1. National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants are designed to support small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing financial assistance to help them grow and succeed. Here’s a brief overview of what you need to know:

Purpose

NASE Growth Grants aim to help self-employed individuals and small businesses with their expansion efforts. These grants can be used for various purposes, including:

Purchasing equipment or inventory
Marketing and advertising
Hiring staff

Improving business infrastructure

Grant Amount

The grant amounts typically range from $4,000 to $10,000. The exact amount awarded depends on the specific needs of the business and the availability of funds.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Growth Grant, applicants generally need to meet the following criteria:

Be a member of NASE

Have a small business or be a self-employed individual
Demonstrate a clear plan for how the grant will be used to support business growth
Show that the business has potential for growth and sustainability

Application Process

Submit an Application: Complete the online application form available on the NASE website.
Provide Documentation: Submit required documents, which may include a business plan, financial statements, and details of how the grant funds will be used.

Review and Selection: Applications are reviewed by a committee, which evaluates them based on factors such as the business plan, potential for growth, and how effectively the grant funds will be utilized.
Award Notification: Successful applicants are notified and receive the grant funds to use as outlined in their application.

Tips for Applying

Be Specific: Clearly outline how the grant funds will be used and how they will contribute to business growth.
Show Results: Demonstrate how past funding or investments have positively impacted your business, if applicable.
Prepare a Strong Business Plan: A well-prepared business plan can significantly enhance your application.

For the most up-to-date information and specific application details, it’s best to visit the official NASE website or contact them directly. You can apply directly through the NASE website.

2. IFundWomen

IFundWomen is a crowdfunding platform that supports women entrepreneurs by helping them raise funds for their business ventures. In addition to crowdfunding, IFundWomen offers grants and funding opportunities specifically aimed at supporting women-led businesses. Here’s a brief overview:

Purpose

IFundWomen provides a comprehensive platform for women entrepreneurs to raise capital through crowdfunding and access additional funding opportunities through grants and coaching. Its mission is to empower women in business by providing resources and a supportive community.

Key Features

Crowdfunding Campaigns: Entrepreneurs can create and manage crowdfunding campaigns to raise money for their business needs. Campaigns are promoted through various channels to attract backers.

Grants: IFundWomen occasionally offers grants to women entrepreneurs. These grants are often provided in partnership with corporate sponsors and vary in amount and purpose.
Coaching and Mentorship: Access to experienced coaches and mentors helps entrepreneurs refine their business strategies and improve their chances of success.
Resources: The platform offers educational resources, including webinars, guides, and tools to help entrepreneurs effectively manage their campaigns and businesses.

Community Support: Entrepreneurs can connect with a network of like-minded women, share experiences, and collaborate on opportunities.

Grant Amount

The grant amounts offered through IFundWomen can vary depending on the specific grant program and its funding partners. While the platform’s main focus is on crowdfunding, grant amounts typically range from a few thousand dollars up to $25,000 or more, depending on the grant’s scope and objectives.

How It Works

Create a Campaign: Entrepreneurs set up a crowdfunding campaign on IFundWomen to outline their business goals and funding needs.
Apply for Grants: For grant opportunities, entrepreneurs need to apply according to the specific grant program’s requirements, which are usually outlined on the IFundWomen website or through partner organizations.

Promote and Fundraise: Once the campaign is live, entrepreneurs promote it to attract backers. For grants, applicants follow the application process and provide necessary documentation.
Utilize Funds: If successful, entrepreneurs receive the funds and use them as specified in their campaign or grant proposal.

Benefits

Targeted Support: Women entrepreneurs receive support tailored to their unique needs and challenges.
Funding Flexibility: Crowdfunding allows for a flexible approach to raising capital, while grants provide additional financial support.
Networking Opportunities: Access to a supportive community and potential investors can enhance business opportunities and partnerships.

Eligibility

Eligibility for crowdfunding is open to all women entrepreneurs. For grants, specific eligibility criteria may apply depending on the grant program, including factors such as business stage, industry, and location.

For more information on starting a campaign or applying for grants, visit theIFundWomen

website.

3.Amber Grants for Women

Purpose: The Amber Grants for Women aim to support female entrepreneurs by providing financial assistance to help them grow their businesses. This program focuses on empowering women who own or are starting businesses in the U.S. or Canada.

