Grants for Women-Owned Businesses: 11 Programs Worth Applying To

Women-owned businesses now represent 39.1% of all US businesses, generating over $2.7 trillion in revenue. And yet women still receive less than 3% of venture capital funding. That gap is exactly why grants for women owned businesses exist, and why applying to them is one of the smartest moves a founder can make in 2026.

Unlike loans, grants require no repayment. Unlike equity, they require no ownership stake. They fund real expenses: product development, marketing, hiring, equipment, and operations. For women building businesses in any industry, a well-timed grant can accelerate the timeline from idea to profitability.

This guide covers 11 real, active programs. For each one, you will find who runs it, who qualifies, how much is available, and when to apply.

What makes grants for women-owned businesses different

Women-specific grants exist because research consistently shows women entrepreneurs face a steeper climb to capital. Corporate funders, foundations, and government agencies have responded by creating dedicated programs that level the playing field.

The eligibility model varies by program. Some require at least 51% women ownership. Others focus on specific sectors like fashion, technology, or sustainability. A few prioritize women from underrepresented communities. Most for-profit programs do not require nonprofit status. They fund real businesses building real revenue.

What funders consistently look for: a clear business model, a specific use of funds, and evidence that the grant will create measurable outcomes. They are not funding ideas in the abstract. They want to see that you are already building, and that their dollars will accelerate something with traction.

Women-specific programs also differ from general small business grants in one important way: the applicant pool is intentionally smaller. That changes the competitive math in your favor.

11 grants for women owned businesses worth applying to in 2026

1. Cartier Women's Initiative

Run by Cartier since 2006, this is one of the most prestigious programs in the world for women impact entrepreneurs. First-place awardees receive $100,000, second-place $60,000, and third-place $30,000, along with coaching and access to the Cartier global network.

To qualify, your business must be for-profit, between one and six years old, and focused on creating positive social or environmental impact. The 2027 edition applications close June 16, 2026. Visit cartierwomensinitiative.com to apply.

2. Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program

Each year, the Tory Burch Foundation selects approximately 120 women entrepreneurs to receive a $5,000 business education grant plus access to the Foundation Summit in New York, exclusive workshops, and an interest-free Kiva loan.

Applicants must be legal US residents with at least 51% women ownership and a minimum annual revenue of $75,000. Applications typically open each fall and close in November. Watch fellows.toryburchfoundation.org for the next cycle announcement.

3. IFundWomen Universal Grant Application

IFundWomen operates as a grant marketplace. By completing one universal application, you become eligible for multiple corporate-sponsored grant rounds from partners including American Express, Neutrogena, and others. Awards typically range from $5,000 to $25,000.

Any woman-owned business at any stage can apply. The platform matches your profile to relevant grant opportunities as they open throughout the year, making it one of the most efficient ways to build a grant pipeline. Start at ifundwomen.com/grants.

4. Visa She's Next (via IFundWomen)

Visa She's Next is a global initiative that combines cash grants with exposure through Visa marketing campaigns. Program rounds open in different countries and regions throughout the year, with grant amounts varying by round.

This program runs through IFundWomen and is designed specifically for under-represented women business owners. For-profit businesses are eligible. Completing the IFundWomen Universal Application automatically puts you in consideration for She's Next rounds as they open.

5. Girlboss Foundation Grant

Twice a year, the Girlboss Foundation awards $15,000 to a woman entrepreneur in the creative economy. Eligible sectors include design, fashion, music, and the arts. Each winner also receives a feature on Girlboss platforms and media coverage.

Applicants must be US residents aged 18 or older. Selection criteria weight creativity and innovation (30%), business acumen and planning (30%), demonstrated financial need (30%), and clarity of the budget and timeline (10%). This is one of the few programs that explicitly considers financial need as part of the scoring, which supports founders at earlier stages.

6. HerSuiteSpot HerRise MicroGrant

HerSuiteSpot awards $1,000 every month to an under-resourced woman entrepreneur. Applications are reviewed on a monthly cycle, with winners announced at HerSuiteSpot's First Friday Mixer.

For-profit businesses are eligible. Franchises, nonprofits, direct sellers, and independent consultants are excluded. The monthly cadence means there are twelve application windows per year, making this one of the most accessible programs for founders who need funding now rather than after a once-a-year cycle. Visit hersuitespot.com/herrise to apply.

