H&R Block Expands Women-Owned Small Business Support with $45K Grants and Year-Round Services
Event summary
- H&R Block opens applications for its third annual 'Fund Her Future' grant program, offering $45,000 in funding and year-round support to four women-owned small businesses.
- New for 2026, all applicants receive year-long, community-focused programming based on identified needs from last year’s survey.
- Nearly one-third of small business owners surveyed identified the need for a mentor, and nearly 60 percent required support in critical business tasks like tax prep and bookkeeping.
- Heather Jiang, a prior grant recipient, used H&R Block’s expertise to expand her team, launch a new product collection, and improve her marketing strategy.
The big picture
H&R Block’s expanded 'Fund Her Future' grant program reflects a broader industry trend of financial institutions providing holistic support to small businesses beyond capital. The initiative aligns with the company’s strategy to leverage its expertise in tax preparation and financial services to foster small business growth, particularly among women-owned enterprises. With the program’s increased ambition in 2026, it will be crucial to monitor its impact on participant success and H&R Block’s ability to scale such initiatives.
What we're watching
- Program Impact
- How the expanded year-round support will affect the long-term success rates of women-owned small businesses.
- Scalability
- Whether H&R Block can sustain and scale this initiative given its broader financial services portfolio.
- Industry Trends
- The pace at which other financial services firms adopt similar programs to support underrepresented entrepreneurs.