Grant Amount:

Monthly Grants: $10,000
Annual Award: One additional $25,000 grant is awarded to one of the monthly grantees at the end of the year.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be 18 years of age or older
Must be female
Must own at least 50% of a business based in the U.S. or Canada

Application Process:

Submit Application: Fill out the application form available on the Amber Grants website.
Pay Fee: A $15 non-refundable application fee is required.

Provide Information: Answer questions about your business and explain how you would use the grant funds.

Additional Information:

Monthly Awards: Three $10,000 grants are awarded each month.

Annual Award: At the end of the year, three of the monthly grant recipients are considered for an additional $25,000 grant.

For more details and to apply, visit the Amber Grants for women website.

4.Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program

Purpose: The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program supports early-stage women entrepreneurs by providing financial aid, mentorship, and resources to help them scale their businesses. The program is designed to empower women-identifying founders with practical support and networking opportunities.

Grant Amount:

$5,000 grant
Participation in a live mentorship event in New York City

Access to zero-interest business loans

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be at least 21 years old

Must be female and proficient in English
Must be a legal U.S. resident
Must own at least 51% of a business

The business must be U.S.-based, started within the past five years, and generate at least $75,000 in annual revenue

Application Process:

Apply online during the fall of each year.

The 2024 application period has closed; typically, applications for the upcoming year open in the fall.

Program Details:

The program selects 50 women-identifying founders annually.

It includes workshops, networking opportunities, and the $5,000 grant.
A live mentorship event in New York City is part of the program, offering direct access to experienced mentors.

For more information and to apply, visit the Tory Burch Foundation website during the application period.

5. Halstead Grant

Grant amount: $1,000 or $7,500, plus a $250 or $1,000 gift card.
Eligibility requirements: You must have started a silver jewelry business within the past five years.
Application process: Apply online by May 1.

Up-and-coming silver jewelry artists can apply for the Halstead Grant. The annual award gives a $7,500 grant every year to one winner, plus a $1,000 Halstead gift card. The family-owned jewelry company also presents finalists with a $1,000 grant and a $250 Halstead gift card, plus extra help to promote their businesses. Jewelry artists must share their design portfolio and complete an online application that includes a collection of business-related questions.

6. EmpowHer Grants

Grant amount: Up to $25,000.
Eligibility requirements: To qualify, you’ll need to be at least 22, female and have a business registered and operating in the U.S. that’s less than three years old. Businesses must address certain social needs, such as building stronger communities or environmental sustainability.

Application process: Apply online with a business plan and budget.

You can apply for up to $25,000 in grant funding to expand your existing business with the Boundless Futures Foundation’s EmpowHer Grant. Applications are reviewed quarterly, and if your grant proposal is selected, you’ll need to undergo a formal background check. In addition, funding is only available as a reimbursement for expenses you’ll need to pay for first — you won’t get cash up front, and you’ll need the receipts for your business expenses.

7. Enthuse Foundation

Grant amount: $2,500.

Eligibility requirements: The grant is open to full-time female business owners in the U.S. who can demonstrate financial need.
Application process: Apply online with a written plan for the grant funds. May need to participate in an interview.

Each year, the Enthuse Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting female business owners with educational resources, networking events and grants, awards $2,500 to 24 female entrepreneurs. Award information for the 2025 grant cycle will be announced on the website when available.

8. High Five Grant for Moms

Grant amount: $1,000 to $10,000.
Eligibility requirements: This grant is open to mothers (including stepmoms and foster moms) who are at least 50% owners in a business that has made between $10,000 and $500,000 in the past year.

Application process: Apply online between September 1 and 30.

The Mama Ladder bills this as the “World’s Longest-Running Grant Program for Mom Entrepreneurs,” having launched in 2018. Applications open every year in the fall, and in 2023, 24 moms were awarded grant money and valuable business prizes worth a collective total of $38,500. Any mother is welcome to apply, whether you’re currently pregnant or if you have grown children.

9. Brown Girl Jane with SheaMoisture

Grant amount: $10,000 to $25,000.

Eligibility requirements: This grant is open to Black women who own a beauty or wellness business that is registered and based in the U.S. and has been in operation for at least one year
Application process: Applications open in Fall 2024. Information will be available on SheaMoisture’s website.

