Zonta Club of Hilo awards $10,000 of microgrants to women entrepreneurs

The Zonta Club of Hilo, USA, announces the commencement of its microgrant application cycle, aimed at providing funding to women-owned small businesses on Hawai‘i Island. As part of the Pay It Forward program, female entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $2,000 to support their business endeavors. Awardees are encouraged to “Pay It Forward” when they are financially able.

"Our goal with the Pay It Forward program is to offer a helping hand to women in our community who are either starting up or expanding their businesses," stated Julie Tulang, Club President of the Zonta Club of Hilo. "We're thrilled to expand our funding this year from $6,000 to $10,000, thanks to the overwhelming response we received in 2023." She also emphasized the significance of empowering women and enhancing communities through these initiatives, aligning with Zonta's mission.

The Pay It Forward program was initiated in 2014 through a generous donation from fellow Zontian Nancy Cabral. Nancy's vision was to inspire other women to achieve financial independence and business success. Since its inception, numerous donors have contributed to these microgrants for women entrepreneurs, furthering the impact of the program.

Applications for the microgrants are open until midnight HST on 31 July. Interested applicants can access the online application here.