Business Grants for Women – Do They Exist?

Business Grants for Women – Do They Exist?

In the past, the financial and societal difficulties for women who desired to start their own business were insurmountable. If these women did not come into the business venture with their own nest egg to get things started or, in the very least, financial aid from friends and family, it became near impossible to accomplish such an amazing feat.

This is not to say there are not some spectacular women who achieved amazing results, but these women were more the exception than the rule. In today’s world, however, it is easier for women to initiate a small business through the resource that a business grant provides.

Business grants for women are a definite necessity as more than 9 million women own businesses. All things considered, it is likely that more women would potentially own a business if the necessary financial resources were available. Even the current number of women who already own a business could benefit from grants that would allow them to expand their existing companies.

Are business grants for women really available? They are. A potential candidate for these types of grants only needs to know where to locate them. The internet holds a wealth of information if one only knows where to look. For starters, a simple Google search under “Business Grants for Women” will bring back over a half a million results.

For instance, the Amber Grant is a business grant for women to aid in the start up of a business. Although the grants are small (less than 00), they can be used to purchase items such as equipment, a business web site, or business software. Basically, they are to be used for means that would benefit a business in a small way. As is the case of the Women’s Financial Fund, this online resource holds more than a connection to business grants. It also provides information and helpful tips for women starting their own business.

Count-Me-In is an organization that raises money through fundraisers to aid women in beginning a business. The loans range from 0 to ,000. Although credit history is taken into consideration, the organization focuses more the experience of the woman recipient.

There are also a variety of private sources that offer smaller grants to women wishing to become entrepreneurs. Webmomz is one of these resources, and they are giving away 0 to a woman who qualifies. Applying for several of these smaller grants can give a boost to less significant aspects of a business.

It is crucial to be vigilant when it comes to potential scams. Far too many people give the illusion of providing grants, only to take application fees from women who apply for the business grant. Do your research on prospective grants and make sure the one you apply for is legitimate.

One point that should be noted is that, although most grants do not need to be paid back, it is important to maintain an adequate credit history. An unsatisfactory credit history may prevent one from obtaining a grant.

 

Minority Grants

The National Institute of Business Grants (www.Business-Grants.com) is an online resource that provides free tips and secrets on how to obtain business grants.

If there are so many Government grants for women to start a small business why are they so hard to find??

Question by p_recovery_bot: If there are so many Government grants for women to start a small business why are they so hard to find??
I hear so many times that there are hundreds of different Government or Private Org small business grants for women but have yet to find a legitimate grant or website that is offering grants. And NO the SBA does-not offer grants for New business for women, they offer loans as do regular banks that I could just go to if it were an option. Where are these legitimate grants at??? Thank you for serious answers-

Minority Grants
Best answer:

Answer by imisidro
Grants are hard to find because it is not really true that there are “so many government grants.”

It is hard to find grants to start a business — whether male or female. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business.

One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.

Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups — minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include

Iowa Women’s Foundation http://www.iawf.org/
New Mexico Women’s Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.html

“The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments.”

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE’S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center’s Foundation Grants for Individuals Online http://gtionline.fdncenter.org . It’s a subscription based website (.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for “students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices.” Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don’t have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

Add your own answer in the comments!