September is shaping up to be a busy month for women entrepreneurs looking for funding. Several grants and small business funding programs have application deadlines coming up, including opportunities offering $5,000, $10,000, $45,000 and more.
Some are open to women-owned businesses across the U.S., while others are designed for specific groups, industries, business stages, or locations. That means you shouldn’t apply to every grant you find. The better approach is to focus on the opportunities where your business genuinely fits the requirements.
We’ve rounded up some of the most relevant business grants for women closing in September 2026, with the deadline, funding amount, focus, eligibility and application details you need to decide where to apply first.
Important: Grant deadlines can change, so always confirm the deadline and requirements on the funder’s official website before submitting your application.
1. WBDC Ignite Grant
Deadline: September 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Funding: $2,500 to $10,000
Focus: Business growth projects
Location: Connecticut
Connecticut women business owners have one of the earliest deadlines on this list. The Women’s Business Development Council’s Ignite Grant provides between $2,500 and $10,000 for clearly defined projects expected to have a measurable effect on business growth and profitability.
The grant is aimed at established women-owned small businesses rather than brand-new ideas. For the current round, eligible businesses must be at least 51% women-owned, based in Connecticut, owned by a Connecticut resident, and have been operating for at least two years with a record of sales. The current eligibility materials also require annual revenue above $25,000 and below $2 million.
One useful feature is the support WBDC offers alongside the application. The organisation provides information sessions and business advising to help applicants prepare.
You can apply through the WBDC’s online Ignite Grant portal before the September 13 deadline. WBDC recommends reviewing the grant information and preparing your financial documents and project details before submitting.
2. TRANSFORM Business Grant
Deadline: September 18, 2026
Funding: $1,000
Focus: Social impact, financial need and systemic change
Location: U.S. and other eligible locations
The TRANSFORM Business Grant takes a different approach from many traditional small business grants. It provides a $1,000 microgrant to entrepreneurs from systemically marginalized groups who are creating social impact and experiencing financial need. Winners also receive a customized, year-long mentorship program with access to pro bono support in branding, business strategy, marketing, and coaching.
The program is not limited to established companies. Entrepreneurs can apply based on a business or business idea, provided they meet the program’s criteria. Applicants need to demonstrate four core areas: group identity, values alignment, social impact, and financial need.
This is one to consider only when the mission and values of your business genuinely align with the programme. A generic funding request is unlikely to be enough.
3. Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant
Deadline: September 18, 2026
Funding: $5,000
Focus: Women entrepreneurs with an operating business
Location: U.S.
The Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant is offering one woman entrepreneur $5,000 in the current round. The grant is intended to help women overcome financial barriers and move their businesses forward.
To qualify, applicants must have a currently operating business and be active subscribers to the Her Agenda newsletter. Businesses in any industry can apply.
There is an application fee of $25 for general applicants, with a 50% discount available to Her Agenda INSIDER members.
To apply, complete the online application through Her Agenda.
4. Fund Her Future Grant
Deadline: September 22, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET
Funding: Four grants of $45,000 each
Focus: Established women-owned small businesses
Location: U.S.
The Fund Her Future Grant, presented by H&R Block, will award $45,000 each to four women-owned small businesses. Winners also receive a year of complimentary small-business services, including tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, and business structure analysis.
The program is open to women business owners running full-time or part-time businesses, including sole proprietors and businesses with employees. However, this is not an idea-stage grant. Applicants must be running an established company that generated at least $20,000 in revenue in 2025. Nonprofits are not eligible.
To apply, submit the online Fund Her Future application by 6 p.m. Eastern Time on September 22, 2026. Selected applicants may be invited for personal interviews before the four winners are chosen.
5. Enthuse Foundation 2026 Pitch Competition
Deadline: September 23, 2026
Funding: Up to $25,000 in cash, plus additional prizes
Focus: Food, beverage and consumer packaged goods
Location: U.S.
The Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition is a great option for women running consumer brands. Applicants must have a business that is at least 51% women-owned and operates in food, beverage or consumer packaged goods. The business and its primary market must be U.S.-based, at least one founder must be a U.S. citizen, annual revenue must be at least $100,000 but below $999,000, and the company must be less than four years old.
The 2026 grand prize is $25,000 in cash, along with in-kind business services valued at $75,000 and financial planning and valuation support valued at $5,000. There are also runner-up and audience-choice prizes. Finalists pitch their businesses in person in New York City in November.
Related post: Enthuse Foundation Grant: Eligibility, Funding, and How to Apply
6. Texas Woman’s University StartUP Grant
Deadline: September 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central Time
Funding: $5,000
Focus: Early-stage Texas businesses and growth projects
Location: Texas
The StartUP Grant from Texas Woman’s University Center, which provides ten $5,000 grants to eligible entrepreneurs, is one of the top business grants for women in Texas. Despite its name, the program is not for unregistered business ideas. Your business must already be formed as a legal, for-profit Texas entity.
Eligible businesses must have been formed between August 11, 2021 and August 10, 2026, have 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees excluding the owner, and be owned and controlled by eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The grant requires a minimum 10% owner investment, or $500, toward the project.
The program can fund a range of business needs, including computers, software, point-of-sale systems, marketing, professional certification, equipment and other project-related expenses. Applicants must provide supporting documentation, such as quotes, estimates or preliminary invoices, for requested expenses.
7. Amber Grant
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Funding: $10,000
Focus: Women-owned businesses and startups
Location: U.S. and Canada
The Amber Grant remains one of the more accessible business grants for women entrepreneurs because it accepts businesses at different stages, including startups and newer ventures.
WomensNet awards three $10,000 grants each month: the general Amber Grant, a Startup Grant and a Business-Specific Grant. Monthly winners are also eligible for three $50,000 year-end grants.
For September, the application cutoff for the next $10,000 awards is September 30. One application makes the applicant eligible for the grants for which the business qualifies.
There is an application fee, so make sure you understand the programme requirements before applying.
Related post: Amber Grant Application Mistakes to Avoid in 2026
8. HerRise MicroGrant
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Funding: $1,000
Focus: Under-resourced women entrepreneurs, including women of colour
Location: U.S.
The HerRise MicroGrant awards $1,000 each month to women entrepreneurs running small businesses that often face barriers to accessing capital. The program is particularly focused on under-resourced women, including women of color, which makes it an excellent option for anyone looking for business grants for black women.
To qualify, the business must be at least 51% women-owned, currently registered in the U.S., and have less than $1 million in gross revenue. Nonprofits, franchises, direct sellers, authorised resellers and independent consultants are not eligible under the current application requirements.
Please note that there’s a $15 non-refundable administrative fee to apply.
9. Hey Helen Grant
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Funding: $10,000
Focus: Mission-driven women-owned businesses
Location: U.S.
The Hey Helen Grant is another monthly opportunity worth checking before September ends. Visionaries awards $10,000 to a woman founder running a mission-driven, for-profit business in the U.S. The program accepts businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenue, and pre-revenue businesses can also apply.
The grant is unrestricted, meaning the winner can use the funds for business needs such as operations, growth, marketing, hiring or infrastructure.
Submit an application through Visionaries by September 30, 2026.
10. High Five Grant for Moms
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Funding: Up to $10,000
Focus: Mom entrepreneurs
Location: U.S. and Canada
The High Five Grant for Moms is designed specifically for mothers and expectant mothers who own and operate businesses. The 2026 program includes a $10,000 grand prize, a $5,000 first runner-up award, a $2,500 second runner-up award and five $1,000 honourable mentions.
Current eligibility information indicates that applicants must be mothers or expectant mothers, own at least 50% of a for-profit business, have annual revenue between $10,000 and $500,000, and live in the U.S. or Canada.
11. TRANSFORM Business Grant
Deadline: September 18, 2026
Funding: $1,000
Focus: Social impact businesses and entrepreneurs from systemically marginalised groups
Location: U.S.
