High Five Grant for Moms: What It Really Is, Who Qualifies, and How to Apply
- July 29, 2026
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Quick Answer
The HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms™ is a business grant competition hosted by The Mama Ladder, designed for mothers who already own and operate a for-profit business. It is not a general financial-hardship grant, applicants must show existing business revenue, not household income. The 2026 cycle is scheduled to open for applications on September 1, 2026. It is not designed for mothers who are unemployed, between jobs, or looking for help with everyday living expenses. If that’s your situation, skip to the alternative grants for women entrepreneurs section below.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the High Five Grant:
- What Is the High Five Grant for Moms?
- Who the High Five Grant Is (and Isn't) For
- High Five Grant Eligibility Requirements
- How the Application Process Has Worked
- 2026 Application Timeline (As Published)
- What the Grant Has Historically Awarded
- Tips If You're Considering Applying
- Common Reasons Applications Fall Short
- High Five Grant Alternatives
- How Grant Writing Company Can Help
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the High Five Grant for Moms?
The High Five Grant for Moms (also written as #HighFiveGrant) is a business grant program created by The Mama Ladder, a company founded by Crystalee Beck that focuses on supporting mothers who run their own businesses. Beck started the program after building her own marketing agency, Comma Copywriters, into a million-dollar business while raising four children. The grant’s stated mission is to help other “mompreneurs” get similar traction. The grant has been awarded since 2018 and has historically run as a competition-style program rather than a first-come, first-served application process.
Unlike government assistance programs or nonprofit emergency funds, this is not designed to cover living expenses, childcare costs, or housing. It’s built specifically for women entrepreneurs who are also mothers and who want capital to grow an existing business.
Since 2018, the program has awarded more than $115,500 in cash grants and over $43,000 in additional goods and services to mom-owned businesses, with a publicly stated goal of reaching $1 million in total grants awarded by 2033. The program has been referenced by outlets including NerdWallet, and Forbes in roundups of small-business grants for women.
Who the High Five Grant Is (and Isn't) For
This is the part most “grants for moms” search results gloss over. Based on the official eligibility criteria published by The Mama Ladder, you generally need to meet all four of the following:
This grant is best suited for:
- You're a mother
- You own at least 50% of a for-profit business
- Your business already earns revenue
- Your business is headquartered in the United States or Canada
It is not designed for:
- Mothers seeking help with childcare costs, rent, or day-to-day living expenses
- New entrepreneurs with no business revenue history
- Nonprofit organizations (this is a for-profit business grant)
If you’re a mother looking for general financial assistance rather than business funding, programs built for that purpose, such as grants for single mothers, housing assistance programs, or emergency financial aid funds, will typically be a better fit than a business competition like this one.
High Five Grant Eligibility Requirements
Based on eligibility criteria published on The Mama Ladder’s official site, applicants have generally needed to meet requirements along these lines:
Requirement |
What It Has Meant |
|---|---|
Motherhood status
|
Applicant is a mom, including expecting mothers, stepmoms, and foster moms
|
Business ownership
|
Applicant owns at least 50% of a for-profit, product- or service-based business
|
Revenue history
|
Business has generated verifiable revenue (published ranges have fallen roughly between $10,000 and $500,000 in the prior 12 months)
|
Business location
|
Business is headquartered in the United States or Canada
|
Important: Exact income and revenue thresholds, geographic restrictions, and other eligibility rules can change from one grant cycle to the next. Always verify the latest High Five Grant eligibility requirements on the official website before you begin preparing an application.
How the Application Process Has Worked
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility First
Don’t invest time in the application if your business doesn’t meet the revenue or ownership threshold, check the current criteria. Professional grant research services can help you find relevant grant opportunities based on your business profile and eligibility.
Step 2: Complete the Application.
Plan for roughly 30–60 minutes. You’ll typically be asked to explain your business, your growth plans, and the personal story behind why you started it. A professional grant writing partner can help you prepare a stronger, more compelling application.
Step 3: Post your "why" on Social Media
Applicants are usually asked to share a public post, a photo or short story about the motivation behind their business, using the hashtag #highfivegrant and tagging the program’s official accounts and title sponsor.
