Government Grants for Women — the honest answer
The US federal government does not run a cash grant program that women can spend on their own business. The SBA says so directly: it “does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business.” What the government gives women owners is contract access through the WOSB program, free advice at Women's Business Centers, and loans such as the SBA Microloan of up to $50,000. The cash grants reserved for women come from private funders: the Amber Grant pays three $15,000 grants a month, the Hey Helen Grant pays $10,000 a month, and the HerRise MicroGrant pays $1,000 a month. All three close on the last day of every month.
Updated October 16, 2026 — every amount, deadline rule and status below was checked against the funder's or agency's own page on October 16, 2026. Monthly refresh, permanent URL.
See every grant you qualify for — free →A two-minute eligibility check ranks the US programs that fit your business. No card needed.
Does the government give grants to women?
No federal program hands women-owned businesses a grant to spend as they choose. USA.gov says the government “does not offer ‘free money’ for individuals” and that federal grants are typically only for states and organizations. Women business owners get four real things from government instead: set-aside contracts (WOSB), free or low-cost advice (Women's Business Centers), loans (SBA Microloan and 7(a)), and research awards open to any small business (SBIR/STTR). The women-only cash grants are private.
The phrase “government grants for women” mixes up two different money sources. Federal agencies do pay grants, but almost all of them go to states, universities and nonprofits, which then run programs. The SBA grant list proves the point: its grants fund research, exporting, and the organizations that train business owners. A woman who owns a bakery, a consultancy or an online shop is not on the receiving end of any of them.
Private funders filled that gap. WomensNet's Amber Grant has paid women-owned businesses every month for years and now awards three $15,000 grants a month. Visionaries' Hey Helen Grant pays $10,000 every month to a woman-owned business under $1M in revenue. Smaller monthly awards, such as The Hustle Grant and the YippityDoo Big Idea Grant, pay $1,000. These are the programs most people mean when they search for grants for women.
| If you need… | The real source | Repay it? |
|---|---|---|
| Cash you never repay | Private women-only grants: Amber, Hey Helen, HerRise, Her Agenda | No |
| Government customers | WOSB / EDWOSB certification (contracts, not grants) | No, you earn it by doing the work |
| Capital you can pay back | SBA Microloan (up to $50,000), SBA 7(a) (up to $5 million), Grameen America | Yes |
| Advice, a plan, help with forms | Women's Business Centers | No (free to low-cost) |
| Money for research and development | SBIR / STTR (open to any eligible small business) | No |
SourcesSBA — Grants·USA.gov — Government grants and loansChecked October 16, 2026.
Apply-Ready
Applying this month? We'll draft it with you.
For these eight grants, most of them for women-owned businesses, answer a few short questions once and we draft your application from what you tell us: only your facts, with a blank wherever the judges want a detail only you know. You submit it yourself.
You see a free preview first and pay only if you want the full draft: $9 per grant. You can add the other month-end grants you qualify for at $5 each (never more than $15 extra).
Close at the end of every month
- Hey Helen Grant$10,000 monthlyWomen-owned · US · under $1M revenueCloses the last day of every month, 11:59pm ETDraft my applicationit →
- Amber Grant$15,000 monthlyWomen-owned (50%+)Closes the last day of every monthDraft my applicationit →
- HerRise MicroGrant$1,000 monthly51%+ women-owned · US · under $1M revenueCloses the last day of every monthDraft my applicationit →
- Big Idea Grant (YippityDoo)$1,000 monthlyWomen-owned and run · ideas welcomeCloses the last day of every month, 11:59pm PTDraft my applicationit →
- Freed Fellowship$500 monthlyAny US for-profit businessCloses the last day of every monthDraft my applicationit →
Other deadlines
- SecretSoS Small Business Grant$2,500 quarterlyWomen-, veteran- or minority-owned, or turned down for a bank loan · USCloses the last day of each quarterDraft my applicationit →
- Business Freedom Grant$1,000Idea stage welcome · no entry feeReview rounds until the final deadline, December 31, 2026Draft my applicationit →
- The Hustle Grant$1,000 monthlyWomen-owned · USMonthly; winner named on the 15thDraft my applicationit →
What the government actually gives women business owners
Government help for women owners is contracts, advice and loans, not free cash. Each row says who runs it and what you walk away with.
