December 2025 - Special Edition: 3 grant deadlines between now and January 18th! 💰
Skim Time: 2 Minutes
Surprise, Launcher!
We’re popping into your inbox with a short, high-impact edition to close out the year. To honor your time, we’ve pared it down to the few essentials we think are critical for you to kick-start 2026.
In this edition:
💰 3 grant apps due between December 31st and January 18th.
💻 An invite to our first event of 2026 (space caps at 500 attendees!)
🎥 The long awaited recordings from Funded & Fearless Austin.
🩵 A love letter from the LWL co-founders, to you.
We’re grateful for you today, and always!
The Ladies Who Launch team
🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)
Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. For any questions about the below grants, including eligibility, please reach out to the granting organization directly.
[$1K] DARCY’S BUSINESS FREEDOM GRANT. The application requires a clear business plan. If you’ve got one hanging in your Google Drive, submit it before the end of the year for the chance at an extra grand.
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 31, 2025[$20K] AMEX SHOP SMALL GRANT. AMEX will be awarding more than 500+ grants for projects that will help small businesses thrive in their local communities. Perfect for brick & mortar businesses!
DEADLINE: JANUARY 16, 2026[$5K] HER AGENDA BREAKTHROUGH GRANT. Applicants must be subscribed to Her Agenda to be eligible for this grant ($9.99 per month.)
DEADLINE: JANUARY 18, 2026
💥 POWER PICKS
Power Picks is your stash of listens ( 🎧 or 🎥), reads ( 📚), and events (💻 or 🤝) that pump up your brain the way a hype song fires up your stride.
💻 AUTHENTICITY SELLS: TURNING YOUR STORY INTO YOUR SUPERPOWER. Kick off 2026 strong with a live webinar that will show you how to differentiate your content and branding in the age of AI-powered everything. Live Q&A is included!
📚 THE EXACT GRANT PLAYBOOK BEHIND $1K–$250K WINS. Resurfacing this useful tool from our last edition to help guide your final grant applications of the year.
🎥 CONVOS & DEMOS FROM FUNDED & FEARLESS AUSTIN. For an inspo boost that gives you great ideas, listen to the sessions from Funded & Fearless in Austin, TX earlier this fall (~20min, each.)
🩵 FROM OUR CO-FOUNDERS
Why, hello, Launcher!
As we wrap up 2025, we keep coming back to the same feeling: gratitude.
When we founded Ladies Who Launch, we dreamed of building a community where women entrepreneurs could authentically connect, grow their businesses sustainably, and feel boldly unstoppable.
Our live events this year in London and Austin reminded us why we love doing what we do: more than 750+ of you signed up to join us in person to hone your skills for becoming both funded and fearless. We shared laughs, shed some tears, told authentic stories, toasted over a cheeky glass of bubbles, and found ways to support each other's endeavors despite systemic barriers and an ever-changing economy.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are doubling down on what we do best: free, accessible education, more in-person opportunities to connect, and even more funding resources for our community.
As you close out your year, Launcher, we truly hope you find time to rest and reset. You are part of a community of 35,000+ founders who are building boldly, dreaming big, and showing up even when it is hard. We are so proud to be in your corner.
Here’s to what you have built, and what comes next!
To your success,
Sarah Friar & Kelly McGonigle
Co-Founders, Ladies Who Launch