Grant Money for Mom-Owned Businesses: How to Apply for the High Five Grant
Mamas, we want to give you a high five. Co-hosted by The Mama Ladder and Belly Bandit, the High Five Grant is the world’s only business grant program for mom entrepreneurs.
Leap Day Announcement! Meet the Winter 2020 High Five Grant Winners
It’s LEAP DAY, which means it’s time for three women to “take a leap” ahead in their business.
The Mama Ladder and Belly Bandit are pleased to announce the three grant winners for Winter 2020. The High Five Grant for Moms started in 2018 to provide economic empowerment to mom-owned companies. As of this fourth round, the grant program has awarded $21,500 to promising mompreneurs.
Announcing the Winter 2020 Grant Winners!
In a competition with nearly 100 applicants, these women were selected as part of eight finalists by judges Lori Caden of Belly Bandit, sales coach Natasha Hemmingway, and serial entrepreneur, Michelle McCullough. There was a public vote for week, and after tallying up 6,811 votes, here are the top three:
The $5,000 grant goes to Dear Darby, owned by sisters April Millar and Aleena Hill, who are both mothers passionate about birth. They live in Idaho, USA.
Dear Darby designs and sells beautiful labor gowns that function perfectly for women’s bodies as they birth their babies.
They are also launching an online childbirth program specifically educating women who want to have an unmedicated birth in a hospital.
Note from April:
“Aleena and I have loved helping women on an individual level have their most positive birth experiences. But what we really want is to help thousands or tens of thousands of women approach this transition into motherhood with excitement and confidence. Educating women on their birthing rights gives the more knowledge and power over their births. If more women have positive birth experiences we will have more confident mothers and more confident mothers can change the world.”
The $1,000 grant winner is Jennifer R. Funk, proud widow, mother, artist, and creator of the Create Hope Foundation.
Based in Ogden, Utah, the goal of Create Hope Foundation is to foster relationships between local widows, with support and connection online and in real life.
Jen shares her vision:
“My vision for Create Hope is broad. I would like to offer support to widows in a few ways. Small, intimate retreats help true connection happen. I would love to offer those quarterly, or as often as possible. As I secure funding, I envision a thriving online site where widows can find resources that are relevant to their circumstances (especially local resources) as well as ways to connect with other widows virtually. The goal is - if someone is having a hard day... there will be someone who is feeling stronger to offer support and encouragement.”
The $500 Grant winner is Rola Amer, mama of two and founder of Choulala Box, based in Montreal, Quebec.
Choulala Box helps kids and their parents have a BLAST™ by simplifying their morning routines by fostering independence in the everyday routine of self-dressing.
Choulala Box was the recipient of the National Parenting Product Award for Best Family Product.
Rola says:
“I want to create a movement where parents reap the benefits of empowering their kids into early self-dressing and making the BLAST™ method for wardrobe selection a household tool for the entire family that extends into wardrobe organization and fashion purchasing decisions.”
All three of these mom-owned businesses will be awarded a giant check at the upcoming #MamaSpringBreak Business & Adventure Retreat in March 2020.
Want to support the mompreneur movement?
Help pass forward a HIGH FIVE. Contribute $5 to the High Five Grant for Moms Fund. Every penny goes towards future grants. Contribute here.
Want to be a sponsor for the next grant program and have your business seen in front of 200,000+ email subscribers who hear about the High Five Grant? Send us a note here.
Give These Mompreneurs a High Five! Winter 2020 Finalists Announcement
It’s one of the best days of the year at The Mama Ladder (besides our powerful three days at #MamaSpringBreak Retreat!) We’re announcing the first eight finalists for this decade.
HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™ is a $5,000 international business grant competition. Co-hosted by The Mama Ladder® and Belly Bandit®, this grant provides economic empowerment for mom-owned businesses. This is the fourth semi-annual grant, and we’ve already given $15,000 to promising mom-founded companies.
The Winter 2020 competition is generously sponsored by INFINITI HR, and we thank them for their support of women in business! Thanks to their support, we’re offering not only a $5,000 grant, but also $1,000 and $500 grants.
In this round, there were nearly 100 impressive applicants from three countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. All applicants shared about their marketability, uniqueness, vision, and impact.
