Funding to grow a business. Someone to turn to for advice. A chance to learn skills that open new doors. For women considering their next step in business or in their careers, support can take many forms.
Fashion and beauty brands, along with their associated foundations, run programs designed to help women move forward, from grants and coaching for women entrepreneurs to mentorship for students and funding for women scientists and women’s health research.
Access, however, varies widely. Some programs accept applications directly from founders or students; others channel funding through nonprofits and research institutions. This guide compares seven brands and their foundations by what they offer and whom they are designed to reach.
Application status and eligibility details reflect each program’s official website as of October 30, 2026. Always check the latest requirements and terms before applying.
At a Glance: 7 Women’s Support Programs Compared
Fellows Program
SUPPORT
Coaching, expert advice and a peer network
WHO IT SERVES
Women entrepreneurs operating in the U.S.
Open until Nov. 17, 2026
Cartier Women’s Initiative
SUPPORT
Grants of up to $100,000, INSEAD program and coaching
WHO IT SERVES
Women-led impact businesses
2027 edition closed
Women@Dior & UNESCO
SUPPORT
Mentoring by Dior talent and online education
WHO IT SERVES
Final-year undergraduates and postgraduates under 30
Closed
Fondation CHANEL
SUPPORT
Funding and technical support for partner organizations
WHO IT SERVES
Partner organizations
Via partner organizations
For Women in Science and more
SUPPORT
Awards and fellowships for researchers, beauty vocational training
WHO IT SERVES
Women scientists, women in vulnerable situations
Varies by program and country
Mary Kay Ash Foundation
SUPPORT
Cancer research and domestic violence shelter grants
WHO IT SERVES
Research institutions and shelters
Via partner organizations
rhode futures fund
SUPPORT
$5 million over three years for women’s health research
WHO IT SERVES
Nonprofit research fund and health companies
Via partner organizations
Status as of October 30, 2026. Select a brand to jump to the full details.
Programs for Women Entrepreneurs
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program: Build Business Skills and a Peer Network
The Tory Burch Foundation’s Fellows Program helps women entrepreneurs grow their businesses through expert coaching, advice and access to business leaders, while connecting participants with other women running companies.
The program is open to for-profit businesses across a wide range of industries. Key requirements include being legally formed and operating in the United States, being at least 51% owned and controlled by women, and generating at least $75,000 in annual revenue, with no maximum. Applicants must be at least 21 as of the application deadline, legally reside in the United States or its territories, and be a woman entrepreneur holding the largest or jointly largest ownership stake, among other criteria.
The current application deadline is November 17, 2026, with fellows to be selected in May 2027.
Explore the program and eligibility requirements at the Tory Burch Foundation
Cartier Women’s Initiative: Grants of Up to $100,000 for Impact-Driven Businesses
The Cartier Women’s Initiative supports women entrepreneurs whose businesses create positive social or environmental impact.
Its Regional Awards provide $100,000 to each region’s first-place fellow, $60,000 to second place and $30,000 to third place. Funding is complemented by an in-person Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship program with INSEAD, individual business guidance and leadership coaching.
The initiative is open to businesses across many countries and sectors, but impact must be embedded in the business model. For the 2027 edition, businesses needed annual revenue between $50,000 and $5 million in their last closed fiscal year and between 5 and 250 team members, among other criteria.
Applications for the 2027 Regional Awards closed on June 16, 2026. For founders considering a future cycle, reviewing the eligibility and selection criteria is a useful first step.
Review the Regional Awards and application requirements at Cartier Women’s Initiative
Programs for Students Exploring Their Future Careers
Women@Dior & UNESCO: Mentorship and Education to Shape Your Next Step
Women@Dior & UNESCO is an international mentorship and education program for young women. Since its launch in 2017, it has supported more than 2,500 young women from over 60 countries.
Through one-on-one support from Dior mentors, an online education platform and conversations with leaders, participants explore their interests and future direction. They then put their learning into practice through the Dream for Change Project, which supports the empowerment of young girls.
