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Hot Cash, Cool Vibes: 9 August 2025 Grants Every Female Founder Should Chase

Updated: Aug 8

Because back-to-school season is cute, but back-to-the-bank is better! All awards below are non-dilutive...translation: zero equity surrender, 100 % glow-up.


August isn’t just for squeezing in that last vacation. It’s prime time for women entrepreneurs to snag fresh funding before Q4 gets wild. We’ve rounded up the juiciest opportunities, complete with deadline alarms, dollar signs, and Built on YES takeaways... so you can spend less time Googling “2025 grants for women-owned small businesses” and more time hitting submit.

August 2025 Grants for Female Founders


1. Alibaba’s CoCreate Pitch - APPLY HERE

  • Deadline: August 15 

  • Money Move: Up to $1 M in prizes (yes, six zeros) 

  • Why It Slaps: Product-based founders pitch once, unlock global supplier muscle + marketing megaphone. 

  • Built-on-YES Angle: If “scale” is your 2025 mantra, CoCreate is the rocket fuel, no VC drama required.


2. Amber Grant (WomensNet) - APPLY HERE

  • Deadline: August 31 

  • Money Move: $10 K monthly + $25 K year-end bonus round 

  • Why It Slaps: OG grant program for women-owned businesses across the U.S. & Canada. Quick app, real cash. 

  • Pro Tip: Showcase impact stats, judges love traction metrics with a side of heart.


3. Women Founders Grant- APPLY HERE

  • Deadline: August 31 

  • Money Move: $5 K, no strings, no equity, no problem

  • Why It Slaps: Specifically designed for under-funded women entrepreneurs ready to level up. 

  • Quick Win: Have a punchy mission statement handy; reviewers skim first, deep-dive second.


4. Hey Helen Grant- APPLY HERE

  • Deadline: August 29, 8 p.m. ET 

  • Money Move: $5 K 

  • Why It Slaps: Targets women or non-binary founders with $25 K–$1 M in revenue: AKA you’re generating cash but need a booster shot. 

  • Built-on-YES Tip: Highlight revenue growth % year-over-year; nothing screams “investable” like data!


5. Galaxy Grants - APPLY HERE

  • Deadline: September 30 (application opens in August—get in early!)

  • Money Move: $2,950

  • Why It Slaps: Hidden Star + Galaxy of Stars back minority and women founders in any industry.

  • Reality Check: Modest dollars, but the community perks (mentors, press) can be priceless.


6. She’s Connected by AT&T - APPLY HERE

  • Deadline: September 30 (apps drop in August) 

  • Money Move: $50 K grand prize + one year of AT&T service; four runner-ups score $5 K each 

  • Why It Slaps: Cash plus connectivity—perfect for founders juggling remote teams and endless Zooms. 

  • Founder Homework: Emphasize how tech-powered operations drive your customer experience.


7. Etsy Emergency Relief Fund - APPLY HERE

  • Deadline: Rolling (apply ASAP)

  • Money Move: $2 K

  • Why It Slaps: If a federally declared natural disaster hit you this year, Etsy’s got your back.

  • Built-on-YES Angle: Proof that resilience + a crafty business = grant-worthy combo.


8. StartHER Grant (Texas-based) - APPLY HERE

  • Opens: August 26 → Closes September 26 

  • Money Move: $5 K 

  • Why It Slaps: Early-stage, women-owned startups in Texas get seed cash without cowboying up collateral. 

  • Quick Win: Show local economic impact—jobs, partnerships, or community events.


9. eosera® Foundation Pitch Competition - APPLY HERE

  • Open NOW→ Closes September 9 

  • Money Move: Cash + national spotlight for winners; regional finalists selected mid-November 

  • Why It Slaps: For-profit, majority-woman-owned ventures < 3 years old; perfect for fresh-but-fierce founders. 

  • Pro Tip: Polish that three-minute pitch deck now; August comes fast.


Your 4 Quick Moves to Secure August Funding

  1. Reverse-Calendar Your Deadlines: Aim to hit submit 48 hours early, tech gremlins feed on procrastination.

  2. Mission Match Matters: Customize each answer to the funder’s goals (minority empowerment, Main Street vitality, disaster relief).

  3. Keep a “Grant Answer Bank”: Store founder bio, traction KPIs, and DEI impact in one doc for copy-paste bliss.

  4. Proof Before You Click: Many portals lock after submission, typos = lost dollars..


Final Pep Talk

August isn’t the “slow month,” it’s the stealth-money month. While everyone else is perfecting their tan or back-to-school shopping, you’ll be perfecting your cash runway. Dive into these August 2025 grants for women entrepreneurs, and let your business ride into Q4 with a fat-stack cushion.


You’re courageous, capable, and strong, now go prove it to the grant panels.

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