Grants for women in business are rare, to put it mildly.
In fact, finding funding resources for women-owned businesses - loans, grants or other types of business funding - whether you are a 'seasoned' woman business owner, a woman starting a new business or a woman entrepreneur of long standing, are few and far between.
True business grants for woman owned businesses or start-ups are usually privately sponsored corporate or foundation programs, and rarely do grants for women in business originate from government backed programs.
Contrary to what you might have seen on those late night TV commercials - grants, especially for business purposes, are NOT that easy to come by.
The first step is finding a grant that you qualify for - but the second part is the killer and where most grant seekers fail - completing the application process!
Your grant application MUST follow the grantor's guideines EXACTLY (not just closely) - you won't make it past the first qualifying round!
Here are 8 important tips for completing your grant proposal - with the best chance for success:
1. Explain your idea clearly and in as much detail as the form will allow. You may understand your business or concept inside out - but the person reading your proposal probably doesn't. Have at least two other people OUTSIDE of your organization read the proposal and then ask them questions about your concept. If they cannot explain what you are trying to do - chances are the grants committee won't either. Remember: the grant committee won't fund what they don't understand.
2. Start with an outline that clearly follows each step of your plan...then expand each point as needed to fully explain your business plan to ensure your proposal flows smoothly from beginning to end. If it doesn't, the proposal won't make sense. Then - give the finished proposal to someone outside your field to read the proposal before you submit it. This will help you identify parts that need to be further clarified.
3. If you want your proposal to be taken seriously - show the funding committee that YOU take it seriously by carefully proofing it for spelling, typing and grammatical errors. Take time to have at least two other people proofread your proposal before you submit it - and then read it again yourself to make sure!
4. In a grant proposal, guesses just won't make it! Don't estimate costs and funding needs for the proposal rather than taking the time to research and evaluate the actual expenses. If a grant reviewer suspects that your financial sheet is not accurate - you just lost the grant. Find out exactly what kind of computer system you are going to need and exactly what the cost will be, then spell it out in the proposal exactly!
5. Make sure your goals and objectives are clearly laid out and specific. Saying "This grant will allow us to buy 3 new computers, and create 2 part-time paid staff positions in an area where jobs for high school students and mothers with limited working hours are very difficult to find" rather than the broad statement "I want this grant so that I can help the community" will gain your proposal a great deal more credibility.
6. A good proposal package takes time to assemble and research properly. If you really want the money - then spend the time to put it together correctly, without shortcuts, and without being rushed. Give yourself enough time! Don't throw the proposal together in order to meet the deadline.... it shows.
7. Every grant has rules and guidelines that must be followed EXACTLY! Unlike employment applications where it sometimes pays to be "original", grant committees have rules in place for a specific reason, and they expect them to be followed to the letter. To do otherwise may mean that your application will be disqualified before it ever gets read. If you want your proposal to be considered, read and re-read the grantor's guidelines. If it says that the grant MUST be submitted via the online form - don't even bother to ask if you can fax it in.
8. Make sure that your proposal is what the funder actually finds! Don't assume that just because there is a significant amount of money available, that they will fund anything submitted by anyone - the unfortunate fact is that funders are usually VERY specific in what they are looking for (and sometimes a bit odd, but that's their choice!) and will rarely deviate from their "category". You may have the very best green widget in the world - but if the grant is only for the makers of PURPLE WIDGETS - you won't get the grant!
Finding grant programs is very time consuming and difficult, and VERY competitive - so put together the very best proposal possible and prove that you are the one that should get the money!
Need a grant for women in business?
Apply for the
Amber Grant for Women in Business & Women Entrepreneurs
today - it's free to apply!
