Amber Grant 2026: Rules, $15 Fee, Grants for Women

By Grantsights11 min readUpdated Oct 28, 20268 official sourcesHow we checkCorrections

Quick Answer: The Amber Grant is a private grant run by WomensNet, not a federal or SBA program.

Full answer and how we checked it

Under its official rules (opens in a new tab), it gives three $15,000 grants every month (the Amber Grant, a Startup Grant and a Business Category Grant) and three $75,000 Year-End Grants to monthly winners. It charges a $15 non-refundable application fee, with a fee waiver available by email. You must be a woman 18 or older who owns at least 50% of a business based in the U.S. or Canada, and judges pick winners on merit. WomensNet doesn't publish how many women apply, so the odds aren't known.

This guide is for: women who searched for the Amber Grant or for "grants for women" and want to know which offers are real, what they cost, and where else to apply.

Data note: Grantsights checked the Amber Grant's rules, FAQ, apply page, year-end grant page and home page; the Cartier Women's Initiative awards, Regional Awards and FAQ pages; the Tory Burch Foundation fellowship page and FAQ; the Jeannette Rankin Foundation and Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation award pages; SBA's grants and resource partner pages; the FTC's March 2026 grant scam alert; and Federal Student Aid's 2026-27 Pell letter, all on October 28, 2026. Federal figures are Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov FY2025 obligations (October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025). We left out programs whose current terms we couldn't open on the funder's own site.

In this guide (7 sections)

Grants for Women at a Glance: Amounts, Fees and Deadlines
How the Amber Grant Works in 2026
What Grant-for-Women Lists Don't Tell You
Other Grants and Help for Women-Owned Businesses
Grants for Women as Individuals: School, Training and Family Costs
Grant Scams Aimed at Women
Sources

Other real money for women is narrower than most lists suggest. The Cartier Women's Initiative pays up to $100,000 to impact businesses with $50,000 to $5 million in revenue (2027 applications are closed). The Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship includes a $2,000 education grant and is free to apply until November 17, 2026. For school, federal Pell Grants (opens in a new tab) pay up to $7,395 for 2026-27, and a few foundations fund women students directly. There's no federal grant for women to start a business or pay personal bills.

The common mistake: treating a "grants for women" list as a list of open applications. Most entries are contests, fellowships, loans or closed rounds, and the amounts are maximums for a handful of winners.

Grants for Women at a Glance: Amounts, Fees and Deadlines

Six programs below passed a simple test: Grantsights could read the current amount, eligibility and timing on the funder's own page on October 28, 2026. Only one of the six, the Amber Grant, states an application fee on the pages we read.

Program	Who it's for	Amount (as published)	Fee	Next deadline or status	Odds published?
Amber Grant (WomensNet) (opens in a new tab)	Women 18+ owning 50%+ of a U.S. or Canadian business, including idea-stage	Three $15,000 grants a month; three $75,000 year-end grants	$15, non-refundable; waiver by email request	Monthly; October round closes October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET	No
Cartier Women's Initiative, Regional Awards (opens in a new tab)	Women-led, for-profit impact businesses with $50,000 to $5 million revenue and 5 to 250 team members	$100,000 first place, $60,000 second, $30,000 third, per region	Not stated on the pages read	2027 edition closed (deadline was June 16, 2026)	No
Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship (opens in a new tab)	Women 21+ who are U.S. legal residents, business 51%+ women-owned with $75,000+ annual revenue	$2,000 education grant, plus coaching and other fellowship support	Free	November 17, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM ET; fellows selected May 2027	No
Federal Pell Grant (opens in a new tab)	Undergraduates with financial need (any gender)	$740 to $7,395 for 2026-27	Free (FAFSA)	Set by your state and school	Not a contest
Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant (opens in a new tab)	Women 35+ with financial need in vocational training or a first associate or bachelor's degree	Up to $3,000 a year, renewable up to five years	Not stated on the pages read	Application window October 5, 2026 to February 12, 2027	No
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Support Award (opens in a new tab)	Low-income mothers of minor children enrolled full time	Five awards of up to $5,000 each in 2026	Not stated on the pages read	2026-27 closed August 1, 2026; 2027-28 details due May 2027	Five awards

For business owners, our longer guides cover the federal side: grants for women-owned businesses and the best federal grants for women-owned businesses in 2026. Single mothers should also read grants for single mothers.

