Grants for Women Starting a Business — which take a brand-new founder
A woman with only an idea can apply to five grants today: the WomensNet Amber Grant and its separate Amber Startup Grant ($15,000 each, every month), the YippityDoo Big Idea Grant ($1,000 a month), the Galaxy Grant ($2,500) and the Business Freedom Grant ($1,000, open to anyone). Once the business is registered, the Hey Helen Grant ($10,000 a month) takes it with no sales at all. The larger women’s awards are a different story: every one above $25,000 that we checked asks for revenue first.
Updated October 16, 2026 — every amount, deadline rule and stage rule below was checked on the funder’s own site on October 16, 2026.
See every grant you qualify for — free →A two-minute eligibility check ranks 660+ US programs against your business. No card.
Which grants a brand-new women-owned business can actually get
Five grants accept a woman who has an idea and no business yet, two more accept a registered business with no sales, and none of the 13 open grants on this page publishes a revenue minimum. The catch sits one level up: the H&R Block Fund Her Future grant, the Boundless Futures EmpowHer grant and the Cartier Women’s Initiative all require a business that is already earning.
Most lists of grants for women starting a business print names and amounts. The question a new founder actually has is different: will this funder take me yet? The answer depends on three facts, and the funders rarely put them in one place. Is an idea enough? Does the business have to be registered with the state? Does it need sales, or a year of trading?
We read the rules page of every grant below on October 16, 2026 and sorted them by those three facts. The result splits cleanly into four stages.
Amber Startup Grant and the monthly Amber Grant ($15,000 each), YippityDoo Big Idea Grant ($1,000), Galaxy Grant ($2,500), Business Freedom Grant ($1,000).
Everything in stage 1, plus the Hey Helen Grant ($10,000 a month), which states that pre-revenue businesses are welcome, and the HerRise MicroGrant, whose form offers a pre-revenue option.
Add the Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant ($5,000, needs a currently operating business) and the SecretSoS Small Business Grant ($2,500 a quarter, needs an active registered business).
The larger annual awards open up: Fund Her Future (four $45,000 grants in 2026, $20,000 prior-year revenue), EmpowHer (up to $50,000, revenue required).
Three of the grants that GrantCompass tracks for women founders are not women-only. The Business Freedom Grant is open to anyone with a business idea. The Freed Fellowship Grant is open to any US micro or small business owner and says it especially encourages women to apply. The SecretSoS grant is open to any owner aged 21 or over with an active US business. They belong on this page because women founders win them, but the field is wider than a women-only pool.
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 →
Every grant, sorted by the stage it accepts
18 programs for women starting out: 13 accepting entries now or on a repeating cycle, 5 closed or ended. Each row shows whether an idea is enough, whether the business must be registered and how long it must have traded, as the funder states it on October 16, 2026. Sort any column, search by name, or tap a filter.
| Grant | Amount | Who can apply | Accepts an idea or no sales? | Must be registered? | Minimum time in business | Deadline rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Startup Grant (WomensNet)The startup track. One Amber application enters you for it automatically. | $15,000 monthly | Women 18+ owning at least 50% of a US or Canadian business still in the idea phase or under $10,000 in sales | Yes, idea stage | No | None | Last day of every month, 11:59 pm ET. $15 fee. |
| Amber Grant for Women (WomensNet)Three $15,000 grants a month in all; three winners later get a $75,000 year-end grant. | $15,000 monthly + $75,000 year-end | Women 18+ owning at least 50% of a US or Canadian business; pre-revenue and idea-stage ventures named as eligible | Yes, idea stage | No | None | Last day of every month, 11:59 pm ET. $15 fee. |
| Hey Helen Grant (Visionaries)Unrestricted cash; needs a US business bank account that takes ACH. | $10,000 monthly | US women 18+ owning at least 50%, revenue under $1 million, no nonprofits | No sales OK, idea no | Yes, and actively operating | None stated | Last day of every month, 11:59 pm ET. $15 fee. |
| HerRise MicroGrant (HerSuiteSpot)The funder’s page does not print the amount; our catalog and past rounds say $1,000. | $1,000 monthly | Women-owned businesses registered in the US, under $1 million gross revenue; no nonprofits, franchises or direct sellers | No sales OK, idea no | Yes | None stated | Last day of every month. $15 fee. |
