Women-owned businesses in the US can access federal contracting set-asides, SBA certification programmes, SBIR funding, and private foundation grants. This guide explains the most accessible routes for female entrepreneurs.
Women own over 12 million businesses in the US - about 40% of all businesses - but receive a significantly smaller share of federal contracts and traditional financing. Federal programmes designed to close this gap, combined with a growing ecosystem of private grants for women entrepreneurs, have created more dedicated support than at any previous point. Knowing which programmes apply to your business and what they actually offer is more useful than a long list of programme names.
The SBA's WOSB Federal Contracting Programme sets aside certain federal contracts for competition exclusively among women-owned small businesses. Two categories exist: WOSB (where women are economically disadvantaged - generally households with adjusted net worth under $850,000) qualifies for a narrower set of set-asides; EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged WOSB) qualifies for a broader set. To participate, businesses self-certify or obtain third-party certification through an SBA-approved organisation. Certification is required since 2020 - self-attestation alone is no longer sufficient for competitive WOSB set-aside procurements. The SBA's certification portal manages the process. Federal agencies are required to have a 5% WOSB participation goal, creating structural demand for certified businesses.
SBIR doesn't have a women-specific track, but several agencies have run women-focused SBIR initiatives - competitions or supplemental awards specifically for women-led small businesses. NSF has been active in this area. Beyond specific women's programmes, SBIR remains one of the best sources of non-dilutive capital for women-led technology startups, as it's based purely on technical merit and has no collateral requirements or network dependency. Women founders consistently report that SBIR opened doors to VC conversations that would otherwise have been harder to initiate.
A range of private foundation and corporate grant programmes specifically target women entrepreneurs. The Amber Grant ($10,000 monthly, $25,000 annual) is widely known and accessible. Tory Burch Foundation provides fellowships and capital access. IFundWomen, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), and WomensNet all manage grant programmes. Corporate programmes from Comcast, FedEx, Visa, Halstead, and others provide grants typically ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. These are smaller than federal grants but have more accessible application processes and faster timelines.
The SBA funds a network of nearly 140 Women's Business Centres (WBCs) across the country, providing training, counselling, and resource referrals specifically for women entrepreneurs. WBCs provide free or low-cost assistance with business planning, financial literacy, federal contracting preparation, and grant application support. If you're pursuing federal grants or contracts as a woman-owned business, the local WBC is a practical first stop for free assistance - the advisers are specifically focused on women-owned business needs.
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