The Amber GrantA sum of money given by a government or other organization for a particular purpose, usually without... for women is a private grant program that awards three separate $10,000 grants every month to women-owned businesses in the United States and Canada. Monthly winners become eligible for additional year-end awards of $25,000, with multiple winners selected annually from the pool of monthly recipients. Run by WomensNet since 1998, the program gives away more than $360,000 annually in monthly grants, plus additional year-end awards, and a single winner can receive up to $60,000 in total.
You qualify if you are a woman aged 18 or older who owns at least 50% of a business based in the U.S. or Canada, including idea-stage startups and revenue-generating nonprofits. With women starting 49% of new U.S. businesses in 2024, a grant that asks for no repayment and no equity is worth a serious look.
This guide explains who qualifies, how much you can win, the exact steps to apply, and how to confirm the program is real before you pay anything.
Key Takeaways
- AwardA general term for funds provided to an individual or organization to support a specific purpose or ... structure: WomensNet awards three $10,000 Amber Grants every month, and three winners each year receive an additional $50,000 grant.
- Who qualifies: Any business that is at least 50% women-owned, based in the U.S. or Canada, and led by a woman 18 or older can apply.
- Startups welcome: Idea-stage and pre-revenue businesses qualify, and a dedicated $10,000 Startup Grant exists for companies under $10,000 in sales.
- One application: A single $15 application covers every Amber Grant you are eligible for that month, and fee waivers are available for financial hardship.
- Merit, not luck: The WomensNet board reviews applications daily and scores each one on your story, your growth plan, and how you will use the money.
- Top prize: One applicantThe individual or organization submitting the grant proposal and responsible for implementing the pr... can win up to $60,000 by taking a monthly $10,000 grant and then a year-end $50,000 grant.
- Verify first: The real Amber Grant never asks for upfront release fees or your bank login, so confirm any offer on the official WomensNet site.
What Is the Amber Grant, and Who Runs It?
The Amber Grant is a monthly cash grant for women-owned businesses, funded by WomensNet, an organization that has supported female entrepreneurs since 1998. It was created in memory of Amber Wigdahl, a 19-year-old who died before she could start her own business. The program now gives away more than $510,000 every year.
WomensNet started with a single small grant and expanded it over time. In 2024, the program grew to award three separate $10,000 grants each month, which raised the total funding well past half a million dollars annually. The Amber Grant has been featured in outlets such as Forbes, USA Today, NASDAQ, and NerdWallet, which lists it among active funding options for women business owners.
One point matters before you apply: the Amber Grant is a private grant, not a government program. WomensNet is a private company, not a federal or state agency. That distinction is useful because government grants are rarely paid directly to individuals for general business costs, while private grants like this one can be. Knowing the difference also helps you spot fraud, since many scams pose as official government grant offers. As of 2026, the Amber Grant remains one of the most recognized private funding sources open to women entrepreneurs across the country.
Who Qualifies for the Amber Grant?
You qualify if you are a woman aged 18 or older, your business is at least 50% women-owned, and the business is based in the United States or Canada. The program accepts businesses at every stage, including ones that have not earned a dollar yet. There is no minimum revenue and no required years in operation.
You qualify if you meet all of these conditions:
- You are a woman aged 18 or older (one or more women may co-own the business).
- Your business is at least 50% women-owned.
- Your business is based in the United States or Canada.
- Your business is for-profit or a nonprofit that generates revenue.
Pre-revenue ventures and idea-stage startups are fully eligible, and WomensNet created a dedicated Startup Grant for businesses still in the idea phase or under $10,000 in sales. Nonprofits can apply only if they generate revenue. A nonprofit whose main activity is charitable giving does not qualify, and for nonprofit applicants, at least 50% of top leadership and the board president or CEO must be women.
