How to Find Grants for Women Owned Businesses

A significant number of small business owner are women. Have you ever wanted to start a business, but needed money? Here is how you can find and apply for small business grants for women.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Internet: First look on the internet. There are many opportunities designed specifically for women. Do a google or yahoo search on grants for women.

2. Small Business Administration: Contact your local small business administration's office of women's business ownership. They can provide help at every stage of development, advise you on how to write a proposal, and help you wil finding grants.

3. American Association of University Women: This foundation is one of the largest private funding sources for women. They often give grants and can connect you with those who do give grants.

4. Grants.gov: This is the federal website for grants and with some creativity you may be able to find the perfect grant here.

5. Prepare: Once you find the grant contact the grant making agency to introduce yourself and let them know that you are a first time grant writer, small business owner, and your business is woman owned. Many granting agencies will provide you with additional help based on this and may even give you extra points when scoring your proposal.

6. Request for Proposal: Review the request for proposal for the grant carefully and begin writing your grant proposal. If there are things you do not know, leave them blank and write a note to get back to them later. The main goal is to get something on paper. Once that is done you can always go back and edit and add the missing information.

7. Submit: Make sure to submit your grant early in order to ensure that it arrives on time to the granting agency. After you submit it, contact them to confirm it arrived on time and see if there is any information that you can provide.

8. Follow-up: Even if they do not award you funds initially, call them and thank them for the opportunity to apply. Then let them know that if any of their project fall out you would be willing to accept the funding. It is not uncommon for accepted project to fall out and the funding be up for grabs. you want to make sure that your name is in their head when that happens.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out websites such as http://www.womensnet.net/Grants-For-Women/Business-Grants-For-Women.php

[goldiec]

on 3/28/2009 This is a wonderful article. I've been wanting to start a business but I need the funds to do it. I'm going to put this in my favorites and check it out. Thanks 5*

[kp3028]

on 3/28/2009 More than half of the new businesses started in todays business world are started by women. Getting grant money to fund your business is important, just like getting low cost SBA loans; but it is important to allocate the funds for things in your business that will help your company grow and survive, NOT on personal items. *5

[wisdombynature]

on 3/27/2009 Thank you for the article. Well written and easy to follow 5*

[sanderdoe]

on 3/27/2009 An excellent article! How to Find Grants for Women Owned Businesses is well written and offers very important information that will prove invaluable looking for funding for a new venture. 5*

[scleveland]

on 3/27/2009 Great advice, my Mom is looking into starting her own accounting/medical billing company she could use this information.