Grants for women-owned businesses and female business owners
20 programs for women-owned businesses, 17 named below, each with its award, deadline status and a link to the funder's page, checked against that page between Oct 3 and Oct 19, 2026. How we verify
As of October 2026, female business owners can apply right now to NJ ZIP ($15,000–$175,000 base vouchers), Amber Grant, and Hey Helen Grant, among 20 programs set aside for women-owned businesses, plus general and federal money below.
If you are a woman in business, this is money funded on purpose for you, mostly by companies and foundations that back women entrepreneurs. Most of these grants never run an ad. The hard part was never qualifying. It was finding out the grant existed before the window closed. That is the part we fixed.
Grants for women-owned businesses by the numbers
- Who funds them
- 16 funders: Women's Business Development Council (Connecticut) (2), Cartier (1), Enthuse Foundation (1), HerSuiteSpot / Yva Jourdan Foundation (1), and 12 more.
- Award size
- Most awards $1K to $49K.
- Timing
- 9 open now, 3 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: Amber Grant, Oct 31, 2026. 8 between cycles; WBDC Ignite Grant lists its next window as “~early 2027 (per page)”.
- What they fund
- Food & Restaurant (1), Manufacturing (1), Retail (1), Transportation & Trucking (1); 15 open to any industry.
17 grants for women-owned businesses worth knowing by name
Every program here is genuinely for women-owned businesses. Each names its funder and links to the official page. The general and federal money a women-owned business also qualifies for is in your full report.
| Program | Amount | Status | Built for | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NJ ZIP New Jersey Economic Development Authority Verified Oct 15, 2026 | $15,000–$175,000 base vouchers | Rolling, apply anytime | Businesses that are women-owned or minority-owned or veteran-owned | Official page ↗ |
Amber Grant WomensNet Funder's application fee: $15 Verified Oct 15, 2026 | $15,000 (three monthly grants: Monthly, Startup and Business Category) | Closes Oct 31, 2026 | Woman-owned businesses: awarded monthly, with a yearly finalist round | Official page ↗ |
Hey Helen Grant Visionaries (Hey Helen) Funder's application fee: $15 Verified Oct 13, 2026 | $10,000 per month (one recipient) | Closes Oct 31, 2026 | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
Women Founders Grant Funder's application fee: $25 Verified Oct 11, 2026 | $5,000 per grant paid in a single lump sum | Closes Oct 31, 2026 | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
Galaxy Grant Hidden Star (Galaxy of Stars) Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $2,500 | Closes Oct 31, 2026 | Businesses that are women-owned or minority-owned | Official page ↗ |
WBDC Launch Pad Grant Women's Business Development Council (Connecticut) Verified Oct 16, 2026 | Up to $2,500 | Rolling, apply anytime | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program Tory Burch Foundation Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $2,000 education grant (plus fellowship) | Closes Nov 17, 2026 | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
HerRise MicroGrant HerSuiteSpot / Yva Jourdan Foundation Funder's application fee: $15 Verified Oct 14, 2026 | $1,000 | Closes Oct 31, 2026 | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
YippityDoo Big Idea Grant YippityDoo Funder's application fee: $15 Verified Oct 10, 2026 | $1,000 per month | Rolling, apply anytime | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
Cartier Women's Initiative Regional Awards Cartier Verified Oct 3, 2026 | $30,000–$100,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms The Mama Ladder (with Belly Bandit) Verified Oct 3, 2026 | $1,000–$10,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around September 2027, based on past rounds | Mom-owned businesses | Official page ↗ |
Ladies Who Launch: The Launch Program Ladies Who Launch Verified Oct 16, 2026 | $10,000 ($7,500 unrestricted + $2,500 for AI literacy training), 10 awards | Reopens, date not announced yet | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation Grant Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation (Olga's Kitchen) Verified Oct 15, 2026 | up to $10,000 | Reopens, date not announced yet | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
WBDC Ignite Grant Women's Business Development Council (Connecticut) Verified Oct 16, 2026 | $2,500 to $10,000 | Reopens, date not announced yet ~early 2027 (per page) | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
WomanUp & Pitch Competition Michigan Women Forward Funder's application fee: $20 Verified Oct 5, 2026 | Up to $10,000 (first place); $5,000 second, $2,500 third, $1,000 audience choice, $500 for other finalists | Between cycles Usually opens around August 2027, based on past rounds | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
Enthuse Foundation Grant Program Enthuse Foundation Verified Oct 16, 2026 | $2,500 per category grant; one $5,000 Planet and Purpose grant | Between cycles Usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds | Businesses that are women-owned | Official page ↗ |
TRANSFORM Business Grant TRANSFORM Verified Oct 12, 2026 | $1,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds | Businesses that are minority-owned or LGBTQ-owned or disability-owned or women-owned | Official page ↗ |
We track 3 more programs for women-owned businesses that are not verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your business against them.
