Home - WomensNet | Grants for Women in Business | Small Business Grants

Every month, WomensNet gives $10,000 to a woman entrepreneur—no pitch deck required, no equity taken, no strings attached. If you run a business (or want to start one), you’re a woman over 18, and you’re based in the U.S. or Canada, you can apply. Better yet, all twelve monthly winners automatically compete for an additional $25,000 year-end grant, bringing the total potential award to $35,000.

The Amber Grant was created in 1998 in memory of Amber Wigdahl, a young woman who died before she could realize her entrepreneurial dreams. Her family started this grant to help women who face the barriers Amber never had the chance to overcome: lack of access to capital, difficulty getting taken seriously by traditional lenders, and the challenge of balancing business ambitions with family responsibilities.

Since then, WomensNet has awarded over $10 million to more than 1,000 women. Winners have used the money to launch products, hire employees, buy equipment, expand into new markets, and keep their businesses alive during tough times. The application takes about an hour if you’re prepared, and unlike most grants, you don’t need a nonprofit status, a business plan, or even revenue yet.

The deadline for each month’s grant is the last day of that month. So for January 2025, you need to apply by January 31, and the winner is announced a few weeks later. You can apply every month until you win—and many women do exactly that, refining their applications each time.

At a Glance: Key Facts

Who Should Apply

The Amber Grant is unusually open. You don’t need to be a certain age, have a specific level of revenue, or work in a particular industry. WomensNet funds all kinds of businesses: product-based, service-based, online, brick-and-mortar, creative, technical, traditional, and innovative.

You’re a strong candidate if:

You’re a woman running or starting a business with a clear sense of what you need and why. Maybe you need $10,000 to purchase inventory for your first retail order. Or to hire a part-time assistant so you can focus on sales instead of admin. Or to upgrade equipment that’s holding back production. Or to build a website that actually converts visitors to customers. The grant isn’t looking for billion-dollar ideas—it’s looking for women who know their businesses and can explain how money will help them grow.

Past winners include a baker who needed a commercial kitchen license, a consultant who wanted to invest in marketing, a product designer who needed manufacturing samples, a nonprofit founder who needed software for tracking donors, and a mom who turned her side hustle into a full-time business. What they had in common wasn’t the type of business—it was clarity about their goals and a compelling story about why they deserved support.

You should apply even if:

Your business is brand new. You can apply at the idea stage as long as you have a specific plan for the funds. Your business hasn’t made money yet. Pre-revenue businesses win regularly. You already have some funding. The grant doesn’t penalize you for having other support—in fact, showing that others believe in you can help. You’re not sure you’ll win. The application fee is $15, which is small compared to the potential return, and the process of writing the application often helps you clarify your strategy even if you don’t win this round.

You might not be a fit if:

You can’t articulate a specific use for $10,000. Vague plans like “general business expenses” don’t impress reviewers. You’re unwilling to share your story. The application asks about your background, your challenges, and your motivations—if you’re private about your journey, this might not be the right grant. Your business is a hobby you’re not serious about scaling. WomensNet wants to support businesses that will create income, employment, or community impact.

Understanding the Application Process

The application is entirely online and consists of short essays, multiple choice questions, and some basic business information. There are no video submissions, no financial statements, no business plans. The whole thing takes about an hour if you’ve thought through your answers in advance.

Application Sections:

The form asks about your business (what it does, who it serves, how long you’ve been operating), about you (your background, what inspired you to start the business, challenges you’ve overcome), and about your plans for the money (exactly how you’ll spend $10,000 and what results you expect).

The essay portions are the heart of the application. This is where you tell your story and make your case. You’ll write about what makes your business special, why you started it, what obstacles you’ve faced, and what winning this grant would mean for your future.

The $15 Application Fee:

Yes, you have to pay to apply. WomensNet is transparent about why: the fees help cover the cost of reviewing applications and funding additional grants. The fee also ensures that applicants are serious—it filters out people who aren’t truly committed. Think of it as a small investment in your business. If you win, you’re getting $10,000 for a $15 bet. Even if you don’t win this month, you can apply again next month, and many winners say they applied multiple times before being selected.

Selection Process:

After the month closes, the WomensNet team reviews all applications. They’re looking for compelling stories, clear plans, and businesses that demonstrate potential. They consider your background, the strength of your business concept, your specific use for the funds, and your commitment to success. The monthly winner is announced on the WomensNet website and through email, usually 4-6 weeks after the deadline.

All twelve monthly winners from the calendar year automatically compete for the $25,000 year-end grant. That winner is selected through a second round of review and announced in early the following year.

Application Timeline: Monthly Cycle

Because the Amber Grant operates on rolling monthly deadlines, you can apply any month. Here’s how to time your application for the best results.

