If you've made it this far, you're probably wondering: does my business actually qualify? That's the right question. The Kitty Fund is for a very specific type of mom entrepreneur—one who's already employing people. I've walked through the official rules and broken them down into simple yes/no questions below. Answer them honestly, and you'll know where you stand in about two minutes. If you're eligible, I'll show you exactly how to start your application with expert support. If you're unsure about any rule (like whether part-time employees count, or what happens if you have a mix of W-2 and 1099 workers), I can hop on a live call and help you sort it out. And if this grant isn't the right fit, I'll point you to other opportunities that might be. No wasted time, just clarity.
The employee requirement: the part most people miss
The biggest gate is the employee count. You need 2 to 100 people on your payroll. That's W-2 employees, including part-time staff. Independent contractors (1099) generally don't count. I see a lot of founders with, say, one full-time employee and a few contractors, and they're not sure if they qualify. The honest answer: probably not, unless those contractors are actually misclassified employees. If you're in that gray area, I recommend a quick consultation before you invest time in a video. The eligibility checker below will flag this too, but sometimes a human conversation makes it clearer.
Revenue and years in business: the numbers that matter
Revenue must be under $5 million annually. There's no minimum. So if you're a newer business that's already generating revenue but still under that cap, you're in the running. You also need to have been operating for at least one year. Pre‑revenue startups aren't eligible. The donor wants to see that you've got some track record, even if it's short.
Identity and role: the non‑negotiable
You must identify as a mother. Self-identification is fine—no one is asking for birth certificates. And you must hold one of three titles: CEO, President, or Owner. If you're a co-owner or partner with a different title, you should still be fine as long as you're in a primary leadership role. The eligibility tool asks about this explicitly.
What happens next
Run the checker. If all green, you can jump straight into full application submission with our support—we'll help you with the video script, the Job Creators Success Assessment, and even track the Bill.com deadline if you win. If you hit a yellow light (unsure about any answer), book a 1‑on‑1 call with me. If you're clearly ineligible, I'll show you a few other grants that might fit better, like the This Woman Knows microgrant for solo founders. There's always another path.
