Women veterans bring valuable skills to entrepreneurship, but finding business funding can still be a challenge. While there are fewer grants created specifically for women veterans than for women entrepreneurs generally, several worthwhile programs are available. Some provide direct grants, while others combine funding with training, coaching, or business support. Here are the top business grants for women veterans if you are looking to start, strengthen, or expand a business.
Melissa Washington Small Business Award
The Melissa Washington Small Business Award is one of the few national funding opportunities created specifically for women veterans. Offered by Women Veterans Giving, the annual award supports women veterans who want to start or expand a business or nonprofit organization. The award provides up to $5,000 and also includes business assessment, coaching, recognition, and other benefits.
You do not have to have an established business to qualify. The program accepts women veterans at different stages, including those preparing to launch a business. Applicants are evaluated on factors such as innovation, resilience, and the potential impact of their venture.
To apply, visit the Melissa Washington Small Business Award page and review the eligibility requirements and application instructions.
Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant
The Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant, offered by the Center for Women Entrepreneurs at Texas Woman’s University, provides funding specifically to veteran women business owners in Texas. The program awards $5,000 grants to eligible businesses and combines the funding with business training and advising.
Grant funds can be used for eligible business expenses such as equipment, machinery, technology, inventory, property improvements, and marketing. Applicants must own and control at least 51% of the business and meet the program’s veteran and Texas business requirements.
If you are a woman veteran in Texas, it is also worth exploring our guide to business grants for women in Texas, which covers additional funding opportunities available in the state.
Warrior Rising Business Showers
Warrior Rising helps veterans build businesses through entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and funding opportunities. Its Business Showers are pitch competitions where selected veteran entrepreneurs can compete for non-dilutive grants of up to $20,000.
Women veterans can participate because Warrior Rising serves veterans and other military-connected entrepreneurs. However, Business Showers are not a standard grant application open to everyone. Entrepreneurs typically need to complete Warrior Rising’s training, including Warrior University, before becoming eligible to compete.
To learn more, visit Warrior Rising and review its entrepreneurship programs and funding opportunities.
BMO Celebrating Women Grant
Women veterans can also compete for grants that are designed for women entrepreneurs more broadly. The BMO Celebrating Women Grant is one example. In 2026, BMO awarded 15 U.S. small businesses $10,000 each, along with business advising and other resources. The program supports businesses that demonstrate growth potential and contribute to the advancement of women.
The program is not limited to veterans, so you need to meet its general eligibility requirements rather than qualifying based on military service. Still, it is worth considering if your business aligns with the program’s focus.
Amber Grant for Women
The Amber Grant, one of the most well-known business grants for women in the US, is another great option to consider for female veteran entrepreneurs because it is open to women-owned businesses rather than a specific founder background. Administered by Women’sNet, the program offers recurring grants to women entrepreneurs in the United States and Canada, including startup and category-specific opportunities.
The program currently awards three $10,000 grants each month, along with three $50,000 year-end grants selected from eligible monthly recipients. Women at different stages of business can apply, including some early-stage founders.
Related post: Amber Grant Application Mistakes to Avoid in 2026
HerRise MicroGrant
The HerRise MicroGrant is designed for women entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women of color. Selected businesses receive a $1,000 monthly microgrant, which can be used for eligible business needs such as marketing, equipment, supplies, licensing, or other expenses that support growth.
The program is available to qualifying U.S.-based, women-owned businesses, making it another opportunity women veterans can consider even though military service is not an eligibility requirement.
To apply, visit the HerRise MicroGrant page, review the requirements, and submit your application.
Cartier Women’s Initiative
The Cartier Women’s Initiative is a larger opportunity for women entrepreneurs whose businesses have a clear social or environmental impact. U.S.-based founders are eligible to apply, although the program is highly competitive and has specific requirements around business stage, ownership, and impact.
The initiative awards substantial regional and thematic prizes. In its current award structure, first-place recipients receive $100,000, while second- and third-place recipients receive $60,000 and $30,000, respectively. Selected entrepreneurs also receive coaching, visibility, and access to a global network.
This is particularly worth considering if your company already has traction and is solving a significant social or environmental problem.
How to Find More Business Grants for Women Veterans
The biggest mistake you can make is limiting your search to grants that specifically mention veterans. Those opportunities are relatively limited. A woman veteran may also qualify for grants aimed at women-owned businesses, minority entrepreneurs, technology companies, rural businesses, or specific industries.
The SBA does not generally provide direct grants to individual veteran-owned businesses. Instead, it funds organizations that provide entrepreneurship training and support to veterans and women veterans. Its Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (WVETP) supports organizations offering training to women veterans, service members, and military spouses.
Programs supported through this initiative include V-WISE, STRIVE, and ONABEN, which offer business education, training, mentoring, and other resources rather than direct cash grants to individual participants.
These resources can still be valuable, particularly if you are preparing to apply for grants or are building your business for the first time.
You can also use our guide on small business grant eligibility to understand the requirements funders commonly use and identify opportunities that are realistic for your business. For additional tips on finding business grants for women, read this article.
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How to Prepare for a Business Grant
Once you identify a grant that fits your business, preparation can make the application process much easier.
- Start by gathering your financial information, ownership documents, business registration details, and any other records the funder may request. Our grant application checklist can help you organize what you need before you begin.
- Your application should also explain your business clearly. Military service can be an important part of your story, but the application should still show what your business does, who it serves, what you’ve achieved, and where you want to take it.
- A strong business story can help reviewers understand why you are equipped to build a successful company. Our guide on turning your business story into a fundable narrative can help you shape that section.
- You should also be specific about what the funding will accomplish. Instead of saying you need money to “grow,” explain exactly what you plan to spend it on and how that expense will help the business. Our guide on how to explain the use of funds in business grant applications covers this in more detail.
- Finally, having a clear plan for the business can strengthen your application even when a formal business plan is not required. Our guide on how to structure a business plan that attracts funding can help you organize your goals, finances, and growth strategy.
In conclusion, dedicated business grants for women veterans are limited, but you have more options than the name of a grant might suggest. Start with veteran-focused programs, then expand your search to grants for women and businesses in your industry, community, or stage of growth. A broader funding search can give you many more opportunities to build and grow your business.
