💰Mother’s Day Money: Grants, Shorter Workdays & Rihanna’s Billion Dollar Baby

Hey Sis,

Mother’s Day is almost here and while roses are sweet, what most mamas really want is peace, purpose—and a little more paper 💸.

This week in The Financial Glow-Up, I’m hoping to add value to your life and to every mom, mompreneur, and mother figure out here raising babies and building empires all at the same time. From grants for women of color to shorter workdays for parents (👀), keep reading through to the end for your power-packed, money-minded glow-up for the week.

👩🏾‍💼 Money Reserved for Mamas!

Mamas, you could be eligible for free funding to launch or grow your business from the following grant programs:

• HerRise MicroGrant: Financial support for women of color running community-impactful small businesses.

• YippityDoo: $1,000 + mentorship and mindset coaching for women of color entrepreneurs.

• Tory Burch Foundation: Offers grants and fellowships to women of color-led businesses.

• IFundWomen: Offers grant programs and corporate partnerships specifically for women of color.

🔗 More Funding Resources:

• WomensNet’s Amber Grant

• Small Business Grants for Women

• The Freed Fellowship

• Grants for Single Moms

⏰ Gov’t Pushes for Shorter Work Hours for Moms

C’mon Philippines! 👏🏾 In this small but mighty island nation, lawmakers are advocating for shorter working hours for mothers of young children. The goal? More balance, less burnout. Imagine if this work theory came to the U.S... 👀

Read the full story →

👑 Rihanna’s Billion Dollar Baby—and Diana Ross’ Met Gala Moment

Rihanna, 37, who is one of America’s wealthiest self-made women, according to Forbes, just shocked the world at the 2025 Met Gala by revealing she’s expecting Baby No. 3 with A$AP Rocky. Rihanna is worth $1.4 billion due to her lucrative cosmetics and music dealings, so I guess she can afford to keep having babies. The only question I have is: how can I be down?! Glow girls, does anyone know RiRi? If so, please ask her teach a motha how to make billion dollar moves!

While we wait for her response, check out Rihanna’s Baby Bump Reveal here.

Meanwhile, the “Matriarch” of Motown Diana Ross served iconic glam at 81 years young in a massive feathered ensemble that made her the undisputed queen of this year’s Met. Take a peek at Diana Ross’s Look That Shut Down the Carpet so hard, even Zendaya and Law Roach had to pause and take a second look.

💳 Student Loan Collections Restart

I warned you about this in a previous newsletter, but today, May 5, 2025, it’s really happening. After years on pause, collections have resumed for borrowers in default. If you’re behind, programs like Fresh Start can help protect your income and credit.

Learn what to do next →

📈 HSA Limits Are Up in 2026—Plan Now

The IRS just increased Health Savings Account (HSA) limits for 2026. That means more tax-free savings for healthcare, investing, and retirement.

• Individuals: $4,300

• Families: $8,550

See all the details →

🎙️ Investing Success Story: From $8,000 to Millions

On a featured episode of my podcast More to the Story with Markette Sheppard, learn how Oscar-winning film director Barry Jenkins turned an $8,000 investment into a multi-million dollar career that is still paying dividends to this day.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

💌 Love this newsletter? Forward it to a friend, sister, or mama who could use a financial glow-up too. We grow when we share the glow. 🌟

Keep glowing and growing (your pocketbook),

Markette Sheppard
Editor, The Financial Glow-Up

markettesheppard

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ICYMI: We’re $1,750 Away From Our Scholarship Goal

💖 Donate now to support a student in need

Thank you to our incredible Glow-Up readers who’ve donated $250 so far to the Mason-Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund. We’re empowering the next generation—and we’re just $1,750 away from our goal! 🙏🏾