CHASM Monthly Grant: $20,000 for Women-Led Startups in the U.S.

Grant Overview

Fast-track growth with a $20K cash boost – no pitch deck, no strings – just for bold women founders

Donor: CHASM (Daniella Pierson & Community Funders)

About: Daniella Pierson knows the sting of being underestimated. She bootstrapped The Newsette for ten years, clawing past rejection, burnout, and the “it’s just not for you” whispers that chase most women founders. That decade of grit birthed CHASM a digital clubhouse where women entrepreneurs stop begging for seats and start building tables. Every month, CHASM’s high-profile members pool money to bankroll one founder who refuses to quit. July’s grant is the first drop in what’s becoming a tidal wave of capital for women who are done waiting.

What $20K Actually Unlocks

Twenty grand is the difference between a beta launch and a market-ready product. It covers a critical hire, a production run, or three months of runway when investors ghost you. Past winners used the cash to open pop-ups, upgrade fulfillment software, and finally pay themselves. The only rule: the money must move the business forward. No equity, no repayment, no board seat—just pure fuel for your fire.

Inside the Judging Room

The CHASM team reads every word you write. They’re hunting for clarity (what problem you solve), conviction (why you’ll outlast the doubters), and community impact (how your success lifts other women). A crisp 150-word plan beats a 20-slide deck every time. Need help sharpening your story? Our grant writers turn raw passion into winning applications—we’ve cracked 300+ awards and counting.

The Ripple Effect

Winners get more than cash. They’re spotlighted to CHASM’s 100K+ community, introduced to investors, and invited to private roundtables where deals close before they hit TechCrunch. One grant often triggers a domino of follow-on funding, press, and customers. If you’re serious about scaling, pair this grant with other U.S. opportunities we curate to stack your capital runway.

Focus: Women founders, for-profit startups, early to mid-stage, U.S. based, equity-free funding

Region: United States, District of Columbia

Eligibility:
– Identify as a woman or non-binary founder
– 18 years or older
– U.S.-based for-profit business
– Founder or co-founder with majority ownership
– Early to mid-stage (pre-Series B preferred)
– Clear plan for using the $20K within 6 months
– Not a previous CHASM grant recipient

Benefits:
– $20,000 unrestricted cash
– Spotlight in CHASM newsletter (100K+ readers)
– Private investor introduction list
– Lifetime access to CHASM founder Slack
– Featured case study on CHASM blog

Deadline: July 23, 2025 (Rolling monthly thereafter)

Terms:
– Unrestricted grant: Funds may be used for any business purpose
– Early to mid-stage: Revenue under $5M or funding under $10M
– Spotlight feature: Winner agrees to a public announcement
– Slack access: Invitation to CHASM’s private founder community