Amber Grant for Women
WomensNet
$10K/mo + $50K year-end
Monthly grant for women founders
WomensNet awards three separate $10,000 grants every month — one general Amber Grant, one Startup Grant (idea-phase or under $10K in sales), and one Business Category Grant tied to a rotating monthly theme (e.g. Health & Fitness, Food & Beverage, STEM). Monthly winners are automatically considered for one of three $50,000 year-end grants. No industry restrictions, no minimum revenue, and no government certification required — just a short essay and a $15 application fee.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $10,000 – $50,000
- Realistic amount
- Most awardees receive $10,000 (the monthly award). The $50,000 year-end grants go to three monthly winners — one from th…
- Deadline
- Rolling — monthly, last day of each calendar month
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- Business must be at least 50% women-owned (self-attestation — no formal WOSB or other government certification required)
- Business must be based in the United States or Canada
- Owner must be 18 years of age or older
- Any industry or business type eligible, including nonprofits
- Any business stage eligible — from pre-revenue idea phase through established growth businesses
- No minimum revenue requirement
- No minimum time-in-business requirement
- Startup Grant track additionally requires: business in idea phase or under $10,000 in total sales to date
- Previous winners are eligible to apply again in subsequent years
Hard requirements
- Demographic eligibility: women-owned
- Requires federal certification:
- Women ownership required
- Restricted to specific NAICS codes:
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Any legitimate business expense — there are no restrictions on how award funds may be used
- Equipment and machinery purchases
- Marketing, advertising, and brand development
- Inventory and raw materials
- Working capital and operating expenses
- Hiring and payroll
- Website development and technology
- Professional services (accounting, legal, consulting)
- Trade show fees, market stall fees, and business travel
- Training and professional development
Ineligible expenses
- No formal ineligible expenses list published — WomensNet does not restrict fund use by category
How to apply
-
1
Pay the $15 application fee
A $15 non-refundable fee is required to submit. Pay via Stripe (US and Canada) or PayPal (US only), with MasterCard or Visa accepted. The fee covers all three grant tracks — monthly Amber, Startup, and Business Category — with a single payment.
~0.1 hrs
-
2
Complete your business profile
Enter your full name, email address, business name, and website or Facebook page URL. If your business is not yet online, a social media page is acceptable.
~0.25 hrs
-
3
Write your business description essay
Describe your business or business idea in your own words. This is the core of your application — judges specifically look for passion and authenticity over polished corporate language. WomensNet states they care most about 'the woman (or women) behind the business.' A few hundred words is typical; there is no stated word limit. Speak from personal experience.
~1.5 hrs
-
4
Describe how you would use the grant funds (optional)
Optionally explain what you would do with the $10,000 if awarded. This field is not required, but specific and grounded plans (e.g., 'purchase a commercial-grade freezer and fund my first farmers market season') are more compelling than vague intentions. No restrictions on fund use — you can propose anything from equipment to marketing to hiring.
~0.5 hrs
-
5
Submit before the month-end deadline
Submit your application before midnight on the last day of the current month. Your single submission automatically enters you into all three concurrent grant tracks for that month, and your application remains active for 12 consecutive months for the rotating Business Category Grant. Winners are notified and announced publicly by the 21st of the following month.
~0.1 hrs
The $15 fee isn't displayed until the Stripe/PayPal payment form. The Business Category Grant (monthly rotating theme) has materially better odds than the general Amber Grant because the pool self-selects. If your business fits the upcoming month's category, that's your best entry. Your application stays live for 12 months and is auto-entered into each monthly category — no reapplication needed.
Deadline & timing
Applications close on the final day of each month. Winners are announced by the 21st of the following month. A single application automatically enters you into all three monthly grant tracks (Amber, Startup, Business Category) and remains active for 12 months — meaning you're automatically considered for each month's rotating Business Category Grant throughout the year without reapplying. You can reapply in subsequent years.
Programs that stack well
- IFundWomen
- Cartier Women'S Initiative
- SBA Women'S Business Centers
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.