Grants for Women
Grants are gifts, pure and simple, so they don’t need to be repaid. Many groups and institutions offer grants for women as they want to see women succeed, so they make funds available to qualified applicants in the form of grants. Why would a woman need a grant? There are many reasons:
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Start a charity or non-profit organization. Starting a non-profit is like starting a business: you need lots of money. Expenses pile up quickly. Fortunately, grants exists to help women serve and support their community. The Foundation Center is an excellent place to look for funds to start a woman-operated non-profit, or to finance a non-profit that will deal specifically with women and women’s issues, like a shelter for battered women.
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Start a company or expand an existing business. In the past few decades, the number of businesses owned and operated by women has increased dramatically. Women seeking to finance a business venture—including a home-based business—can take advantage of grants from both government and private organizations. Check out Women’s Business Grants and WomanOwned.com for detailed information on which groups offer grants to women, how much they offer, and where to apply.
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Attend college. Women have come a long way in higher education, but there’s farther yet to go. Women looking to attend college or graduate school can take advantage of education grants for women. There are several types of education grants, including:
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grants for female students;
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grants that bolster women’s representation in fields were women are deemed to be underrepresented;
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grants for non-traditional students;
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grants for economically disadvantaged women;
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grants for single mothers;
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grants for women starting second careers; and
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grants for battered women.
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Learn a trade. Trade schools exist for cosmetologists, chefs, nurses, lab technicians, court reporters, interior decorators, and so many other lines of work. Often, trade groups will make grants available to help finance a woman’s education, especially in fields where women are traditionally underrepresented, like construction. Check with local trade unions and national associations to see if they offer grants to women seeking to work in their profession.
Many groups and institutions want to see women succeed: in business, in college, in life. Those groups make their grants available for women just like you.
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