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The Best Business Grants for Women in 2025
Business grants are often an excellent avenue for funding. Here are some of the best business grants for women.
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Many women entrepreneurs are forced to look beyond traditional business loans and funding sources for money to start a business or expand operations. Business grants are often an excellent avenue to pursue, as you don’t need to repay the loan or funding. However, competition can be fierce among applicants, so it’s important to understand which are most relevant to you and your brand.
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Best grants for women
Small business grants intended specifically for women can help them launch startups, create products, purchase buildings and more. Here are 13 of the best grants for women in business. (Note: Some application deadlines may have already closed; check the grants’ websites for announcements on next year’s dates.)
1. 37 Angels
37 Angels is a group of angel investors actively seeking to close the gender gap in startup investing. You can receive a potential investment of up to $200,000, as well as education and ongoing support. Eight applicants are chosen every two months to pitch their businesses to the network. Visit 37 Angels online to learn more:
- Who is eligible: Any female startup business owner.
- How to apply: Submit an application through the Gust platform.
2. The Amber Grant
The Amber Grant was created in 1998 by WomensNet to honor Amber Wigdahl, a young woman who died before she could achieve her entrepreneurial dreams. The grant awards $10,000 to three female business owners each month of the year; one of the monthly winners is awarded an additional $25,000 at the end of the year. Visit The Amber Grant online to learn more:
- Who is eligible: Any female entrepreneur.
- How to apply: Fill out an Amber Grant application and pay a $15 application fee.
3. Cartier Women’s Initiative
The Cartier Women’s Initiative, which was founded by Cartier in 2006, is an annual program open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country. Businesses must have a sustainable social and/or environmental impact. Winners will receive financial, social and human capital support to thrive:
- Who is eligible: Women business owners in the early stages (one to three years) of developing their business.
- How to apply: Visit the Cartier Women’s Initiative online and follow the application instruction
4. IFundWomen
IFundWomen is a crowdfunded grant platform for female entrepreneurs. In addition to business coaching and an online community, it offers general grants and grants funded by partners with specific requirements. Visit the IFundWomen website to learn more:
- Who is eligible: Any business founded by a woman.
- How to apply: Complete the IFundWomen online application.
5. Tory Burch Foundation
The Tory Burch Foundation started in 2009 to empower women and provide them with capital, education and networking resources for their businesses. Through its Fellows Program, women can receive a $5,000 grant toward their business education, access to zero-interest loans through Kiva, a trip to the Tory Burch offices for workshops with founders and business experts and an opportunity to pitch their business to investors. Visit the Tory Burch Foundation online to learn more:
- Who is eligible: Women entrepreneurs with a for-profit business under five years old.
- How to apply: Visit The Fellows Program online and follow the application instructions.
6. The Papaya Grant
A husband and wife team launched Papaya back in 2019, offering sustainable alternative cleaning products. Rena — co-founder of the company and mother of two — recognized quickly the struggle of being a female business owner. To help women entrepreneurs achieve their dreams, she and her husband launched The Papaya Grant, which offers $10,000 to one woman entrepreneur.
- Who is eligible: Women business owners looking to launch or expand their business.
- How to apply: Visit the Papaya website and fill out the application when it’s open.
7. Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant
The Kitty Fund is specifically designed to help entrepreneurs who double as mothers, created in memory of Founder’s First CEO Kim Folsom‘s mother, Catherine “Kitty” Abrams Tadlock Webster, who passed away in 2020. The microgrants ($1,000 each) will be awarded to 25 mom business owners:
- Who is eligible: Business founders, owners, CEOs or presidents who identify as mothers and have an active United States-based business with between two to 100 employees. Annual revenue must not exceed $5 million and the company must have a minimum of one year in business.
- How to apply: Visit the grant application page to fill out the form.
8. EmpowHer Grant
The Boundless Futures Foundation seeks to empower and elevate female entrepreneurs through funding opportunities like the EmpowHer Grant, which supports women who require early-stage business capital and a network of business advisors. When applying, you can request up to $25,000 in business support and business-related expenses:
- Who is eligible: Female entrepreneurs 22 years of age and older with a U.S.-based business that makes a social impact, is more than three years old and is currently earning revenue.
- How to apply: Visit the application page at the beginning of a quarter.
9. SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant
The SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant is specifically for Black women and nonbinary entrepreneurs, offering several $5,000 and $10,000 cash grants to eligible winners on a rolling basis. To make this a reality, the SoGal Foundation has partnered with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio and other sponsors:
- Who is eligible: Women business owners who self-identify as a Black woman or nonbinary entrepreneur.
- How to apply: Complete the SoGal Foundation grant’s online application.
10. Enthuse Foundation
Enthuse Foundation is made up of a group of women entrepreneurs interested in developing the next generation of female business leaders. You can apply for a variety of grants and support through the foundation. In 2025, the foundation offered eight grants to eight women entrepreneurs, totaling $37,000:
- Who is eligible: Full-time entrepreneurs who identify as women with an established consumer packaged goods business.
- How to apply: Visit the Enthuse Foundation’s grant page, browse the available grants and apply to the one(s) that best suit your needs.
11. HerRise MicroGrant
The HerRise MicroGrant is specifically designed to help women who are looking to give back to their communities through entrepreneurship but are unable to secure funding for their small businesses. The microgrants — offered by the Yva Jourdan Foundation — are $1,000 and are especially catered toward women of color. Applications are accepted on a monthly basis, closing on the last day of each month:
- Who is eligible: U.S.-based, women-owned businesses with less than $1 million in gross revenue.
- How to apply: Fill out the HerRise MicroGrant Application online and pay a $15 administrative fee.
12. Santander’s Cultivate Small Business
With a focus on women-, immigrant- and minority-owned businesses in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods, the Santander’s Cultivate Small Business program aims to help businesses within the food industry. Qualifying applicants can receive training, mentors and capital — up to $20,000 in grants:
- Who is eligible: Entrepreneurs located in low-to-moderate income areas with gross/net revenues of $25,000 to $1 million and a minimum of one year in operation. Businesses must have between one and 10 full-time equivalent employees and be in a food-related industry.
- How to apply: You can fill out the online application here.
13. The Big Idea Grant
The Big Idea Grant by YippityDoo seeks to financially support and offer mentorship and guidance to women entrepreneurs. The grant is awarded monthly and provides expert coaching and $1,000 to invest in your business:
- Who is eligible: U.S.-based women business owners over the age of 18.
- How to apply: Apply on YippityDoo’s website and pay a $15 application fee.
What are business grants?
A small business grant is money that federal, state, county or local governments or private corporations give to a business. Grants are unique in that they do not require repayment of any kind — a highly beneficial consideration for small business owners.
Grant funding can help small businesses avoid riskier or more expensive funding sources, like venture capital investments, small business loans and alternative lenders. Additionally, grants often go beyond just offering financial support. “Grants aren’t just about the money; they’re about creating access and freedom for women who often face more barriers when it comes to funding,” said Ayanna Alexander-Laine, co-founder and managing partner of Freedom Trail Capital. “… Grants allow women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses without taking on debt or giving away equity.”
Securing a grant also gives you the reassurance that you’re on the right path. “[A grant] can provide the confidence and momentum needed to take the next step, whether that’s expanding a product line, improving marketing efforts or creating new job opportunities,” said Robin Berlinsky, CEO of The Abundant Nonprofit.
Applying for grants is a notoriously long and challenging process and funding is never guaranteed. Many small businesses hire a professional grant writer to help them with the process. [Read related: Need a Loan? Lending Trends That Affect Your Chances of Getting Funds]
Types of grants
There are four primary grant types available to small businesses and startup founders.
1. Government grants
Government grants for small businesses come in three forms: federal, state and local:
- Federal grants: Federal grants are generally the most competitive because they tend to offer the most money. However, they are often connected with a government agency and typically have strict eligibility requirements and stipulations on how you can use the money.
- State grants: State grants offer less money than federal grants but tend to be less competitive, depending on your state. State governments may work with the federal government to administer money designated for small business grants.
- Local grants: Local grants are the easiest to get but usually offer the least money. They tend to focus on improving the local community, so if that sounds like your business, you have a good shot at receiving local grant money.
2. Small Business Administration (SBA) grants
The SBA is one of many government agencies that offer grants to small businesses. The SBA offers three types of business grants each year: Two for businesses involved in research and development and one for businesses pursuing scientific endeavors that could be commercialized and utilized by the federal government.
