Last verified: October 14, 2026.
One women-only fellowship below closes Tuesday, November 17, 2026. There is no federal grant just for being a woman business owner. Most real grants for women come from private programs, states and cities. They are competitive, and nobody can sell you a win.
Grants are only one option. See every way to fund your business.
New to grants? Start with the small business grants hub and how to apply for a small business grant.
Why the federal answer is mostly help, not cash
The SBA says it does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business. Its grants go to nonprofits, resource partners and schools that run counseling and training.
What the SBA does offer women:
- Women's Business Centers, overseen by the SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership, for training and counseling.
- The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) federal contract program. The government aims to award 5% of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses.
- Research grants through SBIR and STTR, if your company does scientific R&D. Search them on Grants.gov.
Federal help for women owners is mostly training and contracts, not cash.
Programs open now, verified today
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program
- Amount: see official page. This is a fellowship with coaching, advisors and resources.
- Who qualifies: a woman 21 or older who owns the largest or equally largest stake in a for-profit U.S. business that is at least 51% women-owned and generates at least $75,000 a year. She must have a significant role in managing it.
- Deadline: applications close Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
- Official page: https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/fellows/
Galaxy Grant (Hidden Star)
- Amount: $2,500 for the current grant. The page says it is free to apply.
- Who qualifies: the page says Galaxy Grants are for new, experienced or aspiring owners. Hidden Star, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, says it supports women and minority business owners.
- Deadline: October 31, 2026 (a Saturday). Winners are announced the following week.
- Official page: https://galaxyofstars.org/galaxy-grants/
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant
- Amount: $10,000 grants. The page says 10 businesses are picked each month from June to December 2026.
- Who qualifies: open to any for-profit owner 18 or older in the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, not only women. You must finish two free courses or events on Digital Ready between January 1 and December 7, 2026 to unlock the application.
- Deadline: courses must be done by Monday, December 7, 2026. All applicants get a final decision by January 12, 2027.
- Official page: https://digitalready.verizonwireless.com/funding/details
Tips: free help near you
Find a Women's Business Center, an SBDC or a SCORE mentor with the SBA local assistance locator. The SBA women-owned business guide is here.
How to apply without wasting a month
- Read who qualifies first. Ownership share and revenue rules knock out most applicants.
- Gather proof of ownership, a short business plan and recent financials.
- Answer the question the funder asks, in their word limit.
- Put each deadline in your calendar with the time zone.
Here's a hypothetical.
Here's a hypothetical. Dana owns Bright Thread Alterations (a made-up business), a two-chair tailoring shop. She owns all of it. Revenue last year cleared the fellowship floor, so she applies for the fellowship before November 17. She also enters the Galaxy Grant, which takes minutes. While she waits, she books a free session at her nearest Women's Business Center.
Scam red flags
- Grants.gov says applying for a federal grant is completely free.
- No real grant asks for a fee to release money you won.
- The SBA only emails from addresses ending in @SBA.gov.
- Be wary of anyone saying you won a grant you never applied for.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.FTC.gov. Learn more at Grants.gov grant fraud and our guide to grant fee scams.
Next steps if no grant fits
See small business grants open now, then compare every funding option.
Sources
- SBA, Grants: https://www.sba.gov/loans/additional-funding-opportunities/grants/
- SBA, Women-owned businesses: https://www.sba.gov/counseling/grow-your-business/#women-owned
- SBA, Women's Business Centers: https://www.sba.gov/counseling/local-assistance/resource-partners/#womens-centers
- SBA, Certifications (WOSB goal): https://www.sba.gov/certifications/
- Grants.gov, Search grants: https://www.grants.gov/search-grants
- Grants.gov, Grant fraud: https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-fraud
- FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
- Program pages listed above, each checked October 14, 2026.