Small Business Grants for Women (2027 List)

Small business grants for women come mostly from private foundations, corporations and local economic development groups rather than the federal government, and the best-known programs are competitive. The practical strategy for 2027 is to apply to a mix of national grants, smaller local grants and recurring monthly programs, while also using non-grant resources built for women owners, such as free WOSB certification for federal contracts and Women's Business Centers.

This list reflects programs we could verify as of November 2026. Grant programs change or end each year, so we flag where 2027 details are not yet announced, show how to check a program yourself, and include a worked example of building an application.

Small business grants for women: 2027 list

Program	Who runs it	Amount (latest published)	2027 status
Amber Grant	WomensNet	Three $15,000 grants monthly; three $75,000 year-end grants (per site, Nov 2026)	Rolling monthly; check site for 2027 rules
BMO Celebrating Women Grant	BMO	15 grants of $10,000 in the 2026 cycle	2027 cycle not yet announced
Faire Small Business Grant	Faire	$5,000 (2026 cycle, for new retailers)	2026 window closed May 1, 2026; watch for 2027
Cartier Women's Initiative	Cartier	Prize funding plus coaching for impact-driven founders	Annual international cycle; check eligibility
IFundWomen grant programs	IFundWomen with corporate partners	Varies by partner program	Programs open and close through the year
Local and state grants	Cities, states, chambers, community foundations	Often $1,000-$25,000	Varies; often less competitive
SBIR / STTR	Federal agencies	Phase awards for R&D	Open to tech and research firms of any ownership

Amber Grant figures come from WomensNet's Amber Grant page; earlier years listed $10,000 monthly awards, so confirm the current amount before applying. Some well-known programs have ended or paused: roundups still list the FedEx small business grant, which was retired after 2024, and Comcast RISE, which had no open application site as of August 2026.

Government programs for women business owners

WOSB Federal Contracting Program

Not a grant, but potentially more valuable. The federal government aims to award at least 5% of contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year, and the SBA's WOSB program lets certified firms compete for set-aside contracts. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens and meet SBA size standards. SBA certification is free; self-certification is no longer accepted for set-asides. You will also need a SAM.gov registration.

Women's Business Centers

SBA-funded Women's Business Centers offer free or low-cost counseling and training, including help finding grants, preparing loan applications and getting certified.

SBA loans and microloans

When grants do not come through, SBA-guaranteed loans and microloans are a realistic alternative. See our guide to SBA loans for types and requirements.

State and local programs

State economic development agencies, cities and counties often run grant programs for storefront improvements, hiring, exporting or disaster recovery. These are rarely women-only but are often less competitive than national contests.

How to find grants you actually qualify for

1. Start local. Check your city's economic development office, state small business agency, chamber of commerce and community foundation.
2. Ask your bank and SBDC. Small Business Development Centers and Women's Business Centers track local opportunities.
3. Use Grants.gov carefully. Most federal listings are for nonprofits, governments and research; filter for small business eligibility.
4. Follow industry associations. Many trade groups run grants for members.
5. Check corporate programs from banks, payment companies and marketplaces you already use.
6. Verify every listing on the grantor's own site, since roundups go stale quickly.

Our broader guide to small business grants covers programs open to all owners.

How to write a winning grant application

Section	What reviewers look for
Business summary	Clear description of what you sell and to whom; a crisp mission statement helps
Use of funds	Specific line items with costs, not "growth"
Impact	Measurable outcomes: revenue, jobs, customers, community benefit
Traction	Evidence of real customers: sales figures, invoices, reviews
Story	Why you, why now, in your own voice
Financials	Simple budget and, if requested, a profit and loss statement

Worked example: an application budget

Keisha runs a mobile bookkeeping business and applies for a $10,000 grant. Her illustrative use-of-funds table:

Item	Cost	Expected result
Accounting software subscriptions (12 months, 3 seats)	$2,160	Handle 10 more clients without errors
Laptop and scanner	$1,840	On-site document processing
Part-time assistant (200 hours at $25)	$5,000	Frees 15 hours/week for sales
Local advertising	$1,000	Target 8 new restaurant clients
Total	$10,000	Revenue goal: +$36,000 in 12 months

She attaches six months of invoices showing 14 recurring clients at an average of $350 per month, which proves traction. Reviewers can see exactly what the money buys and what it should produce.

