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The HerRise MicroGrant has run without interruption since 2017 – one $1,000 check issued to a women-of-color small business every single month, backed by the Yva Jourdan Foundation’s nonprofit infrastructure and HerSuiteSpot’s corporate sponsors. I went through the full winner list on the program page and counted more than 40 named businesses: a tea shop, a food truck, a financial literacy platform, a beauty spa, a cleaning company, etc. Is there a dominant industry? None that I found.
The committee funds whoever makes the strongest pitch on exactly two open-text narrative questions – no business plan, no financial statements, just a headshot, a business logo, and a $15 nonrefundable administrative fee. Ask yourself what that means when there is no public scoring rubric to guide you. One winner per cycle, from a pool the program itself describes as overwhelming. The narrative quality of those two answers is the only differentiator.
Applications close on the last day of each month. One winner gets selected by committee vote. They announce it at next month’s virtual First Friday Mixer. You don’t need to attend to win. Everyone else hears nothing unless selected. That silence after paying $15 creates real friction for applicants weighing opportunity cost against likely hundreds of competitors.
Explicitly excludes nonprofits per application form despite FAQ ambiguity
Excludes franchises, direct sellers, authorized resellers, independent consultants
Grant Benefits
$1000
Physical check mailed to winner's address
No restrictions beyond general business use
04
Focus Areas
Women of Color EntrepreneursMicrograntsSmall Business Funding
Use Grantaura’s eligibility checker to see if your business structure fits before paying the $15 fee. The tool asks three quick questions about ownership, revenue, and business model. If eligible, you’ll see an option to submit an assessment for expert review of your narrative pitch. If unsure about nonprofit status or other edge cases, book a 15-minute consultation with our grant expert before proceeding. If ineligible, we’ll show you grants specifically for women of color entrepreneurs that better match your situation. Never pay an application fee without confirming eligibility first.
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Eligibility for HerRise MicroGrant $1,000 Monthly For Women Of Color
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Why the $15 fee isn’t automatically a scam
Private foundation microgrants sometimes charge small administrative fees. Government grants never do. This distinction matters. The HerRise MicroGrant operates through the Yva Jourdan Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of HerSuiteSpot. Not a federal agency. Not a state program. The $15 fee covers committee review time for hundreds of monthly applications. Is it ideal? No. But it’s not inherently predatory when disclosed upfront like HerSuiteSpot does on their application page. Compare this to government programs like SBA grants that never charge fees because taxpayer dollars fund administration. Different funding models create different structures. The real question isn’t whether fees exist. It’s whether the value justifies the barrier for your specific business stage.
Still unsure if the fee makes strategic sense for your situation? Submit an assessment with your business details. Our experts will review whether this microgrant fits your funding strategy before you pay anything to the donor.
Women of color business grant requirements
Your business must be at least 51% owned by women who identify as Black, Latina, Asian, Indigenous, or multiracial. US registration required but no state restrictions. Gross annual revenue must stay under $1,000,000. These filters exist to target early-stage founders often overlooked by larger capital sources. Past winners like AntiquiTEAs and Rico Beauty Essentials used funds for website upgrades, equipment purchases, and part-time staffing. The program has awarded over $100,000 cumulatively since its 2017 launch according to their FAQ page.
Grant recipients
Who received this grant
These recipients were confirmed through official grant program records.
HerSuiteSpot lists Brandy Ige of Pukalani Floral as a HerRise MicroGrant past recipient; Pukalani Floral provides flower delivery, floral arrangements, leis, and event florals in Paia, Hawaii.
HerSuiteSpot lists Kimberly Cross of Zhi Bath and Body as a past HerRise MicroGrant recipient; Zhi Bath and Body sells goat milk skincare products for sensitive skin.
HerSuiteSpot lists Clinnesha D. Sibley of Southwest Mississippi Multiplex for Early Innovative Intervention Studies as a past HerRise MicroGrant recipient.
Here’s where things get messy. The HerRise FAQ page states nonprofits qualify. The actual application form explicitly excludes nonprofits alongside franchises and direct sellers. Which version governs? Unclear without direct confirmation from program staff. I’ve seen applicants waste the $15 fee because they trusted the FAQ without checking the form exclusions. If your organization has 501(c)(3) status, email info@hersuitespot.com directly with subject line “Nonprofit Eligibility Clarification” before submitting anything. Better to wait 48 hours for a reply than lose $15 on an ineligible application. This ambiguity creates genuine uncertainty that free eligibility checkers cannot resolve.
Nonprofit status creates real uncertainty here. Book a 15-minute consultation with our grant expert to review your specific situation before paying the $15 fee.
Application mechanics and the simplicity trap
The form itself takes about 30 minutes. Four required items: business pitch narrative, headshot photo, business logo, and mailing address for check delivery. No financial statements. No business plan. No letters of recommendation. But here’s what the short form hides: narrative quality likely determines winner selection despite no public scoring rubric. The committee reviews hundreds of applications monthly for one slot. Generic descriptions like “need money for marketing” lose to specific community impact stories with clear growth trajectories. The trap? Assuming simplicity equals low competition when reality suggests the opposite. Your pitch must stand out within tight constraints.
The form is short but narrative quality determines winners. Our reviewers catch weak framing and disqualifying phrasing before you submit. Submit an assessment for expert review of your pitch narrative.
