We can briefly condense some of the categories of small business grants for women that you will be able to find by searching the grants database.
You can search by a particular business title if you wish. For example, grants for day care centers, scientific research grants, farming and agricultural grants, etc. And you may also find a number of available free money opportunities when looking for gender or ethnic specific grants like minority business grants, women business grants, or grants for single parents.
Business grants, however, are difficult to come by. Most businesses are created with loans which rely on good credit histories and collateral that women may have a hard time supplying. Women often choose to max out their credit cards or borrow from family members in order to start a business, which may make their own finances uncomfortable.
Online
There are several online sites worth looking at that provide information and access to grants. In addition to this, there are sites specifically aimed to giving grants to women. These sites attempt to help the female population succeed in entrepreneurialism and climb on the ladder of success. There are women's funding networks which promote the growth of women's funds and empower women to encourage strategic networking among themselves, donors and communities.
The local Small Business Association (SBA) office http://www.sba.gov/ should help you in finding the right business grants. Even grants that are not advertised online can be found here. They should also point you in the right direction of grants offered in your area of business.
Count-me--in.org http://www.count-me-in.org/ - Is a new fundraising organization that raises money from women for women. Loans are given from $500 to $10,000 (for first time recipients the maximum amount is $5,000). Count-Me-In looks like a great resource with funding consideration based on experience over credit history. Check them out!
Womens-Finance.com wants to give women a chance to fulfill their dreams, as well as assist them to develop businesses that will give more women an opportunity to obtain better employment security in family friendly companies, without owing money to some financial institution. The Women's Financial Fund was created as a non-profit entity to give these grants to women.
Federal Money Retriever
http://www.fedmoney.com/ - The premier grants and loans. database software containing information on all U. S. federal government grants and loan programs. There is a cost for the software, but the site allows you to research some of the grant dollars that are available. They have a specific category for grants available for women at: http://www.fedmoney.com/grants/su0232.htm
The Women's Funding Network
http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org - Promotes the development and growth of women's funds that empower women and girls by fostering strategic alliances among women, donors, communities and institutions.
NBC Supplier Diversity Program Web site
https://cvmas14.cvmsolutions.com/nbc/ - This is not so much a funding opportunity, but a procurement opportunity specifically for women and minority owned businesses. The National Broadcasting Company has launched its Supplier Diversity web site to inform Minority-owned and Woman-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) of NBC's Supplier Diversity Program, and also permit MWBE suppliers of high-quality goods and services to register their companies online.
American Association of University Women
http://www.aauw.org - This foundation is one of the largest private sources of funding for graduate women in the world, supports aspiring scholars around the globe, teachers and activists in local communities, women at critical stages of their careers, and those pursuing professions where women are underrepresented.
The Ada Project for Women (TAP)
http://women.cs.cmu.edu/ada/ - Includes information on conferences, discussion groups, organizations, fellowships, grants, and notable women in computer science.
Financial Women International
http://www.fwi.org/- Provides information on professional growth, information sharing, peer networking, mentoring, leadership development, and career advancement for women.
Government grants for women come in different shapes and sizes. Most grants are offered to women who want to start business or buy a business or seek to expand the business already started. Those already in business could use the grant to hire new employees, buy new equipment or purchase a new property.
The government in the US offers billions of dollars as grants every year and there are 100% free federal grants for women. You just have to simply apply for the grant you might be qualified for and if granted the money, she may never pay it back at all!
Government grants for minority ethnic groups, disabled women, immigrants and those who served in the military are eligible for exclusive grants in the US . Women's Business Grants has put together such ethnic and minority groups which can be viewed at 'Grants for Ethnic and other groups' pages.
Federal government offers grants for women starting business. The government is interested in making business playing field as even as possible. They want women to have suitable opportunities to succeed like men. The government is also keen to start more women oriented businesses.
Government grants for women come under various categories. For example, research technology and innovation grants which are promoted by the government for those women aiming to develop software or providing online business consultations.
Local SCORE office can offer invaluable information on grant services especially for growing business establishments. Enthusiastic entrepreneurs can avail themselves of free business advice from 'Counselors to America 's Small Business.'
Minority ethnic groups, disabled women, immigrants and those who served in the military are eligible for exclusive grants in the US . Women's Business Grants - http://www.womensbusinessgrants.com has put together such ethnic and minority groups which can be viewed at 'Grants for Ethnic and other groups' pages.
Business groups such as the local Chamber of Commerce often hosts networking breakfasts or lunches. These business groups offer their own business grants which can be valuable.
Other Avenues
Don't forget your own local community resources as well. Do you have a Women Business Development Center near you or a Chamber of Commerce? Small Business Development Center? They are an incredible resource for business owners, and offer an almost unbelievable range of services for you - most of them FREE!) Is there a micro-enterprise group, or women's group in your town or city? Check with your state legislator's office. If your state has a Web page, get online and look around. If you're disabled, talk to someone at your local Vocational Rehabilitation office. (Did you know that they have grants to help you start a business that range from $6,000 to $15,000, depending on the area and other guidelines?) Always start close to home, because chances are your local agencies, organizations and groups are going to know about grant funds in your state.
Certain business owners can access information on grants for that area of business from their associations and organizations catering to their business specifically. For instance a soap making association can have pertinent information on homemade soap businesses. Similarly, a crafts business group can get the relevant business grant information on general craft business.
Inform a friend or colleague about the fact that you are looking for a business grant as this can help indirectly. This friend may mention it to someone else who may know of someone else who has received a business grant. A friend may happen to know a venture capitalist interested to invest in a start up business.
Local business newspaper or magazine detail all latest happenings in the business community and local business grants offered to entrepreneurs who wish to make a fresh business attempt. These advertisements could appear as a small tidbit or even as part of an interview with a local business person or a donating firm.
It is no secret that women are beginning to proudly own more and more businesses every day. They are successfully competing with men. And hundreds and thousands of small business grants for women are waiting out there to be taken, by women daring to start any type of business.
By Kendra Davenport
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Small Business Grants For Women
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Small Business Grants for WomenThe need for small business grants for women is well known. Women own over 9 million businesses yet they receive the smallest amount of financing from traditional sources such as banks and venture capital firms. Traditionally, women own smaller types of businesses that don't need financial assistance of $250,000 or more and so financing options are limited. There are over thousand's of recognized state, federal and private grant awarding agencies throughout the United States, far too many to list at once here (bookmark this page for future updates).
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