MWSBA 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions 

About the Selection Committee

The selection committee is made up of 4 volunteers, who are all past winners of the MWSBA. All past winners are invited to serve in this capacity, and are currently actively running growing businesses themselves. This is a unique model because we are a committee of proud women veterans who have received the grant and who are passionate about giving back to our community.   

Why were there so many applications this year?

We typically received between 100-150 applications and this year we received over 450 applications! This is a historical milestone. The grant opportunity was shared by some key stakeholders, and it really took of this year, we are so happy that word was spread so widely. 

Why are there two awards this year?

This is the first year the Melissa Washington Small Business Award has been presented to non-profit and for profit categories. The committee recognized in previous years that holding for-profit and non-profit ventures to the same competitive standard created an uneven playing field, as the two business models have fundamentally different measures of success and growth. We have been wanting to separate the categories for some time, but in previous years we had significant funding constraints. This year the stars aligned and we were able to expand to 2 categories.    

Will I receive individual feedback on my application?

Due to the volume of applications received this year, the committee is not able to provide individual scores or written feedback. We encourage all applicants to review the scoring criteria below and use them as a self-assessment guide when preparing a future application. 

What criteria were used to evaluate applications?

Applications were scored on a 100-point scale across five categories:

A — Application Completeness (5 points): Information filled out correctly; application fully completed
B — Business Information (25 points): Financial documentation, business plan clarity, and market analysis
C — Applicant Experience & Qualifications (30 points): Subject matter expertise and relevant credentials
D — Business Growth Potential (30 points): Strategic planning, mission clarity, and demonstrated or projected growth
E — Community Involvement (10 points): Volunteer service, offices held, and awards or honors 

How does the committee approach diversity and demographics?

The award is open to all eligible women veteran business owners, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background. Applicants are not required to disclose demographic information such as race or ethnicity, and this information is not considered in scoring or selection. The committee evaluates every application using the same published criteria and scoring rubric. 

How are the grants funded?

The Melissa Washington Small Business Award is fully funded by generous donors and through funds raised at fundraising activities throughout the year. 

How were conflicts of interest handled?

Committee members are required to disclose any personal or professional relationship with an applicant that could compromise their objectivity. When a conflict of interest was identified, the committee member recused themselves from scoring that applicant entirely. Their score for that applicant was replaced by a score from a designated alternate reviewer, ensuring every application received a complete and impartial evaluation. 

Scoring was conducted independently, reviewers did not discuss scores with one another before submitting, and individual scores were not visible to other reviewers during the process. 

Tips for applicants planning to apply next year

• Use the scoring rubric as your outline. Address each of the five criteria directly and in detail.
• Include financial documentation where your business is operational. Applications with supporting financials score significantly higher in the Business Information category.
• Quantify everything you can. Numbers tell a stronger story than narrative alone. Be sure to include information like number of clients served, or the size of your community, years of operation, growth numbers or forecasts.
• Be specific about your use of funds. Reviewers respond well to applicants who tie the grant request to a concrete, measurable and realistic outcome.
• Document community involvement with specifics: offices held, hours contributed, organizations served.
• Be thorough and authentic. The applications who scored the highest shared a compelling story of their business ventures. Generic marketing materials or narratives did not score as highly as the ones who put in the time to answer the specific questions.