Step 4: Check for an Application Fee
In past cycles, the program has charged an application fee, with the stated policy that fee revenue funds the grant pool itself. Fee amounts and whether a fee applies at all can change by year, confirm the current terms before submitting payment.
Step 5: Wait for Announcement
A judging panel of vetted entrepreneurs reviews all applications and narrows the pool to finalists.
Step 6: Promote your Public Vote
If you’re selected as a finalist, the next stage is a public voting period, so being prepared to rally support from your customers, friends, and social network genuinely affects outcomes, this is a competition with a public component, not a blind merit review.
How Grant Writing Company Can Help
Preparing a strong grant application for a competitive, story-driven grant like this one is different from filling out a standard funding request. It requires a clear narrative, organized documentation, and an application built to stand out among many other applicants.
Grant Writing Company works with individuals and business owners to:
- Research funding opportunities that genuinely match their situation
- Organize and present documentation clearly
- Strengthen the narrative and structure of an application
- Avoid common submission mistakes that lead to disqualification
- Identify alternative grants when a specific program isn't the right fit
If you’re weighing whether the High Five Grant, or a different funding opportunity entirely, makes sense for your business or family, our team can help you evaluate the options before you invest time in an application.
2026 Application Timeline (As Published)
According to the official Mama Ladder website, the planned 2026 cycle follows this general structure:
Stage |
Reported 2026 Dates |
|---|---|
Applications open
|
September 1–30, 2026
|
Judging period
|
October 1–14, 2026
|
Finalists announced
|
October 10, 2026
|
Public voting
|
October 14–21, 2026
|
Winners announced
|
October 23, 2026
|
These dates come from The Mama Ladder’s published materials for the 2026 cycle. These dates can shift, so confirm the current schedule directly on the official High Five Grant page before planning around it.
What the Grant Has Historically Awarded
Award structures have changed across grant cycles, which is worth knowing if you come across older articles quoting different figures. Here’s how prize amounts have been reported in past cycles:
Grant Cycle (as reported) |
Grand Prize |
Runner-Up Awards |
|---|---|---|
2019–2020 cycles
|
$5,000
|
$2,000 / $1,000 / $500 (multiple finalists)
|
2024–2025 cycle
|
$10,000 (plus reported add-ons like services and event access)
|
$5,000 / $2,500 / $1,000 (multiple honorable mentions)
|
The organization has also reported cumulative totals awarded since the program’s 2018 launch. Because award amounts, structure, and any non-cash perks (such as services or event tickets) can vary by cycle, treat any specific dollar figure as historical unless it’s confirmed on the current official page.
Common Misconceptions
Misconception 1: "This is free money for any mom who needs it"
It isn’t. It’s a competitive business grant with financial eligibility thresholds, aimed at existing entrepreneurs.
Misconception 2: "There's a guaranteed application fee"
Fee policies have varied by cycle; some years included a fee, and terms can change. Confirm current terms rather than assuming last year’s applied.
Tips If You're Considering Applying
- Read the current cycle's rules in full before starting
- Have your revenue documentation organized
- Write your "why" clearly
- Take the public vote seriously from day one
- Don't wait until the deadline
- Lead with a specific, honest story, not a mission statement
- Show revenue trajectory, not just a total
- Don't skip the social media component
Common Reasons Applications Fall Short
- Missing or incomplete revenue documentation
- Business doesn't meet the ownership or revenue thresholds
- Application submitted after the deadline
- Social media component not completed correctly (missing tags or hashtag)
- Business story doesn't clearly communicate purpose or growth plans
Many applicants underestimate how important a compelling narrative is. Learn how to avoid these and other common errors in our guide, “Top Grant Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.”