Eligible applicants are women under 30 at the time of application who are enrolled full-time in higher education, such as final-year undergraduates and postgraduate students. The program is open to all fields of study and is conducted in English.
Designed to run alongside academic studies, it is not a recruitment program for internships or jobs. The official website currently lists applications as closed. Read more about Dior and UNESCO’s renewed partnership.
Explore the program and participant requirements at Women@Dior
Supporting Women Through Communities, Research and Health
The following initiatives primarily support community organizations, research institutions and other partners. Their funding routes differ from programs that accept applications directly from founders or students.
Fondation CHANEL: Backing Organizations That Support Women Locally
Since 2011, Fondation CHANEL has worked with organizations around the world to advance women’s economic opportunities, rights and participation in decision-making.
In Japan, its partners include Women’s Eye, an organization founded in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake that has helped develop women’s leadership and strengthen their participation in community decision-making in disaster-affected and rural areas.
In West Africa, the foundation also partners with organizations working to improve women farmers’ incomes and productivity, addressing local challenges through groups rooted in the communities they serve.
Explore partner initiatives at Fondation CHANEL
Fondation L’Oréal: Advancing Women in Science and Access to Beauty Careers
L’Oréal and its foundation support women across two fields: science and beauty.
For Women in Science, run in partnership with UNESCO since 1998, supports women researchers through international awards and national and regional fellowships. Application and nomination requirements vary by program and country.
Beauty for a Better Life offers free beauty and wellness care to women in vulnerable situations, alongside vocational training in beauty professions, helping participants build skills, regain confidence and move toward employment.
Explore scientific and vocational programs at Fondation L’Oréal
Mary Kay Ash Foundation: Funding Women’s Cancer Research and Domestic Violence Shelters
The Mary Kay Ash Foundation focuses on two areas: research into cancers affecting women and efforts to end domestic violence.
Alongside grants to research institutions, it funds domestic violence shelters across the United States, directing resources to organizations that protect women’s health and safety.
Learn about grant priorities at the Mary Kay Ash Foundation
rhode futures fund: $5 Million for Women’s Health Research Over Three Years
Through the rhode futures fund, rhode has announced a partnership with Foundation for Women’s Health, a nonprofit research fund dedicated to women’s health.
The $5 million grant, spread over three years, will fund medical research in chronically underfunded areas such as pregnancy and postpartum health and autoimmune conditions, along with initiatives advancing women’s health research, education and care.
Of that total, $1 million is allocated to the newly created Foundation for Women’s Health Evergreen Fund. Using a venture philanthropy model that reinvests returns over time, the fund plans to invest in companies developing therapeutics and diagnostics in fields such as maternal and adolescent girls’ health. Read our full report on the partnership.
Read about the partnership at rhode
Three Things to Check Before Applying
Start with three questions: Who is eligible? What does the program provide? When can you apply?
1
Eligibility
Even programs for women entrepreneurs may set requirements around residency, business location, annual revenue and ownership. Student programs may specify age, enrollment status and language.
2
Support
Programs range from business grants to education and mentorship. Identifying whether you most need funding, management skills or someone to turn to for advice will help narrow the options.
3
Timing
For programs that have closed, check whether the next cycle has been announced. Requirements and benefits may change from year to year, even when the program name stays the same.
FAQ
Q.Which programs offer grants to women entrepreneurs?
A.
Among the programs in this guide, the Cartier Women’s Initiative explicitly offers grants to women founders, with Regional Awards of up to $100,000. Fondation CHANEL, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation and rhode channel funding through organizations and research institutions.
Q.Can entrepreneurs outside the U.S. apply?
A.
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program requires businesses to operate in the United States and applicants to reside legally in the U.S. or its territories. The Cartier Women’s Initiative accepts businesses from many countries, subject to its eligibility criteria.
Q.Are there programs for students?
A.
Women@Dior & UNESCO is open to women under 30 who are final-year undergraduates or postgraduate students in any field, with participation in English.
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