Hey Helen Grant

Hey Helen Grant is sponsored by Women's Business Development Center (WBDC). The Hey Helen Grant provides non-dilutive funding to US-based, 100% women-owned businesses that generate less than $1 million in annual revenue. The grants are intended to fuel growth, operations, marketing, or infrastructure.

Hey Helen Grant • Start Your Application! | Visionaries Funding your vision . Fueling your future .

The Hey Helen Grant gives $10,000 in financial support to women founders building impactful, mission-driven businesses in the USA. Next deadline to apply: August 30, 2026. Open to US-based, women-owned businesses making less than $1,000,000 per year.

What Is the Hey Helen Grant? The Hey Helen Grant is a privately funded initiative by Visionaries that invests in women entrepreneurs building impact-driven, for-profit businesses in the U.S. Each grant cycle, one founder will receive a $10,000 unrestricted cash award — designed to fuel whatever moves your business forward, whether that’s operations, growth, marketing, hiring, or infrastructure.

Our inaugural award closed December 30, 2025, and after our next round closes on August 30, 2026, grants will be awarded monthly! This grant is open to businesses that are 100% women-owned, generate less than $1M in annual revenue, and are legally registered in the United States. Nonbinary applicants assigned female at birth or who feel aligned with the intent of the grant are also welcome to apply.

If you’re building something with purpose, grit, and integrity — and just need a little extra backing to take the next leap — you’re in the right place. The Hey Helen Grant has been featured by… Step 1: Submit your entry form We’ll ask a few quick questions about your business and three long-form response questions. Note there is a $15 administrative fee to apply.

This round of applications closes August 30, 2026 at 11:59pm EST. Step 2: We’ll review all submissions Our internal team will assess applications based on clarity, alignment with values, and demonstrated potential. Step 3: Winners are notified and funds are distributed The recipient will be selected and announced by mid October, with funds distributed via ACH shortly after.

One founder will receive $10,000 in unrestricted cash as as grant to use in whatever way supports the next chapter of their business—whether that’s operations, growth, marketing, hiring, or whatever is most needed over the next six months.

A feature on Visionaries platforms Optional opportunities for press and visibility Read the full grant terms and conditions here This grant is open to founders who: Identify as women and own 100% of the applicant business Are legal US residents, age 18 or older Are actively operating a for-profit business generating less than $1 million in annual revenue Have a US-based business bank account capable of receiving ACH transfers Nonbinary applicants are also welcome to apply.

We welcome applications from across industries. At this time, non-profits are not eligible. Meet our past Hey Helen Grant winners!

Meet the April Hey Helen Grant Winner Who is Bringing Wildlife and STEM Education to Life We are thrilled to announce the April 2026 recipient of the $10,000 Hey Helen Grant: Tamara "Mara" Henderson, CEO and founder of the Enchanted Immersive Zoological Center currently just outside Atlanta! Mara is building something that doesn't exist anywhere else in...

Meet the first Hey Helen Grant winner who is redefining mental health support We are delighted to announce the very first recipient of the $10,000 Hey Helen Grant award: CeCe Cheng from ShareWell, a mental health company that creates free and low-cost ways to access peer-led and expert support. The Hey Helen Grant funds are going to be used... Meet my grandma, Helen Roberts.

She was equal parts sass and class, fiercely loyal, independent (sometimes to a fault), and incredibly generous — the kinda gal who’d give you her last dollar and then offer to share her plate of PB & crackers. To everyone — my friends, my students, my colleagues — she was gma. I ran my first business out of her house for many years, and she was an eternal supporter of what I was building.

As a kid, she supported my crazy dreams of helping pop musicians get discovered and growing a music magazine, driving all over the country with me to festivals and concerts before I could drive myself. (Which my grandpa and mom weren’t always thrilled about, to which she’d stubbornly reply, “I’m a grown woman and I’ll do what I want!

