Introducing the New High Five Grant for Moms (2024 Version)
Barbie. Record-breaking (and economy-saving?) tours from Taylor Swift & Beyoncé. TikTok being taken over by “hot girl walk” and “girl dinner” trends. Expanded conversations about what “girlhood” means. A resurgence of discussion around reproductive rights. There are all sorts of reasons that everyone from NPR to Elle to Fortune declared 2023 “The Year of the Girl.”
While we haven’t achieved true gender equality yet, there was a lot for women to celebrate in 2023. In our own corner of the world, 2023 was the biggest year for the High Five Grant for Moms so far.
2023 grant stats
The first year The Mama Ladder offered the High Five Grant (2018), about 100 applicants were vying for one $5,000 grand prize. Fast forward to 2023, we received applications from nearly 1,000 ambitious mom business owners. Thanks to our generous sponsors, we also gave away more grant money in 2023 than the previous five years combined.
Here’s a quick peek into how the grant was received in 2023:
More than 80,000 page views on the grant website
Applicants from 48 states and 12 countries
$38,500 in grants and $14,000 in goods and services awarded
About 55% of applicants owned a service-based business, 24% owned a product-based business, and 21% owned a hybrid business
Shoutouts in major publications including NerdWallet and Forbes
The record-setting response we saw in 2023 was both humbling and inspiring. We loved meeting so many smart, dedicated mom business owners and hearing their stories. Finding a community that celebrates and supports each other motivates us to push for our own goals while continuing the effort to lift those around us.
We realized we had a wonderful opportunity to re-evaluate our goals for the High Five Grant for Moms.
PROGRAM CHANGES in 2024
We’ve evaluated previous outcomes of this grant and made executive decisions on how to align it with the goals of The Mama Ladder. Ultimately, The Mama Ladder is about building community for ambitious mom business owners and helping as many women as we can get to the $1 million revenue mark in business.
Revenue requirements
In 2024, we have new revenue requirements in our eligibility criteria. To apply, a business must have made at least $10,000 in annual revenue but less than $500,000 over the past 12 months. The purpose of this decision to focus resources on businesses with a proven market, but room to grow to a $1 million revenue and beyond. We want to give grants to leaders building sustainable companies that will continue to grow for years to come.
Location eligibility
We love meeting bold mom business owners from around the world, and have hosted this program internationally since 2018. Due to challenges with tax laws and currency transfers, we are focusing the 2024 grant on companies based in the United States and Canada. We also simply don’t have the resources to translate all instructions to meet a global applicant pool. But we continue to encourage our international mamas to participate in The Mama Ladder community. Cheering someone else on is free — and you both win!
No early applicant program
In past years, we offered the “Irresistible Grant” Workshop and to businesses that committed to applying for the grant early. To give all applicants the same opportunity and simplify this program, we’re eliminating the early applicant program and making our workshop available to all applicants (save the date – August 23!). But don’t worry. We’ll still have an early application fee for everyone who applies during the first week. If you apply between September 1 - 7, 2024, the fee will be $30; if you apply between September 8-30, it will be $50. Note: As in previous years, every dollar of the application fees goes directly to the grants.
Staying the course
The above changes have made it possible for us to remain true to the core value of the High Five Grant for Moms, giving mom business owners a boost in capital and supportive, world-class community to reach their potential.
Application timeline
As with last year, applications will be open from September 1–September 30. While we won’t be able to spotlight everyone, we will continue to highlight unique and inspiring #highfivegrant posts on our social media.
Clarity, confidence, and community
Our goal is that everyone who applies for the High Five Grant for Moms will comes away with increased clarity, more confidence, and a community to cheer them on their way. We want to:
Help you understand what you do in business and why you do it
Validate and encourage you as you grow your confidence and make bold choices
Create a diverse community of brave, smart mom business owners who cheer each other on
Come join us!
We are knee-deep in preparations for our 2024 grant program, and we can’t wait for you to see what we’ve got planned. Follow us on Instagram (@highfivegrant) to stay in the loop. We’re excited to meet the amazing applicants of 2024.
Keep climbing, Mama!
