Blog Post

Grants for Women Owned Businesses

  • February 11, 2025

If you are female or identify as a female and own a business, several grants for women-owned businesses are available. Grants are a great way to help fund your business as they don’t need to be repaid. Grants are available from many places, including governments, agencies, nonprofits, and private organizations.

The grants outlined below have different application requirements and deadlines; however, they are all applicable to women-owned businesses. Some grant deadlines for 2025 have not been announced, so check the organizations’ websites regularly for updates.

Amber Grant Foundation

For women entrepreneurs striving to make their mark in business, the Amber Grant Foundation is an organization created by WomensNet in 1988 after Amber Wigdahl, 19, a woman who died before achieving her dreams of entrepreneurialism. The foundation’s three $10K monthly grant awards help support women with unique and inspiring stories. At the end of each year, one of the monthly winners is awarded an additional $25K. Apply all year. The deadline for each month is the end of the month.

Cartier Women’s Initiative Award

The Regional Awards of the Cartier Women’s Initiative seek women-owned and women-led impact-driven businesses across all sectors and geographies. To be eligible, businesses must be for-profit, early-stage (1-6 years of operations), generating revenue for at least one year, and have raised no more than $2 million in dilutive funding. The business should demonstrate positive impact aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The applicant must be a woman in a leadership role and part of the founding team, and the business must be majority-owned by its founders. Additional requirements include being at least 18 years old, proficient in English, and committed to participating in the fellowship program. Applications for 2025 will open soon, so check their website for updates.

Eileen Fisher Women-owned Business Grant

The Eileen Fisher organization, a women’s clothing brand established more than 30 years ago, has provided annual grant funding to eligible women-owned businesses. Individual grants ranged from $10,000 to $40,000. According to Forbes, the program is temporarily suspended. Check their website for updates.

Halstead Grant

The Halstead Grant supports U.S. female entrepreneurs in the jewelry industry. Winners receive a $7,500 cash grant and $1,000 to use to purchase Halstead jewelry materials and publicity opportunities within the jewelry industry. Applicants’ businesses must be less than three years old.

IFundWomen Universal Grant Program

The IFundWomen Grant Program connects women-owned small businesses with grants, investor opportunities, and coaches.

Stacy’s Rise Project

Created by Stacy’s Pita Chips, the Stacy’s Rise Project is a mentorship and grant program for female-founded businesses in the food industry. Annually, winners receive $25,000 in business grants, four months of mentorship and more.

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Be a for-profit U.S.-based business selling a consumer-packaged good
  • Have annual sales greater than $25,000 and less than $1 million
  • Participation in a virtual mentorship program
  • Not be active in a separate accelerator program at the time of entry

Tory Burch Foundation

The Tory Burch Foundation provides a $5,000 grant for women-owned small businesses, including a yearlong fellowship.

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Majority women-owned business
  • For-profit business in early state (1 to 5 years of operations preferred)
  • Annual revenue greater than $75,000
  • S.-based business

Women Founders Network

The Women Founders Network sponsors an annual Fast Pitch Competition. The competition provides an opportunity for female entrepreneurs to pitch ideas to investors for the opportunity to win cash prizes and mentoring. Finalists receive $25K in grants, access to a personal pitch coach, financial mentor, personal meeting to pitch to a potential investor, and feedback on their business.

GrantsforWomen.org

The database by GrantsforWomen.org identifies resources and grants for women; some are business-related. Review each opportunity and requirement carefully.

Ms. Foundation Grants

Ms. Foundation Grants are focused on women-led organizations that successfully address reproductive health issues, including affordable child care with living-wage jobs and fighting gender-based violence.

More small business grants for women-owned businesses are becoming available every year. The options listed above should give you a place to start. Before applying, research the eligibility requirements and submit your application on time. If grants don’t work out or you need additional funding, explore your other funding options, like a small business loan.

Check out these other resources for women-owned businesses:

Related Articles