How can I find grants for women-owned businesses?
Dedicated Grants for Women
Several grants are specifically for women-owned businesses. The Amber Grant, for example, awards $10,000 monthly to women entrepreneurs, and one winner receives an additional $25,000 at year-end. The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest is open to all but has a strong history of women winners.
Government programs like the SBA's Women's Business Centers offer training and sometimes microgrants. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program also provides grants to women-owned firms in tech and science.
Where to Search
Use free databases like Grants.gov, GrantWatch, and Candid to filter for women-owned businesses. Also check with organizations like the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and local women's chambers of commerce.
Corporate foundations often have grants for women entrepreneurs, such as those from Visa, Google, and Comcast. Keep an eye on their websites and social media for application windows.
- Amber Grant: monthly $10,000 for women entrepreneurs.
- FedEx Small Business Grant Contest: annual grants up to $50,000.
- SBA Women's Business Centers: training and sometimes grants.
- NAWBO: networking and grant opportunities.
- Grants.gov: filter by 'women-owned small business'.
Common mistakes
- Assuming you need to be a certain size or revenue level; some grants are for startups.
- Missing deadlines because you didn't sign up for alerts.
- Not tailoring your application to show how being women-owned impacts your business story.
