39 Best Small Business Grants, Funds, and Programs for Women

Small business grants come in all shapes and sizes, and women can choose from various grants, funds, and programs to help them start or grow their businesses. 

If you want to secure funding for your business or a scholarship to improve your management skills, this post will introduce 42 small business grants for women. We’ve organized our list into categories like free grants, grants for Black business owners, and grants for veteran-owned businesses. We’ll also discuss how to apply for these grants and win them for your company.

How to Get a Small Business Grant for Women

The first place you should start is research. There are dozens of grants out there (proven by this post), many of which vary regarding application fees and grant size. Some are also only available to businesses in certain areas or industries. Your business or project may also need a certain financial valuation to apply for select programs. 

You should also evaluate your business’s needs. Some grants are more competitive than others. Some require you to enroll in a membership but offer training, exclusive events, and networking opportunities. Researching is worth your time, especially if you’re paying for each application. 

When you fill out your application, look at previous grant winners. This will show you what this organization looks for and how you might present your business. Most organizations will announce winners on their social media pages and share photos of their events.

Finally, note any deadlines and double-check you’ve completed all the requirements for the grant. Some grants have recurring deadlines, while others are only available at certain times of the year. 

A lot of this comes down to research. The more you understand what each organization is looking for in an applicant, the better your chance of securing that grant.

Now, let’s review some small business grants for women. 

Best Small Business Grants for Women

Here is a list of more than 40 small business grants for women. We’ve organized it into the following categories to help you find grants, programs, and funds relevant to your business.

• Free Small Business Grants for Women
• Small Business Grants for Black Women
• Small Business Grants for Minority Women
• Startup Grants for Women’s Small Businesses
• Small Business Grants for Women Veterans
• Small Business Grants for Women Over 40

1. The Amber Grant

Grant Size: $10,000 – $35,000

The Amber Grant was founded by WomensNet, one of the first online organizations to award women business grants. The Amber Grant is awarded to three entrepreneurs every month, and a $25K award is given to three previous winners every year. In total, you can earn up to $35K for your business through this program.

How to Apply: You can apply online at the website here. 

Application Fee: $15

2. Cartier Women’s Initiative

Grant Size: $30,000 – $100,000

The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an entrepreneurship program that provides workshops, events, and awards to small business owners. This program looks for businesses that impact their industries and awards companies for protecting the planet, creating jobs, and improving their communities. Top award winners receive between $30K and $100K, depending on where they place in their regional categories.

How to Apply: You must complete the application form on the website. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

3. Galaxy Grants

Grant Size: $3,500

Galaxy Grants is a free service that supports female entrepreneurs, particularly minority women. It’s one of the largest grant providers in the U.S. and has supported women-owned businesses since 2016. 

How to Apply: You can apply for a grant in minutes by completing this form on the website. 

Application Fee: Free

4. WANTO Grant Program

Grant Size: Not Listed

WANTO stands for Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Opportunities. This grant awards millions of dollars to community-based organizations that increase women’s participation in fields like plumbing, ironwork, and contracting. 

How to Apply: Monitor the U.S. Department of Labor’s website or grants.gov for announcements related to this program. 

Application Fee: Free

5. Women’s Founder Fast Pitch Competition

Grant Size: $25,000

The Women’s Founder Network hosts a “Fast Pitch” competition where entrepreneurs pitch ideas for new software and consumer products. This grant has two categories: tech-related pitches for B2B and B2C brands and non-tech-related products sold in person or through e-commerce sites. Both categories offer the same reward of $25K. 

How to Apply: You can pick your category and enter the competition via the form on their website. 

Application Fee: $59

6. Travel Grants for Women

Grant Size: $1500-$2000

These grants help women mathematicians travel for business conferences and meetings. They’re available year-round, and applications are submitted three times each year. This program is designed to help women attend research conferences and develop professional skills, keeping them informed about updates in their field and improving their careers. 

How to Apply: You can find the application packet here. 

Application Fee: Free

Free Small Business Grants for Women

There are a lot of small business grants out there, but you might not know that you have to pay to apply for some. If you’re looking for a free grant, here are a few that you might be interested in. 

7. Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program

Grant Size: Not Listed

While this program isn’t really a grant, it does help women-owned businesses secure contracts from the federal government. To apply, you must be a small business according to the SBA standard and “have women manage day-to-day operations who also make long-term decisions.” The program helps these businesses secure federal contracts by limiting the number of organizations competing for these deals. 

How to Apply: You can apply for this program here. 

Application Fee: Free

8. Enthuse Foundation’s Paying It Forward Grant Program

Grant Size: $2,500 – $10,000

This grant is sponsored by the Enthuse Marketing agency, which launched its foundation in 2018. This year, it’s offering eight grants to eight women demonstrating a financial need for their business. The grants are divided into eight categories: operating, business insurance, retirement, and other needs related to small businesses. 

How to Apply: You can browse all eight grants on their website here. 

Application Fee: Free

9. HerRise Micro Grant

Grant Size: $1000

The HerRise Micro Grant is awarded to women of color who positively impact their communities. It’s given out on the first Friday of each month, and applications close on the last day of the month.  

How to Apply: You can apply on their website here. 

Application Fee: Free

10. IFundWomen Universal Grant

Grant Size: Not Listed

This grant provides funding and coaching to growing businesses and partners with leading brands like Visa, Comcast, and BOTOX. Applying only takes a few minutes, and you can access resources like coaching, expert advice, and a community of other small business owners. 

How to Apply: You can apply on their website here. 

Application Fee: Free

11. RTC Women in Tech Fund

Grant Size: $595 – $10,000

The RTC Women in Tech Fund is a collaborative grant between Goldman Sachs and Rewriting the Code. Rewriting the Code is an organization that supports women in tech-related fields. The grants help students secure funding for resume-building opportunities and education.

How to Apply: You can apply on their website here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

Small Business Grants for Black Women

These small business grants support businesses owned and operated by Black women. 

12. BGV Pitch program

Grant Size: $5,000 – $15,000

The BGV Pitch program is not like other pitch competitions. Rather than submitting a pitch from scratch, you’re advised by business experts and then invited to a live competition where you’ll share your pitch and connect with other small business owners. Three awards are given: first place, taking home $15K; second place, with $10K; and third place, with $5K. 

How to Apply: You can apply on their website here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

13. The Sephora Beauty Grant

Grant Size: $100,000

The Sephora Beauty Grant awards one Black business owner $100K to grow their business in the beauty industry. You must sell a CPG (consumer packaged goods) product and generate an annual revenue of $100K or more to apply for this grant. This program is one of several grants supported by the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which supports Black-owned businesses throughout the U.S.

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can monitor this site for next year. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

14. Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator Program

Grant Size: Not Listed

Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator Program helps business owners sell on Amazon. It’s great if you have an ecommerce business and want to use Amazon’s services to market your products online. Amazon will provide training, financial support, and mentorship opportunities to help you improve your online business. 

How to Apply: You can learn about the application process here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

15. Fearless Fund

Grant Size: Varies

The Fearless Fund invests in early-stage startups led by women of color. It invests in various industries and constantly seeks high-growth ventures to add to its profile. Investments are limited to $3 million, and the Fearless Fund will seek a 10% stake in your business.

How to Apply: You can pitch your business to the Fearless Fund here. 

Application Fee: Free

16. NAACP Grants

Grant Size: Varies

The NAACP provides a variety of grants for small business owners, including ones for local businesses and ones that help you secure certifications for your company. There are plenty of resources you can use to secure funding and improve operations at your business, and you can keep up with the latest news and updates affecting Black-owned businesses on the NAACP website. 

How to Apply: You can apply for an NAACP grant here. 

Application Fee: Free

17. Goldman Sachs: One Million Black Women

Grant Size: $2,000

The Goldman Sachs: One Million Black Women fund is a program that financially supports Black entrepreneurs and provides educational resources to reduce business inefficiencies. The grant includes a 10-week training course and a free trip to New York City. 

How to Apply: You can learn how to apply for the grant here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

Small Business Grants for Minority Women

These small business grants are given to minority women. 

18. MBDA Business Grants

Grant Size: Varies

The Minority Business Development Agency, or MBDA, offers federal grants to minority-owned businesses within the U.S. Here’s how it works. Once you create an account, you can monitor the site to see if new grants are announced. Then, you can submit applications to programs that best match your business. 

How to Apply: You can sign up for an MBDA account here. 

