Giving Joy Grants STRENGTHEN, INSPIRE and propel WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORLDWIDE

THe Challenge Women Face

In 2025, the world has closed only 68.8 % of the overall gender gap, but just 61 % of the economic gap (World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Report 2025). At today’s pace, it will take over 150 years for women to achieve equal participation and pay in the global economy (WEF 2025 Report, Economic Participation & Opportunity Index). Women hold only 27 % of managerial roles and about 20 % of board seats worldwide. Unpaid care work continues to keep millions of women out of the formal labor force. Even in countries with near-parity in education, female workforce participation has stalled or declined.

Giving Joy exists to change this trajectory. By funding women entrepreneurs and helping them build sustainable businesses, we tackle the economic gap directly, because financial independence is the foundation of lasting equality.

Our solution—MICRO GRANTS, MACRO IMPACT, GLOBAL REACH

Micro Grants. We believe that all women should have the opportunity to sustain themselves and achieve gender equality.  Giving Joy awards one-time, micro grants of up to $500.00 (five hundred US Dollars) to women-led initiatives - giving women entrepreneurs critical resources to start businesses, acquire skills, sustain operations, improve ideas, and advance gender equality worldwide.

“The Giving Joy grant is more than a financial contribution—it’s a catalyst for systemic change. It enables women to lead, girls to dream bigger, and communities to reimagine what’s possible when inclusion, education, and joy come together.”

Giving Joy Grant Winner Sally Hassona, Founder Impact Academy Egypt

Macro Impact. The benefits of these micro-grants cascade through communities. They strengthen skills, expand access to resources, create jobs and income, and raise awareness to women’s issues. Grant activities translate into increased opportunities and services for everyone touched by the recipient’s endeavor.

Known as the “multiplier effect,” it means that every dollar you donate to Giving Joy has an exponentially positive impact that goes beyond the individual grant recipient and overflows across women and communities.

After the award, grantees join an exclusive online community where they can share resources, seek advice, and offer support—embodying the true spirit of Giving Joy, where women uplift and empower one another.

 

 

In 2024, Giving Joy awarded 15 micro grants that directly ignited the power of approximately 640 women. The grants created a ripple effect that has impacted over 24,000 people in 2024 alone. Each grant amplifies positive change, transforming entire communities.

* Averages calculated from all 15 grants awarded in 2024. The figures above are estimated based on grantee reporting and planned activities

Global Reach. Since we started in late 2018, Giving Joy has awarded 94 grants to women-led initiatives in Afghanistan, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Kenya, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam and Zimbabwe and within the US states of California, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Virginia, Washington State, and Wisconsin.

Thank you to Our Corporate Sponsors