Grants for Survivor & Advocate Business Owners or Creators - November 2026
Grants for Survivor & Advocate Business Owners or Creators - November 2026
Advocates and survivors are building businesses.
Consultants. Trainers. Curriculum developers. Mentors and coaches. Doulas. Photographers and writers. People who spent years working a hotline, running a shelter program, providing training, or doing policy analysis and are now building something of their own, on their own terms, with expertise refined in the field helping families, believing women, and changing lives for the better.
That's who this list is for.
Capital is one of the hardest parts of that build, and the search for it eats time you would rather spend on the work. So this page collects what is actually open — organized by how you would use it, with the eligibility rules stated plainly enough that you can rule things out in seconds instead of an evening.
November is a good month for established and growing practices. The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows cycle closes November 17, and the Amber Grant's monthly awards are now $15,000 each.
This list is one piece of a bigger commitment
Grant money for a business is real, and it is also small. The organizations and advocates building something durable are building revenue they control — fee-for-service, social enterprise, an LLC alongside the mission.
That's what the Sustained At Last newsletter is about. And a new verified funding list goes out with it at the start of every month.
How this list is made
Every opportunity here was opened on the funder's own website and confirmed before it was listed. Every claim also went through a second check that tried to prove it wrong.
Funding information moves quickly. Programs change their cadence, loosen a rule, or close a cycle without much announcement, so any list — including this one — starts aging the moment it is written. Checking the source is the only thing that fixes that, and it is the one part of this you should not have to do yourself every time.
Anything that could not be confirmed was left off, or flagged so you know to check before you spend time on it.
What changed this month
The Amber Grant's monthly awards are now $15,000 each. That's up from $10,000. Three monthly winners also receive an additional $75,000 at year-end. November's category is STEM.
Hey Helen now closes at 11:59pm ET. September's round closed at 7:00pm ET. The current rules say rounds close on the last day of the month at 11:59pm ET.
Verizon Digital Ready has a course deadline. The two free courses or events that unlock the application must be finished by December 7, 2026.
The Galaxy Grant's October round has closed, and the next round hasn't been posted. The funder says grants typically come once a quarter. It's under Worth watching.
The Breakthrough Grant, Volume IV, from Her Agenda is open through January 19, 2027. It's under Worth watching until the fee and eligibility are posted.
The HerRise MicroGrant is off this month's list. Its application page now lists independent consultants as not eligible, and many readers of this list are consultants.
Secretsos posted more detail on its Q4 round. Eligible businesses must be woman-, veteran-, or minority-owned, financially distressed, or located in an economic development zone.
IFundWomen has a new link for its Universal Grant Application. It's updated below.
Closing this month
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows (2027 cohort) — $2,000 education grant plus fellowship benefits · FREE · closes November 17, 11:59pm ET · Tory Burch Foundation
Women 21 or older and legal US residents who own the largest or an equal-largest stake in a for-profit business that is at least 51% women-owned and controlled. The business must be operating in the US and earning at least $75,000 a year. One applicant per business.
The reason to prioritize this one: it is free, and the support goes beyond the grant. In the first year, the Foundation covers registration and some travel for its annual Founders Circle gathering, and Fellows get access to a resource library.
https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/fellows/
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants, Cycle 39 — up to $5,000 · no fee listed · closes November 17, 5:00pm ET · NYFA with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
Visual, digital, film and video artists and choreographers who create the work themselves. 21 or older, living in the US, DC, a Tribal Nation, or a US territory, with a two-year average adjusted gross income of 80,000orless(160,000 joint). At least one public showing of your work each year since 2022.
The reason to look at this one: it covers out-of-pocket medical, dental, and mental health emergency costs for an emergency on or after April 1, 2026, including bills you have already paid. Applicants are notified December 23.
Note the 5:00pm close. The form shuts automatically.
https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/rauschenberg-medical-emergency-grants/
"Miss Sarah" Fellowship for Black Women Writers — $1,000 stipend plus a 10-day residency · FREE · closes November 19, 11:59pm (time zone not stated) · Trillium Arts
Black women writers at any stage of their careers. The 2027 fellowship focuses on nonfiction. Theses, dissertations, and edited collections are not eligible.
The reason to look at this one: it is free, open at every career stage, and focused on nonfiction this year. The residency is in July 2027 near Asheville, North Carolina, with a welcome dinner, a rental car, and travel within the US covered.
You'll need a one-page proposal, a one-page "Why Trillium Arts?" statement, a 10 to 15 page writing sample, and a recommendation letter about the project. Ask your recommender early.
https://www.trilliumartsnc.org/writing-fellowships-guidelines
Shophand Small Business Boost Grant — $2,500 unrestricted cash plus $2,500 in technical support and services · FREE · closes November 30 · Shophand
US-based, for-profit businesses that are actively operating, with fewer than 50 employees and under $5 million in annual revenue. Applicants follow Shophand on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
The reason to look at this one: it is free, and the cash has no strings. Winners are announced December 15.