Q: Is the HerRise MicroGrant legit with its $15 application fee? A: Yes according to current documentation. The program operates through the Yva Jourdan Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. While government grants never charge fees, some legitimate private microgrants charge small administrative fees to cover review costs. The $15 fee is disclosed upfront on their official application page. That transparency matters.
Q: Are nonprofits eligible for the HerRise MicroGrant? A: Unclear due to conflicting information. The FAQ page states nonprofits qualify. However, the actual application form explicitly excludes nonprofits alongside franchises and direct sellers. I recommend contacting HerSuiteSpot directly before applying if your organization is a nonprofit to avoid wasting the $15 fee.
Q: When is the HerRise MicroGrant deadline? A: Applications close at 11:59pm Eastern Time on the last day of each month. Late submissions roll into the following month’s cycle. The current deadline is May 31, 2026.
Q: Will I be notified if I don’t win? A: No. Due to high application volume, only selected winners receive notification. You will not receive a rejection email or status update if not chosen. Winners get announced at the next month’s First Friday Mixer virtual event.
Grant terminology specific to this program
Rolling monthly deadline – Applications accepted continuously with cutoff on the last calendar day each month rather than a single annual date.
Non-refundable administrative fee – The $15 payment required to submit your HerRise application that covers committee review time regardless of outcome.
Women of color ownership – Minimum 51% equity stake held by founders identifying as Black, Latina, Asian, Indigenous, or multiracial per HerRise requirements.
First Friday Mixer – HerSuiteSpot’s monthly virtual event where winners get announced publicly though attendance isn’t required to receive funds.
Yva Jourdan Foundation – The 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of HerSuiteSpot that administers the HerRise MicroGrant program.
Revenue cap – The $1,000,000 gross annual revenue maximum that filters out established businesses to focus on early-stage founders.
Silent rejection – HerRise’s policy of notifying only winners due to application volume, creating uncertainty for non-selected applicants.
Physical check delivery – Funds get mailed as paper checks to your provided address rather than electronic transfer.
Application narrative – The short pitch describing your business problem and solution that likely determines winner selection despite no published rubric.
Committee selection – Internal voting process by HerSuiteSpot staff rather than algorithmic or public voting determining the single monthly winner.
Strategic context: When $15 microgrants make sense
Compare the math. Spending $15 on HerRise takes 30 minutes monthly for a shot at $1,000. That’s $2,400 annual potential with 12 hours total investment if you apply every month. Versus spending 5 hours writing a $50,000 federal grant with 2% win rate. That’s $1,000 expected value with 5 hours investment. Same expected return. Different time profiles. Microgrants like HerRise serve time-poor founders who need consistent small wins versus chasing large infrequent awards. They’re not replacements for larger funding. They’re supplements for specific business stages. The Breva Thrive Grant’s $5,000 quarterly awards or Chasm Momentum Grant’s $25,000 awards better suit scaling-stage businesses. RestorHer’s $500 micro-grant offers a fee-free alternative if the $15 barrier feels unjustified for your stage.
More grants for women of color entrepreneurs
If HerRise doesn’t fit your stage or the fee creates hesitation, explore these alternatives. The Breva Thrive Grant offers $5,000 quarterly awards without application fees. RestorHer’s micro-grant provides $500 for women entrepreneurs with simpler requirements. Galaxy of Stars Grant awards $2,500 to minority and women founders with quarterly cycles.
The eligibility rules here are clear enough on paper. The real risk hides in narrative quality and the nonprofit eligibility conflict. Our experts catch weak framing that loses to stronger pitches in committee voting. We review your business description for disqualifying phrasing before you pay the $15 fee. We help position your community impact story within the tight word constraints this short form demands. And when eligibility feels ambiguous like the nonprofit conflict, our consultation service provides clarity before you commit financially.
I built Grantaura after watching talented founders waste months on mismatched grants. My team reviews hundreds of applications monthly. We know which programs reward specific narrative styles and which reject common phrasing patterns invisible to naive applicants. For HerRise specifically, we focus on strengthening your pitch within tight constraints while flagging eligibility edge cases before you pay fees. Read more about my background or book a consultation to discuss your specific situation.
Eligibility for HerRise MicroGrant
This grant targets women of color who are building community-impacting businesses but struggling to secure capital. It’s not for big corporations or nonprofits—it’s for the early-stage founder who needs a push. The requirements focus heavily on ownership structure and revenue caps, so check those first. If you pass the basic checks, the real test becomes your narrative.
The Ownership and Revenue Rules
You must own at least 51% of your business, and you must identify as a woman of color. That is non-negotiable. Your business also needs to be registered in the United States and pulling in less than $1 million in gross revenue. If you are over that cap, you’ve likely grown past the target stage for this specific microgrant.
Who Cannot Apply
Do not apply if you run a nonprofit, a franchise, a direct selling operation, or work as an authorized reseller or independent consultant. The application form explicitly excludes these business models. It is better to find a different fit than to waste the administrative fee on an ineligible application.
What If You Are Unsure?
The lines can get blurry, especially if you are a consultant who also sells products or your revenue hovers right near the limit. If you are staring at the form and hesitating, get a second opinion. A quick expert review can save you the fee and a wasted month of waiting.
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"url": "https://grantaura.com/grant/this-woman-knows",
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"custom_description": "A larger monthly grant for US women founders that requires a small fee but offers significantly more capital at the $5,000 level."
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