Last Updated: November 1, 2026
Update: The 2026 Fund Her Future Grant is closed. H&R Block accepted applications from September 1 through September 22, 2026. The company says it plans to notify recipients in October. No new application window has been announced. If you missed this round, do not send an application to a person who claims they can reopen it for you. Start with the official Fund Her Future page to check for any later update.
Fund Her Future helps women who already run a U.S. small business. It offered cash awards plus tax and payroll support. Here are the 2026 rules, steps for a future round, and other ways to find funding now.
What is the Fund Her Future Grant?
Fund Her Future is a grant program from Block Advisors by H&R Block. For 2026, the company said it would choose four women-owned businesses. Each was set to receive $45,000 in grant money. The total cash award pool was $180,000. Each selected business was also offered one year of business services, valued by the sponsor at $5,000.
The services cover small business tax help, bookkeeping, payroll, and a review of the business structure. The services are not another $5,000 cash payment. The September 1, 2026 announcement from H&R Block also said applicants would gain access to year-long community support.
Unlike a loan, a grant does not normally need to be repaid if you follow its terms. Read the award rules before you spend funds.
Is the 2026 Fund Her Future application still open?
No. The published opening date was September 1, 2026, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The deadline was September 22, 2026, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. As of October 31, H&R Block’s site says submissions are closed. It also says recipients will be told in October. That is not proof that all awards have been made.
H&R Block calls Fund Her Future an annual program, but that does not mean the next round is certain. There is no confirmed 2027 date, award amount, or set of rules yet. Save the official page and check it again when the sponsor posts a new round. Treat the details below as 2026 rules, not promises about future years.
Who could apply in 2026?
The Block Advisors grant FAQ lists these main rules for the 2026 round:
- You had to be a woman who owns a small business based in the United States.
- You had to be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old, or 19 in Alabama and Nebraska.
- Your business had to be an established company with at least $20,000 in revenue in 2025.
- You could run the business full-time or part-time, as a sole proprietor or with staff.
- Nonprofit groups could not apply.
- The sponsor allowed only one valid application per person and per company.
Revenue is sales before costs, not profit. If you made $28,000 in sales and spent $22,000, your revenue was $28,000. Use figures that match your records.
This grant was not a fit for a person who only had a new idea and no past sales. It was also not a fit for a nonprofit. A new round may set different rules. Check the actual terms before you rely on old figures, and see our small business grant eligibility guide for help with basic checks.
Does Fund Her Future have an application fee?
The public 2026 program page and FAQ do not state a fee for submitting the online grant form. That is not a reason to pay a third party for entry. Use the link on the sponsor’s website if applications reopen. Do not confuse fees for any separate tax or business service with a grant application charge.
There is also a time cost. You need sales figures and a clear plan. Winners may have tax or record needs. If selected, read the agreement and ask a qualified tax professional about your own tax treatment. Do not assume a grant is tax-free.
How did the application process work?
Step 1: Start at the funder’s page
In 2026, applicants used the sponsor’s online form. The FAQ says Hello Alice sent email receipts and updates. The form is now closed. Check any new link against H&R Block’s page.
Step 2: Check your figures
Pull together your business name, owner details, location, and a clear record of 2025 revenue. Keep sales and tax records ready. Do not raise your numbers to meet a limit. If you have more than one business, remember that the 2026 rules did not allow more than one grant entry per person.
Step 3: Explain one real growth goal
Be ready to tell the sponsor what your business does, who buys from you, and what would change with funding. A clear goal might be to add equipment that speeds up orders, hire a worker, or improve a weak part of the business. These are examples of a plan, not a list of costs approved by Fund Her Future.
Give a cost, a reason, and a result you can track. Our guide to explaining how you will use grant funds can help you turn a broad wish into a clear plan.
Step 4: Read, review, and submit
Check spelling, contact details, sales figures, and every answer before you send a form. H&R Block’s FAQ says submitted applications could not be changed. It also says applicants should get a Hello Alice email receipt. If none arrived within 24 hours, applicants were told to check spam before seeking support. Keep a copy of the form and receipt for your own records.
