7 Best Small Business Grants for Women

The Amber Grant awards over $30,000 every month to women entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses. Three recipients across multiple industries are awarded $10,000 and are entered to win an annual grant of $25,000.

Eligibility requirements include that a business be women-owned and based in the U.S. or Canada. Also, the applicant should be 18 years of age or older.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and chosen based on the quality of the application questions. You’ll need to provide essay responses regarding business plans and aspirations, along with an explanation as to how the grant will help you achieve your goals.

The Boundless Futures Foundation offers the Her Village Grant, which is available to nonprofits that promote entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Grants are available in amounts from $5,000 to $30,000 and can be used to further support the efforts of providing business resources for women.

The goal of the grant is to equip female entrepreneurs with support and funding so that their businesses have a positive impact on society. Application cycles take place twice a year, from January to March and July to September. Grant recipients are chosen based on their purpose and impact of supporting women entrepreneurs.

The Corporate Counsel Women of Color awards the CCWC Women of Color Entrepreneur Grant to five women of color entrepreneurs. The grant provides funding to support business goals and to help small businesses grow.

You’ll need to provide essay responses outlining the purpose of your business and how you plan to use the grant if chosen. If you become a grant recipient, you’ll need to provide financial statements that showcase your yearly revenue. Grant funds have no outlined restrictions and can be used for virtually any business expense.

The Women Founders Network offers three grants annually to women entrepreneurs based on categories of Tech and Consumer businesses. $25,000 is awarded to the first-place winners of each category, along with one $5,000 cash prize. The grant aims to support female founders and help scale their companies. Grant recipients will also receive mentorship and coaching opportunities to help achieve their business goals.

There are varying qualification requirements depending on which category you choose to apply for but, generally, the business must be women-owned, be based in the U.S., and have earned no more than $750,000 in funding. It’s also a requirement that the winners be able to attend the annual Fast Pitch live event held at UCLA in October.

Included in the application are a series of essay questions pertaining to the market need and opportunity of your business, your competitive advantage, and your business model. Winners are chosen annually based on the quality of the various essay responses.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative offers annual grants to nine regions, with three prizes available in the amounts of $100,000, $60,000, and $30,000. The grants are available to eligible early-stage women-owned businesses that operate within various industries. Along with grant funds, recipients will receive mentorship and training opportunities to support their businesses further.

Qualification criteria include for-profit women-owned businesses that have been operating for at least one year and have generated less than $2 million in funding. Also, applicants should be at least 18 years of age. Applications need to include business registration and financial documents, a resume, a pitch deck describing the positive impact of your business, and a one-minute video outlining business goals.

Awards are based on positive impact on social or environmental issues, market analysis and fit, strategy and execution of your business model, team structure, and leadership character.

The Tory Burch Foundation offers educational business grants in the amount of $5,000 to 50 women entrepreneurs as part of their fellowship program. Grant funds can be put towards educational resources that will help a business succeed, such as textbooks, workshops and conferences, and executive coaching.

Eligibility requirements state that the business must be for-profit, be based in the U.S., and have generated $75,000 in income. Additionally, the applicant should be over 21 years of age. In addition to the grant, recipients will participate in a year-long fellowship program, which includes digital education resources, workshops, and networking opportunities. Fellows are chosen based on their business plans and operations.

The NASE grant is available to any qualifying small business and isn’t exclusive to women entrepreneurs. It offers monthly grants and provides up to $4,000, which can be used for various business expenses that promote growth.

You’ll need to be a member of NASE to be able to apply, which requires a membership that starts at $12 per month. Qualification criteria also require a business plan that demonstrates how the grant proceeds will benefit your business and impact future business goals.

This grant is available to small businesses industry-wide, and winners are chosen based on business needs, business plans, and how grant funds will be used to benefit your business.

IFundWomen is an excellent resource for finding various funding opportunities for women-owned businesses. It is more than just a directory, as it also offers coaching support and networking opportunities. It aims to connect financial opportunities with female entrepreneurs by means of grants, venture capitalists, crowdfunding, and working capital loans. Visit ifundwomen.com to find the best opportunity for your business.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers various resources for women-owned businesses, provided by the Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO). These resources include business training, counseling, federal contracts, and access to credit and capital. The goal of providing these resources is to promote equal opportunities for women entrepreneurs who have faced challenges in running their businesses. Find more resources by heading to SBA.gov.

To find federal grant opportunities, Grants.gov is a useful resource that can connect small business owners with various funding sources. It acts as a directory that matches businesses with grant opportunities based on qualification criteria. It also offers educational content on how grants can help your business and tips for how to apply. Learn more by visiting Grants.gov.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers both grants and other educational resources to help connect entrepreneurs with funding opportunities. It lists grants on its website on a rolling basis throughout the year, with varying eligibility requirements for a variety of businesses. Check out AAUW.org to find current opportunities available.

Yes. Unless you’re applying for grants within the same organization, you can apply to multiple. In fact, the more grants you apply for, the better your chances at securing grant funding.

Each grant application will have varying requirements, but you should be prepared to answer essay questions and supply your business plan and financials as a general rule of thumb.

There is a lot of competition when applying for grants, as some markets are very saturated and grant awards are usually limited. This shouldn’t discourage you from applying, as it can be worth the effort and provide you with funds that don’t have any repayment obligations.