A majority of businesses in America are small businesses, employing close to 80% of individuals in the country. This means supporting small and upstart businesses is important to our overall economic success (as well as for the individuals who stake it all on starting a business). One group who has historically contributed a great deal to the formation of small businesses, and yet has enjoyed less support than others includes women entrepreneurs. Today this is changing, with a wide variety of support programs designated specifically for women who want to start their own organization. Below we present 50 such ways you can pursue an entrepreneurial education as a women, enjoy!
Avon Foundation
Varies
The Avon Foundation provides awards to high school graduates who are pursuing a higher education degree.
Applicants must be a woman who has graduated high school.
Altrusa International Foundation
5000
This award is available to students in Michigan who are returning to school after a minimum of a 2 year absence.
Candidates must be returning on the undergraduate level.
Amber Grants
10000
Amber Grants are available to women who show interest in entrepreneurship. One $10,000 award is given per month.
To meet eligibility requirements students must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and be a woman.
Arcus Foundation
Varies
The Arcus Foundation grant is available to students who are registered as an organizational entity with legal standing and are employed by an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Applicants must be registered as an organizational entity with legal standing.
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
10000
The Arthur M. Blank Foundation grant is available to students who are actively fighting to overcome a life changing injury or illness.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate financial need and show evidence of the traumatic injury or illness through documentation.
Association For Women In Mathematics
Varies
This award is given to women who want to pursue an education and career in mathematical sciences.
To meet eligibility requirements students must be pursuing a career in mathematical sciences.
Association for Women In Science Scholarships and Fellowships
Varies
This scholarship is available to women who have completed at least 2 years of higher education and are pursuing a degree in science, physical science, or engineering.
Candidates must demonstrate financial need, be a women, and plan on contributing to a science related field.
Avon Foundation
Varies
The Avon Foundation provides awards to high school graduates who are pursuing a higher education degree.
Applicants must be a woman who has graduated high school.
Bell Capital
1000
This scholarship is available to upcoming high school graduates and attend a high school that is in rural Texas.
Applicants must maintain a minimum of a "B" average.
Beyonce's Beygood
Varies
The Beyonce's Beygood Scholarship is available to students who are involved with "The Boys and Girls Club" who are high school seniors.
Candidates must be a high school senior who is pursuing a higher education degree and must be able to demonstrate financial need along with academic achievements.
Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards
1000
The Hispanic Heritage Youth Award is available to students of Hispanic heritage that are high school seniors.
To meet eligibility requirements student must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, be of Hispanic ancestry, and have a business related goal.
California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) Entrepreneurship Scholarship
3000
This scholarship is available to students who have an active business with customer activity within the last 6 months.
To meet eligibility requirements students must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and be able to show proof of their business.
Cartier Women's Initiative Award
Varies
This scholarship is available to women entrepreneurs who are at the beginning stages of creating a small business.
Candidates must be a female who is 21 years old.
Yoobly Business Scholarship
Varies
This scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a major in marketing or commerce along with any field directly related to business.
To meet eligibility requirements students must want to pursue a degree in a business related field.
Thiel Fellowship
Varies
This scholarship is available to students who have demonstrated their ability to be innovate and harbor a desire to become an entrepreneur.
Candidates must be U.S. citizen to apply.
California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Varies
This scholarship is available to students who have an active business with customer activity within the last 6 months.
To meet eligibility requirements students must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and be able to show proof of their business.
FedEx Small Business Grant
Varies
Each year The FedEx Small Business Grant provides 10 awards per year to women who are entrepreneurs or own a small business.
Candidates must be a woman entrepreneur or a small business owner.
Leonard Family Business Scholarship
5000
Each year one scholarship is awarded to students who are cancer survivors and desire to pursue a business degree in hopes of working in the food industry.
To meet eligibility requirements students must be able to provide proof of a cancer diagnosis.
Media Fellows Scholarship
3000
This award is available to students that show a desire to pursue an advertising or public policy major.
Eligibility requirements include being an undergraduate student who is already enrolled and attending a university or college.
Triadex Services Scholarship
750
The Triadex Services Scholarship is available to students who desire to work in marketing, entrepreneurship, or technology.
To meet eligibility requirements students must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or be a high school senior. Applicants must also maintain a minimum of a 3.3 GPA.
Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program
5000
The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is available to underprivileged students or first-generation college students.
Applicants must maintain a minimum of a 3.5 GPA, have proof of attending a 4-year college degree, and be an underrepresented student who can demonstrate financial need.
Women in Defense Michigan – STEM Scholarship
2500
The Women in Defense Michigan Scholarship is available to female high school seniors who want to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Applicants will need to have a desire to work in a career related to public security and defense.
To meet eligibility requirements students must be a high school senior in a Michigan school who is pursuing a S.T.E.M. major upon graduation.
Business Plan Scholarship
1000
This scholarship is available to full-time students. This award aims to help find students internships and job placements as well.
Candidates do not have to meet any GPA requirements but must be a full-time students who is enrolled in an accredited college or university.