| The Hustle GrantThe entry form asks about “your business or business idea”, but the rules do not say an idea qualifies. | $1,000 monthly | Women 18+, business at least 50% women-owned and operating in the US | Not stated | Not stated | None stated | Monthly. Next winner announced November 15, 2026. $15 fee. |
| YippityDoo Big Idea GrantScored 40% vision, 40% passion, 20% use of funds. | $1,000 monthly | US women 18+; for-profit business at least 50% owned and run by a woman | Yes, idea stage | Not stated (idea stage allowed) | None | Last day of every month; winner told around the 15th. $15 fee. |
| Business Freedom Grant (Darcy’s Business)Not women-only. Scored on clarity, feasibility, impact and commitment. | $1,000 | Aspiring entrepreneurs and existing owners in any industry | Yes, idea stage | No | None | Next review round closes November 15, 2026; final deadline December 31, 2026. Free. |
| Freed Fellowship Grant (Freed Studio)Not women-only; women are encouraged to apply. | $500 monthly + $2,500 year-end | Any US micro or small business owner | Not stated | Not stated | None stated | Midnight ET on the last day of every month. $19 fee. |
| SecretSoS Small Business GrantNot women-only. Applications do not roll over; reapply each quarter. | $2,500 quarterly | Owners 21+ with an active business registered in a US state or territory | Needs an active business | Yes | None stated | Last day of every quarter, 11:59 pm Central. $15 fee. |
| Her Agenda Breakthrough GrantYou must subscribe to the free Her Agenda newsletter first. INSIDER members pay $12.50. | $5,000 | Women entrepreneurs with a currently operating business, any industry or stage | Needs an operating business | Not stated (must be operating) | None stated | Volume IV due January 19, 2027. $25 fee. |
| Galaxy Grant (Galaxy of Stars)The form lets you answer “I would like to start a business”. Takes about 30 seconds. | $2,500 | Women and minority business owners and aspiring founders | Yes, idea stage | No | None | Current round closes October 31, 2026. Free. |
| Women Founders GrantTwo short questions; the site asks you to “share your idea” but sets no stage rule. | $5,000 | Women founders and business owners | Not stated | Not stated | None stated | Posted deadline October 31, 2026; rolling after. $25 fee. |
| IFW Universal Funding and Grant Application (IFW by Honeycomb Credit)One application on file; you are notified when a sponsor grant matches you. | Varies by sponsor grant | Set by each sponsor grant | Depends on the sponsor | Depends on the sponsor | Depends on the sponsor | Rolling. Free to apply. |
| Fund Her Future (H&R Block / Block Advisors)Annual. Also gives every recipient a year of tax, bookkeeping and payroll services. | Four $45,000 grants (2026) | Women-owned US businesses, owners 18+ (19 in AL and NE); no nonprofits | No: $20,000 revenue needed | Yes, an established company | A prior year with $20,000+ revenue | 2026 round closed; next round not announced. |
| EmpowHer Grant (Boundless Futures)Paid as reimbursement against receipts. Needs a self-reported credit score and a background check. | Up to $50,000 | Female entrepreneurs 22+, registered and operating only in the US, with a social-impact business | No: must be earning revenue | Yes | None, but no more than 5 years old | Several cycles a year; between cycles in our catalog. |
| Cartier Women’s InitiativeGlobal, any sector; the business must have social or environmental impact. | Cash awards per edition | Women-run and women-owned businesses from any country; a woman holds a top role and an equal or larger share | No: $50,000+ revenue | Yes | $50,000 to $5 million revenue in the last fiscal year | 2027 edition closed; next not announced. |
| Fearless Fund Strivers GrantStill named on many lists. It no longer exists. | $20,000 (ended) | Was for businesses led by women of color | Ended | — | — | Permanently closed in 2024 under a legal settlement. |
| EILEEN FISHER Women-Owned Business GrantAlso still on older lists. | Ended | Was for women-owned businesses | Ended | — | — | Paused by the foundation in 2018; giving moved to women in environmental justice. |
No grant matches that search or filter. Clear it, or run the free eligibility check to see your own ranked list.
Star the grants you want and we will watch them for you. Free deadline alerts on anything you star, so a monthly cut-off never slips past.
Get free deadline alerts →SourcesWomensNet — Amber Grant rules·Visionaries — Hey Helen Grant·HerSuiteSpot — HerRise MicroGrant·The Hustle Grant·YippityDoo — Big Idea Grant·Business Freedom Grant·Freed Fellowship·SecretSoS — grants·Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant·Galaxy of Stars — Galaxy Grants·Women Founders Grant·IFW by Honeycomb Credit — Universal Application·H&R Block — Fund Her Future·Boundless Futures — EmpowHer·Cartier Women’s Initiative — FAQChecked 16 October 2026.
