Grant Information

Eileen Fisher: The women’s apparel company provides $100,000 in awards each year to 10 woman-run small businesses that are “beyond the start-up phase and ready to expand their business and their potential for positive social and environmental impact,” according to the group’s website. Eileen says, “I want to encourage women entrepreneurs, especially those who firmly believe that business can be used to create social and environmental change.” They are particularly interested in programs that: 
All businesses applying for the program must meet the following criteria:

• Majority women-owned and women-led (majority defined as minimum 51%)
• In operation for a minimum of three years at time of application and able to provide accompanying financials
• Revenues not exceeding $1 million in year prior to application
• Business founded on creating environmental and social change

Selection Process
The annual selection process is led by the Social Consciousness team and an internal employee committee. Exact dates are tentative and may vary depending on circumstances of each year.

• April–May: Applications open. The initial application requests basic information about you and your business, an executive summary and responses to several essay questions.
• June–August: Eligible applications are reviewed by a committee of EILEEN FISHER employees.
• August–September: Applicants who reach the Finalist stage are notified and asked to submit additional information, financials, interview availability and (if relevant) product samples.
• September–October: Finalists are interviewed by phone.
• November: Winners are notified.

You can apply it through their website.

I will not choose this one because the process time is too long. Our event is kind of urgent. We want to process it as soon as possible.

Amber Grants: Named after a young woman who died before her entrepenural dreams could come true, this non-profit organization gives out a $500 grant to a female small business owner each month. These 12 monthly winners are then eligible for an additional $2,000 prize. People can apply it via a website which is named WomensNet. You need to fill out your full name, business name, email address. Then couple short questions are required. The first one is “tell us your business”. The second question is tell us what you would do with the money if awarded a grant.

Requirements:

• Our judges are looking for passion as well as business smarts.

For our event, we need to purchase massage chairs, Legos, books, and other equipments. We need a lot of budgets before holding the event, so I need the grant be paid once instead of monthly. Therefore, I may not choose this one.

FedEx Small Business Grant Contest

Every small business owner can apply this Grant. The Grand Prize is $50,000 (1 winner) plus $7,500 in FedEx Office print and business services. The Silver Prize is $30,000 (1 winner) plus $5,00 in FedEx office print and business services. Bronze Prize is 15,000(9 winners) plus $1,000 in FedEx office print and business services. There is no specific requirement. Every small business can apply it. The business owners can apply this grant online. Timeline

Entry Period

February 19–March 25

Voting Period

February 27–April 1

Top 100 Announced

April 5

Winners Announced

April 29

Process:

• 1. Write a short profile.
• Share your unique story and offerings.
• 2. Upload photos and a logo.
• Capture the spirit of your business in images.
• 3. Create a video.
• Create a one-minute video pitch about your business. Check out some simple tips to get you started.
• 4. Get out the vote.
• Remind fans to vote for you. Votes are one of the many factors that help you get noticed by the judges.

I will choose this one because the chance of winning the grant is greater than the previous two grants. Also, they give me the fund immediately, and the process is much shorter than them.