How Much Can You Win? Amber Grant Award Amounts
Each month, WomensNet awards three $10,000 grants, and a single application puts you in the running for all three. At year-end, three of the monthly winners each receive an additional $50,000. That structure means one applicant can win up to $60,000 in a single year: a $10,000 monthly grant plus a $50,000 year-end grant.
| Grant | Amount | Who It Is For | How Often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Amber Grant | $10,000 | Any eligible woman-owned business, any industry or stage | Monthly |
| Monthly Startup Grant | $10,000 | Idea-stage or pre-revenue businesses under $10,000 in sales | Monthly |
| Business Category Grant | $10,000 | Businesses in the month's featured industry category | Monthly |
| Year-End Grant | $50,000 | Three monthly winners selected at the end of the year | Annually |
You do not apply separately for the $50,000 year-end grants. Only past monthly winners are eligible for them, and WomensNet selects the three year-end recipients in December and announces them in January. In total, the year-end awards add $150,000 to the more than $360,000 paid out through the monthly grants.
2026 Business Category Grant Calendar
The Business Category Grant rotates to a new industry each month. If your business fits the featured category, your single application stays active for that category for up to 11 additional months, so you do not need to reapply. Here is the 2026 schedule:
| Month | Featured Category | Month | Featured Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Skilled Trades | July | Animal Services |
| February | Health & Fitness | August | Hair Care & Skincare |
| March | Food & Beverage | September | Education & Child Care |
| April | Sustainability | October | Creative Arts |
| May | Mental & Emotional Support | November | STEM |
| June | Business Support Service | December | Fashion & Interior Design |
How to Apply for the Amber Grant: Step by Step
Applying takes most people under an hour. There is no business plan to write and no investor pitch deck to build. WomensNet asks you to tell your story in plain words and explain how you would use the money. Follow these steps:
- Go to the official application page. Start at the WomensNet site, ambergrantsforwomen.com. This is the only place to apply. One application covers every grant you are eligible for that month.
- Tell your story. The first main question asks what your business does or plans to do, your vision, and the challenges you face. Write from the heart. Judges prefer honest, specific writing over corporate language.
- Explain how you would use the funds. The second question asks for a clear, realistic plan for the $10,000. Be concrete: equipment, inventory, marketing, hiring, or working capitalThe difference between an organization's current assets and current liabilities, indicating its shor....
- Add a business social profile. It is optional but helpful to include a company social media page, ideally Facebook, so judges can see your work.
- Pay the $15 application fee. This non-refundable fee covers the cost of reviewing each application. If it creates a hardship, you can request a fee waiver by emailing WomensNet at info@ambergrantsforwomen.com.
- Submit before the monthly deadline. Each grant cycle runs from the first day of the month to 11:59 PM Eastern on the last day. Winners are announced by the 21st of the following month by email, on the WomensNet site, and on Facebook.
What the WomensNet Judges Look For
The WomensNet Advisory Board reviews applications daily and chooses winners on merit, not by random drawing. Judges weigh three areas, so address each one clearly in your application:
The founder's story. Judges look for passion, a clear vision, and a real understanding of your business. Honest writing that shows who you are beats polished corporate phrasing.
Your growth plan. A formal business plan is not required, but you should show that you understand your market, your customers, and how you plan to grow and handle obstacles.
Your use of fundsThe specific ways in which grant money is allocated and spent to achieve project objectives.. A detailed, realistic plan for the $10,000 carries real weight. Vague answers lose to specific ones that connect the money to a concrete next step.
Key Amber Grant Terms, Explained
A few terms come up often in the application process. Here is what each one means in plain language:
Startup Grant. A $10,000 monthly grant set aside for businesses still in the idea phase or with under $10,000 in total sales. You are entered automatically when you apply.
Business Category Grant. A $10,000 monthly grant for the featured industry of that month. Your application stays active for your category for up to 11 more months.
Year-End Grant. A $50,000 award is given to three of the year's monthly winners. You cannot apply for it directly; you become eligible only by first winning a monthly grant.
Fee waiver. An option to skip the $15 application fee if paying it would be a financial hardship. You request it by email before applying.
50% women-owned. At least half of the business must be owned by one or more women. This is the core eligibility line for every WomensNet grant.
Is the Amber Grant Legit, or a Scam? How to Verify Before You Apply
Yes, the Amber Grant is a legitimate program. It has operated since 1998, announces real winners every month, and is covered by major financial outlets. The risk is not the grant itself. The risk is the wave of fake grant offers that copy real programs to steal money and personal data from women business owners. Knowing the difference protects you.