Before you start: which grants need a registered business
You do not need an LLC to apply for the Amber Grant, the Amber Startup Grant, the YippityDoo Big Idea Grant, the Galaxy Grant or the Business Freedom Grant. Hey Helen, HerRise and SecretSoS state that the business must be registered in the US, and Her Agenda requires a business that is already operating.
Registration is the line most new founders trip over. A sole proprietor trading under her own name may count as an operating business without filing anything; a funder that says “legally registered” usually wants a state filing, such as an LLC or a registered trade name. Pick the line that describes you to see what you can apply to this month.
Which grants fit where you are right now?
One rule cuts the other way. The EmpowHer grant measures a business’s age from the date of state registration, and it will not fund a business older than five years. A founder who registers early, long before she trades, starts that clock early.
The monthly essay grants, one by one
Nine short-essay grants carry most of the money a new woman founder can reach: Amber, Hey Helen, HerRise, The Hustle, YippityDoo, Business Freedom, Freed, SecretSoS and Her Agenda. Each asks two to seven written questions, and seven of the nine repeat every month or quarter.
These grants work the same way: a short form, an essay or two, a small fee for most, and a winner picked by a panel. Below is what each one asks and who it fits. The questions are the ones printed on each funder’s own form.
Amber Grant and Amber Startup Grant
$15,000 each, three grants a month · $75,000 year-end for three winners
WomensNet awards three $15,000 grants every month: the monthly Amber Grant, the monthly Startup Grant for a business in the idea phase or under $10,000 in sales, and a Business Category Grant that rotates by industry. One application covers all three.
- Asks: tell us about your business or idea; what you would do with the money
- Fits: idea stage onward, US or Canada
- Fee: $15, waivable on request for hardship
Hey Helen Grant
$10,000 every month, unrestricted
Visionaries funds a woman-owned business with revenue under $1 million. Pre-revenue businesses are welcome, but the business must be legally registered in the US and actively operating.
- Asks: about your business, your impact, your traction, and how you would use the money within six months
- Fits: registered, no sales needed
- Fee: $15
HerRise MicroGrant
$1,000 a month
Run by HerSuiteSpot and the Yva Jourdan Foundation. Winners are announced at the HerSuiteSpot First Friday Mixer the month after the cut-off.
- Asks: what problem you solve and how; how you will use the money (250 characters each)
- Fits: registered in the US, under $1 million revenue
- Fee: $15
The Hustle Grant
$1,000 a month
Open to all types of women-owned businesses operating in the US, chosen by an advisory board and announced in the newsletter.
- Asks: tell us about your business or idea; what you would do with the money
- Fits: women 18+, business at least 50% women-owned
- Fee: $15
YippityDoo Big Idea Grant
$1,000 a month, one for-profit winner
YippityDoo says plainly that “your business can already be started or in idea stage”. The scoring is 40% vision, 40% passion and 20% use of funds.
- Asks: your big idea, why it matters to you, about you, how you will use the money
- Fits: idea stage onward, US women 18+
- Fee: $15
Business Freedom Grant
$1,000, reviewed in rounds
Coach Darcy’s grant is open to anyone with a business idea, not only women. It scores clarity (3 points), feasibility (3), impact (2) and passion (2); joining the free GrantHouse community adds 2 bonus points.
- Asks: your idea, who it helps, your 90-day plan for $1,000, one step already taken
- Fits: idea stage onward
- Fee: none
Freed Fellowship Grant
$500 a month · $2,500 year-end
Open to any US micro or small business owner, with women and other under-represented founders encouraged. Judged on the 5C framework: context, content, community, chemistry and commerce.
- Asks: about your business, how you contribute to your community, how you would use the funds
- Fits: stage not stated
- Fee: $19
SecretSoS Small Business Grant
$2,500 every quarter
Open to any owner aged 21 or over with an active business registered in a US state or territory. Entries do not roll over, so you reapply each quarter.
- Asks: about you and your business, why you will succeed, your achievements, how you will use the grant
- Fits: registered and operating
- Fee: $15
Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant
$5,000, one winner per volume
For women entrepreneurs with a currently operating business in any industry. You must be an active subscriber to the free Her Agenda newsletter. Volume IV is due January 19, 2027.
