Anatomy of a WomensNet Grant Application – Fall 2025

October 21st 2025

Food entrepreneur Carol Fitzgerald’s idea for a hostess gift morphed into a thriving food venture, Hazy Fudge, that won a $10,000 Amber Grant in September 2024. Fitzgerald’s grant application caught the attention of the advisory board, which was confident she would make smart use of any grant funds. 

Fitzgerald’s application explained her business’ origin story, perseverance, and growth trajectory that had stretched her resources too thin. To continue to expand, her company, Hazy Fudge, needed support, she explained, but she made it clear the company was already on strong footing, it just needed funds to scale. She then went on to provide evidence of how grant funds would enable her business to continue to grow.

Fitzgerald did a number of things right in her application, which ran more than two pages long. In particular, she detailed four aspects of her business skillfully.

Education and Resources

Fitzgerald recognized that leveraging local training and resources would significantly increase her business’s odds of success, given that she had no background in food products and services. The idea for Hazy Fudge was sparked when Fitzgerald began looking for holiday gifts to send to family and friends who had hosted her musician son Bobby when his band Whiskey Shivers had toured Europe.

She wanted to express her gratitude to these hosts while also showcasing the local area’s bounty. She settled on “an alcohol-infused treat made with locally sourced milk, wine, and bourbon,” which she named Hazy Fudge. “The response was overwhelming,” she said. “People loved it!” That universal positive reaction prompted Fitzgerald to consider starting a business, which had long been a dream, she says.

“With over four decades of experience across various industries, I had a strong foundation in business, administration, and marketing,” she explains in her application, but reveals that “the food industry was uncharted territory for me.”

This realization drew her to explore opportunities for learning and growth available in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, where she is based. She applied and was accepted to the Dairy Runway program, hosted by Cornell University, for early-stage food entrepreneurs. Then she enrolled in the Cornell Food Spark program, to research potential demand for her new product, and later applied for woman-owned business certification through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Additionally, Hazy Fudge is now a Taste NY product participant that is sold on the website and in local shops and online venues.

In pursuing participation in several regional business programs, Fitzgerald took practical steps to understand her business, the market in which she would be operating, and then found resources to support her business needs. This demonstrated resourcefulness and perseverance, which impressed the advisory board.

Creative Problem-Solving

Hazy Fudge started off strong and as sales began to climb, a challenge emerged: meeting the production requirements for an alcohol-containing product, she explained. “This necessitated access to a licensed 20-C kitchen with specific equipment. The costs associated with building or renting our own kitchen were prohibitive, but we didn’t let this obstacle deter us,” Fitzgerald says.

Her solution? Buying refurbished equipment and installing it in a local co-packer’s facility. Not only did this allow the company to increase production, but it also created local jobs.

Fitzgerald’s willingness to pivot when a potential new solution presented itself was impressive and conveyed her commitment to her business’ success.

Building Relationships

Confidence that Hazy Fudge could be even more successful if given grant funds rose as Fitzgerald relayed the support system and business relationships she has in place. On top of an extended family, who provide technical, social media, and emotional support, Fitzgerald has sought out brand ambassadors “to assist with tastings and festival events” until she gets to a point where more full-time staff are needed.

The brand also partners with area bars for product sampling events.

A Clear Financial Plan

Another strength of Fitzgerald’s application was the level of specificity she provided regarding how grant funds would be used. She identified specific equipment to be purchased, but in addition to listing the cost, she also pointed out the impact the new equipment would have on production expansion, making explicit connections between the equipment and improved production speed. Her planned investments in marketing, branding, and business operations were explained and obviously supported her growth goals.

Hazy Fudge’s Amber Grant application was a winner because of Fitzgerald’s willingness to share details regarding both her successes and her challenges, while making it clear she was on track to build a successful company with or without the money. The grant would only hasten her company’s growth.