What Grants Are Available to Female Business Owners?

Despite numerous equality laws and regulations against workplace discrimination, many women often feel as if they are still not receiving the same respect and opportunities as other workers.

Some women that own their own small business often complain about the lack of respect that male-run businesses seem to give them.  As a woman business owner you have enough things to worry about without these feelings of inequality.

Despite these conditions, there is help out there and it comes in the form of financial assistance!

Did you know that some funding sources are actually only available to female entrepreneurs?  These opportunities often come in the form of loans, scholarships, grants and other sources of funding.
There are hundreds of available grants awarded through from non-profits and private organizations.  Keep in mind, however, that these are usually reserved for assisting minority women and women in economically disadvantaged communities.   There are also grants available through other organizations that are used specifically to help women start and expand their businesses. Listed below are a few key resources that keep you, a female business owner, in mind at all times.
The Office of Women’s Business Ownership (part of The Small Business Administration)

The Small Business Administration has always been an advocate of improving the chances of success for female entrepreneurs. At every stage of developing and expanding a successful business, the Office of Women’s Business Ownership offers free training in specific areas of business. Through technical assistance, they provide business owners that are financially or socially disadvantaged with generous help with this free training in order to help them either start their own business or to keep their small business afloat.

The Women’s Funding Network

The Woman’s Funding Network strives to help promote the development and consistent growth of  funds for an assortment of reasons that range from business purposes and scholarship funds.  The Network’s primary goal is to motivate and empower women through the building of alliances among women, donors, communities and institutions.

Count Me In

This is a relatively new organization that raises money for women through other prosperous females.  Loans are available from $500 to $10,000 and are, for the most part, fairly simple to qualify for.  Count-Me-In is an amazing resource for financially troubled women.  This is particularly a useful organization for women business owners that have been successful in the past because most of the consideration for funding is based on experience rather than credit history.  You can learn more about the Count Me In organization at www.count-me-in.org
American Association of University Women

This association is without a doubt one of the largest private sources of funding for graduate women throughout the entire world.  The foundation provides financial assistance to aspiring scholars, as well as teachers and women approaching any critical stage in their careers.  They also specialize in helping women whom are working towards a profession where women are usually underrepresented.