The Judging Panel selected the following fantastic finalists, based on their written applications. Listed in alphabetical order:
Buckle Me Baby Coats - Dahlia Rizk (New Hampshire, USA)
Busy Baby - Beth Fynbo (Minnesota, USA)
Choulala Box - Rola Amer (Quebec, Canada)
Create Hope Foundation - Jennifer R. Funk (Utah, USA)
Dear Darby - April Millar and Aleena Hill (Idaho, USA)
Mumdies - Giovanna Aiello (Ontario, Canada)
Momfident AF - Courtney St. Croix (Ontario, Canada)
Work and Mother - Abbey Donnell (Texas, USA)
Check out these mom-owned companies and VOTE NOW for your favorite!
One vote is allowed per device through 11:59 p.m. PST on February 27.
The $5,000 grant winner will be announced in Saturday, February 29. It will be a LEAP DAY to remember!
Meet 8 New Finalists! High Five Grant for Moms (Summer 2019)
Drumroll, please … we’re thrilled to announce the eight finalists of the Summer 2019 High Five Grant for Moms competition!
HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™ is a semi-annual $5,000 international business grant competition. Co-hosted by The Mama Ladder® and Belly Bandit®, this grant provides economic empowerment for mom-owned businesses.
This summer’s grant is generously sponsored by Mute Six and INFINITI HR, and we thank them for their support of women in business!
In the summer 2019 competition, there were 130 impressive applicants from five countries, including Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States. All applicants shared about their marketability, uniqueness, vision, and impact.
The Judging Panel selected the following fantastic finalists, based on their written applications. Listed in alphabetical order:
Lounge & Liv, Meghan Parrish and Jessica Tidwell, Kaysville, Utah
Moms TO, Alana Lynn Kayfetz, Ontario, Canada
Mindgen, Amy Michele Jeanguenat, Springfield, Virginia
NOMI+SIBS, Courtney Stewart, Ontario, Canada
Redefining Normal, Wendy Anderson, Treynor, Iowa
Rose River Bakery, Lisa Nichole Hansen, San Antonio, Texas
The Healthy Hippie Cafe, Kelli Ann Myatt, Watagua, Texas
UnbuckleMe, Rebecca Kay Davison, Houston, Texas
VOTE for your favorite mom-owned business
Public voting is open from July 9-16 to determine which of these finalists will receive the $5,000 USD grant to grow her/their business. All finalists are being awarded prizes, which you can see at www.highfivegrant.com. The grant recipient will be announced July 18, 2019.
Announcing Winter 2019 Finalists of the High Five Grant for Moms
We are pleased to announce the 8 finalists of the Winter 2019 High Five Grant for Moms competition! We’re feeling the finalist LOVE for Valentine’s Day.
HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™ is a semi-annual $5,000 international business grant competition. Hosted by The Mama Ladder® and sponsored by Belly Bandit®, this grant provides economic empowerment for mom-owned businesses.
In this round, there were 175 applicants from across the U.S., Canada, Nigeria, and Jamaica.
After much deliberation, the Judging Panel decided on the following 8 finalists, listed in alphabetical order:
Eatable Inc, owned by Charlene Li
La Mere, owned by Marlena Wilding
Lion Latch, owned by Lerin Jane Lockwood
Other Life Lessons, owned by Meaghan Hadwyn and Niki Snjaric
Safersit, owned by Laura Borsky
Snapshyft, owned by Stephanie Elaine Corliss
Wash. It. Later., owned by Hannah Kate England
Wish & Give, owned by Julie LeJeune
VOTE for your favorite mom-owned business
Public voting is open from February 14-20 to determine which of these finalists will receive the $5,000 USD grant check and a trip to #MamaSpringBreak Business & Adventure Retreat. All finalists are being awarded prizes, which you can see at www.highfivegrant.com. The winner will be announced February 21, 2019.
Meet the Summer 2018 #HighFiveGrant Finalists
HIGH FIVE to all the incredible mom entrepreneurs who applied for our first semi-annual grant. We are so pleased to announce the finalists for your vote!