Your grant application packet checklist

Most grants ask for similar material. Prepare these once, keep them current, and you can apply to new programs in an hour rather than a week:

• A 100-word and a 300-word business description.
• Your founder story in about 250 words.
• A standard use-of-funds budget you can scale to $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.
• Last year's profit and loss statement and a year-to-date version.
• Proof of ownership (formation documents) and, where relevant, women-owned certification.
• EIN, business license and proof of address.
• Three short customer testimonials and a few photos of your product, team or work.
• A short pitch video (60-90 seconds), since several programs request one.
• Sample invoices or sales reports showing revenue.

Plan your 2027 grant calendar

Because many 2027 cycles had not been announced as of November 2026, the best approach is a simple calendar built around the patterns programs usually follow:

Timing	What to do
Now (November-December)	Build your application packet; sign up for newsletters from each grantor on your list; apply to rolling monthly programs
January-March	Watch for new-year announcements from corporate and bank programs; check state and city budgets for small business funds
Spring	Many retail and marketplace grants and pitch competitions open; Women's History Month (March) often brings women-focused programs
Summer	Prepare for fall cycles; update financials with half-year results
Fall	Year-end grants and holiday-season programs; plan the next year

Track each program in a spreadsheet with its deadline, amount, eligibility, status and outcome. Over a year you will learn which types of grants fit your business, and your success rate usually improves as your materials get sharper. Pair the grant plan with a realistic small business budget so your growth does not depend on any single award, and a cash flow forecast so you know how long you can operate while waiting for decisions.

Grants by industry and situation

Situation	Where to look
Tech or research product	SBIR/STTR programs at federal agencies; state innovation funds
Rural business	USDA Rural Development programs, often through local nonprofits
Export-ready products	State trade offices and export promotion grants
Storefront or main-street retail	City facade improvement and downtown revitalization grants
Disaster-affected area	State recovery programs and SBA disaster loans
Creative business	State arts councils and local arts foundations
Hiring or training staff	State workforce development training grants

Alternatives when grants do not come through

Option	Repay?	Best for
Pitch competitions	No	Founders comfortable presenting
Microloans	Yes, small amounts	Early-stage businesses with limited credit history
SBA-guaranteed loans	Yes	Established businesses with cash flow
Crowdfunding	No (rewards) or yes (debt/equity)	Consumer products with a community
Federal contracts (WOSB set-asides)	No, it is revenue	Service and product firms ready to deliver
Faster collections	No	Any business with unpaid invoices

That last line matters more than it looks: many small businesses have more cash tied up in overdue invoices than any grant would provide. Tightening payment terms and following up promptly is often the quickest funding source you have.

Taxes and recordkeeping on grants

In the US, grants to a for-profit business are generally taxable income unless a specific law excludes them. Keep the award letter, record the grant separately in your books, and track how you spend it, because many grantors require a final report with receipts. If you hire a grant writer, our grant writer invoice template shows how those services are typically billed. This is general information, not tax advice; check with a tax professional about your situation.

Avoid grant scams

• Legitimate grantors never charge a fee to release a grant.
• No one can guarantee you a grant, and paid "grant matching" services rarely find anything you could not find free through an SBDC or Women's Business Center.
• Government agencies do not contact you by social media to announce a grant you never applied for.
• Never share bank logins, and never pay by gift card, crypto or wire to "unlock" funds.

Common mistakes

• Applying only to famous national grants with thousands of applicants.
• Vague use-of-funds sections.
• Missing eligibility details, such as years in business, revenue caps or location.
• Ignoring contract opportunities like WOSB set-asides and minority business certification, which can bring repeat revenue.
• Not keeping records: invoices and financial statements make every application stronger.

Grant reviewers want proof that your business earns real revenue, and organized invoices are the easiest proof to provide. Create professional invoices with our free invoice generator: no sign-up, and every invoice downloads as a PDF you can attach to applications.