Resources, Funding, and Support for Women-Owned Businesses
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The importance of small businesses cannot be understated. They are part of the very fabric of our neighborhoods and communities. Despite this, one-fifth of all US small businesses close within a year due to a lack of funds and support. Obstacles are more common amongst businesses with diverse ownership, including BIPOC-owned, women-owned, and LGBTQ-owned businesses.
18 Women Business Owners on Community, Staying True, and Power
Between 2019 and 2023, women-owned businesses outpaced men-owned businesses across three growth rates: firms, employment, and revenue. On average, women own nearly one-fourth of all firms across the country and account for $2.7 trillion in revenue, which sounds like a lot but is in fact only 10% of the country’s total revenue from businesses.
With the right resources, women-owned businesses could generate $10.2 trillion annually. If things remain as they are, however, it will take over a century for women-led businesses to reach parity with men-owned businesses.
The following resources and funding opportunities for women-owned businesses can help keep these businesses open and inspire more diverse entrepreneurs to pursue their small business dreams.
Unique Funding for Women-Owned Businesses
Grant and investment opportunities tailored to specific communities are critical, ensuring marginalized entrepreneurs can receive aid. The following list gathers several of these opportunities for ease of access:
Black Girl Ventures: Provides access to capital through various pitching programs, as well as a community with co-working opportunities, webinars, and more.
Tory Burch Foundation: Offers three types of funding for women entrepreneurs—equity, debt financing, and bootstrapping.
HerRise MicroGrants: Gifts $1,000 every month to under-resourced women, including women of color entrepreneurs, across a variety of industries.
IFundWomen of Color: Offers various funding programs, including grants and crowdfunding support for BIPOC women entrepreneurs.
The Amber Grant: Gives away at least $30,000 a month to women business owners.
Boundless Futures: Offers two grants for women entrepreneurs and leaders, one for individuals and another for non-profits.
FoundHer: Funding for women-led businesses in Hawai’i.
US Small Business Administration: Goal to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year.
Fearless Fund: Provides funding and investment with pitches accepted on a rolling basis.
YippityDoo Big Idea Grant: Offers a $1,000 business grant monthly as well as a year-long membership to the organization’s wealth coaching.
Galaxy Grants: Two grants valued at $2,450 and $23,000.
Giving Joy: Microgrants given out 5-10 times annually.
Women Founders Network: The fast pitch competition offers two tracks—one focused on tech, the other on consumers—with first place in each receiving a $25,000 grant.
Cartier Women’s Initiative: The Regional Awards of the Cartier Women’s Initiative awards grants between $30,000 and $100,000.
The Mama Ladder: For women who are both mothers and business owners, this grant awards eight finalists.
Enthuse Foundation: Awarding a variety of industries, this pitch competition has a grand prize of $15,000.
Fund Her Future: From H&R Block, this grant competition offers up to $50,000.
Stacy’s Snacks: For women entrepreneurs in the food and beverage consumer packaged goods space, the Rise Project awards $25,000 in grants.
Founders First: The Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant is a national grant for mother-owned businesses, awarding $25,000 to 25 “mompreneurs.”
She’s Connected: AT&T’s grant awards $50,000 plus a year of AT&T service.
Texas Woman’s University: Offers numerous grants for women business owners—the StartHER grant, Texas Rural Woman grant, and a grant for women veterans.
BMO Celebrating Women: Offers several grants for women-owned businesses.
The Papaya Grant: Awards $10,000 to one women entrepreneur.
Publish Her: The indie publisher’s Business Impact Grant offers $5,000 to a woman of color business owner.
Local Funding: Try searching “women business funding + STATE” to find specific grants and loans by location.
Support and Community Resources
There are many challenges for businesses with marginalized owners, including publicity and funding. Unethical corporations like Amazon and Samsung possess disproportionate market share, and it’s largely due to its billions in revenue and access to professional resources.
For women-owned businesses, connecting with other like-minded enterprises, consumers, press, and more, is survival.
The below communities and networks offer space and resources for women-owned businesses:
DivInc: Resources, networking, and other services for women in tech.
Waves of Change: A service-based grant, working with a professional team to better your business in the spaces of marketing, operations, design, copy, and more.
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council: Provides support through mentorships, scholarships, and advocacy.
U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce: Offers resources, advocacy, and certification.
National Association of Women Business Owners: A private, membership-based organization focusing on networking amongst members within its 60 national chapters.
SoGal Foundation: Spanning six continents and 55 cities, this community offers access to capital, education, resources, and network.
Ladies Who Launch: Community for women and non-binary entrepreneurs, offering resources, access to funding, and more.
We Are Women Owned: Helping female founders gain brand visibility, community, and business resources since 2018.
SCORE: This organization offers women-specific resources, including mentors and networking.
International Association of Women: Provides a supportive and inclusive environment where women can connect, learn, and grow both personally and professionally.
If you love to patronize a small business owned by women or have other women entrepreneurs in your circle, consider sharing these resources with them. Additionally, encourage them to join the Green Business Network! Small businesses are community institutions, and they only thrive when we come together to support them.
Find more resources for business owners: LGBTQ, Latino/a/x, Black
The Green Business Network is the first and most diverse network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in the country, home to both rising social and eco enterprises and the most established green businesses around.