How they were selected
For our Summer 2018 grant, hundreds of applications came in from mama business owners in 37 states in the U.S. and countries around the globe: Canada, England, France, Jamaica, Korea, Nigeria, and Spain. See the beautiful WHY behind their businesses with the #HIGHFIVEGrant hashtag.
A Judging Panel of experienced entrepreneurs chose eight finalists for their originality, clarity, market potential, and future vision. From June 11 - 20, YOU can vote to select the grant winner! See more detail about each finalist below.
Listed in alphabetical order by business name, here are more details about each promising mom-founded business:
Ketler Dog Treats
Founder Kellie Thayne looks to serve pet owners who are adventurous, traveling, and on-the-go. "When stopping at gas stations to fuel up and get snacks, we noticed there are never any good options for the dogs," says Kellie, who is a mother of two. "Grocery stores usually only have large or expensive bags of treats. We want to be able to grab our dog a small healthy affordable treat while traveling or just out for a drive with the family." See more at www.ketlerdogtreats.com.
Leesie and Pip
Mama of one, Ellyse Harris creates whimsical heirloom dolls that are handmade from quality materials produced in the United States. For every doll purchased a book is donated to a child in need. "The biggest thing I have learned is to be patient with myself," says Ellyse. "It isn't easy creating this little doll business while balancing being a mom. Time is definitely my biggest constraint and I haven't been able to grow as fast as I'd like because I haven't been in a position to invest in manufacturing. But I look at my business and I feel proud, I have worked so hard to create a product and brand that I love and others love too! I know that if I keep at it, I'll be able to scale the business while still keeping time set aside to be a great mom." See her dolls at www.leesieandpip.com.
Love Powered Co.
Based in Canada, mamas Lindy Sood & Anna Lozano are all about the power of love. The mission at Love Powered Co™ is to power the next generation of mindful leaders (our littles!). To fuel them with positive self-talk, confidence, self-love and self-worth. To empower them, so that they may take the torch, lead with love, and light the way for others. These mamas have created simple, meaningful, beautiful tools to remind our future leaders of the POWERS that exists within them. Their first product, Love Powered Littles, is a gorgeous box set of affirmation cards for kids. They also offer affirmation prints, digital versions, downloadables, and will launch Love Powered Teens in just a couple of months. Feel the love at lovepoweredco.com.
Mommi
Mommi, led by mama of three, Erin Schurtz, creates supplements that improve the experience and quality of nutrition for women in all stages of motherhood, whether they are trying to conceive, pregnant, breastfeeding, or recovering postpartum. "I am definitely most proud of getting Mommi on Vitamin Shoppe and Sprouts shelves several months after having the idea for Mommi," says Erin. "I feel extremely proud of the product we have on the market today, the Chocolate and Vanilla Mommi prenatal protein shakes." Meet this mom behind Mommi at mommi.com.
My Kindness Calendar
My Kindness Calendar, built by mama of two Maran Stern-Kubista, is a new tool to actively engage kids and support parents in practicing kindness. They make premium-quality reusable kindness calendars that help to instill kindness, compassion and gratitude in children, making it easy and fun for people young and old to strengthen their "giving" muscles by practicing daily acts of kindness. Their signature product, My Kindness Advent Calendar, helps kids countdown to Christmas during the month of December, but instead of getting the usual chocolate or toy as in a traditional advent calendar, each day is an opportunity to give an act of kindness. Spread the kindness at mykindnesscalendar.com.
PilloPlush
Creator and mama of two, Alison Carlile is on a mission to share her blankets that double as a beautiful (washable) decorative pillows. She pitched her product at the American Dreams program through the Home Shopping Network to the VP of HSN and Randi Zuckerberg. "It was a success," says Alison. "I have been working with HSN to prepare my business and product for its debut and a grant would be incredibly helpful as I work toward that goal!" See her designs at pilloplush.com.
The Creator's Law Firm and Revolutionary Creative
With a son (and daughter on the way!), mama and attorney Ticora E. Davis helps online entrepreneurs protect their smarts in these internet streets by producing culturally relevant legal content that empowers creatives to take some serious action. She's affectionately called "legal bae" as she helps business owners, large and small, secure their trademarks and copyrights to protect their brands and build generational wealth. "I am moved to tears by the trust that I've been able to gain in such a short time," says Ticora. "I have a wonderful community called "Revolutionary Creative with Ticora Davis" that encourages online business owners to make rebellious moves in their business. We can show up in the world, be unapologetically ourselves and make an amazing difference in the lives of people we touch." She more at www.creatorslawfirm.com.
