Grants for Small businesses - Women & Girl Services

This initiative provides financial support to women-owned small businesses in San Francisco to help them grow through various improvement projects, such as marketing and equipment upgrades.

Grant Opportunity: Short-term Teaching Artist Residency Program (Illinois) The Short-term Teaching Artist Residency Program in Illinois supports elementary schools, community centers, and public libraries in engaging teaching artists for short-term residencies. The program prioritizes advancing equity and access in the arts, particularly for underserved audiences such as BIPOC communities, individuals with disabilities, older adults, and those with limited access to the arts. Eligible applicants can request a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $4,500 to cover 75% of residency costs. Additional percentages can be added under specific conditions. Applicants must be tax-exempt organizations or units of government in Illinois, while the selected artists must be based in Illinois. The application deadline is at least eight weeks before the project start date. For more information, visit Short-term Teaching Artist Residency Program.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Maine to educate and outreach to women aged 18 to 54 with low incomes about available health coverage options and services.

Grant Opportunity: TJX Empowering Women Program Description: The TJX Empowering Women Program is a grant opportunity that supports organizations dedicated to empowering and enriching the lives of women. The program focuses on providing resources for victims of domestic violence, as well as offering education, training, and job placement services. TJX has a long-standing partnership with the National Domestic Violence Hotline in the U.S., providing foundation grants to support their helpline services. In Canada, TJX launched the Find Your Stride initiative, partnering with organizations like Dress for Success Canada, WoodGreen’s Homeward Bound program, Women in Need Society (WINS), Alice House, and Petites-Mains to provide basic needs assistance, work skills development, educational programs, and job placement opportunities for vulnerable women. Eligibility: Organizations of all types across the USA are eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. This includes nonprofits, startups, researchers, local governments, small businesses, and other organizations committed to empowering women and supporting victims of domestic violence. Funding Highlights: - 300,000 shelter nights provided - 30,000 domestic violence services provided Alice House Partnership: TJX Canada is a proud partner of Alice House, an organization that helps women create a life free from domestic and intimate partner violence. With funding from TJX Canada, Alice House has launched Alice On The Go, a self-directed online program aimed at preventing domestic violence and educating women about warning signs and power dynamics in relationships. TJX's support also extends to Alice House's Economic Independence Program which assists women leaving Alice House in achieving financial independence. Testimonial: "Alice House has been my rock; they have shown me what it is like to always have choices in my life and how to make and keep boundaries in place for me and my children. I am glad that my family has been fortunate enough to have them as part of our new beginning." - Cindy, past Alice House client

The Fund Her Future grant program, administered by Block Advisors by H&R Block, offers a total of $100,000 in grants to support the growth of women-owned businesses. This initiative aims to address the funding disparities faced by women, one of the fastest-growing segments of new small business owners. One grand prize winner will receive $50,000, with additional finalists receiving $12,500 each. Alongside monetary awards, winners will also benefit from professional services including small business taxes, bookkeeping, payroll, and business structure analysis. Applications are accepted until May 26, 2024.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and local entities in Bergen County, New Jersey, to promote and preserve local history through various programs and projects.

This program provides financial support to new and existing child care businesses in Portland, Maine, to help them start, expand, and hire staff, ensuring more accessible child care options in the community.

This initiative provides $35,000 grants and mentorship to beauty and wellness entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities to help them grow their early-stage businesses.

This fellowship supports mid-career women in the U.S. who are dedicated to social impact, providing them with leadership training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to advance their careers and drive social change.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to independent cultural venues in Sacramento, such as music venues, art galleries, and bookstores, to help them recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This grant provides financial support to agricultural businesses in Cecil County, Maryland, to help them expand, diversify, and improve their operations while promoting sustainability and community collaboration.

This program provides rent support to new, innovative retail businesses in Downtown Grand Rapids, particularly those that are women- or minority-owned, to enhance the area's retail diversity and economic vitality.

