Melissa Washington Small Business Award
Women Veterans Giving, Inc.
Up to $5,000
Up to $5,000 a year for a woman veteran starting or expanding a business. Between rounds; the 2026 window was May 1 to July 31 per a third party.
The Melissa Washington Small Business Award gives up to $5,000 each year to a woman veteran to start or expand her business. It is run by Women Veterans Giving, a 501(c)(3) in Sacramento, California. Three finalists are judged by an awards committee. The funder's own page gives no dates; a third-party veterans business center listing says the 2026 application period ran May 1 to July 31, 2026, with the award presented at a national conference in November 2026. The funder has not posted the 2027 window.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $5,000
- Realistic amount
- Up to $5,000 to a single woman veteran each year.
- Deadline
- Not public between rounds (2026 window May 1 to July 31, per a third party)
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
Who qualifies
- Woman veteran (active duty, reserves or veteran) starting or expanding a business
- Third-party listings say for-profit or nonprofit businesses may apply
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Starting or expanding a woman veteran's business (specific rules not published)
Ineligible expenses
- See official program guidance
How to apply
-
1
Watch for the 2027 window
The form is not public between rounds; third-party dates suggest a May to July window.
~0.2 hrs
-
2
Submit the application
Questions were not visible.
~3 hrs
Dates come only from a third party, so email or check the funder in spring before planning around a May opening.
Deadline & timing
The funder's page gives no dates. SoCal VBOC (third party, updated 2026-10-06) lists "Application Period May 1 - July 31, 2026" and an award presentation at the VIB National Conference, November 2-3, 2026. Confirm dates at the funder before relying on them. The form is not public between rounds.
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Required documents
- Application form (contents not public)
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Last updated October 17, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.