| Program | Type | Who runs it | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and EDWOSB Federal Contract Program | Contract access | SBA | The right to compete for federal contracts set aside for WOSBs. The government aims to award 5% of prime contract dollars to women-owned small businesses. Certification at certifications.sba.gov is free. Needs 51% ownership and control by women who are US citizens. |
| SBA Women's Business Centers | Free help | SBA resource partners, nationwide | Free to low-cost counseling and training on starting, growing or expanding a business. |
| SBA Microloan Program | Loan | Nonprofit intermediary lenders, funded by SBA | Loans up to $50,000; the average is about $13,000; terms up to seven years. |
| SBA 7(a) Loan Program | Loan guarantee | Banks and lenders; SBA guarantees part | Loans up to $5 million. SBA does not lend the money itself. |
| SBIR and STTR (America's Seed Fund) | Research award | 11 federal agencies; SBA coordinates | Equity-free funding for research and development. Open to any eligible small business; none is reserved for women. |
| MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program | Grant to organizations | Minority Business Development Agency | Nothing directly. Applicants had to be nonprofits that serve minority business enterprises, and the last notice is archived. |
| Connecticut Child Care Business Start-Up Grant | State-funded grant | CT Women's Business Development Council with the CT Office of Early Childhood | One-time grants of up to $5,000 (family homes), $10,000 (group homes) or $25,000 (centers) for new child care providers. Between rounds; the next window is not confirmed. |
| TWU Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant | Public-university grant | Texas Woman's University Center for Women Entrepreneurs | Five $5,000 grants to Texas women veterans in 2026. That round has closed and winners were named; a 2027 round is not announced. |
The last two rows are the nearest thing to a “government grant for women” in our catalog: state money, run through a women's business center or a public university, for one state and one kind of business. Neither is open today. Your own state may run something similar; the Women's Business Center nearest you is the office that hears about those rounds first. Our WOSB certification guide covers the contracting route in depth, and the 8(a) vs WOSB comparison helps if you could qualify for both.
SourcesSBA — WOSB Federal Contract Program·SBA — Women's Business Centers·SBA — Microloans·SBA — 7(a) loans·SBIR.gov — About·Simpler.Grants.gov — MBDA WEP (358216)·CT WBDC — Child Care Business Opportunity Fund·TWU — Veteran Woman GrantChecked October 16, 2026.
Where the women-only cash grants really are
8 private grants reserved for women are taking applications, and 4 more admit women among other groups. The table also keeps the closed and ended ones that still circulate on old lists, labelled, so you can skip them. Search, filter, or click a column to sort.
