Small Business Grants for Women: 12 Incredible Opportunities

 Small Business Grants for Women

As a woman business owner, you’re undoubtedly aware of the hustle, creativity, and, frankly, endurance needed to get a business up and running, keep it functioning—and make it profitable. You also surely know that it takes money to make money. But before you turn to a small business loan for funding, first consider the numerous small business grants available to female entrepreneurs.

Grants are essentially free money that you don’t have to pay back, unlike loans and credit cards. That makes competition for them very high. But if you know where to look and understand the benefits available, you stand a fair shot at the opportunity for a grant. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide on the best small business grants for women, plus information on how to apply.

The 12 Best Business Grants for Women Entrepreneurs

1. Amber Grant

• What it is: A small business grant for women business owners created in honor of a young woman who died before she could fulfill her entrepreneurial dreams.
• How to apply: Tell your story and pay a $15 application fee.
• Potential benefits: The program awards a $10,000 grant to three woman business owners each month. Three winners chosen from among the monthly winners are awarded an additional $25,000 at the end of the year.

These grant awards are small but can be very helpful for those working to get their business off the ground. Remember, there’s no expectation that this funding will be paid back.

The application cut off for each monthly grant is the last day of every month, so if you want a shot at winning the Amber Grant, you have the opportunity to apply at any time of the year. All you have to do to apply is tell your story and pay a small application fee ($15). You can learn more about the application here.

2. High Five Grant for Moms

• What it is: A grant exclusively for women entrepreneurs who are also moms.
• How to apply: First post a picture on social media with specified tags and hashtags, then complete the online application. There’s a $50 application fee, but the full amount goes directly toward the grants.
• Potential benefits: Grants range from $500 to the grand prize of $5,000.

Started in 2018 by women-led businesses The Mama Ladder and Belly Bandit, this grant is available to mompreneurs running a for-profit business at any stage, in any country. 

In addition to completing the online application (and submitting the application fee), you’ll need to post a high five picture on social media that depicts your business purpose. Use the hashtag #highfivegrant and tag @themamaladder and @loweshomeimprovement.

3. EmpowHer Grants

• What it is: A foundation grant for female-led businesses that are committed to positive social impact.
• How to apply: Submit an application, including a business plan and detailed budget, through the Boundless Futures Foundation website.
• Potential benefits: Selected recipients may receive up to $25,000 in reimbursement for business expenses plus access to mentorship and networking opportunities.

Women business owners with a U.S. business dedicated to issues of social impact, for example, poverty, sustainability, and community-building, can apply for a grant of up to $25,000 from the Boundless Futures Foundation. Your business must earn revenue and must have been started within the last three years.

You’ll need to list your credit score (although the foundation won’t run a credit inquiry) as well as supply a business plan and budget. If you’re selected to receive a grant, it will be disbursed as reimbursement for business expenses, and you’ll need to provide proof of payment.

4. Cartier Women’s Initiative Award

• What it is: A grant awarded to 27 female entrepreneurs around the globe each year.
• How to apply: Complete the online application form by the deadline listed on the website.
• Potential benefits: All 27 finalists will receive either a first-place prize of $100,000, a second-place prize of $60,000, or a third-place prize of $30,000. Additional benefits include trainings, media exposure and more.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Award is awarded once a year to 27 female entrepreneurs, three in each of nine regions around the world. The Cartier award grant is intended for women business owners in the early stages of business development (between one to six years old). The business should be dedicated to positive social and/or environmental impact.

Each of the grant award finalists will receive a spot in the INSEAD Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship Program, as well as the opportunity to participate in workshops, business coaching seminars, and networking opportunities.

5. HerRise MicroGrant

• What it is: A monthly grant for under-resourced women business owners.
• How to apply: Complete the application at HerSuiteSpot.com, which involves a $15 application fee and asks for a headshot as well as your business story.
• Potential benefits: $1,000 in grant money awarded to one winner each month.

This microgrant is offered by the nonprofit portion of HerSuiteSpot, an online networking community dedicated to supporting women through the process of raising funds for their businesses. 

To apply, your business needs to be a U.S. company majority owned by women and earning less than $1 million in gross revenue. You’ll be required to pay a $15 application fee, upload a headshot, and share your business plan.

6. Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition

• What it is: Compete to earn one of three grant prizes plus several business-related benefits.
• How to apply: Complete the online application on the Women Founders Network website.
• Potential benefits: A first-place grant of $25,000 or a finalist prize of $5,000 plus pitch coaching, financial mentorship, networking opportunities, and more.

For female entrepreneurs in the early stages of business ownership, this competition offers a valuable opportunity to practice and hone your business pitch to acquire funding. 

Qualification requirements include majority woman ownership, U.S.-based business, and the ability to attend the pitch event in person. There are also limitations on the business industries and funds raised to date. See details on the competition webpage.

7. Enthuse Foundation Grant Program

• What it is: Annual grants of various amounts awarded to women business owners with particular critical business needs.
• How to apply: Complete the online application as well as an interview.
• Potential benefits: Grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

Enthuse Foundation is a woman-run organization dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs. Each year, the foundation offers a grant program in which several large company sponsors extend grants of varying amounts for very specific use cases. 

