Grants for Black Women Entrepreneurs: Turning Capital Into Community Impact
iqra
January 23, 2026
The Challenge of Underfunding for Black Women Entrepreneurs
Black women continue to be among the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs, yet they remain deeply underfunded. A recent guide from Shopify highlights several 2026 grant programs tailored for Black women and Black-owned small businesses, including the Wish Local Empowerment Program and the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant. Grants include Amber Grants ($10,000–$25,000), Wish Local, HerRise MicroGrants, EmpowHer, and NAACP Powershift.
Key Grant Opportunities for Black Women Entrepreneurs
The Wish Local Empowerment Program offers $500–$2,000 to Black-owned brick-and-mortar businesses with fewer than 20 employees and under $1 million in annual revenue, using a simple application process. The NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant awards $25,000 plus additional resources to Black-owned, for-profit businesses, usually timed around Black Entrepreneurs Day. These programs join a growing list of capital sources recognizing the specific barriers Black women face. Breakthrough offers $5,000 grants with training and mentorship.
Connecting Capital to Customers and Community
But funding alone is not enough. To fully unlock the potential of Black women-owned businesses, capital must connect to customers and community. Black Pages International offers that connective tissue.
Benefits of Listing on Black Pages International
For Black women founders, pairing a grant with a BPI presence can:
- Increase credibility: When potential partners or customers Google your business, a listing on a respected Black-owned directory signals seriousness, community connection, and discoverability.
- Broaden your reach: Many grants include media exposure. Directing that traffic to a BPI profile gives new supporters a simple way to explore your offerings and share them.
- Create peer networks: Browsing the directory’s women-owned and industry-specific listings allows you to find collaborators, cross-promote, and learn from others walking a similar path.
Strategic Partnership for Grant Programs
For organizations offering these grants, Black Pages International can be a strategic partner. Linking application pages to the BPI directory encourages applicants to list their business, making it easier to track and support them after the award period ends. SheaMoisture Blueprint Grant supports Black women ages 18-35. Amber Grants from WomensNet award $2,000 monthly.
Long-Term Power Beyond Grants
Black women are launching ventures in beauty, logistics, tech, food, finance, and beyond. Grants like Powershift and Wish Local are vital injections of capital. But long-term power comes when those businesses are embedded in ecosystems of discovery and support. IFundWomen and other platforms offer grants for startups. 28 grants specifically for Black women are available.
Black Pages International is building exactly that ecosystem. If you are a Black woman entrepreneur, the steps are clear: apply for every grant that fits—and make sure your next new follower or customer can find you instantly on BPI.
