Starting and owning your own business is brave, exhilarating, rewarding, and…a lot of hard work. From offering specialty services, to your very own products to be sold–your unique business will come with its fair share of challenges and obstacles to overcome along the way. The good news? Now more than ever, it is accessible to start a business, and there are so many resources out there to help you grow.

We are constantly inspired by women in business. They bring unique points of view, skills, and talent, and contribute to a vast array of industries across the world. We have had the chance to speak to nearly 20 amazing women in business on our podcast Lay the Course: a podcast featuring women who every day are pursuing their passion through their work. We hope these stories provide inspiration to anyone who may be wanting to lay their own course to pursue their passion in life. 

You may already have your inspiration and passion but you aren’t sure how to begin charting your own course. So we searched for some great resources out there to share. 

7 grant opportunities for women in business

1. The U.S. Small Business Administration

We recently came across this list on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website for Women-owned Businesses. The SBA helps women entrepreneurs launch new businesses and compete in the marketplace. They compiled this list of training and funding opportunities specifically for women. And we think that is amazing! To view these resources, click here.

2. Government Grants Available for Women

Grants.gov is a database of federally sponsored grants. Not only are there grants for Small Businesses, but there are also nearly 575 grants for Women specifically. Government grants have a hefty list of requirements to qualify, but with a little effort, they can be vastly worth the application process. There are a lot of resources for learning more about grant writing and we found this article helpful. 

3. The Girlboss Foundation Grant

Since 2014, the Girlboss Foundation has given away over $130,000 worth of grants to women entrepreneurs making innovative moves in the industries of fashion, design, music, and the arts. Each grant winner receives $15,000 in project funding, plus features on Girlboss.com, their newsletter, and social media platforms. To learn more about this grant, click here.

4. The Amber Grant Foundation

The Amber Grant Foundation awards $10,000 to a different women-owned business every month. At the end of each year, one of the 12 grant winners is awarded an additional $25,000. The application is relatively simple. To learn more about this grant, click here. 

5. Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant

Eileen Fisher, a women’s clothing retailer, awards a total of $100,000 to up to 10 women business owners each year. To be eligible, women must make up at least 51% of your business’s ownership and leadership, your business must have been in operation for at least three years, earn less than $1 million in annual revenue, and be focused on environmental or social change. To learn more about this grant, click here. 

6. American Association of University Women Community Action Grants

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers Community Action Grants for one or two-year community-based projects. These grants are focused more on education than general business ownership and entrepreneurship, but if your business idea overlaps with any clearly defined activity that “promotes education and equality for women and girls,” you are definitely a candidate for this grant. To learn more about this grant, click here.

7. Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards seek to advance women entrepreneurs all across the world, including North America. They will review all applicants and choose 21 finalists, who will receive personalized business coaching prior to Awards week, media visibility, and a scholarship to attend the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship 6-Day Executive Programme. To learn more about this award, click here.

We hope you find helpful information here, and we encourage you to pursue your passions and lay the course to your future. To learn more about the ways Vela Creative Co. can help your business grow, connect with us here.