First, clear up one honest point of confusion. The Amber Grant charges a small $15 application fee, while general scam advice says never pay for a grant. Both can be true. A disclosed, one-time review fee on the official site, much like a college application fee, is not the warning sign. The warning sign is being asked to pay a “release fee,” “processing fee,” or “tax” to unlock money you supposedly already won. Real grant programs never do that.
Treat any grant offer as a scam if it does one of these:
- Contacts you out of the blue by text, email, social media DM, or phone to say you already won a grant you never applied for.
- Asks you to pay a fee to release or unlock funds, especially by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
- Requests your bank login, full Social Security number, or a verificationThe process of confirming the accuracy and authenticity of project activities, data, and reports. code to “deposit” your award.
- Uses a web address that is not the official one, or a near copy with extra words or odd spelling.
- Pressures you to act fast or keep the offer secret. Real grant decisions take time and are made in the open.
To verify any offer, go straight to the official site, and ignore links sent to you. For broader guidance on spotting fake grants, the FTC's government grant scam page and the free mentors at SCORE are reliable resources. If you receive a fraudulent offer, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In 2026, scammers have even used AI-generated videos of fake officials, so verify on the official source, no matter how convincing a message looks.
Real Amber Grant Winners
The clearest proof that the program pays out is its published winners. Two recent recipients show the range of businesses WomensNet funds.
Ayuda Health (April 2026). Marsha Haynes won the $10,000 Amber Grant for a digital health platform that pulls data from medical devices, smartwatches, and diet trackers into one screen for people managing several chronic conditions. Inspired by her father's diabetes care and her 20-year pharmaceutical career, she used the funds to build out the technology.
Rozanna's Violins (May 2026). Rozanna Weinberger, a Juilliard-trained musician, won the $10,000 Amber Grant for a business that designs string instruments with street-art styling to make music more appealing to young players. She used free tools like SCORE mentorship and AI website builders to stretch a small budgetA detailed financial plan outlining the projected costs of the project, including personnel, equipme..., then put the grant toward instrument design and music education.
Is the Amber Grant Worth Applying For in 2026?
The Amber Grant gives women business owners a rare combination: real money, no repayment, no lost equity, and an application that values your story over jargon. With three $10,000 grants every month and three $50,000 year-end awards, it remains one of the most accessible private funding sources for female founders in 2026. The hardest part is simply applying, and many qualified women never do.
Your next step is to visit the official application page, write your story honestly, and submit before the end of the month. If you want to line up other funding and assistance options at the same time, explore our guide on sports grants for women to see what else you may qualify for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amber Grant really free money?
The grant itself is free in that you never repay it and give up no ownership. The only cost is a $15 application fee, which covers the review processThe method by which a grantor evaluates submitted grant proposals to determine their eligibility and... and is waived for applicants facing financial hardship. Winners receive the full $10,000 with no strings beyond any taxes they owe.
How hard is it to win the Amber Grant?
It is competitive, since thousands of women apply each month for three awards. The upside is the monthly cycle: if you are not selected, you can refine your story and reapply after three months. Winners are chosen on merit, so a clear, specific, heartfelt application improves your odds.
Can startups and pre-revenue businesses apply?
Yes. Idea-stage and pre-revenue businesses are fully eligible, and WomensNet runs a dedicated $10,000 Startup Grant for companies still in the idea phase or under $10,000 in sales. You are entered for it automatically with the same single application.
Do you have to pay back the Amber Grant?
No. The Amber Grant is a grant, not a loanA sum of money borrowed that is expected to be paid back with interest., so there is nothing to repay and no interest. WomensNet also takes no equity in your business. The money is yours to invest in growth, though you are responsible for any applicable taxes.
Can nonprofits apply for the Amber Grant?
Revenue-generating nonprofits can apply. Nonprofits whose primary activity is charitable giving do not qualify. For nonprofit applicants, at least half of the top leadership and the board president or CEO must be women.
How will I know if I won?
WomensNet announces monthly winners by the 21st of the following month through email, its website, and Facebook. Everyone who applies is added to the email list, so you do not need to check back constantly. Year-end $50,000 winners are announced in January.
