Understanding Tory Burch Foundation Grants
The Tory Burch Foundation grant is offered through the Foundation’s Fellows Program, which selects women entrepreneurs running U.S.-based, revenue-generating businesses for a year-long fellowship. Fellows receive a $5,000 business education grant, mentorship, and community. Applicants apply online during the Foundation’s annual application window.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the Tory Burch Foundation grant:
- What Is the Tory Burch Foundation?
- What Is the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program?
- Tory Burch Foundation Grants and Funding Opportunities
- Who Is Eligible for the Tory Burch Grant?
- How to Apply for the Tory Burch Fellowship
- Documents Required
- Benefits of the Tory Burch Program
- Tips to Improve Your Application
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Alternative Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
- How American Grant Experts Can Help
- Frequently Asked Questions
Funding Opportunity for Women Entrepreneurs
Access to funding remains one of the biggest barriers women entrepreneurs face when building and scaling a business. Traditional lenders still approve women-owned businesses at lower rates, and female founders raise a fraction of the venture capital their male peers secure. Foundation-based support has stepped in to help close that gap.
The Tory Burch Foundation is one of the most recognized names in women entrepreneurship support. Founded in 2009 by designer and philanthropist Tory Burch, it was built to increase women’s economic power by giving founders access to capital, education, and community.
What Is the Tory Burch Foundation?
The Tory Burch Foundation is a nonprofit focused on advancing women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship. Its mission centers on removing the barriers, including capital, knowledge, and network, that disproportionately hold women founders back.
Rather than simply writing checks, the Foundation built an entrepreneurial ecosystem:
- fellowship programming
- capital access initiatives
- community of small business owners
The Foundation reports its Fellows community exceeds $1 million in annual revenue at ten times the national average for women-owned businesses, and added $470 million to the economy last year, evidence, the Foundation says, that pairing funding with education and networking works.
What Is the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program?
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is the Foundation’s flagship initiative and the primary way most entrepreneurs interact with Tory Burch funding. It connects extraordinary women entrepreneurs with tools to scale, lead, and shape the economy.
A fellow is a woman entrepreneur selected into a year-long cohort that receives structured support rather than a one-time check. The Foundation states it selects approximately 120 Fellows per cycle from applicants across the fifty U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
The fellowship program includes:
- Workshops, webinars, and advisory sessions on financials, marketing, partnerships, and leadership
- One-on-one consulting and mentoring from business experts
- A private digital platform connecting Fellows with hundreds of business owners across industries
- An invitation to the Tory Burch Foundation Summit in New York City
Tory Burch Grants and Funding Opportunities
The core Tory Burch Foundation grant is a $5,000 business education grant awarded to each selected Fellow, meant to be reinvested into learning and professional development. It’s a form of non-dilutive funding, founders don’t give up equity or repay it.
Beyond the education grant, the Foundation’s capital access programs have historically included connections to 0% interest loans through lending partners, plus interest-rate reductions on loans through partner lenders for women-owned businesses. This combination of grant-based funding, low-cost capital, and business education funding is what sets this funding apart from a typical one-time small business grant.
Who Is Eligible for the Tory Foundation Grant?
Eligibility criteria are specific and enforced closely. Use this checklist, based on the Foundation’s official Fellowship Rules, to self-assess before applying:
Eligibility Checklist
- I am a woman entrepreneur who owns the largest, or an equally largest, stake in the business
- I have a significant, day-to-day management role in the business
- I am 21 years or older as of the application deadline
- I am a legal resident of the United States or a U.S. territory
- My business is for-profit, from any industry
- My business is at least 51% owned and controlled by women
- My business generates a minimum of $75,000 in annual revenue (no maximum applies)
- My business was formed under U.S. law and operates in the United States
- My business is already generating revenue and in active operation
Minority women entrepreneurs and small business owners in any industry are welcome to apply, the Foundation doesn’t restrict eligibility by sector. Revenue requirements and other rules can shift year to year, so confirm current terms directly with the Foundation.
How to Apply for the Tory Burch Fellowship
The fellowship application process follows a consistent structure each cycle:
Step 1: Review eligibility
Review eligibility criteria against the checklist above. If you need help determining whether your business qualifies, grant matching services can assist in identifying grants that best match your eligibility.
Step 2: Create account
Create an account on the Foundation’s official Fellows application portal.
Step 3: Complete the online application
Complete the online application, detailing your founder story, business model, and growth trajectory.
Step 4: Provide business plan
Optionally attach a business plan, not required, but it strengthens the reviewer’s understanding of your vision (the Foundation offers a business plan builder for applicants without one).
Step 5: Submit before the deadline
Applications are accepted online only; incomplete submissions aren’t valid.