| Grant | Amount | Who can apply | Deadline rule | Entry fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Grant for Women (WomensNet) | 3 × $15,000 a month + three $75,000 year-end grants | Women 18+; business at least 50% women-owned, based in the US or Canada. Nonprofits accepted. | Closes the last day of every month, 11:59pm ET. One application covers the monthly, Startup and Business Category grants. | $15 | Taking applications |
| Hey Helen Grant (Visionaries) | $10,000 a month unrestricted cash, one winner | Women (and nonbinary founders) owning 50%+ of a US-registered for-profit under $1M revenue. Pre-revenue welcome. | Closes the last day of every month, 11:59pm ET. One application is considered for 12 monthly rounds. | $15 | Taking applications |
| HerRise MicroGrant (HerSuiteSpot) | $1,000 a month | Women-owned, US-registered, under $1M gross revenue. No nonprofits, franchises or direct sellers. | Closes the last day of every month. Two 250-character answers. | $15 | Taking applications |
| The Hustle Grant | $1,000 a month | Women 18+; business at least 50% women-owned and operating in the US. Any business type. | Monthly; winner announced in the program newsletter. | See funder | Taking applications |
| YippityDoo Big Idea Grant | $1,000 a month | Women 18+ in the US. The business can be running or still an idea. | Monthly; applicants hear on or around the 15th of the following month. | $15 | Taking applications |
| Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant | $5,000 one winner per volume | Women with a currently operating US business; must subscribe to the free Her Agenda newsletter. | Volume IV closes January 19, 2027. | $25 ($12.50 members) | Taking applications |
| Women Founders Grant | $5,000 merit-based, plus mentorship | Women founders and business owners. Two short essay questions. | Rolling review; the funder posts each deadline on its site. | See funder | Taking applications |
| IFundWomen Universal Grant Application | Varies by sponsor | Women-owned businesses. One profile is matched to each corporate partner grant as it opens. | Always open; partner grants open and close through the year. | Free | Taking applications |
| Galaxy Grant (Galaxy of Stars) Women qualify; not women-only | $2,500 current round | Women or minority business owners at any stage: new, experienced or aspiring. | The current round closes October 31, 2026; winners named the following week. | Free | Taking applications |
| Sephora Beauty Grant (Fifteen Percent Pledge) Women qualify; not women-only | $100,000 | Beauty CPG brands, 51%+ owned by an underrepresented founder (women count), US-based, $100K+ revenue, 1+ year trading. | The 2027 round closes November 6, 2026. | See funder | Taking applications |
| Freed Fellowship Grant Women qualify; not women-only | $500 a month + possible $2,500 year-end | Any US micro or small business owner. Women are especially encouraged; not women-only. No nonprofits. | Closes midnight ET on the last day of every month. | $19 | Taking applications |
| SecretSoS Small Business Grant Women qualify; not women-only | $2,500 a quarter | US residents 21+ with a registered business who are women-, veteran- or minority-owned, financially distressed, or in an economic development zone. | Closes the last day of each quarter, 11:59pm CT. Applications do not roll over. | $15 | Taking applications |
| Block Advisors Fund Her Future Grant | 4 × $45,000 2026 round | Woman-owned US for-profit with at least $20,000 in 2025 revenue. | The 2026 window ran in September and has closed. Next round not announced. | Free | Between rounds |
| Cartier Women's Initiative | $30,000–$100,000 regional fellows | Women-run impact businesses, any country, $50K–$5M revenue, 5–250 staff. | Applications for the 2027 edition have closed. Next cycle not announced. | See funder | Between rounds |
| Boundless Futures EmpowHer Grant | Amount not posted | Female founders 22+ with a revenue-earning US for-profit no more than five years old, with a clear social impact. | No call open now. The next cycle opens November 1, 2026. | See funder | Between rounds |
| Giving Joy Microgrants | Up to $500 | Women 18+ anywhere, for a business or community project that helps women, girls and families. | The fall 2026 cycle has closed. Next cycle not announced. | Free | Between rounds |
| Women Founders Network Fast Pitch | $25,000 per track first place | Women-led for-profit companies; no nonprofits, life sciences or cannabis. | 2026 applications closed; a 2027 cycle is expected. | $50 (2026) | Between rounds |
| PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos Jefa-Owned Grant | $10,000 2024 round | Latina women who run a US food and beverage business. | Last round ran in 2024. No newer round announced. | Free | Between rounds |
| Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant | Ended | Women-owned businesses (historic). | Paused in 2018; the foundation now funds other work. Still copied onto old grant lists. | — | Ended |
| Fearless Fund Strivers Grant | Ended | Black women business owners (historic). | Permanently closed in September 2024 after a legal settlement. | — | Ended |
No grants match that search. Clear the filter, or run the free eligibility check for your own ranked list.
GrantCompass drafts the written application, from your own answers, for nine small private grants, eight of them in this table; see how the drafting works. “See funder” in the fee column means the funder's own page did not state a fee when we checked, so confirm it before you enter.
Monthly grants reward the people who keep entering. Star the grants that fit in your free GrantCompass list and we email you before each deadline.
