Entering the year 2025 is no less of a joy. However, 2024 holds so much that the basket fills and spills all the funding initiatives that were implemented throughout the year. Without failing, GWL is here to remind you of those initiatives and term the year 2024 as ‘Growth for Women’ Year.

2024 was a roller coaster year for businesses globally. More than ever this year taught us that finances and growth walk hand in hand; the significance of fundings is not lost upon anyone. Be it growth-focused startups, established for profit organizations of initiatives for the grater good, capital is essential for all.

It is safe so say that in 2024 there was ample focus towards financially assisting and aiding women to grow in numerous sectors and industries globally.

Let us turn our focus towards America, one of the world’s strongest economies and hub for innovation and social development. This year we saw some of the big organisations like Pivotal and U.S. Small Business Administration announced large funding initiatives for the growth of female entrepreneurs. Considering all the funding initiatives of 2024, few were focused on women’s behavioral health while others aimed at federal contracting and childcare businesses. However, all of them intended to empower women in some or the other way.

Throughout the year, Global Woman Leader Team brought to our readers coverage of key funding initiatives that helped women in ways more than one. Looking back at those initiatives, we put them in a nutshell for you.

Have a look at 2024’s most impactful funding initiatives in the USA, focused on women.

Pivotal Founder Melinda Gates Announces Additional $1 billion Funding

In the month of May, the founder of Pivotal and well-known philanthropist, Melinda French Gates announced an additional $1 billion in funding, which would be spent over the span of next 2 years, with an intent to advance women’s power all across the world.

A total fund of $250 million is open for organisations that serve women across the world. Melinda founded Pivotal in 2015, catering in Civic and Social Organizations industry. It is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. In addition, the primary idea behind starting this venture was towards accelerating the social progress’ pace by eliminating all barriers that holds people back.

LAMBAC to Use Federal Funding to Aid Women Entrepreneurs

LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC) used nearly $1 million in federal funding, with an intent to help female entrepreneurs for succeeding in business. FedNor made the announcement of the investment i.e., $999,620 in Northern Ontario Women (NOW) program of LAMBAC. Additionally, this particular program works with the aim towards aiding women-owned and -led enterprises to start up and scale to the bigger market. All the respective women can get upto $5,000 loans towards the cost of professional in addition to training services in the growth of businesses, under the NOW program.

US Dept HHS announces Funding to Improve Women's Behavioral Health

In 2024, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Funding opportunities notices, intending towards improving women’s behavioral health within the United States. The funding has been revealed via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

A total funding of $27.5 million underscored the Administration’s commitment towards addressing the needs of women for unique mental health in addition to substance use treatment. Moreover, SAMHSA made another announcement of grant awards which is almost $1 million for two grant recipients, as a part of Services Program for Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women.

SBA announces $30 million Grant Funding for WBCs

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a $30 million grant funding for Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) with an aim for the expansion of WBC network while supporting the opening of WBC in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This particular initiative impulses to provide specialized funding for WBCs that has its focus on federal contracting and childcare businesses. Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman underlined the funding’s significance stating that WBC network’s expansion shall be beneficial for assisting female entrepreneurs. In addition, women-owned small businesses can opt for virtual counselling through this initiative while getting training services across the country with an increased access for rural areas, tribal lands, and military families.

SBA Announces $300,000 Funding for Veteran Women Entrepreneurs

An opportunity for women entrepreneurs was announced by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development revealed a new of $300,000 funding program which were open till March. The firm invited non-profit organisations and businesses that are catering on private sector to apply for the program with an intent to provide entrepreneurship training to women veterans. 6 grantees got the funding and participated in Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program. The base project period also included 3, 12-month options. Nearly 9,500 participants made an alliance with Women Veteran Training Program grantees to launch or grow their businesses.