BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program

The BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program is an initiative led by BMO Bank, National Association, with the aim of supporting and recognizing small businesses in the United States that are actively contributing to the advancement of women. Administered directly by BMO and offered in partnership with Deloitte, this grant program represents a strategic effort to reduce capital access barriers for small businesses while fostering gender equity through entrepreneurship. BMO has consistently delivered this program in multiple past years, affirming its ongoing commitment to empowering women-owned and women-supportive enterprises. In 2026, BMO continues this effort by offering a total of 15 grants, each valued at $10,000 USD. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. residents who are business owners, have reached the age of majority in their respective state, and have not previously received a grant from this program. The businesses must be for-profit entities, in continuous operation selling a product or service for at least two years by April 2, 2026. Furthermore, eligible businesses must have annual revenue of $50 million USD or less, be in good standing within their state, and must be physically located or headquartered in one of the specified 23 states. For businesses in Michigan or Texas, they must be located within 100 miles of a full-service BMO retail branch offering personal and commercial services. Applicants are evaluated through a rigorous three-stage selection process. The initial application requires a written submission through BMO’s secure MS Forms portal. In this stage, applicants are assessed based on their support for women, growth strategy, quantifiable goals, and anticipated use of the grant funds. Seventy-five semi-finalists are then selected based on weighted scoring criteria. These semi-finalists are required to submit a YouTube video that elaborates on their business model, growth plans, and commitment to women’s advancement. Following this, 45 finalists are chosen and further evaluated in a third round, where 15 recipients are ultimately awarded the grant. The use of the grant must align with a business growth strategy that contributes to advancing women or girls—this may include supporting public health, educational programs, mentorship initiatives, or producing products/services designed specifically for women. The grant package includes not only the $10,000 USD financial award but also a personalized trophy, one-hour coaching session with a BMO small business expert, potential facilitation into advisory boards, and promotional support on BMO’s platforms. A recipient badge is also provided for use in marketing and social media. Applications open on April 2, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET and close on April 23, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Applicants must complete the required questions and business information fields during this period. Notification of semi-finalists is expected in May, finalists in June, and grant recipients in early July. The full terms and conditions, including submission requirements, disqualification clauses, and legal compliance obligations, are accessible via the official BMO website or directly through the program’s PDF-linked terms. This grant program is non-renewable and not listed as recurring. However, BMO has a documented history of offering it in previous years. There is no cost match required to apply. Recipients are required to enter into a grant agreement, follow reporting protocols, and may be asked to participate in promotional activities. Contact for questions or clarification is provided via email: [email protected].

Focus on demonstrating a clear growth plan, metrics, and how funds will advance support for women. Highlight challenges and business readiness.