Get free deadline alerts →SourcesWomensNet — Amber Grant FAQ·Visionaries — Hey Helen Grant·HerSuiteSpot — HerRise MicroGrant·The Hustle Grant·YippityDoo — Big Idea Grant·Her Agenda — Breakthrough Grant Volume IV·Women Founders Grant·Galaxy of Stars — Galaxy Grants·Fifteen Percent Pledge — Sephora Beauty Grant·Freed Fellowship·SecretSoS — grant rules·Cartier Women's Initiative — FAQ·H&R Block — Fund Her FutureChecked October 16, 2026.
The numbers: who funds women's programs, and how
Of 64 US programs in the GrantCompass catalog tagged for women owners, 21 are run by government, and none of those 21 is a cash grant a business can apply for today. Loans make up half the list.
Who runs the 64 women-tagged programs
- Private company or lender 34
- Foundation 9
- State government 16
- Federal agency 5
What the 64 programs actually are
| Run by | Programs | Loans | Grants | Grants marked active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government (federal or state) | 21 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Private company, lender or foundation | 43 | 21 | 16 | 9 |
- Government money for women owners is mostly lending. 11 of the 21 government-run programs are loans or loan support, 5 are programs such as WOSB contracting and Women's Business Centers, and 1 is a tax credit.
- The 4 government grants are not open to a business today. Two Connecticut child care grants and the Texas veteran women's grant are between rounds, and the federal MBDA program funds nonprofits.
- Every grant the catalog marks active is private. All 9 come from companies or foundations. Our October check found one of them, Block Advisors' Fund Her Future, had already closed its 2026 round, which is why the table above carries its own status column.
- Every one of the 64 programs carries a Win Layer, our locked analysis of who wins and why applications fail (at least five of the seven fields each). Pro opens all of them.
fundingType field. Several monthly women's grants (Hey Helen, HerRise, The Hustle, YippityDoo, Her Agenda) do not carry the women facet in the catalog and so sit outside n=64; they are in the table above, which was checked by hand against each funder.Which route fits what you need
Start from what the money is for, not from the word “grant.” Answer one question at a time; each answer names the program to look at.
IF YES → Look at the private women's grants: Amber (three $15,000 grants a month), Hey Helen ($10,000 a month, pre-revenue welcome) and HerRise ($1,000 a month). All close on the last day of each month. The full table has the rest.
IF NO → Continue to the next question.
IF YES → Get WOSB or EDWOSB certification. It is free and opens set-aside federal contracts. Read the WOSB guide first.
IF NO → Continue to the next question.
IF YES → Ask a nonprofit lender about an SBA Microloan (up to $50,000), or a bank about an SBA 7(a) loan (up to $5 million).
IF NO → Continue to the next question.
IF YES → Book a session at a Women's Business Center. Counseling is free to low-cost.
IF NO → Continue to the next question.
IF YES → Business grants will not cover that. Use the USA.gov benefit finder or dial 211 for local help.
IF NO → Run the free eligibility check to see every program that fits your business, ranked.
The questions people actually ask
These are the real phrasings behind “grants for women,” answered in a paragraph each.
Federal grants for women: do any exist?
Federal grants that name women do exist, but they pay organizations, not business owners. The clearest example is the MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program, whose notice required applicants to be nonprofits serving minority business enterprises; that notice is now archived. The SBA's own grant page says it “does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business,” and lists research, export and training-organization grants instead. The federal programs a woman owner can use directly are WOSB contracting, Women's Business Centers, SBA loans, and SBIR/STTR research awards, which any eligible small business can win. So the honest reply to “federal grants for women” is: none for your business's general costs. If you see a site promising federal cash for women-owned businesses, check the agency's own page before you give anyone your details. The federal programs open now page lists what is actually accepting applications.
