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EmpowHer grants are open again, and women founders whose businesses do good have a new chance at funding. The fall cycle from Boundless Futures Foundation opened Nov. 1, 2026, with grants awarded in spring 2027. It’s free to apply.
The family foundation was started by Soon Hagerty and McKeel Hagerty to support female founders who use their businesses for both growth and good. Since late 2023, it has given more than $1 million in grants to 46 female founders and seven nonprofits.
How Much Are EmpowHer Grants?
The foundation does not publish a set grant amount. In its first round of 2026, it awarded $180,000 to four founders in Colorado, Florida, Maine and Texas. Along with funding, winners receive mentorship and business coaching.
Who Can Apply
EmpowHer is for female founders who are 22 or older. The business must be a registered for-profit company operating in the United States, be more than 50% woman-owned, be no more than five years old and already be earning revenue.
The business also has to make a clear social impact. Through its products or business model, it must address poverty, hunger or humanitarian aid, or sustainability and the environment.
Before you start, know that applicants are asked to self-report a credit score and agree to a third-party background check.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the foundation’s Submittable page. You will need a free Submittable account, or you can sign in with Google or Facebook. You can save a draft and come back to it.
The foundation says the fall and winter application window runs from November through January. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the foundation usually follows up within two to five months. It’s a competitive process, and the foundation receives more applications than it can fund, so applying early gives your business the most time in front of reviewers.
