Zonta Club of Hilo Offering Grants for Female Entrepreneurs

The Zonta Club of Hilo is accepting microgrant applications to provide funding for women-owned small businesses on Hawai‘i Island. Women entrepreneurs who are seeking financial support are encouraged to apply.

The Pay It Forward program goal is to help women in our community start up or expand a business through a microgrant intended to give a helping hand. The grant will be up to $2,000. Awardees are required to submit a written report after one year, and will be asked to present the report to the club. Awardees are encouraged to “Pay It Forward” when they are financially able.

“Helping women to succeed and improve our communities advances the mission of Zonta. Pay It Forward is one of the many programs our club offers to empower women and girls through service and advocacy,” said Zonta Club of Hilo President Julie Engelhardt.

The Pay It Forward program of the local chapter of Zonta was launched in 2014 with an initial generous donation from Nancy Cabral, a Zonta member and owner of Day-Lum Rentals & Management, Inc. Cabral’s desire was to encourage other women to achieve financial independence and business success. Since its inception, many other generous donors have contributed to these microgrants for women entrepreneurs.

Applications are available online at https://zontahilo.org/pay-it-forward-microgrant/ and are being accepted via email by midnight HST on July 31, 2022 to [email protected] or by mail postmarked by Friday, July 31, 2022 to Zonta Club of Hilo, Pay It Forward Program, P.O. Box 1915, Hilo, HI 96721-1915.