This page tracks what is open now. For how to apply, what WOSB certification does (contracts, not a check) and where to get free help, read the guide: Grants for women-owned businesses: what's real and how to win one.
Small business grants for women open right now
- NJ ZIP: $15,000–$175,000 base vouchers, rolling, apply anytime
- Amber Grant: $15,000 (three monthly grants: Monthly, Startup and Business Category), closes Oct 31, 2026. Funder's application fee: $15
- Hey Helen Grant: $10,000 per month (one recipient), closes Oct 31, 2026. Funder's application fee: $15
- Women Founders Grant: $5,000 per grant paid in a single lump sum, closes Oct 31, 2026. Funder's application fee: $25
- Galaxy Grant: $2,500, closes Oct 31, 2026
- WBDC Launch Pad Grant: Up to $2,500, rolling, apply anytime
- Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program: $2,000 education grant (plus fellowship), closes Nov 17, 2026
- HerRise MicroGrant: $1,000, closes Oct 31, 2026. Funder's application fee: $15
- YippityDoo Big Idea Grant: $1,000 per month, takes applications every month; next round not posted yet. Funder's application fee: $15
Amber Grant vs Hey Helen vs Galaxy: how the open women's grants differ
Six women-owned business grants are open right now. Here is how they differ, in each funder's own words. We checked every fact on the funder's page between Oct 7 and Oct 14, 2026.
| Program (funder) | Award | Who can apply (funder's terms) | Idea stage or pre-revenue? | Application fee | Current deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(WomensNet) | $15,000. WomensNet says it gives "at least $45,000 every month" in Amber Grant money, and monthly winners are in the running for three $75,000 year-end grants | A woman 18 or older, a business at least 50% women-owned, based in the US or Canada | Yes, through WomensNet's separate $15,000 monthly Start-Up Grant (idea phase, pre-revenue, or under $10,000 revenue) | $15 | Oct 31, 2026 for the next $15,000 grant. Winners announced by the 21st of the following month | ambergrantsforwomen.com/get-an-amber-grant//about-us/faq-online-grants-for-women//get-an-amber-grant/apply-now/ |
(Visionaries) | $10,000 unrestricted, one founder per month | Identifies as a woman and owns 50% or more; legal US resident, 18 or older; for-profit, under $1M annual revenue; US business bank account. Nonprofits not eligible | Yes, "pre-revenue applications are welcome" | $15 administrative fee | Oct 31, 2026. One application stays on file for 12 months | visionaries.co/helen-grant/ |
| $5,000, paid in a single lump sum, plus a mentor | Women 18 or older in the USA, business at least 51% women-owned and operated | Yes, "a business idea or existing business" | $25, non-refundable | The last day of each month (funder's rule), so Oct 31, 2026 this round. Shortlist contacted on the 15th | womenfoundersgrant.com/gimme-women-owned-business-grants/faqs | |
(Hidden Star, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) | $2,500 | Women and minority entrepreneurs "of ALL stages" | Yes, "New, Experienced, or Aspiring" | The funder says "FREE to Apply" (it creates a free account) | Oct 31, 2026. Winners announced the following week | galaxyofstars.org/galaxy-grants//who-is-eligible/ |
| $2,000 education grant inside a fellowship (advisors, coaching, access to capital) | A woman 21 or older who owns the largest or equally largest stake; business at least 51% women-owned, for-profit, US | No. It requires at least $75,000 in annual revenue | None ("Applying to the program is free") | Nov 17, 2026 at 11:59:59 ET. Fellows selected May 2027 | toryburchfoundation.org/fellows//fellowship-program-faq/ | |
YippityDoo Big Idea Grant (YippityDoo) | $1,000, one grant each month | For-profit, at least 50% owned and run by a woman, 18 or older, in the US | Yes, "already be started or in idea stage" | $15 | Takes applications every month; next round not posted yet | yippitydoo.com/small-business-grant-optin/ |
Women-owned business grants, program by program