High Five Grant Alternatives for Women Entrepreneurs
If your business doesn’t yet meet the revenue threshold, or you’re looking for financial assistance rather than a business competition, these categories of programs are worth researching:
Alternative Grant Program |
Best For |
Repayment Required |
General Eligibility Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
High Five Grant
|
Established mom-owned businesses with existing revenue
|
No
|
Business ownership + revenue
|
Atomic Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
|
Women-owned startups and small businesses seeking growth funding
|
No
|
Women entrepreneurs with eligible businesses
|
Women and minority-owned small businesses
|
No
|
Small business ownership and application requirements
| |
Beauty businesses founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs
|
No
|
Inclusive beauty brands and founders
| |
Small businesses looking for funding and business support
|
No
|
Eligible U.S. small business owners
| |
Women entrepreneurs at various stages of business
|
No
|
Women-owned businesses across industries
| |
Small businesses needing financial support and digital resources
|
No
|
Eligible small businesses, often with a focus on growth and resilience
| |
Women entrepreneurs launching or expanding businesses
|
No
|
Women-owned businesses meeting program criteria
| |
Women-owned businesses seeking funding and mentorship
|
No
|
Women entrepreneurs and small business owners
|
Want to explore more funding options? Read our guide, Types of Grants Available in the US, for a comprehensive overview of grants available to small businesses, women entrepreneurs, nonprofits, startups, and more.
Conclusion
The High Five Grant for Moms is a real, established business grant program, but it’s built for mothers who already run a revenue-generating business, not as a general source of financial assistance. Understanding that distinction up front can save you time and help you focus your search in the right direction, whether that means preparing a strong High Five Grant application or exploring one of the many other grant programs available to mothers and families.
Because eligibility rules, award amounts, deadlines, and fees can change between cycles, always verify the latest information on the official High Five Grant website before applying. If you’d like help evaluating whether this program, or another funding opportunity, fits your situation, Grant Writing Company’s team is available to help you research options and prepare a stronger application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the High Five Grant for Moms?
It’s a business grant competition run by The Mama Ladder for mothers who own for-profit businesses, offering cash awards that don’t need to be repaid.
Is the High Five Grant legitimate?
It has been publicly run since 2018 by The Mama Ladder, with documented sponsors and past winners. As with any grant, confirm current details through the official site before submitting personal or business information.
Who qualifies for the High Five Grant?
Historically, mothers who own at least 50% of a for-profit business with documented revenue, based in the U.S. or Canada. Verify current eligibility rules on the official site.
How much money does the High Five Grant provide?
Award amounts have varied by cycle, with grand prizes reported between $5,000 and $10,000 in different years, plus smaller runner-up awards. Confirm current figures officially.
Can single mothers apply?
Yes, motherhood status alone doesn’t determine eligibility here; business ownership and revenue do. A single mother who owns a qualifying business could apply.
What documents are typically needed?
Based on the eligibility criteria, applicants should expect to document business ownership percentage and revenue. Confirm the full document list on the official application.
How long does approval take?
Past cycles have followed a multi-week process: application review, finalist announcement, public voting, then winner announcement, often spanning about six to eight weeks total.
Where is the official website?
Search for “The Mama Ladder High Five Grant” to find the current official page, since URLs and program details can change between cycles.
Is repayment required?
No. Like most grants, High Five Grant funds do not need to be repaid, this distinguishes it from a business loan.
Can working mothers or stay-at-home moms apply?
Eligibility centers on business ownership and revenue rather than employment status, so both working mothers and stay-at-home moms who own a qualifying business may be eligible.
Before You Apply: This guide is for informational purposes only and reflects publicly available information. Grant details, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding availability may change at any time. Always verify current details on the official High Five Grant page before applying.
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Author-Sarah T
Grant Research Analyst
Sarah T. is a Grant Research Analyst with more than 18 years of experience researching grant programs and funding opportunities for small businesses, nonprofits, startups, and entrepreneurs. She specializes in reviewing eligibility requirements, analyzing funding guidelines, and monitoring updates to government, corporate, and foundation grant programs. Her work focuses on producing accurate, well-researched funding resources by verifying information against official grant announcements, program guidelines, and funding agency documentation. Through her research, she helps readers understand grant eligibility, application requirements, deadlines, and program criteria with clear, reliable, and up-to-date information.
Reviewed By-Emily Carter
