--- title: Funding for Women Businesses description: The Amber Grant was created in 1998 to empower women business owners. Today, they award over $30,000 each month to different grant winners. image: https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20International%20Womens%20Day%20GM%20Post%20(2).png --- In Canada # Funding for Women Businesses The Amber Grant was created in 1998 to empower women business owners. Today, they award over $30,000 each month to different grant winners. [ GrantMatch Team ](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/author/grantmatch-team) Mar 8, 2023 [Funding for Company Expansion](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/funding-for-company-expansion) [Funding for Manufacturers](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/funding-for-manufacturers) [Funding for Not-for-profits](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/funding-for-not-for-profits) [Funding for Women](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/funding-for-women) [In Canada](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/in-canada) [Technology](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/technology) ### Share this article [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/funding-for-women-entrepreneurs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/funding-for-women-entrepreneurs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/funding-for-women-entrepreneurs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/funding-for-women-entrepreneurs&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) ### Subscribe ### Subscribe ![International Women's Day](https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20International%20Womens%20Day%20GM%20Post%20(2).png) # WomensNet founded the “Amber Grant” in 1998. The grant was set up with one goal in mind: to honor the memory of a very special young woman, Amber Wigdahl, who died at just 19 years old — before realizing her business dreams. [WomensNet](https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/) founded the “Amber Grant” in 1998. The grant was set up with one goal in mind: to honor the memory of a very special young woman, Amber Wigdahl, who died at just 19 years old — before realizing her business dreams. ### Eligible Grants - - #### Monthly Amber Grant ##### $10,000 winner each month Each month, judges review all applications and select 5 finalists. One of those finalists will be the monthly $10,000 Amber Grant grant winner. The other 4 finalists will each receive $1,000. The $10,000 Amber Grant winner each month qualifies for the year-end grant of $25,000. - #### Annual Amber Grant ##### Two winners per year The program will award two separate $25,000 women-owned business grants at the end of each year. The first $25,000 grant goes to one of the previous $10,000 monthly Amber Grant winners. The other $25,000 grant goes to one of the previous $10,000 monthly Business Category Grant winners. - #### The Startup Grant ##### $10,000 winner every quarter Are you in the “idea phase” of your business? This program might be for you. The program defines a “startup” as a business in the “idea phase,” or one that has only had minimal sales (less than $10,000). Even though startups are eligible for monthly Amber Grants, the program created an additional grant especially for this underserved sector. A $10,000 grant is awarded once per quarter. - #### The Non-Profit Grant ##### $10,000 winner each quarter Every quarter, a non-profit business or organization is awarded $10,000. Around 75% of the workforce for non-profit businesses are women. If you’re driven to use your non-profit to provide a good or service to benefit your community, this grant may be for you. - #### The Marketing Grant ##### One winner per year Once a year, “hands-on” marketing help is provided to a selected women-owned business. It includes strategic sessions with: - Members of an Advisory Board and other “friends of WomensNet,” - Professional agency support in developing and executing a marketing plan. - - #### Business Category Grants ##### $10,000 winner each month Every woman entrepreneur who fills out an application is eligible for the $10,000 Amber Grant (for the month in which the application is submitted). An **additional** $10,000 Business Category grant winner is awarded every month as well. See the program website for eligible business categories. ### **Who Can Apply** - Businesses should be at least 50% women-owned for consideration. - The business must be based in either the U.S. or Canada. - The applicant must be a minimum of 18 years old. ### **How applicants are evaluated** It’s a simple, straightforward process. The WomensNet Team reviews/evaluates grant applications daily and selects 5 monthly finalists. They discuss each finalist and vote to determine a winner. Finalists are announce by the 15th of the month to follow, and the winner is announced by the 23rd. Businesses selected for a monthly Amber Grant are automatically eligible for the year-end Amber Grant ($25,000). ### Funding Deadline The monthly deadline for submission is 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the last day of each month.  Applications submitted after that will be eligible for the following month’s grant. If you have any concerns about the application fee, please email [info@ambergrantsforwomen.com](mailto:info@ambergrantsforwomen.com) [![Read More!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5264855/8625e3a6-9ea7-45a7-9ee9-08ce8635adb8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5264855/8625e3a6-9ea7-45a7-9ee9-08ce8635adb8) ## Similar posts [Canada Blog ](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs) In Canada ### [GrantMatch launches new funding platform, The GrantMatch HUB, designed specifically for entrepreneurs to easily discover and apply for government grants](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/bcatip2-0?hsLang=en) GrantMatch launches new funding platform, GrantMatchHUB, designed specifically for entrepreneurs to easily discover and apply for government grants. GrantMatch Team Oct 6, 2022 In Canada ### [5 Proven Strategies for Municipalities to Maximize Their Grant Funding](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/5-proven-strategies-for-municipalities-to-maximize-their-grant-funding?hsLang=en) Discover five proven strategies for municipalities to maximize grant funding, including expert application support, proactive funding strategies, and... Michele Talsma Nov 27, 2025 Funding for Manufacturers ### [The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program is Now Open!](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/forestsectorinvestmentandinnovationprogram?hsLang=en) GrantMatch Offers Your Business the Highest Probability of Successfully Securing up to $3,000,000 in Funding Gibson Ingram Mar 16, 2021 ### Sign up for exclusive grant funding updates and more.  Be the first to know about new government programs and learn more about our products and services designed to keep you up to date with Canada's ever-changing funding landscape.  ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "GrantMatch Team", "url" : "https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/author/grantmatch-team" }, "dateModified" : "2023-03-08T21:24:43.433Z", "datePublished" : "2023-03-08T12:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Funding for Women Businesses", "image" : [ "https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20International%20Womens%20Day%20GM%20Post%20(2).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/funding-for-women-entrepreneurs", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/governmentfundingstrategistsfinal-01-3.png" }, "name" : "GrantMatch Corp." } } ```