Step 6: Await review
The Foundation doesn’t discuss applications during the review window.
Step 7: Selection notification
Chosen Fellows are contacted directly; individual feedback isn’t guaranteed unless you applied through a referral.
Application windows open and close on a specific annual timeline, confirm the current grant deadline on the official Tory Burch Foundation site.
Required Documents & Application Requirements
Application Requirements Checklist
- Founder story and background
- Business model overview
- Proof of active, revenue-generating operations
- Growth strategy and near-term goals
- Business plan (optional but recommended)
- Confirmation of majority women ownership and control
No application fee is required to apply.
Benefits of the Tory Burch Fellows Program
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Benefit Category
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What It Includes
|
|---|---|
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Financial
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$5,000 education grant, access to 0% interest loan connections
|
|
Mentorship
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One-on-one advisory sessions with business experts
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Education
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Workshops and webinars on financials, marketing, leadership
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|
Networking
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Digital fellows community, in-person Summit in NYC
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Long-Term Support
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Continued access to Foundation resources and programming beyond the fellowship year
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Tips to Improve Your Application
- Lead with a clear, specific founder story, avoid vague mission statements
- Show financial readiness with concrete revenue numbers, not projections alone
- Demonstrate market opportunity clearly: who you serve and why it matters
- Use the optional business plan to show strategic direction, not just current operations
- Highlight leadership vision and how funding will accelerate specific next steps
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting an incomplete application near the deadline
- Vague answers that don't clarify what the business actually does
- Missing eligibility requirements (ownership stake, revenue threshold, residency)
- Skipping supporting details on financial readiness
- Treating the application like a form instead of a founder narrative
Alternative Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
This grant isn’t the only funding path for female founders. Compare it against other well-known women entrepreneur grants:
|
Program
|
Focus
|
Format
|
|---|---|---|
|
Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship
|
Year-long fellowship + education grant
|
Grant + mentorship + loan access
|
|
Monthly grants to women-owned businesses
|
Grant
|
|
|
Global fellowship for impact-driven founders
|
Fellowship + funding
|
|
|
Crowdfunding plus grant opportunities
|
Grant + crowdfunding
|
|
|
Rotating small business grants
|
Grant
|
|
|
Marketing and technology support
|
Grant + services
|
|
|
Digital skills training with grant opportunities
|
Grant + education
|
|
|
Annual competitive small business grant
|
Grant
|
|
|
SBA women-owned business programs
|
Federal certification, contracting, and lending support
|
Certification + capital access
|
Each program has its own eligibility criteria and revenue requirement for grants, so many founders apply to several simultaneously. To understand how programs like these differ in structure and purpose, explore our guide on Types of Grants in the USA.
How American Grant Experts Can Help
Competitive fellowship and grant applications take more than filling in form fields, they require a founder story, financial narrative, and growth strategy reviewers can evaluate quickly. The American Grant Association supports women entrepreneurs and small business owners with:
- Grant and fellowship research to identify strong-fit opportunities
- Eligibility review before you invest time in an application
- Grant matching across programs like Tory Burch funding, SBA resources, and private foundation grants
- Grant resource guidance for building out business plans and supporting documents
- Grant community support services throughout the process
Conclusion
Women-focused funding programs like the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program exist because the funding gap for female founders is real, and foundation support, mentorship, and non-dilutive capital can meaningfully change a business’s trajectory. Whether or not you’re selected, the preparation includes a clear founder story, financial documentation, and growth strategy, strengthening every future application you submit.
Need Help Preparing a Winning Grant or Fellowship Application?
The strongest applications combine compelling storytelling, strategic business planning, and professional presentation. At American Grant Association, we help entrepreneurs with grant research, fellowship research, eligibility review, grant matching, grant resource guidance, and grant community support services.
Contact grant experts today to strengthen your next grant or fellowship application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program?
A year-long fellowship connecting women entrepreneurs with business education, mentorship, funding, and a founder community.
Who is eligible for the Tory Burch grant?
Women who own the largest stake in a majority women-owned, for-profit, U.S.-based business generating at least $75,000 annually, and who are 21 or older.
How do I apply for the Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship?
Through the Foundation’s official online application portal during its annual application window.
Is funding provided through the fellowship?
Yes, Fellows receive a $5,000 business education grant plus access to low-cost lending connections.
What are the selection criteria for fellows?
Leadership potential, business innovation, financial trajectory, and community impact.
What documents are required to apply?
A founder story, business overview, and growth strategy; a business plan is optional but recommended.
What is the application deadline for the fellowship?
Deadlines change annually, confirm the current cycle’s date on the official Foundation website.
Is there an application fee?
No, applying is free.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. Grant details, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding availability may change at any time. Always verify the most current program information through official sources before making any business or funding decisions.