"Grant Opportunities Available for Women
Business Owners

You are a woman business owner and there are many things for you to focus on  -- especially how to find money for your business so it can grow and thrive.  Did you know that some funding sources out there specifically target women entrepreneurs?  If not, you should know about them.  Check out the information below to see where to go for loans, scholarships, and other sources of funding. 

Small Business Administration (Office of Women's Business Ownership)
(www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness) - The SBA is doing more than ever to help level the playing field for women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the world of business. At every stage of developing and expanding a successful business, the Office of Women's Business Ownership is here to counsel, teach, encourage and inspire.  Check out their "Hot List" of outside resources.

Count-Me-In : Make Mine a Million
(http://www.makemineamillion.org)  - This is organization offers annual events and grant awards to woman owned businesses who want to grow to over one million dollars in revenue.  This site is great for inspiration, too - check out the Million Dollar Club page to read about the success stories of the organization. 

Grants.gov
(www.grants.gov) - This United States Government resoruce provides information on other government agencies and what grants they have available.  Search their database and see what may be available to you.  Some of the agency grants listed on this site include The Food and Drug Administration, National Park Service, Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Administration, and the DOT Department of Transportation.

The Women's Funding Network
(www.wfnet.org) - Promotes the development and growth of women's funds that empower women and girls by fostering strategic alliances among women, donors, communities and institutions. As of 2011, Their members invest $65 million annually in women and girls worldwide and have over $535 million in working assets.

NBC Supplier Diversity Program Website
(www.nbcsourcing.com/supplierdiversity/) -  This is not so much a funding opportunity, but a procurement opportunity specifically for women and minority owned businesses.  The National Broadcasting Company has launched its Supplier Diversity website to inform Minority-owned and Woman-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) of NBC's Supplier Diversity Program, and also permit MWBE suppliers of high-quality goods and services to register their companies online.  The website is is a way for us to increase the number of MWBEs we do business with.  NBC owns and operates TV Stations in the following locations: Washington, DC; Los Angeles, CA; Dallas, TX; Chicago, IL; Philadelphia, PA; Hartford, CT; Miami, FL; San Diego, CA; Providence, RI; Columbus, OH; Raleigh, NC; Birmingham, AL.

American Association of University Women
(www.aauw.org) - This foundation is one of the largest private sources of funding for graduate women in the world, supports aspiring scholars around the globe, teachers and activists in local communities, women at critical stages of their careers, and those pursuing professions where women are underrepresented.

The Ada Project for Women (TAP)
(http://tap.mills.edu) - Includes information on conferences, discussion groups, organizations, fellowships, grants, and notable women in computer science. 

Financial Women International
(www.fwi.org) - Provides information on professional growth, information sharing, peer networking, mentoring, leadership development, and career advancement for women.

SCAMS

You will encounter scams in the way of: telephone calls to entice you, infomercials that look like TV programs with celebrities, "You're Invited" seminars that offer a big-time sales pitch.  Don't ever give out information like your credit card number or bank account number.  Do ask questions (you're entitled) and make sure you get the answers.  Please be careful!  Bookmark these resources so they are there when you need them:

Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) - this is the federal government's complaint department.  If you have been "taken" by a scam or suspect a scam, let this department know and they will investigate.  Check here for other investigations that have led to scams and learn how to avoid them (link to Consumer Protection and follow to Internet & E-Commerce).

National Fraud Information Center (www.fraud.org) - a division of the non-profit National Consumers League, this site is dedicated to educating consumers about scams and how to avoid them.  Check out the Internet Fraud Daily Report with up to the minute on-line scams.

North American Securities Administrators Association (www.nasaa.org) - any individual or organization who wishes to protect themselves from securities fraud will find the information on this site useful. Entrepreneurs will find valuable information on franchising and raising capital in the "Help for small business" section.

ScamBusters (www.scambusters.org) - keeps you posted on what to watch out for.  This site has earned the Forbes "Best of the Web" designation and has also appeared in the print version of Forbes' Best of the Web.

U.S. Department of Justice (http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/index.html)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (www.fbi.gov)

Introduction to Net Scams and Hoaxes (http://kryten.eng.monash.edu.au/netscams.html) - an article about such things as chain letters and other spoofs on the Internet.

How To Avoid Internet Investment Scams (http://www.sec.gov/consumer/cyberfr.htm) - an article by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission... well worth checking out.

National Financial Fraud Exchange - can be reached by telephone at (800) 822-0416.