Kitchen Cabinet Kings Entrepreneur Scholarship
5000
This scholarship is available current college students or incoming freshmen who are pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree at an accredited institution.
Applicants must attend an accredited college and be pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree.
Business Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship
2000
This scholarship is available to freshmen, juniors, and seniors who are college students.
Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 24 and be a U.S. citizen to apply.
Insureon Scholarship Program
2500
This scholarship is available to undergraduate students who are a United States citizen.
To meet eligibility requirements students must a U.S. resident and an undergraduate student.
House of Blues Music Forward Foundation Affinity Plus Scholarship
5000
Each year two scholarships are awarded to Minnesota students or Affinity Plus members who are pursuing a career in the music industry.
Applicants must be a junior or senior, be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university, and must have completed a minimum of 60 credits.
House of Blues Music Forward Foundation Scholarships
10000
This scholarship is available to full-time undergraduate students who are pursuing a career in live entertainment.
To meet eligibility requirements students must have completed a minimum of 60 credits and be enrolled in an accredited college or university.
ICSC Foundation Graduate Scholarships
10000
This scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a career in retail real estate or a field that is directly related to it.
Candidates must demonstrate academic merit and financial need.
Magnetic Trading Financial Scholarship
1000
This scholarship is available to students who are majoring in finance, banking, economics, or business.
To meet eligibility requirements students must be pursuing a career in a finance or business related field.
Lance Surety's College Scholarship
1500
This scholarship is available to both graduate and undergraduate students who have shown interest in starting a business.
Candidates must attend an accredited college or university. Vocational schools are allowed.
ISCS Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships
10000
This scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Applicants must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Jose Rivera-Alers Scholarship Application
5000
The Jose Rivera-Alers Scholarship is available to students of Hispanic or Puerto Rican descent who are interested in pursuing a degree in a business related field.
Applicants must attend the City University of New York and be of Hispanic descent.
Kirtland Foundation Scholarship
Varies
The Kirtland Foundation Scholarship is for students who was to pursue a degree in accounting, finance, business, public administration, or human resources.
To meet eligibility requirements students must live in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
Leonard Family Business Scholarship
5000
This award is available to cancer survivors who want to pursue a career in the food service industry.
Candidates must be able to show proof of cancer.
Lewis Cenker Scholarship
Varies
The Lewis Cenker Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a career in the home building industry.
Applicants must be a Georgia student and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
Lily Pabilona Emerging Entrepreneur Scholarship
5000
This scholarship is available to students who are Asian American and want to pursue a career in entrepreneurship.
To meet eligibility requirements students must be at least 25% Asian American and/or Pacific Islander. Students must also maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
Media Fellows Scholarship
3000
This award is available to undergraduate students who have shown interest in advertising and public policy.
Candidates must be at the undergraduate level and already attending a college or university in the United States.
Mercatus Joseph Schumpeter Undergraduate Fellowship
1000
This renewable scholarship is available to both full-time and part-time students who are studying political economy.
Applicants must attend George Mason University.
Merchants Exchange of Portland Scholarship Fund
2000
This scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a degree in maritime affairs and/or international trade.
Candidates must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and be able to demonstrate academic achievement.
Lily Pabilona Emerging Entrepreneur Scholarship
5000
This scholarship is available to Asian American students who want to pursue entrepreneurship.
Candidates must be at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander.
The Mortgage Reports Business Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship
1000
This scholarship is available to students who are pursuing business or finance and want to work on their own business ideas.
Applicants must be majoring in business or finance and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarships
10000
This merit-based scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a degree that is related to the restaurant industry.
Applicants must demonstrate academic achievements and want to pursue a career in the restaurant industry.
NGA Foundation Scholarships
Varies
NGA Foundation Scholarships offer awards to full-time students who plan on pursuing a career with independent grocers.
Candidates must be a rising sophomore, maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, and be a full-time student.
Open Meadows Foundation
2000
This award is available to women who own a business or project that benefits women and girls.
To meet eligibility requirements applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Reveka Rose Scholarship
1000
The Reveka Rose Scholarship is available to women who are enrolled full-time or are in the process of enrolling to an accredited college or university.
To meet eligibility requirements students must identify as women and show interest in entrepreneurship. There is no GPA requirement.
The Halstead Grant
8500
The Halstead Grant is available to students and professional jewelry makers who are pursuing a career in metal jewelry design.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens who do not have a felony and started to sell jewelry after 2014.
Women in Defense Michigan – STEM Scholarship
2500
This scholarship is available to female high school seniors who want to pursuing a degree in engineering, technology, science, or math and show interest in a career in national security or defense.
Applicants must be a female citizen and a resident of Michigan.
Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship
5000
The Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship is available to Asian Americans who are an incoming freshman and show interest in entrepreneurship.
Candidates must be Asian American, be a resident of California, and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarships
10000
This merit-based scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a degree that is related to the restaurant industry.
Applicants must demonstrate academic achievements and want to pursue a career in the restaurant industry.
Carrie Morris
Author
Warren Dahl
Editor-in-Chief