- Asks: seven questions, from your business and inspiration to your barriers and 2–3 year vision
- Fits: operating businesses only
- Fee: $25 ($12.50 for INSIDER members)
Five of these grants are women-only, repeat every month and charge $15: Amber, Hey Helen, HerRise, The Hustle and YippityDoo. Entering all five costs $75 a month. GrantCompass drafts the application for all nine of these grants from your own answers; here is how the drafting works.
Three founders, three different lists
The right list depends on stage, not on how good the idea is. An idea-stage founder has five grants open to her this month, a registered pre-revenue founder has seven, and an operating founder with sales has the most.
Maya wants to start a meal-prep business and has filed nothing yet
Maya has a plan, a name and no sales. She has not registered with her state. Her list this month:
- Amber Grant: one $15 application enters her for the monthly $15,000 grant and the $15,000 Startup Grant, which exists for a business in the idea phase.
- YippityDoo Big Idea Grant: $1,000, scored mostly on vision and passion, which suits an idea.
- Galaxy Grant and Business Freedom Grant: both free, both accept a founder who has not started yet.
She should skip Hey Helen and HerRise for now. Both require a registered US business, and an entry before registration is wasted.
Dana runs a registered candle shop online with $2,000 in sales
Dana has an LLC, a business bank account and modest sales. Nearly every grant on this page fits her:
- Amber Grant: her sales are under $10,000, so she still qualifies for the Startup Grant as well as the monthly grant.
- Hey Helen Grant: $10,000 a month, registered and operating, revenue under $1 million.
- HerRise, The Hustle and Her Agenda: all fit an operating women-owned business.
- SecretSoS: if she is 21 or over, she can enter every quarter.
Her constraint is fees and time, not eligibility. She should start with the grants whose questions match a story she can already tell with numbers.
Renee runs a cleaning company with two staff
Renee has outgrown the Amber Startup Grant (her sales are over $10,000) but still qualifies for the monthly Amber Grant and its Business Category Grant. Her revenue clears the bar for the bigger annual awards that newer founders cannot reach: Fund Her Future, which asked for $20,000 of prior-year revenue, and EmpowHer, if her business has a social-impact angle and is under five years old. Neither is open as of October 16, 2026, so a watch on both beats waiting for a list to mention them.
The numbers: what the catalog holds for women founders
Half of the 64 US programs tagged for women in the GrantCompass catalog are loans, not grants. Of the 20 that are grants, 9 were listed as active this month, and the median ceiling across all 20 is $22,500.
What the 64 programs tagged for women actually are
- Loans 32
- Grants 20
- Support programs 7
- Awards and pitch prizes 4
- Tax credit 1
The 13 open grants on this page, by what they accept
| Status in the catalog | Grants |
|---|---|
| Active | 9 |
| Between intakes | 8 |
| Upcoming | 1 |
| Discontinued | 2 |
- “Grants for women” is half loans. 32 of the 64 women-tagged programs are loans, mostly community lenders (CDFIs) and state loan funds. 31 of the 32 are listed active with year-round intake, which is why loans dominate any search for funding a woman can get this week.
- The small grants are the reachable ones. The median award among the 13 open grants on this page is $2,500. None of them publishes a revenue minimum.
- The big awards gate on revenue. Every women’s award above $25,000 that we checked (Fund Her Future, EmpowHer, Cartier) requires a business that is already earning. Amber’s $75,000 year-end grant is the one exception, because it goes to past monthly winners, startups included.
- Fees are the norm. 10 of the 13 open grants charge between $15 and $25 to enter. The three free ones are Business Freedom, Galaxy and the IFW Universal Application.
- Lists go stale. 2 of the 20 women-tagged grants in our catalog have ended for good, and both still appear on popular lists.
The questions women founders ask most
Four questions come up again and again: startup grants with no business yet, the Amber startup grant, grants for minority women, and free grants with no fee. Each has a short, checkable answer.
Are there startup grants for women who have not started the business yet?
Yes, and the WomensNet Amber Grant is the clearest one. WomensNet’s rules name “pre-revenue ventures” and “idea-stage startups” as eligible, and the funder runs a separate monthly Startup Grant for a business still in the idea phase or under $10,000 in sales. The YippityDoo Big Idea Grant says your business can be in the idea stage. The Galaxy Grant form offers the answer “I would like to start a business”. The Business Freedom Grant accepts a business idea you are preparing to launch, from anyone. Together those make five grants an idea-stage woman can enter in the same month, worth between $1,000 and $15,000 each. What she cannot do yet is enter Hey Helen, HerRise or SecretSoS, which all require a registered US business. The fastest route is to enter the idea-stage five now and register before the next cut-off of the others.
