Yes, there are folks out there willing to help you fund your 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 from grant money and loans.
For starters, yes, WomensNet offers grants to women in Illinois (as well as all across the United States). It’s our Amber Grant for Women. Our judges award this $10,000 grant once a month, so now is a great time to apply. Even better — if you win this month’s $10,000 Amber Grant for Women, you’re automatically eligible for our year-end $25,000 Amber Grant for Women. So by the end of the year, you could have $35,000 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!
Central Illinois SCORE
121 N Main St, Bloomington, IL 61701-7620
Ph: (309) 664-0549
Chicago SCORE
500 W. Madison Street Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60661
Ph: (312) 353-7724
Decatur SCORE
1184 W. Main Street Milliken University, Decatur, IL 62522
Ph: (217) 424-6297
Fox Valley SCORE
1444 N. Farnsworth, Aurora, IL 60505
Ph: (630) 375-6026
Peoria SCORE
100 SW Water St., Peoria, IL 61602
Ph: (309) 676-0755
Quad Cities SCORE
622 19th Street, Moline, IL 61265
Ph: (309) 797-0082
Quincy Tri-State SCORE
300 Civic Center Plaza Chamber of Commerce, Quincy, IL 62301
Ph: (217) 222-8093
SCORE Springfield Illinois Chapter
3330 Ginger Creek Drive Suite B South, Springfield, IL 62711
Ph: (217) 793-5020 (111)
Southwest Illinois SCORE
5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, IL 62035
Ph: (618) 467-2280
Illinois Federation of Business Women’s Clubs
3309 Robbins Road # 366, Springfield, IL, 62704
E-MAIL: president@ifbwc.org
Illinois National Association of Women Business Owners
P.O. Box 9404, Peoria, IL 61612-9404
PHONE: (309) 692-2225
E-MAIL: admin@nawbo-cil.org
Small Business Development Center of Illinois
500 E. Monroe, Springfield, IL 62701
PHONE: (217) 524-5700
E-MAIL: mark.petrilli@illinois.gov
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.
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.
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.
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.”