Government grants for women to start a business
No federal agency gives a woman a grant to start a business. The government's start-up help is advice and lending: a Women's Business Center helps with the plan and registration, and an SBA Microloan of up to $50,000 (about $13,000 on average) can fund equipment or inventory. For cash you keep, look private. The Hey Helen Grant pays $10,000 a month and accepts pre-revenue businesses that are registered US for-profits. The YippityDoo Big Idea Grant pays $1,000 a month and accepts a business still at the idea stage. WomensNet's monthly Startup Grant, one of the three $15,000 Amber awards, is built for idea-stage businesses and those with little in sales. Our guide to government grants to start a business covers the few state and local start-up programs that exist, with their honest status.
Grants for women-owned businesses from my state
A few states fund grants that reach women owners, but they are narrow, local and often closed. Connecticut's Women's Business Development Council runs state-funded child care start-up grants of up to $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 depending on the type of provider; the program is between rounds. Texas Woman's University, a public university, gave five $5,000 grants to Texas women veterans in 2026 and has not announced 2027. Most state programs tagged for women in our catalog are loans: 11 of the 16 state-run entries. The fastest way to hear about a new local round is the Women's Business Center in your state and your state economic development office, since both publish before aggregators do. For the private side, the women's business grant calendar shows which national grants come back each month, and the women-owned business grants hub ranks the wider list.
Is WOSB certification the government grant for women?
WOSB certification is the government's main program for women-owned businesses, and it is not a grant. It lets a certified firm compete for federal contracts that agencies set aside for women-owned small businesses, backed by a government goal of awarding 5% of prime contract dollars to WOSBs. To qualify, women who are US citizens must own and control at least 51% of a business that is small under SBA size standards. EDWOSB, the economically disadvantaged tier, adds limits: personal net worth under $850,000, adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less averaged over three years, and personal assets of $6.5 million or less. Certification through certifications.sba.gov is free. The value is real only if you sell something agencies buy; a hair salon or a coffee shop gains little, while an IT, staffing or construction firm can gain a lot. Start with the WOSB certification guide.
If you need money for yourself, not a business
Personal needs are a different system, and GrantCompass does not cover it. USA.gov states that the government does not offer free money for individuals; it runs benefit programs instead. Benefits.gov now redirects to the USA.gov benefit finder, which matches you to food, housing and health programs. Dialing 211 reaches United Way's free, confidential line for help with bills, housing and food. For school, the Federal Pell Grant at studentaid.gov is need-based aid that does not have to be repaid.
SourcesSBA — Grants·USA.gov — Benefit finder·211.org·Visionaries — Hey Helen Grant·WomensNet — Amber GrantChecked October 16, 2026.
The “government grant for women” scam
A message offering you a government grant is the scam. The FTC is blunt about it, and the pattern targets women's business groups on social media in particular.
The FTC says: “The government won't get in touch out of the blue about grants.” It will not call, text, email or message you on social media to offer one.
The FTC also says: “No government agency will ever contact you to demand that you pay to get a grant.” Report a suspected scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
| A real grant | A scam |
|---|---|
| You find it and apply on the funder's own site. | Someone contacts you first, often by text or a friend's hacked account. |
| A private funder may charge a small published entry fee, such as Amber's $15, paid on its own site. | A “processing” or “release” fee is demanded after you are told you won. |
| The funder pays into your business account after it selects you. | You are asked for your bank login, gift cards, a wire or crypto. |
| Federal awards are listed on agency sites and Grants.gov. | The “agency” has an official-sounding name but no .gov page for the program. |
One distinction trips people up. Some legitimate private grants charge an entry fee: Amber charges $15, Freed $19, Her Agenda $25. That fee is published, paid up front on the funder's own site, and the same for everyone. A government grant never has one.
SourcesFTC — Government grant scams·WomensNet — Amber Grant FAQChecked October 16, 2026.
Three women, three different answers
The right program depends on the business, not on the founder's gender alone. Three typical cases:
Idea stage, no revenue
A mother planning a meal-prep business
If you are here, the government has no grant for you, but private funders do. The YippityDoo Big Idea Grant accepts an idea. The Hey Helen Grant accepts pre-revenue once the business is a registered US for-profit with a business bank account.