Shophand states that preference goes to applicants who have used a paid "Your Shophand" service this cycle. It is not required to apply. No closing time is posted, so submit during the day on November 30.
https://www.shophand.com/small-business-boost-grant
Hey Helen Grant — $10,000 unrestricted · $15 · closes November 30, 11:59pm ET · Visionaries
Women owning at least 50% of the business; nonbinary applicants are welcome. Legal US residents 18 or older, with a for-profit business under $1M in annual revenue and a US business bank account that can receive ACH transfers. Nonprofits are not eligible.
The reason to prioritize this one: your application stays on file for twelve months, so a single $15 fee puts your business in front of the panel in every monthly round for a year. Winners are announced monthly.
https://visionaries.co/helen-grant/
Amber Grant — November: STEM — three $15,000 grants every month · $15 · closes November 30, 11:59pm ET · WomensNet
Women 18 or older who own at least 50% of a business based in the United States or Canada.
The reason to prioritize this one: each monthly award is now $15,000. November's category grant is for STEM businesses — tech, data, health, science, and engineering. Three monthly winners receive an additional $75,000 at year-end.
If the $15 fee is a hardship, a fee-waived application is available. Ask for it before you apply by emailing info@ambergrantsforwomen.com.
https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/get-an-amber-grant/apply-now/
Freed Fellowship Grant — $500 monthly, plus a $2,500 year-end grant · $19 · closes November 30, midnight ET · Freed Fellowship
Micro and small business owners in the United States. Nonprofits are not eligible.
The reason to look at this one: each month's Fellow is also considered for the $2,500 year-end grant.
https://freedfellowship.com/application
If you only do three things
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Tory Burch Foundation Fellows — free, closes November 17. If your business earns $75,000 or more a year, start here.
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Shophand Small Business Boost — $2,500 cash plus $2,500 in services, free, closes November 30.
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Verizon Small Business Digital Ready — $10,000, free, for-profit only. Finish any two free courses or events by December 7 to unlock the application.
Always open
Open to businesses generally
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready — $10,000 · FREE · monthly reviews through December 2026 · Verizon
For-profit businesses in the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands, owners 18 or older. Complete any two free courses or events by December 7, 2026 to unlock the application. Ten businesses are selected each month, and applications stay under consideration for the rest of 2026.
https://digitalready.verizonwireless.com/funding/details
Awesome Foundation Micro-Grant — $1,000 · no fee listed · monthly, by chapter · Awesome Foundation
Open to all people and organizations. No entity required. Most chapters choose a winner every month, and you can apply to more than one local chapter.
https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/submissions/new
Secretsos Small Business Grant — Q4 — $2,500 · $15 · closes December 31, 11:59pm CT · Secretsos
21 or older, US resident, with a business registered and operating in the United States. The business must be woman-, veteran-, or minority-owned, financially distressed, or located in an economic development zone.
Hustler's MicroGrant — $1,000 monthly · $15 · HerSuiteSpot
Small business owners across the United States. Pre-revenue businesses can apply.
https://www.hersuitespot.com/hustlersgrant/
YippityDoo Big Idea Grant — amount not published by the funder · $15 · YippityDoo
Women entrepreneurs 18 or older in the United States. Idea-stage businesses welcome. Applicants hear back around the 15th of the following month.
https://www.yippitydoo.com/big-idea-grant/
NASE Growth Grant — up to $4,000 · requires paid NASE membership · reviewed quarterly · National Association for the Self-Employed
Applications submitted October through December are reviewed in January. Funds cannot go toward existing debt, rent, or mortgage. Price the membership before you commit.
https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/grants-and-scholarships/growth-grants
IFundWomen Universal Grant Application — varies · FREE · year-round · IFundWomen
Not a grant itself. It is a database IFundWomen matches against its partners' grant criteria when new corporate grants launch. You'll create an account to apply.
https://www.ifundwomen.com/grants/universal-funding-grant-application/welcome
Halcyon Accelerator — capital strategy and support · FREE · year-round interest form · Halcyon
For-profit impact companies at MVP or later, with full-time founders. The interest form is always open and reviewed on a rolling basis. The program open right now is focused on agriculture and food security ventures in Africa.
https://halcyonaccelerator.org/applicants/
Loans — these must be repaid
Kiva U.S. Microloan — $1,000 to $15,000 at 0% interest · FREE to apply · year-round · Kiva
18 or older, US resident, with a US business and a PayPal account. Not available to businesses registered or mainly operating in Nevada or North Dakota. Borrowers publicly invite 5 to 40 people from their own network to lend before the loan opens to Kiva's wider lenders.