What is the WomensNet Amber startup grant for women?
The Amber Startup Grant is a $15,000 grant that WomensNet awards every month to a woman-owned business in the idea phase or with under $10,000 in gross sales. There is no separate form. One Amber application, with its $15 fee, enters a founder for every grant she qualifies for: the monthly Amber Grant, the Startup Grant and that month’s Business Category Grant. Each of the three pays $15,000, and at the end of the year three monthly winners receive an additional $75,000. Applicants must be women aged 18 or over who own at least 50% of a business based in the US or Canada. The monthly and startup entries expire at the end of the month you apply, so a founder who misses out reapplies next month. Many lists still quote $10,000 a month; WomensNet’s own rules page now says $15,000. The fee can be waived on request if it is a hardship.
Are there grants for minority women starting a business?
Yes, though fewer than older lists suggest. The Galaxy Grant is run for women and minority business owners, accepts founders who have not started yet, and is free to enter; its current $2,500 round has a posted deadline. HerRise, run by HerSuiteSpot and the Yva Jourdan Foundation, accepts any women-owned business registered in the US with under $1 million in revenue, and the $1,000 award repeats every month. Our separate guide to grants for women of color covers the programs built for Black, Latina, Asian American and Native founders in more depth. The best-known name in this space, the Fearless Fund Strivers Grant, no longer exists: it closed permanently in 2024 under a legal settlement, and any list that still sends you there is out of date. Before entering any program that pairs a grant with a cohort or accelerator, check how many weeks of attendance come with the money.
Are there free grants for small business women, with no application fee?
Three of the 13 open grants on this page charge nothing to enter: the Galaxy Grant ($2,500, takes about 30 seconds), the Business Freedom Grant ($1,000, open to anyone) and the IFW Universal Funding and Grant Application, which puts one application on file and matches you to sponsor grants as they open. The other ten charge between $15 and $25. A fee alone does not make a grant a scam; WomensNet, for example, charges $15 and lists its monthly winners on its homepage. What should worry you is a fee charged after you win, or a promise of guaranteed money. Hey Helen states there are no fees at all if you are selected. A sensible rule is to treat the fee as part of the cost of the grant: $15 for a monthly $15,000 Amber entry is a different bet from $25 for a one-off $5,000 award.
Loans and free help for women starting out
These are loans and advice, not grants: you repay a loan. The best-priced start-up money for a woman with thin credit is Kiva’s 0% crowdfunded loan of $1,000 to $15,000; the best free help is an SBA Women’s Business Center.
“Small business loans for women” is one of the most common searches next to grants. There is no federal loan reserved for women, but several lenders and one federal advice network are built for founders who cannot get a bank loan yet. Every row below is labelled for what it is.
| Program | What it is | Amount and cost | Start-up friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA Women’s Business Centers | Free help | Free to low-cost counseling and training | Yes. Built for women who want to start, grow or expand a business |
| Kiva US microloans | Loan | $1,000–$15,000 at 0% interest, no fees, no collateral; usually repaid over 12–36 months | Yes. No minimum credit score and no minimum time in business; you first rally 5–40 lenders from your own network |
| SBA Microloan Program | Loan | Up to $50,000, average about $13,000; interest generally 8%–13%; up to 7 years | Often. Made by nonprofit community lenders, who set their own credit rules |
| Grameen America microloans | Loan | First loan $500–$2,500, six-month term, 18% APR on a declining balance, no application fee | Yes. No credit score, collateral or business income needed; you join a group of five and meet weekly near a branch |
| Accion Opportunity Fund | Loan | Term loans up to $250,000 in 45 states (not DC, MT, ND, SD, TN or VT) | Sometimes. Serves owners banks often turn down; terms set case by case |
| SBA Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program | Contracts | No cash. Access to federal contracts set aside for women-owned firms; SBA certification is free | Later. For a business at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are US citizens, once it can deliver a contract |
A loan can sit alongside a grant. A founder who wins a $1,000 grant and borrows $5,000 from Kiva at 0% has $6,000 of start-up money and one repayment. For a fuller comparison, see our SBA microloan program page and the honest guide to business grants with no revenue.