Then: register the business with free help from a Women's Business Center, and enter the monthly grants every month rather than once.
Selling to agencies
An IT consultant with two federal clients
If you are here, contracts are worth more than any grant. WOSB certification is free and opens set-aside contracts. If your net worth is under $850,000, check EDWOSB too.
Then: confirm your industry code qualifies in the WOSB guide, and compare with 8(a) in the 8(a) vs WOSB page.
Needs equipment
A baker who needs a $30,000 oven
If you are here, no grant on this page reliably covers $30,000. An SBA Microloan (up to $50,000) through a nonprofit lender fits the size.
Then: keep entering Amber each month, since a $15,000 award would cut the loan in half.
Common mistakes
Most lost time comes from chasing money that does not exist or no longer exists.
- Hunting for a federal “women's grant” for general costs. None exists. Spend that hour on a private application instead.
- Treating WOSB certification as money. It is a right to bid. It pays only when you win and perform a contract.
- Applying from a stale list. The Fearless Fund Strivers Grant closed permanently in 2024 and the Eileen Fisher grant paused in 2018, yet both still appear on grant lists.
- Entering a monthly grant once. Amber, Hey Helen, HerRise, The Hustle and YippityDoo run every month. One entry is one draw; a calendar beats a perfect essay.
- Missing a revenue rule. Hey Helen and HerRise cap revenue at under $1M. Fund Her Future required at least $20,000 in 2025 revenue. Sephora's grant needs $100,000 in revenue.
- Paying anyone who contacts you about a grant. A government grant never charges a fee, and a funder you did not apply to has not chosen you.
Search the whole database for women's programs
This page is one slice. The GrantCompass database lists every US program we track with its type, level, status and deadline. Filter to women's programs that are open, star the ones that fit, and we watch the deadlines for you. Free.
Open the women's programs view →Frequently asked questions
Does the US government give grants to women?
Not to spend on a business as you like. The SBA states that it "does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business," and USA.gov says federal grants are typically only for states and organizations. What the government offers women owners is contract access through the WOSB program, free or low-cost advice at Women's Business Centers, and loans such as the SBA Microloan of up to $50,000. Cash grants reserved for women come from private funders such as WomensNet's Amber Grant and Visionaries' Hey Helen Grant.
Is the Amber Grant a government grant?
No. The Amber Grant is run by WomensNet, a private organization. WomensNet awards three $15,000 grants every month (a general Amber Grant, a Startup Grant and a Business Category Grant) and three $75,000 year-end grants. Entry costs $15, the business must be at least 50% women-owned and based in the US or Canada, and each round closes on the last day of the month.
Can a woman get a grant to start a business with no revenue?
Yes, from private funders. The Hey Helen Grant welcomes pre-revenue businesses as long as the company is a US-registered for-profit. The YippityDoo Big Idea Grant accepts a business that is still an idea. The Amber Startup Grant is one of WomensNet's three monthly $15,000 awards. Federal agencies do not fund a new women-owned business with a grant; the SBA Microloan is the closest federal option, and it must be repaid.
Is WOSB certification a grant?
No. WOSB certification makes a women-owned small business eligible for federal contracts set aside for WOSBs. The government aims to award 5% of federal prime contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses. Certification through certifications.sba.gov is free, but the money only arrives when a business wins and performs a contract.
How do I spot a fake government grant offer?
A call, text, social-media message or email offering a government grant is the warning sign. The FTC says the government will not get in touch out of the blue about grants, and that no government agency will ever contact you to demand that you pay to get a grant. Report a suspected scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Are grants for women-owned businesses taxable?
For a for-profit US business, a grant is generally treated as taxable business income, whether it comes from a private funder or a government. Funders paying larger awards commonly issue a Form 1099. Ask your accountant before you spend the whole award.
Where can a woman get free help applying for business funding?
Women's Business Centers, an SBA resource-partner network, offer free to low-cost counseling and training, on starting and growing a business. GrantCompass also drafts the written application for nine small private grants, eight of them listed on this page, from your own answers.