San Francisco Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund

The San Francisco Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund, a joint initiative by MEDA and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) of the Mayor’s office, provides mini-grants up to $5,000 to women-owned small businesses in San Francisco. The fund aims to enhance the business environment for women entrepreneurs through projects that can significantly impact business growth, such as business operations improvements, visual merchandising, and marketing. Eligible applicants are San Francisco-based, full-time women-owned small businesses with an active relationship with a city-funded nonprofit providing technical assistance. The fund supports projects including marketing, financial/accounting, equipment upgrades, training, networking, visual merchandising, and space improvements. Businesses must meet specific revenue criteria, maintain a lease with a minimum of 18 months remaining, and be low to moderate income. The application process involves nomination and submission by a technical assistance provider, with decisions made on a rolling basis based on the project's growth potential, feasibility, and impact. Businesses must understand the grant is considered taxable income.