15 Small business grants all women entrepreneurs should apply for

Lenders provide liquidity to female entrepreneurs with business grants

In the rapidly changing modern economy, entrepreneurs need access to fresh capital for new products, research goals and fluctuating inventories. While large companies that have fared well on the open market for several years can rely solely on profits to reinvest, every new firm needs to set up the basics like a tax id, business insurance, etc. But to grow, they need loans to survive rough business quarters.

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This is especially true for small businesses. While it can be difficult for startup companies to become profitable, small businesses led by women are at a disadvantage. Data from the loan market suggests that female entrepreneurs are 5% less likely to receive conventional business loans. This trend also pertains to women who apply for the government-supported loans of the Small Business Administration

Women entrepreneurs are starting businesses at a faster rate than ever before

On average, women who manage to secure a loan also receive smaller sums than male borrowers. This means that businesses with female owners struggle to obtain credit, which is a necessary part of being competitive in any market. Economists, sociologists, and market analysts have examined many factors to learn why women entrepreneurs struggle to obtain credit. Some researchers believe that women may be more averse to financial risks than men, and others state that women simply apply for fewer loans. These are important topics to consider, but the lower loan amounts for women clearly show that bias is a critical factor.

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Fortunately, several lenders and corporations have acknowledged female entrepreneurs' disadvantages. They have attempted to reduce gender inequality and build the economy with these 15 small business grants for women.

The Eileen-Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant

Female entrepreneurs who are in need of capital to expand a business can apply for the Eileen-Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant. Eileen-Fisher awards five women with grants up to $120,000. To be considered for this grant, yours must be a woman-owned company that promotes social and environmental change. Your business must have existed for at least three years, and you cannot have earned more than $1 million in annual profits

FedEx Small Business Grant

FedEx has demonstrated through its previous grant competitions that it is fair with its distribution of funds to women and men. To determine the winner, FedEx allows the public to vote for their favorite company in the competition. The winners with the most votes receive a $75,000 grant, and they receive free exposure through FedEx's media outlets.

Girlboss Foundation 

You may have heard of Sophia Amoruso from the successful Netflix series, “Girlboss.” Or you may be familiar with her retail company, Nasty Gal. But what you may not know is that Amoruso has been providing grants to women in the arts since 2014. If you are an entrepreneur in music, fashion, design, or another area within the art field, you could be eligible for the Girlboss Foundation Grant.

Amber Grants

Amber Grants are suitable for female entrepreneurs who are planning to launch small, local businesses. Each month, one female-owned business is selected for a $10,000 grant. At the end of the year, one of the monthly winners is selected for a $25,000 grant. To apply for an Amber Grant, you simply need to explain the purpose of your business.

Small Business Technology Transfer Program

Your company may also be able to obtain funds from the Small Business Technology Transfer Program for research and development needs. To obtain a research grant from the federal government, your company must have fewer than 500 employees. You can earn up to $75,000 during the startup phase, and you can receive an additional $750,000 if your research yields positive results.

Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)

V-WISE offers two low-cost entrepreneur training programs to women veterans or women who are spouses of veterans. It is sponsored by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. While not a grant program, V-WISE offers valuable skill-building courses to help women start and grow businesses. The V-WISE program is a 15-day online course that costs $75, and the V-WISE IGNITE program is an accelerated course that lasts one day and costs only $25. Both V-WISE and V-WISE IGNITE offers agendas full of networking opportunities, training with expert instructors, mentorship and more. .

Small Business Innovation Research

If you have a cutting-edge idea that you believe will satisfy the needs of the market, apply for a Small Business Innovation Research grant. Your company can earn a $150,000 grant to establish research and development goals. If the goals are proven to be feasible, you can receive up to $1 million in a two-year window.

Ms. Foundation for Women

The Ms. Foundation offers several different awards to women who own businesses that further the advancement of women and girls. In the past, recipients of the award have had businesses that work to prevent domestic violence, advocate for reproductive health, promote access to affordable childcare, and more. In addition to funding, the foundation provides grantees with mentorship support, networking opportunities, and trainings. Learn how you can apply on the foundation’s website. 

Cartier Women’s Initiative Award

Each year, Cartier awards 21 female entrepreneurs with the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award. Winners receive one-on-one expert coaching, business workshops, media coverage for the entrepreneur and their business, and prizes ranging from $30,000 to $100,000. To learn more about how you can apply for this grant, visit the Cartier Women’s Initiative website.

Open Meadows Foundation Grant

The Open Meadows Foundation awards grants to women on a biannual basis. To qualify for this grant, your company must promote racial, gender or economic equality in some way. Your company's operational budget cannot exceed $75,000. If your company is selected by the panel, you can earn a $2,000 grant.

Tory Burch Foundation

The Tory Burch Foundation offers a way for women to access funding for their business through the Tory Burch Foundation Capital Program. The program helps women entrepreneurs match with community lenders who provide affordable loans to help them grow their business. Read more about this grant opportunity and eligibility requirements on the Tory Burch Foundation website. 

GrantsforWomen.org

If you’re looking for funding opportunities for your business, GrantsForWomen.org is a good place to start. The website is a database of grants specifically for women. They also have lots of information about the different types of grants available, such as private, corporate, federal, etc. Not all grants are specifically for business owners, but they offer funding options in a wide range of industries. 

37 Angels 

37 Angels is an organization made up of female angel investors that invest in women-owned small businesses. The organization recognizes the disadvantages that female entrepreneurs face in the loan market and seeks to close that gap. To help women keep their companies afloat, 37 Angels offers grants as large as $150,000. 

Bell Capital 

Belle Capital is an investment firm focused on companies led by women. Their mission is to help mitigate the unfair gap in funding that women receive compared to men. Although women continue to prove themselves as successful entrepreneurs; their businesses even proving to do better than that of their male counterparts’ in some cases, they still receive less funding than men. To learn more about Bell Capital’s investment criteria, visit their website. 

Hiscox Small Business Insurance

Learn more about how women are changing the business world in The Rise of of Women Entrepreneurs study from Hiscox. And make sure to check out small business insurance options from Hiscox to help protect everything you've worked hard to build.

Originally published in 2017 but updated in March 2020 to include current grant opportunities and links to current websites.