MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program (WEP)
Minority Business Development Agency
~$400,000/yr per grantee
MBDA grants for MBE-serving nonprofits focused on women
The MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program funds nonprofit organizations to deliver technical assistance, education, capital access support, and entrepreneurship services specifically to minority business enterprises (MBEs) with a focus on women-owned firms. Awards approximately $400K/year per grantee for 4-year performance periods. The grantee organizations then provide services directly to minority women entrepreneurs.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $300,000 – $400,000
- Realistic amount
- Each grantee organization receives approximately $400,000 per year from MBDA to operate WEP services. MBEs receiving ser…
- Deadline
- FY2025 NOFO published on simpler.grants.gov (opportunity 358216). Multi-year award period FY2025–FY2028. New competition expected FY2029.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Applicant must be a private nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3), (4), (5), or (6) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from tax under section 501(a)
- As a primary organizational activity, the applicant must provide services to Minority Business Enterprises — through education, capital access, grants, loans, or similar activities
- Applicant must demonstrate capacity to serve women entrepreneurs within the MBE community
- Organization must have an active SAM.gov registration and UEI
- Applicants should propose plans addressing barriers specifically experienced by women MBE entrepreneurs, though all MBEs are eligible to receive services from the WEP grantee
- No minimum size requirement for the nonprofit applicant, but must demonstrate organizational capacity to manage the 4-year cooperative agreement
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Must be a registered 501(c)(3)
- Funds intermediaries, not businesses directly
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Program staff salaries for WEP coordinators, counselors, and trainers
- Training materials, curriculum development, and workshop delivery costs
- Outreach and marketing to minority women entrepreneurs
- Technology systems for client tracking and case management
- Subcontracts with technical experts or capital access specialists
- Administrative overhead within allowable percentage limits
Ineligible expenses
- Direct cash grants to businesses (the nonprofit provides services, not funding)
- Lobbying or political activities
- Costs that exceed 2 CFR Part 200 allowable cost requirements
- Activities unrelated to serving Minority Business Enterprises
How to apply
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1
Monitor simpler.grants.gov for WEP NOFO
The FY2025 NOFO (opportunity 358216) is the current open competition. Future rounds expected FY2029. Subscribe to MBDA grant alerts at mbda.gov for new NOFOs.
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2
Prepare organizational capability statement
Document the organization's track record serving MBEs — number of clients served, capital facilitated, contracts obtained, jobs created. Reviewers evaluate capacity to execute the WEP mission.
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3
Develop technical proposal
Outline the specific services, training programs, capital access activities, and entrepreneurship education to be delivered to minority women entrepreneurs. Include program design, staffing plan, and performance measurement approach.
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4
Prepare budget narrative
Develop a 4-year budget narrative covering personnel, facilities, program delivery costs, and administrative overhead. MBDA awards approximately $400K/year per organization.
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5
Submit via simpler.grants.gov by NOFA deadline
Submit complete application package including technical proposal, budget, SF-424, organizational financials, and required certifications. MBDA reviews via panel merit evaluation including capability, methodology, and budget reasonableness.
This NOFO funds the nonprofits that serve women MBEs — not the businesses themselves. MBE owners should find an existing WEP grantee through mbda.gov and request services.
Deadline & timing
FY2025 NOFO is the most recent round — awards have been or will be made for a 4-year period of performance through FY2028. Next open competition likely FY2029. Current MBEs seeking services should contact existing WEP grantee organizations, not apply to MBDA directly.
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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.