Get That Money Girl! 8 Grants Every Female Founder Should Apply To This Week
Not all funding is created equal, and not all funding may be particular to your venture. We’ve compiled a list of grants to consider applying to. Most of them cater towards women entrepreneurs, but there are some that don’t. Regardless, they might be a fantastic shot at expanding your business.
Before we get started…what is a grant?
A grant is a non-repayable fund given by one party (the grant maker) to another (a recipient). Simply put, grants are a one way monetary gift. The grant maker does not receive any return on the money they give to the recipient. Grants are obtained mostly through application processes, some of which may be a straightforward application, while others include sending grant proposals and portfolios to grant-providing institutions. Grants can come from well-established foundations, family-funds, or other organizations, so always research where the money is coming from, and how best to approach the application. At the end of the day, a grant is like birthday money. It’s yours to keep, and let’s hope the person who gave it to you never asks for it back.
(Additional Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/government-grants)
A few of the ones listed here have some of that terminology embedded. Hopefully there will be a funding opportunity presented that fits the current stage your venture is at, whether it’s starting up, or has already on the ground running.
ROLLING APPLICATIONS
These are the grants that accept incoming applications with no specific time during the year.
Amber Grant
An Amber Grant is a monthly grant launched by WomensNet to honor the memory of a young woman, Amber Wigdahl, who died at the age of 19 unable to fulfill her entrepreneurial dreams, and is specifically for For-Profit Businesses. The applications are due at the end of each month, and the grant awards $2000 to a business every single month. In addition, every recipient is automatically entered in an election process, where the public can vote online for the next recipient of the annual $25,000 Amber Grant.
The next Amber Grant application deadline is on June 30th, 2019! The link to apply is right below:
https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/get-an-amber-grant/apply-now/
Ms. Foundation for Women
The Ms. Foundation for Women invests in grassroots, tribal, state and national organizations that are transforming policies and cultural beliefs across the U.S. Informed by decades of work in the field. They identify and support emerging and established groups poised to act when and where change is needed. Their grants — paired with skills-building, networking and other strategic opportunities — advance grassroots solutions across race and class and to build social movements within and across three areas: Economic Justice, Safety and Women’s Health.
Applying for the Ms. Foundation for Women grants is more involved, as an organization has to be permitted to apply. The Foundation will also post open-calls from time to time. Should your organization feel like a good fit for Ms. Foundation’s mission, consider signing up for their newsletters and perusing their FAQ to see when they post their grants. Who knows? You might eventually get an exclusive invite!
Grant FAQs: https://forwomen.org/grants-2/apply-for-a-grant/grant-application-faqs/
Start100 Fund Application
Start100 is more than simply a grant. Meant for specifically product-based companies, they’re much like an incubator for products ready to be sold. In order to apply, you must have a production-ready prototype that can be considered to appeal to a mass consumer base. If accepted into Start100 Fund, you’ll get an initially investment of $50k, as well as entering a bootcamp and crowdfunding campaign backed by Start100. It’s a much larger leap than most, but there’s no harm in applying if you’ve got a product you truly believe in!
Application Website: http://www.start100fund.com
The National Association for the Self Employed (NASE) Growth Grant
The National Association for the Self Employed is a fantastic resource for anyone running a small business, or an independent venture. They offer a wide variety of help and support through newsletters, workshops, legal help, healthcare insurance plans, and much more. Their Growth Grants, worth up to $4000 each, are small business grants used for financing a particular small business need. This could be marketing needs, office space, or even the purchase of software or computers. The one downside is that you must be a member of the NASE before applying, which costs $120 a year, or $11.95 a month to allow for flexibility. There are also Gold, Veteran, and Student memberships available for considering. Applicants in monthly memberships must be in good standing for three months prior to applying, however, annual members can apply immediately. You should demonstrate your business need, and how the grant will improve your business growth and success. For more information on membership and application, click the link below!
https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/member-benefits/business-
APPLICATIONS WITH DEADLINES
These are applications with upcoming deadlines, or ones that will be open soon and require preparation beforehand!
The American Association of University Women — 2 Grants!
The American Association of University Women is an organization that encompasses a number of programs that tackle women’s issues such as inclusion in STEM education, the wage gap, and connections, as well as providing support in educational funding, law, and public policy. They have a multitude of grants available, and all are worth checking out, but these two are the most pertinent to our users here at Shine Registry!
Career Development Grants — AAUW’s Career Development Grants provide assistance to women who, through additional higher education, technical training, or participation in professional development institutes, are making career changes, seeking to advance in current careers, or reentering the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing credentials in nontraditional fields. Grants provide support for coursework toward degree programs other than a doctorate or for specialized training in technical or professional fields. Women pursuing a certificate or degree to advance their careers, change careers, or reenter the workforce and whose bachelor’s degree was received at least five years before the award period may apply. The funding ranges between $2000 and $12,000.
Applications open on August 1st and close on November 15th.
Link: https://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-and-awards/career-development-grants/
Community Action Grants — Community Action Grants provide funds to individuals, AAUW branches, and AAUW state organizations as well as local community-based nonprofit organizations for innovative programs or non-degree research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. Since the inauguration of the Research and Projects Fund in 1972, AAUW has provided support to hundreds of communities around the United States to advance education and equity for women and girls. Projects have become increasingly collaborative and girl-focused, bringing together AAUW branches and local community groups. Special consideration is given to projects focused on K–12 and community college girls’ and women’s achievements in science, technology, engineering, or math.
One-year grants provide funding for community-based projects. Topic areas are unrestricted, but should include a clearly defined activity that promotes education and equity for women and girls. The funding for a one year grant is between $2000 to $7000.
Two-year grants provide startup funds for new projects that address the particular needs of the community and develop girls’ sense of efficacy through leadership or advocacy opportunities. Topic areas are unrestricted, but should include a clearly defined activity that promotes education and equity for women and girls. The funding for two-year grants is $5000 to $10,000.
Applications open August 1st and close on December 1st.
Link: https://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-and-awards/community-action-grants/
Sephora Stands Accelerate
Sephora Accelerate is dedicated to building a community of innovative female founders in beauty. The months-long program begins with a one-week bootcamp where founders acquire the necessary skills to create a successful business. Together, you learn from beauty mentors and seasoned entrepreneurs and prepare for a final Demo Day in the fall. First you’ll start at a bootcamp, a week devoted to working on your business. Then comes a mentorship, where you receive advice from top Sephora leaders on changing and tackling your business model. Grants and funding come after, with every entrepreneur receiving $5000 towards their business. Finally, a Demo Day culminates the experience, and you will be able to present your company to industry experts.
While the application is set to open in October for the 2020 program, we suggest researching and following this accelerator program for all of our beauty and lifestyle ventures!
Link: https://www.sephorastands.com/accelerate/
If you’re looking for more support for your new company, consider creating a Shine Registry profile. Shine Registry hosts profiles of businesses and their founders with wedding registry-style lists of the stuff that they need to succeed professionally. Founders ask for support while they are starting their businesses and give their communities an opportunity to show that support in meaningful and substantive ways. Learn more at www.shineregistry.com