For the 2025 grant program, for example, Amazon is offering a $10,000 grant for a women-owned business in Amazon’s store as well as a $10,000 grant specifically for veterans and military spouses. Additional grant opportunities are being offered for business insurance costs, business tools, digital marketing, and other business needs.

8. She’s Connected by AT&T

• What it is: Annual grant for women entrepreneurs.
• How to apply: Complete the online application by the submission deadline.
• Potential benefits: $50,000 grant and one year of AT&T service with a new device.

AT&T awards one grand prize grant of $50,000 each year to a female entrepreneur. The grant program also has a YouTube channel dedicated to featuring each grant recipient alongside women industry leaders.

This grant is a sizable one compared with others on this list, so if you have large funding needs, go for it!

9. Galaxy Grants

• What it is: Funding intended specifically for minority and female entrepreneurs.
• How to apply: Complete a super short online entry form, no application fee required.
• Potential benefits: Grants ranging from $1,250 to $4,250.

Galaxy of Stars, an online community run by nonprofit Hidden Stars, provides these annual grants to women and minority business owners. Becoming a Galaxy member gets you access to a directory of other grant opportunities, a free entrepreneurship master class, a list of funding resources and more.

10. Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant

• What it is: Annual grant for mothers who own a small business.
• How to apply: Complete the online application on the Founders First website and include a brief pitch video.
• Potential benefits: $1,000 microgrants awarded to 25 moms.

The Founder and CEO of Founders First created this grant program in honor of her mother, nicknamed Kitty, who passed away in 2020. This grant doesn’t place any restrictions on how you can use the money.

To be eligible, the business founder must identify as a mother, the business must be based in the U.S., annual revenue must be $5 million or less, the business must employ between two and 100 people, and it must be in operation for at least a year.

11. Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program

• What it is: A yearlong educational and networking program  that includes an education grant.
• How to apply: Applications open each fall. Complete the online application on the Tory Birch Foundation site.
• Potential benefits: Access to in-person and digital learning resources, networking opportunities, and a $5,000 grant specifically for business education.

The nonprofit arm of the Tory Burch lifestyle brand offers this fellowship to 50 women entrepreneurs annually. Applications open in the fall, fellows are selected in the spring, and the fellowship begins in the summer. 

To be eligible, your U.S. business must be between one and five years old and should generate a minimum of $75,000 in revenue.

12. iFund Women Grant Database

• What it is: A regularly updated list of small business grants for women.
• How to apply: Complete the universal application at iFundwomen.com to be notified regularly about grants for which you’re a fit.
• Potential benefits: Benefits vary across the different types of grants and partners that participate.

A list like this one that collects numerous grant opportunities in a single place can be a great first step in your grant search. IFW has multiple corporate partners that regularly list grants, including Visa, Adidas, American Express, and others.

Complete IFW’s universal application to be entered into their database, which they regularly cross reference with their partners’ qualification requirements to determine the best grant fits for you.

State and Local Small Business Grants for Women

The grants we’ve mentioned above are open to businesses nationwide, but there may also be state and local options. For example, the Women’s Business Development Council in Connecticut offers equity-match grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in that state.

When starting or expanding your business, make an appointment with your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) or SCORE office. These organizations are plugged into the local financing community and will be able to guide you if there are any small business grants for women in your area from local corporations, philanthropic, or economic development organizations.

You may also want to look into SBA loans, which are affordable business loans for small business owners. The SBA has always been a champion of women-owned small businesses, and they have extensive resources available for female entrepreneurs (SCORE is actually a partner of the SBA). 

Still unsure if a grant is the right choice? We’ve included a helpful flowchart below to see if you’re ready to take the next step to entrepreneurship!

See Your Business Funding Options

How to Find Small Business Grants for Women

Although every small business grant is unique and has its own set of requirements, there are a few general steps you can follow to identify and apply for the grants that are most applicable to your business:

• Do your research. Check out online portals like Grants.gov to identify grants that could be a good fit for your business. Attending small business conferences and chatting with peers in the industry can also be a great way to learn about small business grant opportunities that aren’t widely advertised.
• Check your eligibility. Most grants have specific eligibility requirements. These rules can relate to demographic, education level, the age of your business, and other factors. Paying attention to these requirements could save you from spending time applying for a grant that might not be the right fit.
• Apply on time. Block off time in your weekly or monthly schedule to apply for grants for your business. Although it can feel tough to find time to squeeze in applications, the payoff for winning financing for your startup can be huge. Make sure you apply on time to make your application stand out from the pack.
• Track your applications. Creating a spreadsheet of the grants you have applied for and any upcoming deadlines is a great way to stay organized and motivated throughout the process.
• Watch out for scams. Beware grantors that ask you to pay a large sum or sign up for some kind of subscription to access small business grants for women.

Remember, grants are often highly competitive, so it’s a good idea to diversify your efforts to get funded. In addition to grants, consider small business loans for women, venture capital firms, women-only business accelerators, and other funding options that may be relevant to you.