Application Fee: Free

19. Asian Pacific Community Giving Circle

Grant Size: $5,000 – $15,000

The Asian Pacific Community Fund is located in southern California and supports Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities throughout the region and beyond. You can apply for over 300 grants, including the Firecracker Fund, the Operating Grant, and the Giving Circle. This organization has distributed over $2 million to small businesses and continues to help Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities by providing services like workshops and networking events. 

How to Apply: You can learn more about the application process here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

20. Gold House Ventures

Grant Size: Not Listed

Gold House Ventures is a network of business leaders who support Asian Pacific culture and fund businesses led by members of this community. Membership in the group gets you access to a premier network of contacts and investors who can help you grow your business. You also have the opportunity to partner and invest in other companies and further expand your brand.

How to Apply: You can learn more about the application process here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

21. Dream Makers Grant

Grant Size: Not Listed

The Dream Makers Grant is a $1 million, four-year grant program designed to help underrepresented business women secure funding for businesses in the consumer space. The grant helps these leaders invest in their companies’ manufacturing, marketing, and other key areas, making it easier to compete with larger brands in highly competitive industries.

How to Apply: Applications are not open now, but you can subscribe for updates here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

22. Coalition to Back Black Businesses

Grant Size: $25,000

The Coalition to Back Black Businesses is an organization created by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to assist businesses in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. It awards an Enhancement Grant to the program’s most innovative and promising small businesses each year. 

How to Apply: Applications are not open now, but you can subscribe for updates here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

23. Hawai’i FoundHer Program

Grant Size: Not Listed

The Hawai’i FoundHer Program is the only Hawaiian accelerator program for women. It’s raised over $1 million to support AAPI and Native Hawaiian wāhine business owners by providing mentorships, funding, and virtual training sessions. Businesses that typically join this program are based in Hawaii and belong to the tech, fashion, education, and health and wellness industries.

How to Apply: You can learn more about the application process here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

Startup Grants for Women’s Small Businesses

These grants can help you secure funding for whatever stage your startup is in.

24. 37 Angels

Grant Size: Not Listed

37 Angels is an investment network for female entrepreneurs and business leaders. Its mission is to close the gender wage gap by helping women understand and participate in angel investing. The network offers training programs and invests in early-stage startups across several different industries. 

How to Apply: You must complete an online application and interview. 

Application Fee: $4500 for the first membership year ($3000/year after that). 

25. Female Founders Fund

Grant Size: Not Listed

The Female Founder Fund invests in early-stage tech startups led by women. It works with tech brands in the healthcare, beauty, climate, and generative AI industries. What’s nice about this program is that it tells you exactly what it’s looking for in an applicant. The website outlines its ideal candidates and what your pitch deck should look like. 

How to Apply: You can apply online here. 

Application Fee: Free 

26. Google Women’s Founder Fund

Grant Size: Up to $100,000

Google sponsors an organization that aims to close the startup gender gap by providing funding, mentorships, and access to exclusive Google services to female founders. Members get access to up to $100K in capital and Google Cloud credits they can use for their business. The diverse network includes early startups and alumni, giving you plenty of opportunities to network for your business.

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can follow this page for updates.

Application Fee: Not Listed

27. The Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award

Grant Size: €25,000

The Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award is given to 15 entrepreneurs from Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. The award includes six months of mentorship, €25,000, and a free trip to the awards ceremony in Turkey. This year’s award focused on businesses making significant changes in healthcare and food security.

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can follow this page for updates.

Application Fee: Not Listed

Small Business Grants for Women Veterans

Small business grants are also available specifically for veteran-owned businesses. Below are some of the more popular ones. 

28. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program

Grant Size: Not Listed

This program assists service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses throughout the U.S. It improves their prime and subcontracting opportunities, making it easier for them to close deals and secure work. It also connects business leaders to various informational resources to help them manage and grow their businesses. 

How to Apply: You can learn more about applying for this program here. 

Application Fee: Free

29. Hivers and Strivers Investment Program

Grant Size: Not Listed

Hivers and Strivers is a venture capital firm that funds early-stage startups owned by veterans. It was founded in 2009 and has helped fund dozens of startups across unique industries. The investment team is filled with U.S. veterans and experienced business leaders who can help you elevate your startup to the next level.