7. Women Founders Grant

Women Founders Grant awards $5,000 every month on a rolling basis. Applications close on the last day of each month, and there is no requirement for an LLC registration, a business website, or prior revenue. Women with business ideas, not just operating businesses, can apply.

Eligibility requires that you are a US-based woman aged 18 or older with at least 51% ownership of a business or idea. A $25 application fee applies. Winners also receive a business mentor, go-to-market strategy support, and access to a founder community. Apply at womenfoundersgrant.com.

8. Idea Cafe Small Business Grant

Idea Cafe offers a straightforward $1,000 grant to women-owned US businesses. The application is brief: describe your business and explain specifically how you will use the funds. No formal business proposal is required.

The grant is open on a rolling basis. There is no application fee, though you must create a free account on the Idea Cafe platform. The award is small, but the low barrier to entry makes it worth adding to any active grant pipeline.

9. WBENC certification and the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the US. WBENC certification is not a grant. It is a credential that opens doors to corporate procurement contracts, supplier diversity programs, and WBENC-exclusive funding opportunities.

One of those opportunities is the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship, which provides up to $6,000 for certified WBEs to attend executive education programs. For businesses targeting enterprise clients or corporate supply chains, WBENC certification is foundational. Learn more at wbenc.org.

10. Boundless Futures Foundation EmpowHER Grant

The EmpowHER Grant supports female founders building for-profit impact businesses. Grants of up to $50,000 are awarded in biannual cycles, with application rounds typically opening in spring and fall.

To qualify, businesses must be for-profit, actively generating revenue, no older than five years, and focused on creating measurable social impact. The foundation prioritizes businesses addressing issues related to poverty, sustainability, or humanitarian aid. Check boundlessfutures.org for the next open cycle.

11. BMO Celebrating Women Grant

BMO's annual program awards $10,000 each to 15 US women entrepreneurs. To qualify, your business must be at least 51% women-owned, in operation for at least two years, and generating revenue. The annual US application window typically opens in early April.

The program runs once per year, so timing matters. If you miss this year's cycle, the best move is to bookmark bmoforwomen.com and set a calendar reminder for Q1 of next year. Past applicants are not eligible, so this is a one-shot opportunity worth preparing carefully.

What a winning application looks like

Grant reviewers read hundreds of applications. The ones that stand out share three qualities: specificity, credibility, and impact clarity.

Specificity means you are not applying for "general operating expenses." You are applying for six months of product testing with three contracted users, or a brand photography session that supports a retail launch. Reviewers want to see that you know exactly what the money will do.

Credibility comes from your business plan and financials. Even for smaller grants, having a clear revenue model and a 12-month projection demonstrates that you are running a real operation. Most reviewers want to fund businesses that will still exist in two years.

Impact clarity is the story of what changes because of this grant, described in concrete terms rather than abstract ones. "This grant funds three months of runway that supports hiring our first part-time employee" is stronger than "this grant will help us grow."

Mistakes to avoid

Submitting the same application to every program is the most common error. Each grant has specific criteria and scoring. Reviewers can tell when an application was not written for their program. Tailoring each one takes more time, but it significantly improves your odds.

Treating grant money as found money is the second mistake. Grants often come with reporting requirements: you may need to document how funds were spent, provide revenue updates, or check in with a program officer. Missing those deadlines can affect your eligibility for future rounds from the same funder.

Applying once and stopping is the third mistake. Grant success rates for competitive programs run between 5% and 20%, which means a pipeline of 10 or more active applications is what reliably produces results. Build the pipeline first, then refine individual applications as you learn what each funder responds to.

Where to find more

These 11 programs are a starting point. Women-owned business grants are added throughout the year by corporations, foundations, and regional economic development agencies. A few places worth monitoring: your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC), your state's women's business center network, and platforms like IFundWomen that aggregate new opportunities as they open.

The strongest founders treat grant applications like a business development activity. It runs in parallel with sales, not instead of it.

Join EntraWorld free to access tools that help you build the business plan, financial projections, and pitch narrative that make grant applications stronger, and to connect with a community of founders navigating the same funding landscape.