Retailer Eileen Fisher Offers $10,000 Grants

Could your business use a grant? Women's clothing retailer Eileen Fisher is offering $10,000 grants to five women-owned companies with innovative, socially conscious businesses. At least one of the grants will go to a startup (an organization less than 3 years old); the rest will go to organizations that need funds to grow.

During the 2008 grant cycle, more than 125 businesswomen applied for the grants. Applicants will be evaluated on the innovation, social consciousness, sustainability, use of funds and their alignment with the Eileen Fisher mission.

In addition to the grants, Eileen Fisher teams the grant recipients with internal experts from the company, to offer advice on design, retail and product development. "It isn't only about the money--we want to impart our knowledge and networks to these women in order to strengthen their businesses," Fisher says.

The grant application is available on the Eileen Fisher website. Contact Amy Hall or Cheryl Campbell if you have questions.

Recipients of the 2008 grants are:

Twisted Limb Paperworks of Bloomington, Ind. The company creates handmade 100 percent recycled paper that is stitched and assembled into invitations, thank-you notes, business promotional items, holiday greeting cards, and stationery for school and non-profit fundraising.

Strong Healthcare (dba Children's Clinic of Richardson). The company in Richardson, Texas, provides affordable health care to low-income children from birth to age 18.

Simplyneutral of Minneapolis creates natural, non-toxic cleaning products and provides "conscious living" guidance to promote healthier and sustainable lifestyles.

Loyale, based in New York City, uses factories with fair labor practices to create sophisticated, stylish clothing from organic and sustainable fabrics.

The Goat Patrol. This Durham, N.C., startup provides an environmentally friendly alternative to removing unwanted vegetation by using cross-bred Boer goats for targeted grazing.