The well-known women-founder grants — Amber Grant, IFundWomen, Eileen Fisher, Tory Burch, and Cartier — with the amounts and eligibility rules you need to screen them fast, and the application playbook that actually wins.
Women owned 12.9 million nonemployer businesses — 42.3% of the total — with $423.1 billion in receipts, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in November 2025. A 2026 Wells Fargo report cited by Forbes puts women's share of all U.S. businesses above 40%, employing 12.6 million people and generating $2.8 trillion in revenue.
Yet most of that growth is funded by savings and loans. Direct grants for women founders exist, but they are competitive and concentrated in a handful of programs — so screening on eligibility first is what separates funded applicants from everyone who writes a great essay for a program they never qualified for.
| Program | Amount | Eligibility | Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| WomensNet Amber Grant | $10,000 monthly; three awarded; monthly winners eligible for $50,000 annual grants | Women-owned business; US and Canada | Every month |
| IFundWomen Universal Grant Application | Varies by corporate partner | Women entrepreneurs in the IFundWomen network | Rolling, partner-dependent |
| Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant | $10,000–$40,000; about $100,000 distributed annually | Women-owned; 3+ years operating; under $1M revenue | Annual |
| Tory Burch Foundation Fellows | $5,000 | Women-founded US business; majority women-owned; $75K+ revenue | Annual |
| Cartier Women’s Initiative | Up to $100,000 | Women impact entrepreneurs; for-profit, early-stage | Annual |
Amounts and eligibility change every cycle — always confirm on the official funder page (listed in the final column) before applying. Source details verified August 2026.
WomensNet awards three $10,000 Amber Grants every month to women-owned businesses, and each monthly winner becomes eligible for one of three $50,000 annual grants at year-end. It is free to apply, open to businesses in the United States and Canada, and judges pick winners from a short story-style application each month.
IFundWomen maintains one universal application: when the platform partners with a brand, it matches the partner's grant criteria against businesses in the network. Award amounts vary by partner, and grants are distributed through the network rather than as a single fixed program.
The Eileen Fisher program distributes about $100,000 per year in grants ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 to women-owned businesses that have operated for at least three years with annual revenue under $1 million. Sustainability and environmental practices are the stated focus.
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows program awards a $5,000 grant to women-founded, majority women-owned U.S. businesses generating at least $75,000 in annual revenue, alongside a business-education curriculum and access to a network of women entrepreneurs.
The Cartier Women's Initiative funds women-led, for-profit impact businesses with grants up to $100,000 per fellow. The 2026 cohort announced in March 2026 included 30 impact entrepreneurs from nine regions plus a thematic award.
WomensNet awards three $10,000 Amber Grants every month to women-owned businesses, and each monthly winner becomes eligible for one of three $50,000 annual grants at year-end. It is free to apply and open to women-owned businesses in the United States and Canada.
The most commonly cited programs range from about $5,000 (Tory Burch Foundation Fellows) to $10,000–$40,000 (Eileen Fisher) and up to $100,000 (Cartier Women's Initiative). Amounts change every cycle, so confirm on the official funder page.
The SBA does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business. It funds nonprofits, Resource Partners, and educational organizations, and it guarantees loans. Most women-founder grants come from private foundations, corporate giving programs, and state or local programs.
Yes. Legitimate grant programs are free to apply to and never guarantee an award for a fee. An application fee, a "guaranteed" grant in exchange for payment, or a request for bank details is a red flag.
Usually yes. Most programs require a formed business and majority women ownership. Some programs also require minimum revenue or a minimum number of years operating — check each funder's rules.