Grants for Women Founders in the US (2026)
Open and closed grants, prizes and fellowships for women founders in the US, with amounts, deadlines and eligibility. Last checked 27 October 2026.
As of 27 October 2026, the biggest open opportunities for women founders in the US are the Amber Grants for Women (next cutoff 31 October 2026, monthly grants of USD 15,000) and the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program (apply by 17 November 2026). Most US grants for women are small, one-off awards of USD 1,000 to 10,000, so we list the larger prizes and fellowships next to them.
Not everything here is a grant. We list prizes, fellowships and grant-matching services too, and label each one in the Type column so you know whether you can keep the money, compete for it, or get coaching and a network instead of cash.
Closed programmes stay in a separate table with the expected next round, because most of them repeat on a similar schedule each year. We review this page monthly.
Last checked: 27 October 2026. Updated monthly. See how we check.
Open now
| Program | Type | Amount | Deadline or status | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Grants for Women | Grant | Three monthly grants of USD 15,000 and three year-end grants of USD 75,000 (the programme site also shows USD 10,000 winner badges, confirm before applying) | Open, next cutoff 31 October 2026. Winners announced by the 21st of the following month | Women-owned businesses, from idea stage (under USD 10,000 in sales) to established. One application covers all Amber categories |
| Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program 2027 | Fellowship | Coaching, community and recognition. No cash amount is stated on the programme page | Open until 17 November 2026. Fellows selected May 2027 | For-profit business formed under US law and at least 51% owned and controlled by women, with at least USD 75,000 annual revenue. Applicant 21 or older and a US legal resident |
| Entreprenista Evolve Grant | Grant | USD 5,000 | 30 November 2026 according to Entreprenista's September 2026 grants roundup. The grant page shows no deadline | US company, woman-owned or woman-led, at least USD 100,000 annual revenue, at least 1 year in business. Previous winners cannot reapply |
| EmpowHER Grants (Boundless Futures Foundation) | Grant | Amount not stated on the programme page | Fall 2026 cycle opens 1 November, grants awarded in spring 2027. No open call today | Female founder aged 22 or older, US-registered for-profit that earns revenue, up to 5 years old, addressing poverty, hunger, humanitarian aid, sustainability or the environment |
| IFundWomen Universal Grant Application | Grant matching service | Varies by brand partner | Ongoing. One profile is matched to brand-funded grants when they run | Women founders. Most of the grants listed on the page are from earlier years and closed |
Closed programmes
Most of these repeat on a similar schedule each year, so the next round is often predictable.
| Program | Type | Amount | Deadline or status | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hey Helen Grant | Grant | USD 1,000 to 10,000 | Closed 30 August 2026. Next round not announced. Winners cannot apply again within 12 months | Woman-owned for-profit registered in the US or a US territory, under USD 1 million annual revenue, US bank account, 18 or older. Sole proprietorships accepted |
| Fund Her Future Grant (Block Advisors by H&R Block) | Grant | Four grants of USD 45,000, each plus USD 5,000 in small business services | Applications ran 1 to 22 September 2026. Closed. No next round announced | US resident aged 18 or older owning an established, woman-owned business with at least USD 20,000 revenue in 2025. Nonprofits excluded |
| Cartier Women's Initiative, North America region | Prize | USD 100,000, 60,000 and 30,000 per region (amounts from secondary sources, confirm) | 2027 cycle closed 16 June 2026. The call opened 16 April, so the next one is likely April 2027 (to confirm) | Women-owned for-profit with positive impact, USD 50,000 to 5 million revenue, 5 to 250 employees |
| Women Founders Network Fast Pitch | Prize | USD 25,000 for each of two first-place winners (Tech and Consumer/CPG), plus a USD 5,000 pick by junior venture capitalists | 2027 applications accepted 1 April to 31 May 2027. Finals are held in October in Los Angeles | Women-owned businesses that have raised no more than USD 750,000 in outside funding. Research and other non-dilutive grants do not count |
| Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant | Grant | USD 1,000 micro-grants for 20 finalists, plus a community or leadership programme | 2026 closed. 2027: pre-registration 1 January, applications 9 March to 13 April | Mom business owners with an active US business, 2 to 100 employees, at least 1 year in business, revenue up to USD 5 million |
How to choose
Idea or very early stage. Start with Amber Grants for Women: its Startup Grant is aimed at businesses in the idea phase or with under USD 10,000 in sales, and one application covers every Amber category.
Earning revenue. The Entreprenista Evolve Grant (USD 5,000, from USD 100,000 annual revenue) and the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program (from USD 75,000 annual revenue, coaching and a network) fit businesses that already sell.
Impact-led businesses. EmpowHER Grants, run by the Boundless Futures Foundation, back for-profit founders whose business addresses poverty, hunger, humanitarian aid, sustainability or the environment. The fall 2026 cycle opens on 1 November.
FAQ
Are there grants for women founders in the US?
Yes, but most are small. Amber Grants award USD 15,000 a month, the Entreprenista Evolve Grant USD 5,000, and the Hey Helen Grant up to USD 10,000. Larger awards, such as the Cartier Women's Initiative and Fund Her Future, are competitive and open for short windows.
Do I give up equity?
No. The grants and prizes listed here do not take equity. Check the Type column: fellowships such as Tory Burch give coaching and a network rather than a stated cash amount.
Can I apply to more than one programme?
Often yes. One Amber Grants application covers all Amber categories, while the Hey Helen Grant excludes anyone who won in the previous 12 months. Read each programme's rules.
Do I need to be incorporated?
It depends. The Tory Burch Foundation requires a business formed under US law and Entreprenista requires revenue of at least USD 100,000, while the Hey Helen Grant also accepts sole proprietorships.
Can founders outside the US apply?
Mostly no. The Tory Burch Foundation requires a business formed under US law and a US legal resident, EmpowHER requires a business registered and operating in the US, and Fund Her Future is for US residents.
Methodology
We take amounts, deadlines and eligibility from the programme owner's own page whenever one exists, and use news or aggregator sites only to find programmes. We review the page monthly and whenever a round opens or closes, and the last-checked date at the top is updated each time. Grants, prizes, fellowships and grant-matching services are never mixed in one category.
Cite this page
Founded by Women. Grants for Women Founders in the US. Last checked 27 October 2026. foundedbywomen.org/grants/grants-for-women-founders-us
Looking for recognition rather than funding? See the FBW Awards.