Three Weeks Before Month-End: Start Drafting

Don’t wait until the last few days. Block out time to brainstorm and write your initial answers. Think about your business story: What problem are you solving? Who are your customers? What makes your approach different? What barriers have you overcome? Why do you need this money right now?

Draft your essay responses in a separate document, not directly in the online form. This lets you revise without losing work and makes it easier to get feedback from others.

Two Weeks Before Month-End: Get Feedback

Ask someone you trust to read your application. This could be a business mentor, a friend who’s good with words, or another entrepreneur. Tell them to be honest: Is your story compelling? Is your plan for the money clear and specific? Do you come across as passionate and competent?

Make revisions based on their input. If multiple people don’t understand something, rewrite it more clearly. If your financial plan seems vague, add more detail.

One Week Before Month-End: Polish and Proofread

By now your content should be solid. Focus on making it shine. Check for typos and grammatical errors. Make sure your writing is concise—cut unnecessary words. Verify that all your business information is accurate (business name, location, website, dates).

Read your essays out loud. If something sounds awkward or robotic, rewrite it in a more natural voice. Reviewers are human—they respond to writing that sounds like a real person talking.

Three Days Before Month-End: Submit

Don’t wait until the last minute. Technical problems happen. Internet goes out, websites crash, payment processing fails. Submit with a few days to spare so you have time to troubleshoot if needed. After you submit, save your confirmation email.

Crafting a Winning Application: Strategic Tips

These strategies come from conversations with past winners and careful analysis of what makes applications stand out.

Tell Your Story, Don’t Just Describe Your Business

WomensNet doesn’t just want to know what your business does—they want to know why you started it and what it means to you. The grant is named after a real woman with dreams that went unrealized. The reviewers are looking for stories that honor that legacy by showing determination, passion, and purpose.

Instead of: “My business sells eco-friendly home products online.”

Try: “After years of seeing how much plastic waste my own household generated, I started researching alternatives. I couldn’t find affordable, attractive options that normal families could actually use, so I decided to create them myself. My business is about making sustainability accessible to people who care about the environment but can’t afford premium prices.”

See the difference? The second version gives context, shows motivation, and demonstrates that you understand your customers because you are one.

Be Specific About the Money

Saying you’ll use $10,000 for “business growth” or “marketing” is too vague. Break down exactly how you’ll spend the money and what results you expect.

Instead of: “I’ll invest in marketing to reach more customers.”

Try: “I’ll spend $4,000 on Facebook and Instagram ads targeted at working moms aged 30-45 in major U.S. cities, $3,000 on professional product photography to improve my website conversion rate, $2,000 on email marketing software and list-building campaigns, and $1,000 on a consultant to optimize my sales funnel. Based on my current conversion rates, these investments should bring in 200 new customers within six months, generating approximately $15,000 in revenue.”

The second version shows you’ve done the math, understand your business metrics, and have realistic expectations.

Show Resilience and Problem-Solving

Every entrepreneur faces obstacles. The question is how you respond. WomensNet wants to fund women who find ways forward when things get hard.

Talk about challenges you’ve overcome: funding gaps you bridged with creativity, technical problems you solved through persistence, market skepticism you countered with proof, family responsibilities you balanced while building a business. Don’t just list problems—show how you solved them and what you learned.

Demonstrate Market Validation

Even if you’re pre-revenue, you can show that people want what you’re offering. Do you have a waitlist? Pre-orders? Customer testimonials? Social media followers asking when they can buy? Interest from retailers or distributors? Letters of intent?

Evidence that others believe in your business strengthens your application. It shows reviewers that you’re not just pursuing a personal passion—you’re building something people actually want.

Connect to Community or Cause

Many winning applications show how the business does more than generate income for the founder. Does your business employ other women? Support a cause? Serve an underrepresented community? Solve a social problem? Address an environmental issue?

You don’t need to be a social enterprise to win, but if your business creates positive ripple effects beyond profit, say so.

Write Like a Human, Not a Business Plan

The grant reviewers read hundreds of applications. The ones written in stiff corporate language blur together. The ones written in authentic, conversational voices stand out.

Use first person. Share emotions. Be honest about what’s hard. Let your personality come through. If you’re funny, it’s okay to be funny. If you’re passionate, let that passion show. The goal isn’t to sound like every other business grant application—it’s to sound like you.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Chances

Being Too Modest

Many women downplay their accomplishments or hedge their claims. You might write “I think my product could help people” instead of “My product solves a specific problem that affects thousands of women.” Confidence isn’t arrogance—it’s clarity about your value. State what you do well and why it matters.

Focusing Only on Yourself

While your personal story matters, the application should ultimately be about what you’re building and who it serves. Balance your narrative between “this is my journey” and “this is what I’m creating for others.” The grant supports you as a means to support your business and its impact.