The Alachua County Small Farmer Grant Program is a mini-grant initiative funded by the County Commission, designed to support Alachua County-based small farms and ranches. The program aims to promote local food system economic resilience and equity, particularly for marginalized communities. This grant differs from traditional reimbursement models by offering an immediate infusion of funds upon award, recognizing that small producers may lack the immediate cash flow for capital equipment. The total funding available for this mini-grant is approximately $100,000, with individual grant requests not exceeding $5,000. The primary target beneficiaries are small producers (farms, ranches, or other agricultural operations) within Alachua County that produce foodstuffs for human consumption and have annual gross cash income between $1,000 and $250,000. There is a strong prioritization for small producers with an annual gross cash income of no more than $75,000. Furthermore, the program specifically prioritizes black, women, indigenous, and persons-of-color owned agricultural operations, aligning with broader goals of economic equity and community support. The program's key priorities and focuses include assisting Alachua County residents and supporting the immediate acquisition of capital infrastructure and equipment. This direct funding approach is intended to enhance the farm's productive capability and financial expansion, addressing a critical need for small producers who may struggle with upfront costs. The grant is not a cost reimbursement grant, emphasizing its role in providing immediate financial support. Expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around improving the economic viability of these small producers and increasing the resiliency of local food production. The program also aims to expand the production of related value-added farm products. Ultimately, these efforts are designed to achieve the Board's policies related to economic development, specifically by increasing economic prosperity, economic equity, and fostering a diverse tax base within Alachua County.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition, funded through the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund, for organizations interested in advancing the role of women in the global labor movement.

The Ìpàdé Tanna Fund is a giving circle dedicated to awarding microgrants to early-stage Black women and gender-expansive innovators in the Washington, DC metro area. This initiative directly aligns with Ìpàdé's mission to contribute to the growth and success of Black innovators, recognizing the historical and current systemic barriers, including racism, that lead to funding disparities for Black business owners. The fund aims to address these inequities by providing crucial capital and support to launch transformative business ideas. The target beneficiaries of the Tanna Fund are Black women and gender-expansive entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of launching their businesses. The impact goals are centered on fostering economic empowerment and reducing the funding gap experienced by Black innovators. By providing microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the Tanna Fund seeks to enable these entrepreneurs to establish and sustain their businesses, thereby contributing to wealth creation and community development. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly defined by its eligibility criteria. Applicants must identify as a woman or gender-expansive person and as Black or of African Descent. Their business structure must be established or formally established within six months, and they must have received less than $5,000 in previous grant funding. Furthermore, the business must be based in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC. These criteria ensure that the grants are directed to those most in need and most aligned with the fund's objectives. The expected outcomes include an increase in the number of successful Black-owned businesses in the Washington, DC region, improved access to early-stage capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs, and a reduction in the disparities in business funding. Measurable results would include the number of microgrants awarded, the survival rates of grantee businesses, and the growth in revenue or employment among these businesses. The Tanna Fund's strategic priority is to dismantle systemic barriers to economic success for Black innovators, operating under the theory of change that targeted financial support and resources at critical early stages can significantly mitigate the effects of systemic racism and foster entrepreneurial success within this demographic.

The Women's Entrepreneur Grant Opportunity aims to support women-owned businesses in Fairfax City by providing consultation and capacity-building services to facilitate their growth, expansion, and development. Eligible businesses can receive services valued at up to $5,000, which cover areas such as marketing, operations, accounting, and finance. The grant funds will be awarded upfront, and recipients will be notified by September 20, 2024, with recognition at the Women’s Entrepreneur Empowerment Luncheon on September 25, 2024. To be eligible, businesses must be at least 51% owned and controlled by women, licensed within Fairfax City, and can be home-based or have one or more locations within the city. Start-ups and expanding businesses are also eligible, while non-profits are not. The application process involves verifying eligibility, completing and submitting the application form, identifying required services, obtaining quotes, and undergoing a review based on merit.

The Community Climate Collaborative Energy Efficiency Grants program offers funding to small businesses for upgrades aimed at improving energy efficiency. This includes enhancements to appliances, lighting, and heating/cooling systems. The program's core objective is to facilitate emissions reductions and generate financial savings for businesses through strategic capital investments. While not explicitly stating the "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change" in a separate section, the program's focus on emissions reduction directly aligns with a broader mission of combating climate change, which is implicitly the strategic priority of an organization named "Community Climate Collaborative." The target beneficiaries of this grant program are small businesses operating within the City of Charlottesville or Albemarle County, Virginia. Specifically, eligible businesses must hold a business license in one of these locations and qualify as a Microbusiness according to Virginia SBSD criteria, meaning they have 25 employees or fewer. The program also prioritizes Woman- or Minority-owned Businesses, as defined by Virginia SBSD criteria, and encourages SWaM certification or equivalent documentation. This focused approach aims to empower local, smaller enterprises in their transition to more sustainable operations. The program's priorities and focuses are squarely on tangible energy efficiency upgrades that yield demonstrable savings in energy usage and/or a reduction in emissions. This indicates a results-oriented approach where the proposed upgrades must show a clear environmental benefit and potentially economic advantage for the grantee. The maximum grant amount of $2,000 per project highlights an emphasis on supporting numerous smaller-scale, impactful interventions rather than fewer large-scale projects, making the grants accessible to a wider range of microbusinesses. The expected outcomes and measurable results of these grants include both environmental and economic benefits. On the environmental front, the primary outcome is the reduction of emissions, contributing to local climate goals. Economically, businesses are expected to achieve financial savings due to decreased energy consumption. The requirement for proposed upgrades to have "demonstrable savings of energy usage and/or reduction of emissions" signifies a commitment to measurable impact, ensuring that the allocated funds lead to verifiable improvements. The program's design implicitly supports a theory of change where targeted financial assistance for energy efficiency upgrades directly leads to reduced environmental impact and improved economic resilience for small businesses in the local community.