Step 5: Be ready for a possible interview
The company said it would pick a group of applicants for personal interviews before naming the four recipients. If a future round uses the same step, be ready to discuss your sales, growth plan, and need for help with taxes or bookkeeping. An interview invite is not an award. Follow the rules sent by the program team.
How can you make a stronger grant plan?
Start with one business problem you can prove. For a bakery, this might be slow order times. State what you would change, its cost, and how you would test the result. You do not need long words or a polished story that hides the facts.
Next, explain why your business can handle the change. If you plan to add staff, show that there is enough work for them. If you want new tools, explain how those tools would help you fill orders. A plan built from real sales and costs is more useful than a claim that you will grow fast.
Finally, check the funder’s own review rules when a new round opens. The public FAQ describes growth plans, better business systems, and community ties as factors used in review. Some text on that FAQ still refers to an earlier year, so do not treat its old dates or prize figures as the current rules.
What if you already applied?
Keep an eye on the email address you used for the grant and check your spam folder. The grant FAQ says Hello Alice sends status messages, while H&R Block’s 2026 page says recipients are to be notified in October. Do not pay anyone who says they can speed up the decision or secure a place among the winners.
If you are offered an award, read each document before signing. Ask what proof of spending is needed and when the services begin or end. Save messages, receipts, and any reports the sponsor asks for. If you were not selected, keep your plan for other grants.
What are the backup funding options?
Get free local help first. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s local assistance page can help you find a Women’s Business Center, Small Business Development Center, or other local adviser. These groups can help you plan your funding search and check whether a program fits your business.
Check grants with a narrow purpose. The SBA grants page explains that the agency does not give general grants to start or grow a normal small business. Some support is aimed at research, exports, or other set goals. The official Grants.gov search lets you read federal notices, but many are not open to ordinary for-profit small businesses.
Look at loans if you need money sooner. The SBA Microloan program offers loans of up to $50,000 through local lending partners. It is not a grant. You must apply to a lender, meet its rules, and repay what you borrow with interest. Compare the total cost before you commit.
Look closer to home. A state or city program may be a better fit than a nationwide contest. We have guides to funding in Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. These include grants and other forms of help. Always check the official program site for today’s status and rules.
How do you avoid grant scams?
Use the sponsor’s website as the start of your search. Be wary of a message that says you won a grant you never applied for. Do not pay a fee to “release” a grant or send bank details to a stranger on social media. The Federal Trade Commission’s small business scam guide warns that fake business grant offers can be used to steal money.
For this grant, confirm the page is part of H&R Block or linked by its official site. A person can copy a logo or a grant name. A real-looking picture is not proof. If a message worries you, contact the sponsor through its own website rather than using the link in the message.
Fund Her Future Grant FAQs
Can I apply for Fund Her Future now?
No. The 2026 deadline was September 22, and the sponsor says submissions are closed. Check its website for a new round; no 2027 date has been confirmed.
How much money did the 2026 grant offer?
H&R Block announced four cash awards of $45,000 each, or $180,000 in all. Winners were also set to get a year of business services valued at $5,000 per business.
Could I apply if I ran my business part-time?
Yes, under the 2026 rules. Part-time and full-time owners could apply if they met the other rules, including the 2025 revenue minimum.
Could I apply with no sales?
No. The 2026 round required at least $20,000 in 2025 business revenue. If you have no sales yet, look for startup aid, local coaching, or other programs with different rules.
Can I apply if I live outside the United States?
No. The 2026 FAQ limited the grant to U.S. residents who owned a business based in the United States. Always check new terms before applying in another year.
What should you do next?
If you applied in 2026, save your records and watch for a direct update from the program. If you missed it, bookmark the official grant page and do not guess when it will reopen. In the meantime, write down your last year’s sales, a clear funding need, and a short cost plan. Then speak to a local business adviser and search for programs that are open now. That gives you a useful next move, whether or not Fund Her Future runs again.
Last Updated: November 1, 2026