”) She wasn’t a traditional entrepreneur, but she understood what it meant to believe in people before the rest of the world caught up. She taught me how to follow my instincts, back my ideas, and never let anyone else define what’s possible. The Hey Helen Grant is named in her honor because she embodied the kind of support and belief that every founder deserves.

She didn’t need a pitch deck to back you — once she believed in you, she was in. This grant does the same. You’ve got questions?

We’ve got answers. Who can apply for the Hey Helen Grant? Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria: You must identify as a woman and own 100% of the applicant business, be a legal U.S. resident aged 18 or older, operate a for-profit business generating less than $1M in annual revenue, and have a U.S. business bank account.

How are recipients chosen? We select recipients based on five key factors: the founder’s drive and determination, a clear and realistic plan for how the funds will be used, evidence the business can sustain and build on that work, a solid business foundation, and a compelling vision for the future.

While values alignment and broader social impact are considered, our priority is funding women founders we believe can execute, sustain, and grow well beyond the grant itself. Will I need to verify my revenue? Yes, but only once you’re selected as a recipient.

If chosen for a grant, you’ll be required to submit documentation confirming your business’s annual revenue falls under $1M. If you’re not able to provide verification within 10 days of notification, the award will be offered to another applicant. What can I use the grant money for?

Pretty much anything that supports your business growth — marketing, hiring, tech, operations, inventory, etc. You’ll need to have a plan for how you want to use it when you apply (nothing overly detailed, just a summary). Why is there a fee to apply? Are there any fees if I am awarded a grant?

There is a small fee to submit your application for the Hey Helen Grant. This helps us cover the operational costs of running the grant program — including things like paying independent reviewers to thoughtfully read and assess applications, and maintaining the software and systems that support the process. This isn’t a money-making endeavor but rather about sustainability and fairness.

If there are surplus funds left at the end of the annual grant cycle (after the December round closes), they’ll be rolled directly back into future grant awards — either by increasing the funding amount or adding additional recipients. There are no fees whatsoever if you’re selected as a grant recipient. You’ll receive the full award amount, paid directly to your business bank account.

However, note that all grant recipients are responsible for reporting the award as income and paying any applicable taxes as is standard with most business grants. What’s the deadline to apply? Applications for our first grant cycle close over 3 rounds: on December 30, 2025, April 30, 2026, and August 30, 2026, each at 11:59pm EDT.

No late submissions will be accepted, but applications submitted after that time will be automatically considered for the following round. When will winners be announced? Recipients will be notified and announced typically within 45 days of a grant round ending.

Will I be notified either way? Who are the past winners? This is the first round of the Hey Helen Grant.

There are no past recipients… yet! Do Visionaries Collective members or Visionaries clients get preference? No. The Visionaries Collective is our paid networking membership for business owners — but all applications are reviewed equally.

Being a member or client does not impact your chances. Recipients will be chosen by an independent selection panel. Panelists for this round are still being finalized.

Can I get feedback on my application? Due to anticipated volume, we’re unable to provide individual feedback. No. Only for-profit businesses are eligible to apply.

I haven’t started my business yet. Can I still apply? Yes, pre-revenue businesses are welcome to apply.

Can I apply again if I’m not selected this time? If I’m not selected, should I reapply? Yes, you’re absolutely welcome to reapply in a future round, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

That said, all applications are kept on file for one year after submission and eligible for grant rounds which fall into that timeframe, so you don’t need to resubmit unless something has changed.

We recommend reapplying if: You feel you could significantly strengthen your application Your business has meaningfully evolved The way you’d use the funds has changed since your last application Every round is reviewed with fresh eyes, so if you’ve had a shift in direction, impact, or clarity, it’s worth updating and resubmitting. Where can I see the full rules rules, eligibility requirements, and details?

Click here for full terms and conditions. Ready to do this? Say Hey Helen, and let’s get started!

After entering your information below, you’ll be redirected to the full application form. $15 administrative fee applies Big Visionary Energy delivered straight to your inbox. Join 30,000+ purpose-driven biz owners reading the Visionary Vibes newsletter weekly.

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