Woman entrepreneur at a desk in a creative studio beside the words “Amber Grant for Women.”

Amber Grant for Women — $10,000 Monthly

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If you’re a woman starting or growing a business, the Amber Grant is one of the longest-running funding programs you can apply for.

WomensNet has awarded these grants since 1998, in honor of Amber Wigdahl, and the program runs on a monthly cycle, so you are never waiting a full year for another shot.

What You Can Win

Each month, WomensNet awards three $10,000 grants.

  1. The Amber Grant is open to any woman-owned business.
  2. The Startup Grant is for businesses in the idea phase or with under $10,000 in gross sales.
  3. The third is a Business Category Grant, which rotates through categories such as Skilled Trades, Health & Fitness, Food & Beverage, Sustainability, Education, Creative Arts, and STEM.

At the end of the year, three of the monthly winners, one from each grant type, receive an additional $50,000 Year-End Grant.

Who Can Apply

In order to be eligible, you must:

  • own at least 50% of the business; AND
  • be at least 18; AND
  • be based in the United States or Canada.

Pre-revenue startups and idea-stage businesses are eligible for some grants. Revenue-generating nonprofits can apply too, as long as they are not focused primarily on charitable giving.

How the Process Works

You complete one application, and it puts you in the running for every grant the program offers, including the category grant that fits your business. Independent reviewers select finalists for each grant type, the finalists go through a final eligibility check, and each judge ranks the finalists. Winners are typically announced by the 21st of the month after the application closes.

You will need to explain how you would use the money to grow or sustain your business. Winners are responsible for any taxes and reporting that apply to the award.

Cost

There is a $15 non-refundable application fee.

If the fee would cause financial hardship, you can ask for a waiver by emailing info@ambergrantsforwomen.com.

Where to Apply

Apply through the official Amber Grants page. The application cutoff is the end of each month, so check the page for the current cycle.