The TRANSFORM Business Grant provides a $1,000 microgrant to entrepreneurs from systemically marginalized groups who are building businesses or projects with a clear social impact. Along with the funding, recipients participate in a customized, year-long business strategy and development program with access to pro bono support in branding, marketing, business strategy, coaching, and website development.
This grant is a particularly good fit for women entrepreneurs whose businesses address social injustice or challenge systems of oppression. Applicants must meet four core criteria: identify as part of at least one systemically marginalised group, operate in line with TRANSFORM’s antiracist and anticapitalist values, demonstrate social impact, and show financial need. The programme also accepts ideas and businesses at different stages, including projects that have not yet been formally registered.
12. NCI SBIR Innovative Concept Award
Deadline: September 21, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET
Funding: $300,000
Focus: Innovative technologies for pediatric and rare cancers
Location: U.S.
The NCI SBIR Innovative Concept Award offers a $300,000 contract to eligible small businesses developing highly innovative technologies that could significantly improve the research, prevention, detection or treatment of pediatric and rare cancers. This is a specialized funding opportunity for companies working on ambitious scientific or medical innovations rather than general business expenses.
The award is designed for early-stage concepts with the potential for major scientific or technological impact. Preliminary data is not required, which makes the opportunity particularly interesting for businesses working on innovative ideas that have not yet generated extensive research results. Eligible small businesses generally must have no more than 500 employees, although additional SBIR eligibility requirements apply.
Awardees are also expected to participate in the NIH I-Corps program, which provides entrepreneurial training and support. NCI says companies that successfully complete the concept award may later be eligible to pursue a transition to Phase II funding.
13. Women Investing in Women Grant
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Funding: Five grants of up to $5,000 each
Focus: Business growth and expansion
Location: Herkimer and Oneida Counties, New York
Women entrepreneurs in Herkimer and Oneida Counties can apply for the Women Investing in Women Grant, which awards five grants of up to $5,000 to help local women-owned businesses grow and improve. The program is sponsored by The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Baird Private Wealth Management and the Griffiss Institute.
To qualify, the business must be at least 51% woman-owned, based in Herkimer and/or Oneida County, and have been in existence for at least one year with plans to improve or expand. Funds can be used for expenses such as equipment, hardware and software, consulting services, training and education, and marketing. The grant does not cover ongoing expenses such as salaries or rent, debt reduction, or costs that have already been incurred.
14. She Believed She Could Grants Impact Grant
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Funding: Grant amount not specified on the current application page
Focus: Women creating measurable social or community impact
Location: U.S.
The She Believed She Could Impact Grant supports women whose leadership and work are creating meaningful change. The 2026 program will recognize two recipients through separate awards: the Impact Leader Grant for a female nonprofit founder, executive director, or community leader, and the Emerging Founder Grant for a female entrepreneur building an early-stage business with a strong vision for growth, innovation, and impact.
The program looks beyond the business idea itself. Applicants are evaluated on their demonstrated impact, leadership and vision, alignment with the organization’s mission and values, potential for growth, and commitment to serving others. That makes this opportunity particularly relevant tif your venture or nonprofit has a clear community or social impact component.
Tips for a Successful Business Grant Application
- Create a simple deadline list and work backwards from each closing date. Give yourself enough time to gather financial records, ownership documents, quotes, tax information and any other supporting materials the grant requires. Our guide to managing business grant deadlines can help you keep multiple applications organized.
- Before submitting, run through your documents and responses one final time. Our grant application checklist is useful for catching missing information before you hit submit.
- Make sure your business matches the program’s ownership, location, revenue, industry and business-stage requirements. Our guide to small business grant eligibility can help you work through the basics.
- Finally, be realistic about your application. A grant deadline is not a reason to submit a rushed application just to meet the date. Our guide on how to know if you’re ready for funding can help you decide whether you’re ready to apply now or need more preparation first.
September still has several worthwhile funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs, but the deadlines are close. Start with the grants where you meet the eligibility requirements, prepare your application carefully, and submit before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.