SBA Microloan — up to $50,000, average about $13,000 · FREE to apply · year-round · U.S. Small Business Administration
You apply through an SBA-approved local intermediary lender. Rates are generally 8% to 13%, with terms up to six years.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/microloans
Survivor-specific
Survivors to Entrepreneurs (S2E) — wage support and business formation support · FREE · Survivor Ventures
For survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Offices in Norfolk and Ashburn, Virginia; Wilmington, Delaware; and Tampa, Florida. There is no online application; contact Survivor Ventures directly at tiffany@survivorventures.org or (757) 317-0352, including to ask about new cities.
https://www.survivorventures.org/survivors-to-entrepreneurs
Women's Independence Scholarship Program — education grants · FREE · next window January 1 to March 1, 2027 · WISP
For survivors of intimate partner abuse, enrolled in college, trade, or certificate programs. This is education money, not business capital, and it can fund trade credentials.
https://wispinc.org/how-to-apply
If your business is writing, media, or art
Pulitzer Center Global Reporting Grants — typically $5,000 to $10,000 · FREE · rolling · Pulitzer Center
Staff and freelance journalists, photographers, audio and video journalists, and documentarians.
https://pulitzercenter.org/grants-fellowships/opportunities-journalists/global-reporting-grants
IWMF Fault Lines Reporting Fund — $2,500 to $10,000 · FREE · rolling · International Women's Media Foundation
Women and nonbinary journalists with three or more years of professional experience, reporting in the US.
https://www.iwmf.org/programs/fault-lines/
Economic Hardship Reporting Project — about $750 to $5,000 per commissioned piece · FREE · pitch portal · EHRP
Freelance journalists, writers, filmmakers, illustrators, and audio producers covering poverty, economic class, and workers' rights in the US. This is a paid commission, not a grant application.
https://economichardship.org/pitch-portal/
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants — $500 to $3,000 · FREE · year-round · Foundation for Contemporary Arts
US-based visual and performing artists and poets with committed exhibition or performance dates, or a sudden opportunity to show work publicly.
https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants/
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant — up to $50,000, most around $35,000 · FREE · year-round · Pollock-Krasner Foundation
Individual painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper, with at least ten exhibitions in the past ten years.
Worth watching in late November
Galaxy Grant — $2,500 · FREE · Hidden Star. The October round closed October 31, and the next round hasn't been posted. Check the page before you plan around it.
https://galaxyofstars.org/galaxy-grants/
The Breakthrough Grant, Volume IV — $5,000 unrestricted · Her Agenda. Open through January 19, 2027, but the fee and eligibility were not posted where we could confirm them.
Entreprenista Evolve Grant — $5,000 · FREE · Entreprenista. For US-based women-owned or women-led companies earning $100,000 or more a year and operating over a year. The close date wasn't posted on the application page, so apply early if it fits.
https://www.entreprenista.com/evolve
Boundless Futures EmpowHer Grant — FREE · Boundless Futures Foundation. Opens November 1 with rolling review. For women founders 22 or older with a revenue-earning, for-profit business up to five years old doing social-impact work. Check the requirements on the page once it opens.
https://theboundlessfuturesfoundation.submittable.com/submit
Before you spend anything
Application fees are common here, usually $15 to $25. The three fee-charging grants closing this month — Hey Helen, Amber, and Freed — come to $49 together.
Start with the free ones. This month that means Tory Burch Foundation Fellows, the "Miss Sarah" Fellowship, Shophand, and Verizon Digital Ready.
A useful rule: government grants never charge a fee. Private competitions sometimes charge a modest one, and that is normal — but a fee should be small, disclosed up front, and never a condition of releasing money you have supposedly already won.
And when a funder publishes very little about who decides, how, or who has won before, that is worth factoring into whether the fee is worth paying.
How to check anything yourself
This page is rechecked every month, and you should still never have to take anyone's word for it — mine included. The method takes about ten seconds.
Go to the funder's own website and read the program page there.
Look for a date. A current cycle, a current deadline, a current year. If the newest thing on the page is two years old, the program probably is not running.
Read the eligibility page before you write anything.
If you cannot confirm it is open, treat it as closed until you can.
Ten seconds now saves an evening later.
Next month
A new list is published on the APA Marketplace blog at the start of every month, deadlines rechecked. December already has these on it:
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready — $10,000 · FREE · finish two free courses or events by December 7 to unlock the application. Monthly reviews run through December.
https://digitalready.verizonwireless.com/funding/details
Secretsos Small Business Grant — Q4 — $2,500 · $15 · closes December 31, 11:59pm CT. Details are under Always open.
Hey Helen, Amber, and Freed Fellowship — December rounds close December 31. Amber's December round is one of the last before its three $75,000 year-end grants.
And looking ahead to January: the Fund for Investigative Journalism's next deadline is January 29, 2027, and the Women's Independence Scholarship Program opens January 1st.
If you apply to something on this page, I want to hear about it. And if you know of an opportunity that belongs here, send it — it will get verified and added.
A note on accuracy. Deadlines and eligibility rules change without notice. Everything on this page was confirmed on October 25, 2026, and you should still confirm eligibility on the funder's own site before applying — including everything stated here.
Your Mission. Your Financial Future. Both Matter.
~Shawndell