NJ ZIP (New Jersey Economic Development Authority): $15,000–$175,000 base vouchers
Businesses that are women-owned or minority-owned or veteran-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
Amber Grant (WomensNet): $15,000 (three monthly grants: Monthly, Startup and Business Category), closes Oct 31, 2026
Woman-owned businesses: awarded monthly, with a yearly finalist round. Funder's application fee: $15. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
Hey Helen Grant: $10,000 per month (one recipient), closes Oct 31, 2026
Run by Visionaries (Hey Helen). Businesses that are women-owned. Funder's application fee: $15. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 13, 2026. Official page ↗
Women Founders Grant: $5,000 per grant paid in a single lump sum, closes Oct 31, 2026
Businesses that are women-owned. Funder's application fee: $25. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 11, 2026. Official page ↗
Galaxy Grant: $2,500, closes Oct 31, 2026
Run by Hidden Star (Galaxy of Stars). Businesses that are women-owned or minority-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
WBDC Launch Pad Grant: Up to $2,500
Run by Women's Business Development Council (Connecticut). Businesses that are women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program: $2,000 education grant (plus fellowship), closes Nov 17, 2026
Businesses that are women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
HerRise MicroGrant (HerSuiteSpot / Yva Jourdan Foundation): $1,000, closes Oct 31, 2026
Businesses that are women-owned. Funder's application fee: $15. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 14, 2026. Official page ↗
YippityDoo Big Idea Grant: $1,000 per month, takes applications every month; next round not posted yet
Businesses that are women-owned. Funder's application fee: $15. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 10, 2026. Official page ↗
Cartier Women's Initiative Regional Awards: $30,000–$100,000, usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds
Businesses that are women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 3, 2026. Official page ↗
HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms: $1,000–$10,000, usually opens around September 2027, based on past rounds
Run by The Mama Ladder (with Belly Bandit). Mom-owned businesses. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 3, 2026. Official page ↗
Ladies Who Launch: The Launch Program: $10,000 ($7,500 unrestricted + $2,500 for AI literacy training), 10 awards
Businesses that are women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation Grant: up to $10,000
Run by Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation (Olga's Kitchen). Businesses that are women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
WBDC Ignite Grant: $2,500 to $10,000, next window early 2027
Run by Women's Business Development Council (Connecticut). Businesses that are women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
WomanUp & Pitch Competition (Michigan Women Forward): Up to $10,000 (first place); $5,000 second, $2,500 third, $1,000 audience choice, $500 for other finalists, usually opens around August 2027, based on past rounds
Businesses that are women-owned. Funder's application fee: $20. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 5, 2026. Official page ↗
Enthuse Foundation Grant Program: $2,500 per category grant; one $5,000 Planet and Purpose grant, usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds
Businesses that are women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
TRANSFORM Business Grant: $1,000, usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds
Businesses that are minority-owned or LGBTQ-owned or disability-owned or women-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 12, 2026. Official page ↗
Straight answers
Do I pay these back? How current is this list?
No. Grants are not loans. Each row shows the date we last checked it against the funder's own page. How we verify.
Are there grants for female business owners?
