Grant Money For Female Business Owners

Numerous global grant opportunities offer non-dilutive capital and resources for female business owners worldwide. Many of these programs are open to entrepreneurs in regions like Nigeria, offering financial support, mentorship, and business scaling opportunities without requiring you to give up equity in your company. 

Top worldwide grants for female entrepreneurs include:

• The Cartier Women’s Initiative: An annual global competition awarding up to $100,000 to women entrepreneurs impacting local and global markets. It includes professional mentoring and networking.
• Women-Led Business Grant: This initiative offers non-dilutive funding to women founders worldwide to help expand their operations, enter new markets, and accelerate growth.
• Giving Joy Microgrant: Provides $500 microgrants to women globally to launch or grow community-focused, practical ideas and businesses.
• Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A): Targets African female entrepreneurs (specifically within alumni networks like the Tony Elumelu Foundation). It provides grant funding ranging from €10,000 to €50,000 alongside virtual acceleration support.
• The Amber Grant: Awards monthly $10,000 grants to female entrepreneurs across various industries, with monthly winners qualifying for an additional year-end $25,000 grant.
• iFundWomen: A global funding platform offering various grants (ranging from $2,500 to $100,000+) designed specifically for female startup founders and women of color.

To find and apply for funding, explore these vetted opportunities:

• Learn about the criteria and application process for the annual award on the Cartier Women’s Initiative page.
• Submit your business concept or review ongoing grant cycles via Giving Joy Grants.
• Discover multiple corporate and foundation grants via iFundWomen.
• Check out scaling programs and technical support available for African women in business through the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Starting and running your own business can be an expensive venture. If you identify as a woman, there are several programs that may help you with funding. Government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations provide grants for small-business owners.

Grants are free funds that do not have to be repaid. Some grants are designed specifically for women or women-identifying entrepreneurs, while others are available to all small-business owners with specific requirements.In this article, we discuss grants for businesses owned by women, including how to find, apply and benefit from them.

Many grants and funding resources are designed to help women entrepreneurs. Most are sponsored by private foundations or companies. Here are several grants and funding resources available specifically for women-owned small businesses:

1. Amber Grant

The Amber Grant Foundation awards $10,000 to a woman-owned business each month. It was created by Womensnet.com in memory of Amber Wigdahl, a woman who died before she could achieve her entrepreneurial dreams. At the end of each year, one of the 12 grant winners is also awarded an additional $25,000.

Winners are chosen by the foundation’s advisory board which seeks to support women with a unique and inspiring story. The application is relatively straightforward: You must write an explanation of your business, describe how you would use the grant money and pay a $15 application fee. The deadline to apply is the end of every month, so you can apply at any time of year.

2. Cartier Women’s Initiative Award

This grant awards two tiers of prizes to 21 women entrepreneurs worldwide each year. Seven finalists receive $100,000 and professional mentoring sessions and 14 applicants earn $30,000 each. The Cartier award is designed for women business owners whose business is in the first one to three years of development. The business must be generating revenue but not necessarily profitable.

3. Dream Big Awards

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Dream Big Awards to recognize the best American small businesses and awards for the Woman-Owned Business Achievement Award. The top prize is $25,000 cash. Business eligibility requirements include:

• For-profit business operating at least one year primarily in the United States
• Have less than 250 employees or gross revenues of less than $20 million per year

4. Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant Program

Eileen Fisher, a women’s clothing retailer, awards a total of $100,000 to up to 10 women business owners each year. The grants recognize women who use their small businesses to make a measurable impact on society and the environment. Eligibility requirements include:

• Business in operation more than three years
• Business earns less than $1 million in annual revenue
• At least 51% ownership and leadership by women
• Business focused on environmental or social change

5. GIRLBOSS Foundation Grant

This grant is awarded twice a year to women and woman-identifying entrepreneurs in design, fashion, music and the arts who work in creative fields. Each recipient receives $15,000 of project funds and digital exposure on Girlboss’ website and other media channels. The grant is specifically awarded to women in the fashion, music, art and design industries. A committee judges applicants based on their creativity and innovation, business acumen, career goals and financial need.

Read Also: Money For Business Expansion

6. Halstead Grant

The Halstead Grant is meant for women entrepreneurs in the U.S. jewelry industry. The program is specifically directed toward businesses that are less than three years old. Winners receive a $7,500 cash grant, $1,000 toward Halstead jewelry materials and publicity within the jewelry industry. Applicants are required to answer several questions about their business goals and strategies. All applicants receive feedback on their business plan from the grant’s judges.

7. IFundWomen Universal Grant Program

The IFundWomen program connects women-owned small businesses with grants, coaches and investor opportunities. It has a grant pool of more than $8 million. The website lists applications for a variety of grants or you can apply directly to the program.

8. SoGal Startup Grant

The SoGal Foundation provides $5,000 and $10,000 grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs. The awards are made on a rolling basis. Eligibility requirements include:

• Have a legally registered business
• Plan to seek investor financing to help scale business
• Have a scalable solution or idea with the ambition to be the next $1 billion business

9. Stacy’s Rise Project

The Stacy’s Rise Project, created by Stacy’s Pita Chips, is an annual grant and mentorship program for women in business. Ten finalists will receive a $10,000 grant and business mentorship. Eligible small businesses must:

• Have at least $25,000 but no more than $1 million in annual sales
• Participate in a virtual mentorship program
• Not be part of an accelerator program at the time of entry

10. Tory Burch Foundation

The Tory Burch Foundation sponsors a yearlong fellowship and a $5,000 grant for women-owned small businesses. Business eligibility requirements include:

• Majority women-owned
• For-profit with at least $75,000 in revenues
• Operating in the United States

11. Women Founders Network

The Women Founders Network sponsors an annual competition where women entrepreneurs pitch ideas to investors for the opportunity to win cash prizes. Finalists get access to a pitch coach, financial mentor, connection to a potential investor and feedback on their business.

12. Women Who Tech

Women Who Tech offers two grants for $15,000 and $5,000 for women-led tech startups. Each grant period has a different deadline, so research the application process.The application process is open to North America-based and women-owned tech startups that have already raised $50,000 in seed revenue or that are already generating revenue.

How to Find Small-business Grants for Women

Each grant is different and has a unique set of requirements. Follow these steps to help you search for small-business grants for women:

1. Start researching

The first step in finding a small-business grant is acquiring information. Check government databases like Grants.org to find options that could work for you. Reach out to your friends in the small-business world or contact a local government agency to find out about other opportunities.

2. Determine your eligibility

Depending on the age, location, size and nature of your business, you may qualify for a specific set of grants. Make sure to carefully read and research each grant’s requirements to ensure you are eligible before applying.

3. Send in applications

Applying for grants can be time-consuming, but the payoff could be worth it. Schedule time to apply to grants and make sure you meet deadlines. Sending in quality applications before the deadline will help you seem capable and professional.

4. Record your progress

Use a spreadsheet or notebook to list the grants you have applied for and any related deadlines. Record the responses you get from the organizations and take note of any critique or requests for more information. Tracking your progress will help you stay on task and motivated during the application process.