The Soul Gems Club
Alexis Belliston, mama of one (and one in the oven!), has a soft spot for people who love sending and receiving thoughtful mail, love learning about nourishing the soul & mind and appreciate fine art. Her business, the Soul Glems Club, is a postcard subscription featuring original art and meaningful quotes to encourage meaningful, handwritten connection and soul-deepening thoughts. "I started the club as a way of sharing my passion of art and design while also encouraging people to connect to others through thoughtful handwritten notes," says Alexis. "I have had many customers share similar experiences where their mailed postcards have helped others feel loved & remembered (more than a text or online message can do)." Experience her art at www.thesoulgems.club.
Now that you've met the finalists, go vote on your favorite business! Voting is open between June 11 until June 20 at 5 p.m. MT.
More about this grant
HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™ is a semi-annual $5,000 business grant empowering mom entrepreneurs to make massive impact. Hosted by The Mama Ladder® and sponsored by Belly Bandit, and coaches Katie Richardson and Lady T, this grant provides economic empowerment for promising mom entrepreneurs to build their business. See more at highfivegrant.com.
Announcing $5,000 HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™
Your business dream, meet our BIG grant. We are thrilled to announce the opening of our $5,000 grant for promising mom entrepreneurs. Starting May 11, mom business owners from around the world are welcome to apply for this grant.
HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™ is a semi-annual $5,000 Business Grant empowering mom entrepreneurs to make massive impact.
Hosted by The Mama Ladder®, this grant provides economic empowerment for promising mom entrepreneurs to build their business.
At The Mama Ladder®, we see motherhood as your greatest advantage as an entrepreneur, and running a business as powerful training for leading at home. You can find more information about this grant on our oh-so-official press release.
WE BELIEVE MOM ENTREPRENEURS CAN DO ANYTHING WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING, POWERFUL MENTORS, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, AND A HIGH FIVE.
Summer 2018 Grant Timeline
MAY 11 - JUNE 1, 2018
Applications open May 11, just in time for U.S. Mother's Day! Mom entrepreneurs from around the world are welcome to apply.
JUNE 2 - 10, 2018
A judging panel of successful entrepreneurs (soon to be announced) who support mom-founded businesses will narrow down entries from around to world to just eight (8) promising finalists.
JUNE 11, 2018
Eight (8) finalists will be announced, featuring their business story. (Great way to promote your brand!) From June 11-June 20, 2018 the public will vote on their favorite mom-founded business.
JUNE 21, 2018
The winner of the HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™ competition announced here! On the one-year anniversary of The Mama Ladder®, we're celebrating by giving $5,000 to a promising mom entrepreneur. Will she be YOU?
POWERED BY MOM FOUNDERS
Thank you to our incredible sponsors, who help make this grant possible. They are moms who turned big dreams into reality. You can too!
Katie is a wife, mother of four, business owner, author, speaker and coach. She cofounded www.Puj.com with her husband from their garage and built it into a globally recognized eight-figure brand. She has been featured on the cover of Entrepreneur magazine, and her products have been seen on Ellen, Raechel Ray Show, The Today Show and several other national media outlets. Now she's passionate about helping others do the same thing. She coaches an exclusive group of committed men and women who want to want to take their business and life to the next level. See more about this leader of leaders at katierichardson.com.
Author, leadership expert, motivational speaker and mompreneur expert empowers women to become their grandest self! “Anybody can be a mom entrepreneur, but a mom entrepreneur extraordinaire is a woman of balance and focus,” states Lady T. As a corporate trainer and motivational speaker, her client list includes United Way, Fred Pryor Seminars, Bell South, Indianapolis Power and Light, Delta Airlines and Kent State University. Her biggest claim to fame is homeschooling her five children for 22 years. To learn more about Lady T’s services and publications, visit www.thebusinesscoachformoms.com.
We want to see you have big MOMentum in your business. Apply and let's see what you can do!
High fives from here,