Yes. Every program on this page is a small-business grant set aside for women-owned businesses. Female-owned and women-owned mean the same thing here, but each funder draws its own line. Amber Grant, Hey Helen Grant and YippityDoo ask that a woman own at least 50% of the business. Women Founders Grant and the Tory Burch Foundation ask for 51%. These are business grants, not personal or education grants, and you never pay them back.
Are there grants for women starting a business?
Yes, from some of them. WomensNet runs a monthly $15,000 Start-Up Grant for businesses in the idea phase, pre-revenue, or under $10,000 in revenue. Women Founders Grant and YippityDoo accept idea-stage businesses, and Galaxy Grant is open to aspiring owners. Hey Helen welcomes pre-revenue applicants. The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is the exception: it asks for at least $75,000 in annual revenue.
Do women's business grants charge an application fee?
Some do. Amber Grant, Hey Helen Grant and YippityDoo each charge $15 to apply, and Women Founders Grant charges $25. Galaxy Grant and the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program say on their own pages that applying is free. Be wary of anyone who asks for money to release a grant you were awarded. WomensNet puts it plainly: "We NEVER ask for money to disburse our grants."
What is the difference between the Amber Grant and the Hey Helen Grant?
Both charge $15 to apply and pick winners every month. The Amber Grant, from WomensNet, awards $15,000, is open to women-owned businesses in the US or Canada, and puts monthly winners in the running for one of three $75,000 year-end grants. The Hey Helen Grant, from Visionaries, gives $10,000 to one founder a month for a US for-profit business under $1M in revenue, and one application stays on file for 12 months. Nonprofits cannot apply to Hey Helen.
Are there grants for minority women business owners?
Yes. Galaxy Grant, from the nonprofit Hidden Star, is open to women and minority business owners at any stage. A woman-owned business also qualifies for general and federal programs, and a minority woman can use our grants for minority-owned businesses list too. The quiz scores all 422 against your actual business.
Some of these say "between cycles." What do I do right now?
Get ready before the window opens. WBDC Ignite Grant lists its next window as “~early 2027 (per page)”. The owners who win are the ones whose applications are ready the week a window opens, not the ones who find out it existed the week it closed.
Sources
The official page for each program named above, plus the SBA's page for women-owned businesses and Grants.gov, the federal grant listings.
- NJ ZIP (New Jersey Economic Development Authority)njeda.gov
- Amber Grant (WomensNet)ambergrantsforwomen.com
- Hey Helen Grant (Visionaries (Hey Helen))visionaries.co
- Women Founders Grantwomenfoundersgrant.com
- Galaxy Grant (Hidden Star (Galaxy of Stars))galaxyofstars.org
- WBDC Launch Pad Grant (Women's Business Development Council (Connecticut))ctwbdc.org
- Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program (Tory Burch Foundation)toryburchfoundation.org
- HerRise MicroGrant (HerSuiteSpot / Yva Jourdan Foundation)hersuitespot.com
- YippityDoo Big Idea Grant (YippityDoo)yippitydoo.com
- Cartier Women's Initiative Regional Awards (Cartier)cartierwomensinitiative.com
- HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms (The Mama Ladder (with Belly Bandit))themamaladder.com
- Ladies Who Launch: The Launch Program (Ladies Who Launch)ladieswholaunch.org
- Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation Grant (Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation (Olga's Kitchen))olgas.com
- WBDC Ignite Grant (Women's Business Development Council (Connecticut))ctwbdc.org
- WomanUp & Pitch Competition (Michigan Women Forward)miwf.org
- Enthuse Foundation Grant Program (Enthuse Foundation)enthusefoundation.org
- TRANSFORM Business Grant (TRANSFORM)transformgrant.org
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Women-owned businessessba.gov
- Grants.gov: federal grant opportunitiesgrants.gov
Which of these fit your women-owned business?
This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It scores your industry, state, and ownership against all 422 programs, ranks them by fit, and flags the ones closing soonest.
Find what fits my business