With 42% of US companies currently owned by females, the business landscape has become a lot more equitable in recent decades. Yet, despite major strides being made by women in business, entrepreneurship is still very much a man’s game, with all-female start-ups receiving only 1.9% of venture capital funding in 2023.
But it’s not just angel investors that favor the status quo. Women-owned businesses still face disproportionate challenges when it comes to obtaining equity financing, government funding, and private loans. Some equity-focused organizations are trying to level the playing field, however, by offering female entrepreneurs cash injections to launch or grow their venture.
We round up the best business grants for female entrepreneurs taking applications in 2024, so you can spend less time trawling the internet and more time focusing on your business. We also run you through the eligibility criteria and application process of each grant, to arm you with all the information you need to fire off a proposal today.
Grants for Female-Owned Businesses to Apply for in 2024
Don’t let opportunities to grow your business pass you by. Scroll down to check out some exciting funding programs open to women-owned businesses, or jump to a specific grant using the links below.
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1. IFund Women Grant
- For: Female entrepreneurs
- Grantor: Multiple grantors
- Amount: Depends on chosen grant
IFund Women is a popular online marketplace where women are able to browse funding options for their businesses. Instead of offering one primary grant opportunity, the platform lets entrepreneurs search through an assortment of listings, and filter the results with various criteria such as deadlines and funding amounts.
Aside from accessing a plethora of private grants, you also have the option to fill out VFW’s Universal Grant Application. By submitting the application, you will be notified when a funding opportunity in the database matches your venture’s criteria. The IFW is always accepting applications, and it only takes ten minutes to submit a proposal.
- Deadline: Rolling
You can learn more about the grant portal, and find out how to apply for the Universal Grant Application here.
2. She’s Connected by AT&T
- For: Small women-owned businesses
- Grantor: AT&T
- Amount: $50,000
She’s Connected by AT&T is a female-focused grant program provided by US telecoms company AT&T. Every year the scheme awards $50,000 to one successful applicant, in addition to a year of AT&T service with a new device, and the chance to be featured in the content series #ShesConnected.
To be in with a chance of winning, you need to run a solely or majority female-owned business, hire fewer than 50 employees, be based in the US, and be aged 18 or older. AT&T’s funding program is one of the best ways to boost your brand’s exposure overnight. If you’re interested in the opportunity, you’ll have to be quick though, as 2024 applications close on July 10.
- Deadline: July 10
Learn more and apply for the She’s Connected grant here.
3. HerRise Micro-Grant
- For: Business owners that are Women of color
- Grantor: The Yva Jourdan Foundation, Inc and HerSuiteSpot
- Amount: $1,000
HerRise Micro-Grant is a grant program designed to support women of color through funding, community support, and coaching. The program, which is provided by The Yva Jourdan Foundation, Inc and HerSuiteSpot has handed out a micro-grant of $1,000 to successful businesses every month since 2017.
Previous winners have used the cash injections for various purposes including building their websites, marketing their businesses, purchasing equipment, and more. If your business is 51% owned by women of color, you’re registered in the US and you turn around less than $1 million in gross revenue, you’ll be eligible to apply.
- Deadline: Last day of every month
Learn more and apply to HerRise MicroGrants here.
4. The Girlboss Foundation Grant
- For: Female entrepreneurs
- Grantor: Girlboss.com
- Amount: $15,000
The Girlboss Foundation is a nonprofit that offers grants and other useful resources to women, non-binary, and trans creative entrepreneurs. Its Girlboss Foundation Grant provides $15,000 to women-owned businesses that operate in the arts, fashion, design, or music industries twice a year.
Aside from the cash boost, successful applicants also get a chance to boost their profile with social media and newsletter features from Girlboss.com. The non-profit has given out a total of $130,000 since the origin of its Foundation grant in 2014.
- Deadline: Rolling
If you want to throw your hat in the ring, learn more and apply to the Girlboss Foundation grant here.
5. Enthuse Foundation
- For: Female-owned businesses
- Grantor: The Enthuse Foundation
- Amount: $2,500
The Enthuse Foundation is a non-profit charity designed to support women entrepreneurs in launching their businesses or assisting their growth. The organization awards grants of $2,500 to ten businesses a year to female-owned businesses operating in the US.
To be eligible for the program, you need to identify as a woman or non-binary individual, run an established business, and work with the business as your full-time job. You’ll also need to demonstrate a financial need for the funding in your application. With the winners from 2024 being declared in June, you may have to sit tight until the grant cycle for 2025 is announced.
- Deadline: TBA
6. Tory Burch Foundation
- For: Female and minority-owned businesses
- Grantor: Tory Burch Foundation
- Amount: $5,000 to $20,000
The Tory Burch Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by designer Tory Burch in 2009. The foundation was created to empower female entrepreneurs and currently supports the demographic by providing them access to capital, mentorship, and digital resources.
Its grant program provides successful applicants with $5,000 business education grants, and also supports them with expert-led workshops, by giving them access to a peer-to-peer network. If you’re a female business owner of color, you may also be eligible for business grants worth anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000.
The Tory Burch Foundation hasn’t opened applications for 2024 yet, but in previous years its application window begins in November.
- Deadline: TBA
7. Beyond Open Small Business Grant
- For: Women and minority businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Grantor: Foundation for the Carolinas
- Amount: $10,000 to $150,00
The Beyond Open Small Business Grant Program is a financial assistance scheme open to female, minority, veteran, LGBTQ+, and disability business owners. The scheme, which is provided by the Foundation for the Carolinas, focuses on accelerating economic mobility in the Charlotte community and is eligible for businesses operating in or near the North Carolinian city.
The program has handed out over $10 million in grants throughout its tenure, to over 300 businesses. Applications for its next funding cycle open on August 5, and are open until the end of the month on August 30.
- Deadline: August 30
Learn more, and apply to the assistance program here.
8. Her Village Grant
- For: Female non-profit owners
- Grantor: Boundless Future Foundation
- Amount: Depends
Her Village Grant is a grant program supported by the Boundless Futures Organisation. The foundation was created to provide financial and leadership resources for aspiring female entrepreneurs to help improve equity within the non-profit landscape.
If you’re a female entrepreneur with a business operating in the US for at least three years, you could be in with a chance of winning. Her Village Grants has two application cycles a year, and the deadline for the next cycle is in September 2024.
- Deadline: September 2024
Learn more and apply for the Her Village Grant program here.
