TIME FOR YOUR RED LETTER. Since 2017, Eau Claire-founded nonprofit Red Letter Grant has awarded grants to over 50 women-owned start-ups. 2019 winners, photographed by Ivy Media, pictured.

The Red Letter Grant is calling for applications for its Fall 2026 grant cycle, exclusively open to women-owned startups in northwestern Wisconsin.

Now through 11pm on Monday, Oct. 12, applications for one of four grants – three $2,000 grants and one $4,000 grant – are being accepted online. To be eligible, businesses must be three years old or less; majority woman-owned; located within Red Letter Grant’s 18-county area or an Indigenous woman-owned business statewide.

The nonprofit, which held its first round of grant awards in 2017 – founded by politician and former Eau Claire business owner Rebecca Cooke – has continued its mission to support and empower female entrepreneurs in the region. 

Red Letter Grant's Fall 2026 cycle is now open for female entrepreneurs (with businesses less than three years old) in regions one and two, pictured. (Via redlettergrant.org)

Since its founding, the nonprofit has supported over 50 women-owned businesses. Previous years’ winners have included Eau Claire’s Dotters Books, The Good Wives and Cornelia’s Home Market, as well as Tilly’s Coffee Shop in Fall Creek, 6Four Accord in Cameron and many others.

In recent years, the nonprofit has expanded its original ten-county stretch to a total 18 counties, divided between “Region One” and “Region Two.”

Region one includes the Chippewa Valley (Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire counties) and Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix and Trempealeau counties.

Region two spans Barron, Burnett, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn counties.

Applicants can review required materials (business plan, financial projections, etc.) online at www.redlettergrant.org, where additional business resources can also be found. The nonprofit recommends applicants connect with the Small Business Development Center in Eau Claire, during their application process.

Fall 2026 grant cycle timeline

• Sept. 8 – Applications open 
• Oct. 12 – Application deadline at 11pm; no late applications will be accepted
• Oct. 12-31 – Judges for regions one and two review applications
• Nov. 2-6 – Finalists will be invited for interviews
• Nov. 9-13 – Grant awards celebrations will be held (dates and times TBD), winners announced live

The Fall 2026 Red Letter Grant cycle is open now through 11pm on Monday, Oct. 12. View application requirements and more information online at www.redlettergrant.org.