Vague Financial Plans

“I’ll use the money for inventory” isn’t specific enough. How much inventory? What products? Why those products? What sales do you expect as a result? Reviewers need to see that you’ve thought through the business logic, not just the purchase.

Ignoring the Questions

The application asks specific questions. Some applicants write beautiful essays that don’t actually answer what was asked. Read each question carefully and make sure your response directly addresses it. If the question asks about challenges you’ve overcome, talk about challenges—not just your business concept.

Submitting on the Last Day

Beyond the technical risks, last-day applications are often rushed. You don’t have time for a final proofread, for feedback from others, or for thoughtful revision. Early submissions are almost always stronger.

Generic, Template Answers

If your application could describe any business in any industry, it’s too generic. Specific details make your story real and memorable. Names of products, actual customer comments, specific numbers, concrete examples—these make reviewers remember your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply more than once?

Yes, and many winners did exactly that. You can apply every month until you win a monthly grant. Each month is a separate competition, so applying in January and February doesn’t hurt your chances—it might actually help because you can improve your application based on what didn’t work the first time. Once you win a monthly grant, you can’t apply again (though you’re automatically entered for the year-end $25,000 prize).

Do I need to have revenue to apply?

No. Pre-revenue startups win regularly. What matters is having a viable business concept and a clear plan for growth. If you don’t have sales yet, explain what you’re doing to validate your market, how you’re building your customer base, and when you expect first revenue.

Can I apply if I have a full-time job?

Absolutely. Many women start businesses while working other jobs. What matters is that you’re committed to growing your business and have a realistic plan for doing so. Be honest about being part-time if that’s your situation—just explain why the grant will help you move closer to full-time entrepreneurship.

What if I already have funding from other sources?

That’s fine. Having other funding can actually strengthen your application because it shows others believe in your business. You might have bootstrapped with personal savings, gotten a small loan from family, won another grant, or have revenue from early sales. None of that disqualifies you.

Do nonprofits qualify?

Yes, women-led nonprofits are eligible. You’ll explain how the grant will support your organization’s mission and operations. The same principles apply: clear plan for the money, compelling story, evidence of impact.

Is the $15 fee refundable if I’m not selected?

No. The fee supports the grant program operations. Think of it as the cost of participating, not a deposit.

When will I hear if I won?

Monthly winners are typically announced 4-6 weeks after the month closes. If you applied for the January grant, expect to hear back in February or early March. All applicants receive an email notification.

What restrictions are there on how I use the money?

None. This is unrestricted funding. You can use it for inventory, equipment, marketing, hiring, professional services, or any other business need. You don’t have to submit receipts or reports on how you spent it, though WomensNet appreciates updates on how the grant helped your business grow.

Can businesses outside the U.S. and Canada apply?

No. Eligibility is limited to women with businesses based in the United States or Canada. There’s no workaround for this requirement.

Do I need to be the sole owner?

No, but the business must be woman-owned, which typically means women hold at least 51% ownership. If you have business partners, explain the ownership structure and your specific role.

What Happens If You Win

When you win the monthly $10,000 grant, WomensNet will contact you by email and announce your win on their website and social media. You’ll receive the money directly—typically via check or electronic transfer, depending on your preference. There are no restrictions on how you use it and no reporting requirements, though WomensNet loves hearing success stories.

As a monthly winner, you’re automatically entered in the year-end competition for the additional $25,000. That means you have two chances to benefit from one application effort. The year-end winner is chosen from all twelve monthly winners and announced early the following year.

Beyond the money, many winners report that the credibility boost matters. Being able to say you’re an Amber Grant winner opens doors with customers, partners, and other funders. It’s third-party validation that your business deserves support.

How to Apply

Ready to apply? Here’s what to do next.

First, visit the official Amber Grant website to review the complete application and requirements: https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/

Second, create your account in their application system. You’ll need a valid email address and basic information about yourself and your business.

Third, draft your essay responses in a separate document. Take your time with this. Your story and your plan for the money are what will set you apart.

Fourth, get feedback from someone you trust. Have them read your draft and tell you honestly whether it’s compelling and clear.

Fifth, polish your writing. Check for errors, tighten your language, and make sure everything is specific and concrete.

Finally, submit before the last day of the month. Give yourself at least 2-3 days of cushion for technical problems.

The application fee is $15, paid during submission. Make sure you get a confirmation email after you submit—save that email as proof of your application.

If you don’t win this month, refine your application and try again next month. Persistence pays off. Many Amber Grant winners applied multiple times before they won.

The Amber Grant exists because a young woman didn’t get the chance to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. If you have that chance, take it seriously. Put in the time to tell your story well, and give yourself the best shot at $10,000 that could change your business trajectory.