Are you a woman driving meaningful change for other women and girls? Pave HER Way, a national nonprofit based in Los Angeles, is preparing to open applications for its inaugural funding cycle in August 2026. The organization offers grant programs providing up to $90,000 in funding, paired with multi-year mentorship, cohort support, and access to professional networks designed to create lasting impact.
About Pave HER Way
Launched in 2025, Pave HER Way exists to empower courageous women to make the world more equitable for all women and girls. Founded by CEO Irene Shih along with co-founders Jamie Mohn and Joe Blackstone, the organization goes beyond one-time grants. It aims to remove systemic barriers by combining financial support with sustained mentorship, network access, and community.
The core belief is straightforward: when women receive full financial, communal, and structural backing, they can focus on harnessing their gifts to reimagine systems that were not built with them in mind.
Three Funding Pathways
Pave HER Way structures its support around three primary pathways, with awards reaching up to $90,000 depending on the program:
- Merit-based awards — For women who have already demonstrated impact in advancing opportunities for other women and girls.
- Sponsorship-based funding — Targeted at transformational projects that address structural barriers.
- Need-based financial assistance — Support for education, childcare, housing, and professional development costs that often hold women back.
Recipients also gain multi-year mentorship commitments, cohort-based peer support, and connections intended to produce concrete outcomes such as partnerships, career advancement, and expanded opportunities, not just casual networking.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility is open to women working across a wide range of fields, including:
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Technology
- Public service
- Healthcare
- Education
- Law
- Media
- The arts
The programs welcome both entrepreneurial and community-driven initiatives. The focus is on women actively building organizations, projects, or efforts that expand possibilities for other women and girls.
Award Categories
-Change Agent prize
Recognition for proven leaders already breaking barriers for other women.
For women – in any field and in any role – with a demonstrated track record of doing work that helps other women.
Up to $90,000
Mentorship, cohort experience, and network access available, not required.
-Disruptor award
Sponsorship for a transformational project or idea with clear public benefit for women and girls.
For women – in any field and in any role – who have a project or idea that credibly qualifies as a form a “public benefit” for other women and girls.
Up to $90,000
Mentorship and cohort experience required. Network access available.
-Financial Aid
Need-based support for women facing financial barriers to taking the next step.
For women with a vision for impact, who presently need financial assistance to fund their education or to overcome personal hardship.
Up to $30,000
Mentorship, cohort experience, and network access available, not required.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Many grant programs provide short-term funding but Pave HER Way emphasizes sustained investment. Mentorship extends over multiple years, and the networks are designed for tangible results. The organization also actively recruits mentors, industry professionals, and community leaders to support recipients through guidance and operational involvement.
Applications for the first funding cycle are expected to open in August 2026. Interested women are encouraged to monitor the official website for exact dates, detailed guidelines, and application materials.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants can apply using the Link provided 👉 Here.
Those interested in mentoring or volunteering can also explore opportunities to contribute their experience and networks.
Pave HER Way is building more than a grant program—it is investing in women who refuse to accept the status quo and are actively rewriting the systems around them. If you are one of those women, or know someone who is, mark your calendar for August 2026.
Funding of this scale, combined with long-term support, remains relatively rare. Early preparation and a clear story of impact will position applicants strongly when the call opens.
For the latest information, visit the official Pave HER Way website and check trusted funding platforms for announcements as the August 2026 application window approaches.
