching existing businesses with a strong foundation, providing a comprehensive set of resources and services to help them succeed.
Waves of Change offers a stipend to cover the selected businesses’ operating costs for a year, along with various services such as design, copywriting, marketing assistance, and operations support. Applicants must identify as women of color, be at least 18 years old, be U.S. residents, and have businesses that make less than $50,000 annually. They should also demonstrate a need for resources and a positive impact on their community.
HerRise MicroGrant
The Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) Grant Program is an initiative designed to support and empower women of color entrepreneurs in the United States. By providing small business grants, the program aims to help these entrepreneurs compete and thrive in the modern marketplace.
The CCWC Grant Program awards $2,500 to each recipient. To be eligible, businesses must be for-profit, based in the United States, established as of January 1, 2020, with an EIN number, and have generated over $25,000 in revenue since that date. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
Dream Makers Founder Grant
The Dream Makers Founder Grant, established by Nancy Twine in partnership with the Fifteen Percent Pledge, is a $1 million grant fund designed to support female entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on the talents and innovations of Black and BIPOC founders. This initiative aims to address the racial wealth gap by providing access to capital for these underrepresented business owners.
To be eligible, businesses must be members of the Fifteen Percent Pledge’s Business Equity Community, have an annual revenue between $100K and $1 million, employ 2-10 people, and be at least 51% female-owned. The business must sell a non-beauty CPG product, foster inclusivity, and showcase community impact. Grant funds must be used for marketing, manufacturing, or R&D.
BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program
The BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, in collaboration with Deloitte, supports and empowers women-owned businesses in the United States. This program aims to provide financial assistance to help these businesses achieve their growth objectives and break barriers to success.
Fifteen women-owned businesses will each receive a $10,000 grant to take their ventures to the next level. Applicants must be U.S. residents who have reached the legal age of majority in their state and own at least 51% of a for-profit business with annual revenues of $5 million or less. The business must be active, operating in accordance with all applicable laws, and have been selling a product or service for at least two years.
Fund Her Future
Fund Her Future, a business grant program by H&R Block, empowers women-owned businesses, particularly those focused on making a difference in their communities. The program provides financial support and services to help these businesses reach their full potential.
Block Advisors by H&R Block provides more than $100,000 in grants and services to five women-owned businesses. The program is open to small businesses with at least 51% female ownership, whose owners are 18 years or older and living in the U.S.
Black Girl Ventures Pitch Program
The Black Girl Ventures Pitch Program, offered by BGV, provides a unique opportunity for women entrepreneurs to participate in a live crowdfunded pitch competition. The program coaches entrepreneurs, hosts the pitch event, and connects participants with the community and professional support throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
To qualify, applicants must identify as women, have been in business for at least a year, generate revenue, and be 51% owned by underrepresented women founder(s). The business must also be in good standing. The top three winners will receive grants of $10K, $6K, and $2K, respectively, in addition to funds raised from the audience. Seven finalists will be selected and notified of their acceptance into the program.
Other Grant Programs
In addition to the small business grants for women listed above, there are grant programs for other groups too. Check out:
Small Business Grants for Minorities
Small Business Grants for Veterans
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