Funding Opportunities Available for Women Business Owners

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 resource 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.

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.

WomanOwned Grant Database and Membership

(http://www.womanowned.com/features/grants-and-funding.aspx) Members can access thousands of business grants and state programs for business growth and development.  Search by state and keyword and view all the details required for successful application.

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)

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

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