SourcesSBA — Women’s Business Centers·Kiva — Borrow·SBA — Microloans·Grameen America — Request a loan·Accion Opportunity Fund — Business loans·SBA — WOSB Federal Contract ProgramChecked 16 October 2026.
Mistakes that cost women founders a grant
Most lost entries come from stage, not writing: applying before the business qualifies, or chasing a grant that has ended. The rest come from vague use-of-funds answers and missed monthly cut-offs.
- Entering a registered-only grant before registering. Hey Helen, HerRise and SecretSoS all require a business registered in the US. An idea-stage entry pays the $15 fee and is out on the first check.
- Chasing grants that no longer exist. The Fearless Fund Strivers Grant closed for good in 2024, and the EILEEN FISHER business grant was paused in 2018. Both still appear on popular lists.
- Assuming “for women” means “for new women founders”. Fund Her Future wanted $20,000 of prior-year revenue. Cartier asks for at least $50,000. EmpowHer requires revenue. Read the stage rule before the amount.
- Writing a vague use-of-funds answer. Every essay grant here asks how you will spend the money, and YippityDoo weights it at 20% of the score. “Marketing” loses to “$600 for a commercial kitchen rental for three months”.
- Missing the monthly cut-off by a day. Amber, Hey Helen, HerRise, YippityDoo and Freed close on the last day of the month. A late entry rolls nowhere; you start again next month. SecretSoS entries do not roll over between quarters either.
- Entering once and stopping. These grants pick one to three winners a month from large pools. HerRise sends no notice to non-winners. Most of these grants let you reapply every cycle, so silence after one entry is not a verdict.
- Paying to apply through a third party. Every grant here takes entries on its own form. The only fees are the ones the funder itself charges, from $15 to $25.
Our step-by-step guide to how to apply for small business grants covers the paperwork side, and the women’s business grant calendar lays the cut-offs out month by month.
What the winners had that the rules do not say
Every grant page on GrantCompass carries a locked Win Layer: seven fields of research the funder does not publish. For the Amber Grant, all seven are filled, including 5 recorded rejection reasons and 3 document lines. This page shows only that they exist.
- Approval odds
- Who wins
- How it is judged
- Why entries fail
- Documents
- When the money arrives
- Clawback risk
Work the whole women’s list, not one page
The GrantCompass database holds every program on this page and the women-focused loans and awards behind it, filterable by amount, deadline and state. For the full picture by ownership, see women-owned business grants; for awards under $10,000 from any funder, see microgrants open now.
Open the women’s view in the database →Frequently asked questions
Can I get a grant to start a business as a woman with no money?
Yes. Five grants accept a woman with only an idea: the Amber Grant and Amber Startup Grant ($15,000 each, every month), the YippityDoo Big Idea Grant ($1,000 a month), the Galaxy Grant ($2,500) and the Business Freedom Grant ($1,000). Galaxy and Business Freedom are free to enter; Amber and YippityDoo charge $15.
Do I need an LLC to apply for a women’s business grant?
Not for all of them. Amber, YippityDoo, Galaxy and Business Freedom accept an idea-stage founder with nothing registered. Hey Helen, HerRise and SecretSoS require a business registered in the US, and Her Agenda requires a currently operating business.
How much is the Amber Grant now?
WomensNet now awards three $15,000 Amber Grants every month: the monthly Amber Grant, the Startup Grant and a Business Category Grant. Three monthly winners later receive an additional $75,000 year-end grant. The entry fee is $15, and one application covers every grant you qualify for.
Does the Hey Helen Grant accept pre-revenue businesses?
Yes. Visionaries states that pre-revenue businesses are welcome to apply. The business must still be legally registered in the US, actively operating, at least 50% owned by a woman and earning under $1 million a year, with a US business bank account that can receive ACH transfers.
Are there federal grants for women to start a business?
No federal program gives women cash to start a business. The federal government offers free advice through SBA Women’s Business Centers, loans through the SBA Microloan Program (up to $50,000), and federal contract set-asides through the Women-Owned Small Business program, which pays no cash.
Can I apply to several women’s grants at the same time?
Yes. None of the grants on this page forbids entering others, and most repeat monthly, so you can reapply after a miss. Entering the five $15 monthly grants (Amber, Hey Helen, HerRise, The Hustle and YippityDoo) costs $75 a month.
Is grant money for a new business taxable?
Usually, yes. A business grant is generally counted as business income for US federal tax purposes, though business expenses you pay with it may be deductible. Ask a tax preparer how it applies to your business structure before you spend it.