How to Apply: You can apply to the Hivers and Strivers investment program here. 

Application Fee: Free

30. Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant Program 

Grant Size: $10,000

This investment grant is open to veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses in the U.S. It awards $10K to five businesses that have significantly contributed to their communities. Applicants must be for-profit businesses owned by veterans or military spouses and have at least three employees. 

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can follow this page for updates. 

Application Fee: Not Listed

31. Warrior Rising

Grant Size: Not Listed

Warrior Rising is a nonprofit organization that helps military veterans become successful entrepreneurs — or, as they call themselves, “vetrepreneurs.” The organization was founded by veterans for veterans and offers training academies, mentorship programs, and funding to help you start your business. 

How to Apply: You can apply to the Warrior Rising program here. 

Application Fee: Free

32. Veteran Shark Tank

Grant Size: $50,000

Like the popular TV show, Veteran Shark Tank is a pitch competition supporting and spotlights veteran-owned businesses. Applications are submitted nationwide, and the top five pitches are selected to compete for a grand prize. This year’s grant is $50K and will be announced in Philadelphia. 

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can follow this page for updates on next year’s event. 

Application Fee: Free

33. Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Grant

Grant Size: $1,000

The Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Grant awards $1K to 25 veteran-owned businesses throughout the U.S. Business owners must be employers and have between two and one hundred employees at their company. Applicants must also complete the registration form and record a short pitch video describing their business. Winners are selected after multiple judging rounds and announced via a live press event. 

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can follow this page for updates on next year’s event. 

Application Fee: Free

Small Business Grants for Women Over 40

Here are a few small business grants that support women over 40. 

34. Makers Mindset Workshop

Grant Size: $15,000

The Makers Mindset Workshop is an 8-hour business development session where you can pitch your business for a chance to win $15K and an exclusive mentorship meeting with Ulta. You’ll receive expert feedback on your business model, visibility for your brand, and networking opportunities with other up-and-coming business leaders in your industry. You can also follow the podcast for ongoing tips and advice and exclusive interviews with rising female entrepreneurs.  

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can follow this page for updates on next year’s event. 

Application Fee: Free

35. High Five Grant for Moms

Grant Size: Up to $10,000

This organization supports business leaders who are moms. It was founded in 2018 and has awarded nearly $100K in funding since. Every application is reviewed, and eight finalists are selected for a final voting process. The winner of the vote receives the grand prize, typically between $5K and $10K. 

How to Apply: You can apply for the High Five Grant here. Applications open on September 1st. 

Application Fee: Free

36. Scholarships for Mom

Grant Size: $10,000

The Scholarships for Mom fund is an organization that gives five $10K scholarships to moms each year. These scholarships help these individuals obtain education that furthers their careers and provides financial security to their families. The application is free, and the form takes only a few minutes to fill out on the website.

How to Apply: You can apply on their website here. 

Application Fee: Free

37. Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grant

Grant Size: Up to $20,000

This grant supports artists over 40 at “a critical junction of their career.” It’s given out to 15 people yearly, and the foundation has awarded millions of dollars since 1996. To apply, you must submit a project idea focusing on environmental issues. It must be free for viewers to attend and open to the general public.

How to Apply: You can apply on their website here. 

Application Fee: Free

38. The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting

Grant Size: Not Listed

The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting is another scholarship fund that supports women interested in accounting careers. Scholarships are available for different degrees, including associate’s degrees, master’s degrees, and PhDs. Each year, applications open between January and March, and you can apply to multiple sponsorships, provided you are eligible for each.

How to Apply: You can learn more about the application process here. 

Application Fee: Not Listed 

39. Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant

Grant Size: $1000

The Kitty Fund was created for Mother’s Day and is designed to help moms run employer-based small businesses. It selects 25 winners each year and awards $1K to each. Applicants must be a U.S.-based business with between two and one hundred employees.

How to Apply: Applications are closed, but you can follow this page for updates. 

Application Fee: Not Listed 

Apply for Women’s Small Business Grant

If you want to start a small business or get some help growing your existing company, small business grants are a great resource to use. They can help you secure funding for your business and get you access to programs, events, and networking opportunities that you might not have had before. Use this list to find the best grant for your business and secure a grant that helps you bring your business ventures to life.