How the Amber Grant Works in 2026

The Amber Grant pays out 36 monthly grants of $15,000 and three year-end grants of $75,000 a year, under the rules WomensNet posts. That adds up to $765,000 a year if every listed award is made ($540,000 monthly plus $225,000 year-end). WomensNet's home page says it gives away "at least $45,000 every month."

WomensNet founded the grant in 1998 in memory of Amber Wigdahl, who died at 19 before starting her business. Here's how a round works, according to the rules page (opens in a new tab) and FAQ (opens in a new tab):

One application covers every grant you fit. The form asks two main questions: tell us about your business or idea, and tell us what you'd do with the money. A website isn't required, though WomensNet says a social media page helps.
Every applicant is considered for the monthly Amber Grant. Businesses still in the idea phase or with under $10,000 in gross sales also qualify for the monthly Startup Grant.
A Business Category Grant rotates monthly. The rotation is January Skilled Trades, February Health and Fitness, March Food and Beverage, April Sustainability, May Mental and Emotional Support, June Business Support Services, July Animal Services, August Hair Care and Skincare, September Education and Child Care, October Creative Arts, November STEM and December Fashion and Interior Design. Your application stays eligible for up to 11 more months for a category that fits your business.
Rounds close monthly at 11:59 PM Eastern on the last day of the month. Winners are announced by the 21st of the next month.
Year-end grants. In December, judges pick one $75,000 winner from each grant type's monthly winners, using voting results, updates from winners and other factors. Winners are announced in January.

You can't reapply with the same email within three months, and WomensNet suggests reapplying only when something significant about the business has changed. It doesn't give feedback on individual applications.

How winners are chosen

According to WomensNet's rules, the grant is "awarded based on merit, not a random drawing." The judging criteria are clarity and purpose of the business, passion and personal story, market understanding, specific use of grant funds, business viability, and clear communication. Each judge picks top finalists for each grant type, finalists are vetted for eligibility, and the finalist with the highest combined ranking wins.

Recent winners named on the Amber Grant page (opens in a new tab) show the range. For example, Ebijou received the September 2026 Amber Grant, Mobile Tailor LA received August's, Sterling Hygiene July's, FiXA June's, and Rozanna's Violins May's. WomensNet's year-end page lists SparkFR as a December 2025 winner.

The fee, in plain terms

The Amber Grant charges a $15 application fee, paid by card or PayPal at checkout, and the rules say it's "non-refundable, regardless of outcome." WomensNet says the fee pays for reviewing applications and running the site. If $15 is a hardship, email info@ambergrantsforwomen.com before applying to ask for a fee-waived application; the limit is one waiver per person every two years.

The fee is the honest friction point. Applying once costs $15. Applying every three months for a year costs $60, with no published odds. That isn't a scam, but it's a paid entry into a merit contest, so treat it like one: apply when your story and plan for the money are strong, not every month by default.

Eligibility in one list

A woman 18 or older
Owns at least 50% of a business based in the United States or Canada
Idea-stage, pre-revenue and revenue-generating businesses are all eligible
Revenue-generating nonprofits are eligible if at least 50% of top leadership, and the board president or CEO, are women; nonprofits whose main activity is charitable giving aren't
Winners are responsible for any taxes on the grant

What Grant-for-Women Lists Don't Tell You

The table above has six programs because those are the ones whose current amount, eligibility rule and timing Grantsights could confirm on the funder's own page on October 28, 2026. Long lists often skip that step. Here's what else they tend to leave out.

The odds aren't published. Neither WomensNet, Cartier nor the Tory Burch Foundation lists applicant counts on the pages we read. Cartier says it has supported 330 fellows from 66 countries since 2006 and named 30 fellows for 2026, worldwide. Expect long odds for any national contest.

