Small Business Grants for Women in Illinois

Finding business grants for women in Illinois can be easier than you think.

Yes, there are people out there willing to help fund your small or startup business dreams. You just need to know where to look.

Fortunately, you’ve landed on a site that has been helping women just like you since 1998. Yes, you’re still the one who has to put in the time and effort to get the money for your business. But if you’re truly passionate about what you’re doing, we’d love to help you kick off your search for small or startup business grants for women in Illinois!

You Can Win One of Three $10,000 Business Grants For Women This Month

For starters, yes, WomensNet offers grants to women in Illinois (as well as all across the United States). They’re our Amber Grants for Women. Our judges award three $10,000 grants once a month, so now is a great time to apply. Even better — if you’re one of this month’s winners, you’re automatically eligible for one of our THREE year-end $50,000 Amber Grants for Women. So by the end of the year, you could have $60,000 in total grant money for your business.

Also, take just a couple minutes to check out more resources below. There are some wonderful and helpful people in Illinois who are willing mentor and partner with women business owners like you!

Resources for businesswomen in Illinois:

Land of Lincoln SCORE
Serving DuPage, DeKalb, Kane, Will, Kendall, McHenry, Boone, Ogle and Winnebago counties in Illinois
Virtual Office
Ph: (630) 692-1162

Chicago SCORE
332 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60604
Ph: (312) 725-0123

North Cook and Lake Counties SCORE
Serving North Cook County Il, Lake County Il
Virtual Office
Ph: (224) 372-3432

Illinois National Association of Women Business Owners
P.O. Box 9404, Peoria, IL 61612-9404
Em: secretary@nawbo-cil.org

Small Business Development Center of Illinois
Ph: (217) 522-2772
Em: sbdc@cisbdc.com

Helpful links for women in Illinois:

Does WomensNet Offer Amber Grants to Women In My State?

Yes!! We’ve been awarding business grants and resources to women in all 50 states (and Canada) since 1998. Each month, we select three $10,000 Amber Grant winners. And at the end of the year, every monthly winner becomes eligible for one of three $50,000 Year-End Grants — the largest in our history!

How Does It Work?

t’s simple. Submit your application, and our WomensNet judges personally review every one. Winners are announced the following month, by the 23rd. At year’s end, we select three additional $50,000 grant recipients from among all our 2025 winners. That means you could receive up to $60,000 in total funding. All from one quick, two-question application.

How Do I Apply?

Just tell us your business story. There are no lengthy forms or complicated requirements. Simply answer two questions about your business and vision. But please don’t wait. Applications close at the end of each month for all three of this month’s $10,000 Amber Grant opportunities.

Apply Now

Watch videos from our Past Grant Winners

GloveStix

Vanessa Bouche of Savhera

Not Sure Where to Start?

You’re in luck. We’ve done hours of research and compiled a list of the 16 best small business grants available for women today—and we’d love to share it with you!

Enter your email to receive a FREE copy of our special report,
“16 Terrific Grants for Women Business Owners.”

Six steps you should take when looking for a business grant:

1. Analyze your organization's needs. Make sure you have a solid understanding of the:

Problem or need you want to address
Audience that will benefit from your product or service
Kind and amount of support you need
Resources and commitment your group brings to the project
Potential and prospective partners in the community

2. Research various types of foundations. Learn the operational differences between:

Corporate foundations
Civic foundations
Private foundations

3. Look for funding matches. Identify funders who:

Are able and likely to fund projects in your geographic area
Share a similar core mission or goals
Have already supported similar ventures or projects

4. Compile a list of prospects. Group them in two ways:

By Geographic Location (city, state, region)
By field of interest or program subject

5. Review and refine your list. Eliminate prospects that DON’T FUND:

In your state
Your type of organization
Your subject
The type of support you need
Your size project

6. Select the most appropriate funding prospects. Research them in detail:

Contact them directly to request annual reports and other publications
Search print and online media to identify projects that received grants in the past
Ask former grant recipients for advice and why they felt they were successful over other applicants

What people are saying about WomensNet

“You have to be in it to win it...seize the opportunity and apply.”

“Every month, WomensNet awards three $10,000 Amber Grants to women-owned businesses. At the end of each year, monthly grant winners are eligible to receive one of three $25,000 annual grants.”

“Launched 20 years ago this grant honors the memory of a young woman who wanted to be an entrepreneur but died at age 19 before she could achieve her goal.”

“The Amber Grant offers three $10,000 grants to women-owned businesses each month. Then, at the end of each year, WomensNet gives an additional $25,000 to three grant winners from that year.”

“This organization offers monthly grants of up to $10,000 to support female entrepreneurs starting businesses. Those who qualify for these grants are also in the running for a yearly $25,000 grant.”