Brown Girl Jane, a vegan perfume brand, has partnered with SheaMoisture to offer grants to Black-owned beauty businesses. The companies have partnered to offer over $400,000 in grants since 2020. SheaMoisture has also offered additional grants on their website, so it’s worth checking to see which ones are currently accepting applications.

10. Ladies Who Launch

This one’s not technically a grant, but it can help you find one. Grant opportunities are always changing, which makes it tough to stay up to date with any one static resource. That’s why checking in with a grant database on a regular basis can be helpful, and the one compiled by Ladies Who Launch is one of the best.

This nonprofit was founded in 2013 to support women and gender-diverse small business owners. Along with networking and online training events, it also maintains a list of small business grants for women that it updates on a weekly basis.

As of this writing, it lists 116 grant opportunities.

Federal business grants for women

11. Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs

Grant amount: $50,000 to $750,000.
Eligibility requirements: Open to small U.S. businesses with 500 or fewer employees.
Application process: Varies depending on the agency offering funding through this program.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs award federal grant funding for research and development. They don’t provide funding solely for women, but part of their mission is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among women and socially or economically marginalized groups, so they can be a great option to consider if your business does anything related to technological innovation.

To be eligible for a grant, you must have a for-profit business based in the U.S., employ no more than 500 workers and meet certain business ownership requirements. Awards can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the grant and specific project.

12. USDA Rural Development Business Program Grants

Grant amount: Varies by program.

Eligibility requirements: Varies by program.
Application process: Varies by program.

If you run a small business in a rural area, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Business Program could unlock much-needed financing. It isn’t limited to women-run businesses but certainly applies to them. The program provides funding and technical assistance for a wide range of rural businesses.

13. Grants.gov

Grants.gov is a central database for federal grant programs, including hundreds of grants for nonprofits that support small businesses. The federal government does not typically fund business owners directly, except to fund certain research and development projects from individual companies. Although it is not exclusively for women-owned businesses, it can be a great resource and starting point to help you find funding opportunities by locating organizations that have received funding to help people who have similar goals as you.

Other resources for women-owned small businesses

In addition to business grants for women, female entrepreneurs can also take advantage of other resources. Here are a few alternatives to small business grants:

Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program

The Small Business Administration (SBA) runs the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting program with the goal of awarding at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned businesses. To be eligible, your business must be at least 51% women-owned and operated and you must apply for certification through the SBA.

The SBA sets aside contracts for women who are participating in this federal contracting program, deliberately choosing industries where female-owned businesses are either disadvantaged or underrepresented. Participants in the program then vie for these contracts.

8(a) Business Development Program

The 8(a) Business Development Program is a program established by the SBA that gives minority-owned businesses the ability to compete for federal contracts. To be eligible, you must get certified through the SBA, and your business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are economically and socially disadvantaged.

Small Business Development Centers

As an extension of the SBA, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are local chapters that offer coaching and training to entrepreneurs. These centers can help women-owned businesses with business planning, strategy and accessing capital. There are SBDCs in every U.S. state and territory, with more than 900 service locations — so you’re bound to find one near you.

How to strengthen your grant application

Like college scholarships, small business grants can be tremendously competitive. Here are a few tips to boost your chances of getting free funding:

Read the grant eligibility criteria and requirements carefully.
Include detailed information about how you’ll use the grant funds.
Save all business grant applications so you can reuse materials later as needed.

Hire a grant writer if you’re not confident in your own skills to put together a winning grant application.
Tailor your application for each grant organization, especially how your business’s story and goals relate to that organization’s mission.
Grants that include educational opportunities may be less competitive and provide additional valuable opportunities to learn and grow.

Alternatives to grants

Small business grants are an excellent way to fund your small business, but they’re not the only way. Business owners may need to obtain funding from different sources, including:

Starting small and scaling up: Launching on a micro level — such as with a booth at your local farmer’s market — lowers the barrier to entry and allows you to test the waters before jumping in with a more advanced financing tool like a loan or outside investor.

Crowdfunding: Popular platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe allow you to raise funds for startup or established businesses from people interested in your product, with little risk if you fail.

Angel investors: A person who has a high net worth may opt to invest funds in new businesses as a way to help other entrepreneurs become successful, offering funding and guidance in exchange for a share of the profits.

Personal savings: Many business owners launch small businesses with personal savings or assets, such as home equity or a 401(k).

Small business loans: Banks, credit unions and online finance companies may offer funding to businesses in the form of a loan, which must be repaid with interest.