Many are closed right now. Cartier's 2027 applications closed June 16, 2026. The Patsy Takemoto Mink awards closed August 1, 2026. A list that shows them as open without a date is out of date.

Eligibility is narrower than the headline. Cartier's Regional Awards require $50,000 to $5 million in revenue, at least five team members, an incorporated business (no sole proprietorships) and no more than $2 million in equity raised. Tory Burch requires at least $75,000 in annual revenue. A side business or idea-stage company doesn't qualify for either; the Amber Grant's Startup Grant is one of the few aimed at that stage.

Fellowships aren't mostly cash. The Tory Burch Fellowship's grant is $2,000; the rest is coaching, access to experts and other support. That can be worth more than the money, but it isn't a $2,000-plus cash award.

Federal "grants for women" to start a business don't exist. SBA's grants page (opens in a new tab) says "SBA does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business." What SBA funds for women is advice: Women's Business Centers (opens in a new tab) give free to low-cost counseling and training.

A fee to apply is different from a fee to get paid. A small posted entry fee, like the Amber Grant's $15, is disclosed up front. A demand for money after you've "won," or to release funds, is the classic scam sign.

Other Grants and Help for Women-Owned Businesses

Beyond the Amber Grant, two business programs had current terms on their own sites on October 28, 2026, plus one free help route.

Cartier Women's Initiative. According to the Regional Awards page (opens in a new tab), each regional first-place awardee gets a $100,000 grant, second place $60,000 and third place $30,000, plus an in-person INSEAD program and executive coaching. The business must be for-profit, impact-driven and aligned with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal, and the applicant must be a woman in a main leadership role who owns at least as much as each co-founder. Applications need a one-minute video and two years of professionally prepared or audited financial statements. The 2027 edition is closed; check the site for the next call.

Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program. The fellowship page (opens in a new tab) lists applications open September 22, 2026 and closing November 17, 2026, with fellows selected in May 2027. The FAQ (opens in a new tab) lists a $2,000 education grant among the benefits and says applying is free. Applicants must be 21 or older, U.S. legal residents and the largest or equally largest owner of a for-profit, U.S.-based business that's at least 51% women-owned and earns at least $75,000 a year.

SBA Women's Business Centers. These aren't grants. According to SBA, WBCs "provide free, to low-cost counseling and training" for women starting or growing a business, and SBA's local assistance tool finds the nearest one by ZIP code. A WBC counselor can also help you judge whether a contest, loan or local program fits.

For federal programs open to women-owned firms, such as the WOSB contracting program and SBIR research grants, see grants for women-owned businesses. Business owners can also browse the free grant database by program.

Grants for Women as Individuals: School, Training and Family Costs

For women paying for school, the biggest grant is federal and isn't women-specific. Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov FY2025 obligations found Pell Grants totaled $39.95 billion, led by California ($5.34 billion) and Texas ($3.62 billion). According to Federal Student Aid's January 30, 2026 letter (opens in a new tab), the 2026-27 Pell Grant runs from $740 to $7,395. You apply by filing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov (opens in a new tab); there's no essay. The Pell Grant guide and grants for students cover the details.

Private foundations add smaller amounts for women in particular situations:

Jeannette Rankin Foundation. The National Scholar Grant (opens in a new tab) gives unrestricted, non-tuition grants of up to $3,000 a year, renewable for up to five years, to women 35 or older with financial need who are pursuing vocational training, a first associate's degree or a first bachelor's degree at an accredited nonprofit U.S. school. The foundation's home page lists the application period as October 5, 2026 to February 12, 2027. Only a select number of applicants are chosen.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. In 2026 it offered five Education Support Awards (opens in a new tab) of up to $5,000 each to low-income mothers of minor children enrolled full time. The 2026-27 income limits matched the 2026 federal poverty line: under $21,640 for a family of two, $27,320 for three and $33,000 for four. The 2026-27 cycle closed August 1, 2026, and 2027-28 details are due in May 2027.

