Small Business Grants for Women in Maine

Finding small business grants for women in Maine is tough. But you’ve come to the right place.

You’d think it’s nearly impossible to find a small business grant for women anywhere online. A Google search of something like “business grants for women in Maine” will give you a long list of sites. But the hard truth is — most of these sites don’t actually give away grant money. Other sites are too complicated government-run sites — agencies that typically give out large grants to women business owners, but only if you’re in the tech sector. Plus, the paperwork and financial info you’re forced to disclose is invasive.

But, yes, you can actually find startup business grants for women online. In the case of WomensNet, you just have to answer a simple two-question grant application to start.

We Give Away Three $10,000 Women’s Business Grants Each Month

Here’s a great and simple way to start — apply for our Amber Grants for Women. Businesswomen from Maine (and all across America) can easily apply for these grants. Our judges pick three different $10,000 Amber Grant recipients each month – and if you win, you’re automatically eligible for one of our $25,000 year-end Amber Grants.

That means you could be awarded $35,000 total this year by completing your application today.

After you’ve applied, consider reading about the resources below. There are businesspeople in Maine waiting to help women business owners just like you.

Resources for Women in Maine

Augusta SCORE
68 Sewall Street, Room 512, Augusta, ME 04330
Ph: 207-622-8509

Bangor SCORE
202 Harlow Street Federal Office Bldg, Room 230, Bangor, ME 04401
Ph: (207) 942-0103

Downeast Maine SCORE
PO Box 1507, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Ph: (207) 667-5800

Oxford Hills SCORE
2 Market Square, South Paris, ME 04281
Ph: (207) 743-0499

Portland SCORE
100 Middle Street, 2nd Fl., Portland, ME 04101
Ph: (207) 772-1147

SCORE Androscoggin County
100 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
Ph: (207) 782-3708

Maine Women’s Business Center
36 Water Street, Wiscasset, Maine 04578
Telephone: (207) 882-7552
E-mail: mwbc@ceimaine.org

Maine Centers for Women, Work, & Community
Gannett Building, 5th Floor, 331 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04330-9410
Reception Desk: 207-621-3440
Toll Free in Maine: 800-442-2092

Small Business Development Center
Mail: 96 Falmouth, P.O. Box 9300, Portland, Maine 04104-9300
Location: 501 Forest Ave, Portland, Maine 04103
Telephone: Information (207) 780-4420
TTY Number: (207) 780-5646
Email: mainesbdc.@usm.maine.edu

Helpful links for women in Maine:

Does WomensNet Offer Amber Grants to Women In My State?

Yes!! We've been offering business resources and grants to women in all 50 states (and Canada) since 1998. We have three different $10,000 Amber Grant winners EVERY month... Plus at the end of the year, each Amber Grant winner for that year is eligible for an additional $25,000 grant!

How Does It Work?

Submit your application. Our WomensNet judges review every application. Then we announce the three $10,000 Amber Grant winners the following month by the 23rd. At the end of the year, we award THREE more $25,000 grants -- chosen from our previous monthly grant winners for this year. That means you have the opportunity to receive $35,000 from WomensNet by filling out one two-question grant application.

How Do I Apply?

Simple. By telling us your story. There are no lengthy, complicated documents to complete. Just answer two questions about your business. But hurry—applications are due by the end of the 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.”

Don't miss the deadline. Apply now >