HubSpot : 9 Business Grants For Black Women

Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint - a new blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of Black business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they've grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success.

Some of the most innovative ideas have stemmed from Black women. Whether it's Maggie L. Walker, the first Black woman in the United States to become the founder of a bank or Rihanna, pushing the needle forward for true diversity in cosmetics, Black women know exactly what it means to bring ideas to fruition. Per reports, the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in America are Black women, however there's one thing that continues to hold them back - a lack of funding.

Only 56% of Black women entrepreneurs are able to raise capital, thus leaving them with a lack of resources that are needed to propel their businesses to the next level.

Whether you're just getting started or are a seasoned veteran in the game of entrepreneurship, there's a grant out there for you. In this post, discover grants designed specifically to help Black women succeed in their ventures.

Business Grants For Black Women 1. The New Voices Fund

This program was created by SheaMoisture haircare and skincare products founder Richelieu Dennis and is set at $100 million. It is created for the annual Essence Festival and was created with Black women in mind.

The fund is designed to bridge the gap of female entrepreneurs while creating more opportunities for minority women with a curiosity to learn more about changes in the world of women business funding. It also focuses on helping them work through some of the challenges that often come with launching an idea and getting it approved for funding.

2. We The Culture Grant

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is on a mission to help founders and creatives of color gain access to the resources and funding needed to bring their next big idea to life!

Through the We The Culture program, recipients will be able to get access to content funding, educational and developmental resources as well as product support. The program is also on a mission to help Black founders build sustainable businesses through the Facebook and Instagram platforms as well as gain access to exclusive community building activities and partner management.

3. FedEx Opportunity Knocks Small Business Grant

When FedEx isn't ensuring that we receive our packages on time, they're giving entrepreneurs the package of a lifetime with a chance to win a prize of $25,000. The funds are given to a small business that effectively tells its story and receives the most votes.

This fund is open to anyone, making it great for Black women at all different stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

4. Amber Grant for Women

It's one thing to have a dream, but another thing to have someone support the vision. The Amber Grant helps minority women fulfill their dream of launching a business by giving monthly winners $500. And, at the end of the year, one of the 12 monthly winners receives an additional $1,000.

This grant enables women to receive the resources needed to thrive through the help of investors and mentors. You don't even have to have any capital or an operational business to be considered; the application only requires you to have an idea.

5. The Halstead Grant

If you love jewelry and are making a business out of it, this is the grant for you. This program dishes out massive funding for women in the jewelry industry, and each year a winner receives a $7,500 grant, $1,000 worth of supplies, and personal feedback from all of the judges.

The top 5 semi-finalists & finalists are also eligible to receive $250 and $500, respectively.

6. Zions Bank Smart Women Grants

This group provides financial support through their Smart Women Grants. Zions Bank started this program as an extension of its commitment to fueling minority women with resources to turn their ideas into successful businesses.

7. National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grants (NASE)

Looking for a way to jumpstart your business? Black women can jump start their business and journey to entrepreneurship through this grant. Not only will they receive funding, but the grant also covers expenses to purchase supplies such as computers, printers, and any additional equipment needed to run your business.

To take things up a notch, the grant covers expenses that are incurred throughout the hiring process of part-time help and any additional marketing materials that are required to successfully sustain a business.

8. Black Women's Blueprint Fund

This nonprofit organization is for women interested in creating businesses or organizations surrounding issues that relate to economic justice and education, criminal justice and police violence. Funding opportunities are provided to Black women to help them excel in their respective business ventures.

9. The SF Women's Entrepreneurship Fund

Open year round, this fund is specifically for women whose businesses are for-profit and have been operating for the past three years.various spheres.

Over To You

Many Black women entrepreneurs are just one small investment away from successfully creating a business - one of the grants on this list may be for you.

Originally published Jan 27, 2022 8:00:00 AM, updated January 27 2022

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