Organization · Grant Maker
Red Letter Grant
Red Letter Grant is a non-profit organization based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs through startup grants and mentorship. It focuses on businesses that are three years old or younger in 18 counties of western Wisconsin.
Overview
What Red Letter Grant does
What Red Letter Grant is
Red Letter Grant is a non-profit organization based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs through startup grants and mentorship. It focuses on businesses that are three years old or younger in 18 counties of western Wisconsin.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports grantor and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Grant Maker
- Founded
- Founded in 2016
- Approximate age
- About 10 years
- Structured capabilities
- Grantor · Community
- Last reviewed
- March 19, 2026
Official channels
Find Red Letter Grant elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Red Letter Grant as a grantor
Grant thesis
Red Letter Grant is dedicated to supporting and empowering female entrepreneurs in western Wisconsin through startup grants. The organization aims to foster innovation and community engagement among women-led businesses.
Focus narrative
Red Letter Grant provides startup grants specifically for women entrepreneurs in 18 counties in western Wisconsin. The organization focuses on businesses that are three years old or younger, excluding expansions of older businesses and franchises. A special Indigenous Women’s Grant is also included in the program to support Indigenous women entrepreneurs.
Value and support
Beyond funding, Red Letter Grant provides a supportive community for women entrepreneurs, fostering connections and collaboration among grantees. The organization also offers resources and guidance to help entrepreneurs refine their business plans and achieve their goals.
Grant economics
- Grant range
- $2,000–$4,000
- Typical grant
- $2,000
- Grants per year
- 16
- Dilutive
- No
- Nonprofit only
- Yes
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
- Application cycle
- annual
- Next deadline
- April 6, 2026
Eligibility and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Founders
- Inclusion focus
- women-founded and indigenous
- Regions
- North AmericaUnited States
Process and recipient context
Application process
The Red Letter Grant operates on a Double Grant Cycle. Applications for the Spring 2026 Grant Cycle will open on March 2, 2026, and close on April 6, 2026. During this cycle, six $2,000 grants and two $4,000 grants will be awarded in each of the two regions. Additionally, two $2,000 grants will be awarded each spring to Indigenous women from any county in Wisconsin.
Recipient context
Notable recipients of the Red Letter Grant include The Good Wives, a restaurant in Eau Claire that emphasizes community and creativity; Hive & Hollow, a sustainable flower shop in Menomonie promoting local flower farmers; and Dotters Books, a bookshop in Eau Claire that transitioned from pop-up shops to a physical retail space with the help of the grant.
Capability profile
Red Letter Grant as a community
Community overview
Red Letter Grant is a certified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization founded to support and empower female entrepreneurs. Based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, it is governed by a Board of Directors composed of women entrepreneurs and community leaders from Wisconsin and Minnesota. The organization aims to provide financial assistance to women-led startups, fostering a supportive community for female business owners.
Community focus
Red Letter Grant provides startup grants specifically for women entrepreneurs in 18 counties in western Wisconsin. The organization focuses on businesses that are three years old or younger, excluding expansions of older businesses and franchises. Additionally, the grant program includes a special Indigenous Women’s Grant to support Indigenous female entrepreneurs.
Member value
Members benefit from financial grants that can help launch or grow their businesses. The organization also fosters a community of support among female entrepreneurs, providing networking opportunities and resources to help them succeed.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
- Next recorded event
- March 2, 2026
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders
- Benefits
- grant-funding and network-access
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
Events and activity
The Red Letter Grant hosts a Double Grant Cycle, with applications opening in March and closing in April each year. Additionally, they award Indigenous Women’s Grants each spring to support Indigenous female entrepreneurs.
Notable members
Notable recipients of the Red Letter Grant include The Good Wives, Hive & Hollow, and Dotters Books, all of which have made significant contributions to their communities.
Common questions
What to know about Red Letter Grant
Upseed classifies Red Letter Grant under the Grant Maker organization type. Its current public profile includes grantor and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 19, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.