For family costs, the help is benefits, not grants. Parents should read the child care assistance guide, which covers state subsidies, free Head Start and the 2026 dependent care tax credit. For rent, utilities and food, use the USA.gov benefit finder (opens in a new tab) or call 211 (opens in a new tab).

Not sure which route fits your situation? Grantsights' free eligibility checker asks who you are. If you choose Individual and then Personal financial help, or Student, it lists the official routes (the USA.gov benefit finder, rental help, help with bills, food help, studentaid.gov) and the 211 line. It doesn't list personal grants, because there aren't federal grants for personal bills.

Grant Scams Aimed at Women

The FTC's March 2026 alert (opens in a new tab) describes the pattern: an unsolicited call, text or social media message about a government grant you never applied for, a claim that it can cover bills or debt, a request for your Social Security or bank account number, and a "processing fee" paid by gift card, wire or crypto. Real government agencies don't contact you about grants you didn't request, and they never charge to release one.

Scammers also borrow real names. Three checks protect you from a fake Amber Grant:

Where you applied. WomensNet says the only place to apply for its grants is its own website.
Who emailed you. WomensNet says it contacts winners from an email address ending in @ambergrantsforwomen.com.
What they ask for. WomensNet says the $15 application fee is the only fee it charges and it never asks for money to disburse a grant. Any request for a "release fee," taxes paid up front, or your bank login is a red flag.

Other red flags on grant-for-women offers: a "guaranteed" award, a paid service that promises to find women's grants for a monthly fee, and a deadline that's always "today." Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The individual grants guide explains which federal grants individuals can really get.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Amber Grant?

According to WomensNet's official rules, three $15,000 grants are awarded every month: the monthly Amber Grant, the monthly Startup Grant and a Business Category Grant. At the end of the year, three of the monthly winners get an additional $75,000 Year-End Grant, one from each grant type. Some older lines in WomensNet's own FAQ still mention $10,000, but the current rules page says $15,000.

Does the Amber Grant charge an application fee?

Yes. The application costs $15 and the fee is non-refundable, according to WomensNet's rules. If the fee is a hardship, you can email info@ambergrantsforwomen.com before applying to ask for a fee-waived application, limited to one waiver per person every two years. WomensNet says the $15 fee is the only fee it charges and that it never asks for money to pay out a grant.

Who is eligible for the Amber Grant?

Women 18 or older who own at least 50% of a business based in the United States or Canada. Idea-stage and pre-revenue businesses can apply, and businesses in the idea phase or with under $10,000 in gross sales also qualify for the monthly Startup Grant. Revenue-generating nonprofits are eligible; nonprofits whose main activity is charitable giving aren't.

What are my odds of winning the Amber Grant?

WomensNet doesn't publish how many applications it gets, so nobody outside the company can calculate the odds. What's known is the number of awards: 36 monthly grants of $15,000 and three $75,000 year-end grants a year, chosen on merit by judges, not by a random drawing.

When is the Amber Grant deadline?

Each monthly round closes at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the last day of the month. The cutoff listed on WomensNet's site on October 28, 2026 was October 31, 2026. Winners are announced by the 21st of the following month. Monthly Amber Grant and Startup Grant applications expire at the end of the month, but an application stays eligible for up to 11 more months for a Business Category Grant that fits the business.

Are there free government grants for women?

Not for personal expenses, and not for starting a business. SBA says it doesn't provide grants for starting and expanding a business, and the FTC warns that government grants aren't awarded for personal needs. Women can get federal Pell Grants for college (up to $7,395 for 2026-27) on the same terms as anyone else, plus free counseling at SBA Women's Business Centers. A few private foundations give grants only to women students, such as the Jeannette Rankin Foundation.

Is the Amber Grant a scam?

The Amber Grant publishes official rules, judging criteria, a fixed $15 fee and named monthly winners, which is how a real paid-entry grant contest works. The scam to watch for is someone pretending to be the Amber Grant. WomensNet says it contacts winners only from an @ambergrantsforwomen.com email address, takes applications only on its own website, and never asks for money to disburse a grant.

Last updated October 28, 2026. Published by Grantsights from public sources. See our editorial policy, how we build and check guides, corrections and how we make money.

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