The City of Vallejo received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to establish a grant program aimed at supporting local small businesses severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative directly aligns with the city's commitment to economic recovery and resilience, seeking to mitigate the negative financial repercussions experienced by its business community. The program's core mission is to provide crucial financial assistance, specifically targeting security improvements, thereby fostering a safer and more stable operating environment for eligible businesses within Vallejo. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are for-profit and non-profit brick-and-mortar businesses situated in Vallejo. To qualify, businesses must possess a valid Vallejo business license, employ 20 or fewer individuals, and provide receipts for purchases made between January 1, 2023, and September 24, 2024. The program's impact goals are focused on enhancing the physical security of these businesses, thereby reducing vulnerability to crime and creating a more secure commercial landscape. The program prioritizes funding for security improvements, with grants available up to $3,000 for items such as cameras, locks, and window enhancements. This focus addresses a critical need for small businesses that may lack the resources to invest in such protective measures independently. The expected outcomes include a tangible increase in the security infrastructure of participating businesses, leading to a safer environment for employees, customers, and business assets. Measurable results will be directly tied to the utilization of grant funds for approved security upgrades. Success will be determined by the number of businesses receiving grants, the types of security improvements implemented, and potentially, a reduction in reported incidents related to security vulnerabilities among grant recipients. The City of Vallejo's strategic priority through this program is to strengthen its local economy by supporting its small business sector, recognizing that a resilient business community is vital for overall city prosperity and recovery from the pandemic's economic downturn. The underlying theory of change is that by providing targeted financial aid for essential security enhancements, the city can empower small businesses to protect their assets, maintain operations, and contribute to the broader economic stability and revitalization of Vallejo.

This program provides an immersive 12-week accelerator for female tech founders of for-profit businesses, helping them access capital and grow their ventures.

Main Street Ventures offers Launch Funding to emerging, pre-revenue businesses that have a prototype or product. This grant program aims to support the growth and scaling of businesses within the Greater Cincinnati region, aligning with the foundation's mission to foster economic development and innovation in the area. The funding is specifically designed to cover key direct costs associated with growth projects, rather than general operating expenses, reflecting a strategic priority to provide tangible support for business acceleration. The primary target beneficiaries are business entities (C-Corp, S-Corp, or LLC) with a Federal Tax ID (EIN) located in the Greater Cincinnati region, which includes specific counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Businesses must demonstrate customer demand and strong progression since their founding. The program focuses on specific growth projects that will accelerate business growth, with examples of suitable direct expenses including key equipment, packaging support, and technology product development. This targeted approach ensures that the grant funds directly contribute to measurable business expansion. Special consideration is given to women and minority-owned businesses, as well as businesses that can show matching funds from other sources. This reflects the foundation's strategic priorities to promote inclusivity and leverage additional investment, thereby maximizing the overall impact on the regional economy. The expected outcomes include the scaling of businesses, job creation, and increased economic vitality within the Greater Cincinnati region, with successful applicants demonstrating a clear impact of the grant funds on their business or the region. The Main Street Ventures' theory of change is rooted in providing early-stage, direct financial assistance to promising businesses to help them overcome critical growth hurdles. By focusing on direct costs and specific growth projects, the program aims to create a ripple effect, enabling these businesses to achieve significant milestones that would otherwise be out of reach. The emphasis on local businesses and underrepresented founders further amplifies the foundation's commitment to building a robust and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Greater Cincinnati area. The grant duration of three years allows for sustained support and monitoring of the businesses' progress.