The SBA also works with state governments to help local small businesses investing in export development through the State Trade Expansion Program.
3. Minority grants
Minority grants cover funding for specific groups, including women, veterans and different racial or ethnic groups. Some government agencies and private organizations offer grants specifically for female entrepreneurs and minority-led businesses. [Related article: Top Small Business Grants for Minorities in 2025]
4. Corporate grants
Outside the government, many private companies invest in entrepreneurial projects to advance their philanthropy efforts or to nurture innovative new projects they may wish to acquire or use in the future.
Generally, to obtain a corporate grant, businesses are asked to turn in portfolios, essays or business plans as part of their application. An example of a corporate grant is the Comcast Innovation Fund.
You can find lists of available corporate grants on the Council on Foundations website, which is free or Candid’s Foundation Directory, which requires a subscription.
How to get approved for a grant
Getting approved for a grant is challenging, so prepare for a lot of time and work if you decide to apply. Most grants have strict requirements or highly specific qualifications, so the hardest part is often finding grants that are well-suited to you.
While the process differs according to the grant, follow these general tips to increase your approval chances.
Research suitable grants
There are thousands of grants out there, each with specific requirements and qualifications. Investigating as many as possible is the best way to increase your chances of receiving a grant. “Be intentional,” Alexander-Laine said. “Instead of applying to every grant out there, focus on the ones that align with your industry, stage and mission.”
Consider visiting online grant directories, such as GuideStar, GrantStation, Grant Gopher, Terra Viva and Grants.gov. Alexander-Laine also recommended following grant organizations on social media, as they often will announce their openings there.
Additionally, get more specific in your grant search, depending on your business type. “Your organization type will help you determine which database to use to identify funding opportunities (business vs. nonprofit),” said Sydney Bass, owner of Grant Funding Solutions. “Regardless of the database or search engine you use, you’ll want to be very specific in your searches. Two great searches could be ‘funding opportunities for arts nonprofit in Atlanta, Georgia’ and ‘funding opportunity for brick-and-mortar small business owner in West Palm Beach, Florida.’”
Ensure you qualify for the grant
Before undertaking the arduous process of applying for a grant, make sure you meet all of the requirements. Grants are known for being extremely specific about their recipients and money usage, so it’s worth your time to understand the requirements. “Note the eligibility requirements, geographical location, deadlines, award range, page limits and any attachments that need to be included (business incorporation documents, budget),” Bass recommended.
Know how you’ll use the grant money
Before applying for a grant, you must know precisely how you plan to use the funds and why you think you deserve the award. “Outline specific plans for how you would use the grant funds and the measurable impact they would have on your business,” Berlinsky said. “Include how your mission transforms the community.”
Be prepared to submit charts, graphs, projection sheets or other documents to illustrate your intentions clearly.
Get personal in your application
There are countless incredible women-owned businesses out there, so it’s important you find ways to stand out in your application. To do so, Alexander-Laine recommended telling a compelling story that showcases why you’re different and deserving of the extra financial support. “Your application should clearly explain what your business does, how the grant will help and why it matters,” she said. “Be specific — numbers and real-life examples go a long way.”
Additionally, just as you would tailor a job application to a specific company, you should do the same with your grant application. “Focus on clearly communicating how your business makes an impact, your vision for growth and why you’re an ideal candidate for the grant,” Berlinsky said. “The more personalized your pitch, the better. Remember that humans read these, so you want to capture their hearts with your story.”
Consider hiring a grant writer
The grant application process can be so challenging to get through that there’s an entire profession devoted to it. A grant writer can help ensure you meet all requirements and package your application well.
Apply regularly
While you might feel discouraged after being turned down by different organizations, don’t fret — continue applying. “Don’t give up or get discouraged if you are not awarded a grant,” said Bass. “The industry average for grant wins is 10 to 30 percent. Additionally, most funders only fund a small portion of the applications they receive.”
“With the chance to win multiple times a year, applying for multiple rounds increases your odds of securing funding,” Berlinsky added. “Remember, a ‘no’ is really just a ‘not now.’”
Kiely Kuligowski and Jennifer Dublino contributed to this article.
