Where Women Like You Get Small Business Grants
Who is WomensNet?
WomensNet was created decades ago to help women achieve their business dreams. We offer: free tips on how to get a grant, our own monthly grant, and we promote encouraging stories of woman entrepreneurs just like you.
What is An Amber Grant?
In 1998, we gave our first Amber Grant in honor of 19-year old Amber Wigdahl, who died before fulfilling her business dreams. Today, we award two $10,000 Amber Grant each month. And two of our 24 monthly winners get an additional $25,000 Year-End Amber Grant.
Watch Videos From Our Past Recipients
2023 WomensNet’s Grants
WomensNet funds several women business grants throughout the year — $450,000 worth!
To be considered for all these grants, you only need to fill out one application. Yes, it’s that simple.
Monthly Amber Grant
$10,000 winner each month
Each month, our judges review all the applications — then select 5 finalists. One of those finalists will be the monthly $10,000 Amber Grant grant winner. The other 4 finalists will each receive $1,000.
The $10,000 Amber Grant winner each month qualifies for the year-end grant of $25,000.
$25,000 Annual Amber Grant
Two winners per year
We award two separate $25,000 women-owned business grants at the end of each year.
The first $25,000 grant goes to one of our previous $10,000 monthly Amber Grant winners. The other $25,000 grant goes to one of our previous $10,000 monthly Business Category Grant winners.
The Startup Grant
$10,000 winner every quarter
Are you in the “idea phase” of your business? We have an additional grant opportunity for you: Our WomensNet Startup Grant. We define a “startup” as a business in the “idea phase,” or one that has only had minimal sales (less than $10,000). Even though startups are eligible for our monthly Amber Grants, we’ve created an additional grant especially for this underserved sector. We award this $10,000 grant once per quarter.
The Non-Profit Grant
$10,000 winner each quarter
Every quarter, a non-profit business or organization is awarded $10,000. Around 75% of the workforce for non-profit businesses are women. If you’re driven to use your non-profit to provide a good or service to benefit your community, this one’s for you.
Business Category Grants
$10,000 winner each month
Every woman entrepreneur who fills out her application is eligible for the $10,000 Amber Grant (for the month in which the application is submitted). But we have an additional $10,000 Business Category grant winner every month, too.
You see, we’ve found that some business categories are under-represented in winning grant money.
So applicants who fall under these specific business categories automatically become eligible (once per year) for the monthly $10,000 Business Category Grant based on the calendar below. Your same application remains active for the Category grant until the month of your category. One of the 12 category winners are selected for a $25,000 year end grant.
The Marketing Grant
One winner per year
Once a year, we give “hands-on” marketing help to a selected women-owned business. It includes strategic sessions with:
- Members of our AdvisoryBoard and other “friends of WomensNet,”
- Professional agency support in developing and executing a marketing plan.
Get application & business ideas on the WomensNet blog »
