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Small Business Grants for Women in California

Looking for small business grants for women in California?  You’ve found the right site.

Did you know that California leads all states in start-up businesses by women?  Maybe that’s why you landed on this website.  You’re a woman business owner looking for a grant, loan or other funding.

So — where to begin? We suggest our Amber Grant for Women. Business women from California (and all around America) have won this monthly $10,000 grant in our 20-year history.  And our judges are days away from awarding this month’s winner – so right now is the perfect time to apply.  Best of all:  If you win 1 of the monthly Amber Grants, you’re automatically eligible for the year-end Amber Grant ($25,000). So, telling us about your business and future dreams could land you $35,000 in grant money. Just imagine what that would mean for your business.

WomensNet isn’t just a source for funding. Unlike other sites — spammy looking sites, or overwhelmingly complicated government sites — we’re small enough to care.  We help you find legit sources for grants, loans, and other funding for your woman-owned business.  Sure, it’ll take some work on your part to pursue the money to grow your business.  But since you’re looking for small business grants — we already know you take the life of your business seriously.

When you’re done applying for our grant, please consider the California business resources below.  California has some of the best resources in the country to help women entrepreneurs.  Good luck and best wishes on your business venture.

Resources for businesswomen in California:

Bakersfield SCORE
P.O. Box 2426, Bakersfield, CA 93303
Ph: (661) 861-9249

Central Valley SCORE
​801 R Street, Suite 201, ​Fresno, CA 93721
​Phone: (559) 487-5605

Coachella Valley SCORE
43100 Cook Street Suite 104, Palm Desert, CA 92211
Ph: (760) 773-6507

East Bay SCORE
492 9th Street Suite 350, Oakland, CA 94607
Ph: (510) 273-6611

Greater Chico Area SCORE
1324 Mangrove Street Suite 114, Chico, CA 95926
Ph: (530) 342-8932

Inland Empire SCORE
11801 Pierce Street 2nd Floor, Riverside, CA 92505
Ph: (951) 652-4390

Modesto/Merced SCORE
1880 W. Wardrobe Ave, Merced, CA 95340
Ph: (209) 724-2033

Monterey Bay SCORE
30 Ragsdale Drive, Monterey, CA 93940
Ph: (831) 648-5360

North Coast SCORE
777 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Ph: (707) 571-8342

Orange County SCORE
200 W. Santa Ana Blvd. Suite 700, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Ph: (714) 550-7369

Sacramento SCORE
6501 Sylvan Road, Citrus Heights, CA 95610
Ph: (916) 635-9085

San Diego SCORE
550 West C ST, San Diego, CA 92101-3500
Ph: (619) 557-7272

San Francisco SCORE
455 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Ph: (415) 744-6827

San Luis Obispo SCORE
3765 South Higuera, Suite 102, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Ph: (805) 547-0779

Santa Barbara SCORE, 924 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Ph: (805) 563-0084

Santa Cruz County SCORE
716 G Capitola Ave., Capitola, CA 95010
Ph: (831) 621-3735

SCORE Los Angeles
330 North Brand Blvd. Suite 190, Glendale, CA 91203
Ph: (818) 552-3206

Ventura County SCORE
400 E. Esplanade Drive Suite 301, Oxnard, CA 93036
Ph: (805) 204-6022

Silicon Valley SCORE
234 E. Gish Road Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95112
Ph: (408) 453-6237

Tuolumne County SCORE
222 South Shepherd Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Ph: (209) 532-4316

Professional Business Women of California
886 Birdhaven Ct., Lafayette, CA 94549
PHONE: (415) 857-2923
E-MAIL: info@pbwc.org

Small Business Development Center of California
Small Business Development Center of California Consulting
550 East Shaw, Suite 105A, Fresno, CA 93710
PHONE: (559) 241-7414

Helpful links for women in California:

What is an Amber Grant?

WomensNet launched the Amber Grant in 1998 to honor the memory of an ambitious young woman who died at the age of 19, before she could realize her entrepreneurial aspirations. Today, these grants help women like you fulfill the dreams that Amber could not.

How Does It Work?

Every month, WomensNet judges award one or more Amber Grants of $10,000 each. Then, at the end of the year, one of those grant recipients is selected to receive the $25,000 Amber Grant.

How Do I Apply?

By telling us your story. There are no lengthy, complicated documents to complete; just answer a few questions about your business. But hurry—applications are due by the end of the month for the next $10,000 Amber Grant.

Apply Now

Watch videos from our Past Grant Winners

grant winner
 
GloveStix
grant winner
 
Hammerstone School

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
WNN Blog Get application & business ideas on the WomensNet blog »
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You could join this group of past grant recipients.

Apply today for the $25,000 Amber Grant

Whether you’re starting or growing a business, WomensNet can help.

Apply Now >

What people are saying about WomensNet

Forbes

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

Nerd Wallet

“The 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.”

Score

“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.”

Fundera

“The Amber Grant Foundation was launched in 1998 to honor the memory of a young woman. The grant was formed to help women entrepreneurs reach their goals when Amber could not.”

Essence Magazine

“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.”

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