Small Business Grants for Women in Iowa

Are you looking for small business grants for women in Iowa?

You can find a lot of “women business grant sites” with just a quick Google search. The problem is this: Most either look like scams or complicated government (Small Business Administration) sites. They want too much of your personal and financial information. Not to mention the hours of filling out forms.

We’re different. WomensNet can help you find real grants, loans, and other funding for your business venture. Yes, you’re still going to have to put in some hard work and time. But if you’re serious about getting your business to the next level, you’ll find our site a big help.

You can start is with our Amber Grant for Women. Businesswomen from Iowa (and all around America) are eligible to apply for this grant. Each month, we select one $10,000 winner to help. Our judges award this grant every month – so today would be the perfect time to apply. Even better, our 12 monthly winners compete for a chance to win the $25,000 year-end Amber Grant.

After you’ve applied for our grant, please take a bit of time to check out the resources below. There are folks in Iowa waiting to help women business owners just like you!

Resources for businesswomen in Iowa:

Des Moines SCORE
210 Walnut Street Federal Building/ Room 749, Des Moines, IA 50309
Ph: (515) 284-4760

Dubuque SCORE
300 Main Street Suite 200, Dubuque, IA 52001
Ph: (563) 690-9209

Muscatine SCORE
102 Walnut Street, Muscatine, IA 52761
Ph: (563) 263-8895

SCORE East Central Iowa
2750 1st Avenue NE Corporate Center East, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Ph: (319) 362-6405 (2005)

Sioux City SCORE
320 6th Street Federal Building, Room 186, Sioux City, IA 51101
Ph: (712) 277-2324

South Central SCORE
10 Raynan Drive, Ottumwa, IA 52501
Ph: (641) 683-5127

Iowa National Association of Women Business Owners

Iowa Women in Business
E-MAIL: kelly-mcclure@uiowa.edu

Small Business Development Center of Iowa
2321 North Loop Drive, Suite 202, Ames, IA 50010-8218
PHONE: (515) 294-2030
E-MAIL: jimh@iastate.edu

Iowa Center for Economic Success
2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
PHONE: (515) 283-0940

Helpful links for women in Iowa:

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

GloveStix

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

What people are saying about WomensNet

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

“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.”

“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 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.”

“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.”

Don't miss the deadline. Apply now >