Episode•February 20, 2025•12 min

How Business Owners Can Get Grant Ready with Stormi Banks | Ep. 369

In this exciting episode of the Money Talk With Tiff podcast, Tiffany Grant is joined by grant expert Stormi Banks, founder of Pink Print Firm. Together, they delve into the essential steps business owners need to take to become grant-ready and secure funding opportunities. Stormi shares her valuable insights on business registration, digital presence, grant proposals, and establishing a business bank account. She also explains the types of grants available, ranging from micro-grants to those from major corporations, and highlights the importance of having a certified grant writer on board. Listen in to learn more about how Pink Print can assist small businesses in accessing funding without adding financial burdens. Check out the full show notes: https://moneytalkwitht.com/podcast-show-notes/get-grant-ready-guide/ Takeaways To get grant-ready, business owners need to have their business registered, either as a nonprofit or for-profit entity. This registration opens up a world of grant opportunities. Having a solid online presence is essential; creating social media accounts and a simple website helps showcase your mission and connect with potential funders. Crafting a compelling grant proposal is key; it’s less about a business plan and more about telling your unique story to grab attention from grantors. A business bank account is non-negotiable for receiving grants; funders only transfer money to business accounts, not personal ones, so set it up right away! There's a wide range of grants available, from small micro-grants of $500 to larger ones that can reach up to $500,000, depending on your business status and needs. Minority certifications can help access specific grants, but they're not essential to start applying; focus on getting your business ready first. Resources Mentioned Pink Print Firm: A full-service grant writing agency founded by Stormi Banks, helping small business owners access non-dilutive, debt-free funding. Galaxy of Stars Grant: An easy-application grant with a prize of $2,450. Join Tiffany Grant every Thursday for a new episode of Money Talk With Tiff, and catch up on previous episodes at moneytalkwitht.com. Follow Tiffany on all social media platforms @moneytalkwitht for more money tips and insights. Support this Podcast Copyright 2025 Tiffany Grant This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

1
Register your business as an LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or nonprofit to unlock the majority of grant opportunities
Sole proprietorships miss out on many small-business grant categories
Registration with your secretary of state provides the required documentation funders expect
2
Build a credible digital footprint with both social media and a simple website
Grantors review your online presence to verify legitimacy and activity
Focus on consistent posting about offerings, community involvement, and milestones rather than follower count
3
Craft narrative-driven grant proposals instead of traditional business plans
Tailor your story to align with each funder’s mission and vision
Highlight facts, data, and the unique angle that makes your business the obvious choice
4
Open a dedicated business bank account before applying for grants
Funders issue ACH transfers or checks only to business accounts, never personal ones
Any local, federal, or national bank works; compare fees to fit your budget
5
Grants range from micro-grants ($500–$5,000) to large awards ($5,000–$500,000) from corporations, foundations, and government
Minority or women-owned certifications can reduce competition but are not required to start
Simple applications like the Galaxy of Stars grant exist alongside more complex ones that benefit from a certified grant writer

Intro

Tiffany Grant welcomes grant expert Stormi Banks, founder of Pink Print Firm, to explain how small-business owners can become grant-ready and secure non-dilutive funding.
Stormi Banks is the founder of Pink Print Firm, a full-service grant-writing agency that has raised $18 million with an 88% success rate since launching in 2021.

Pink Print Firm

– Step 1: Register Your Business Entity

Stormi stresses that the first action is registering with your secretary of state as an LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or nonprofit to access the widest pool of grants.

This will allow you to be accessible to more grant opportunities that are available on the market.
– Stormi Banks

– Step 2: Establish Your Digital Presence

After registration, create social profiles (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and at minimum a landing-page website that showcases your mission, services, and contact info.

A lot of grantors these days are relying on your digital footprint to be able to get more information about you.
– Stormi Banks

– Craft a Narrative-Driven Grant Proposal

A grant proposal differs from a business plan; it’s a storytelling document that aligns your business facts with each funder’s mission.

We change our narrative to showcase who we serve, which is women of color, or we change our narrative based on if we’re hosting an event.
– Stormi Banks

– Open a Business Bank Account

Funders will only send funds via ACH or check to a business account, never a personal one.

If you’re a business but you only have an individual personal account, they’re not going to put the money into your personal account.
– Stormi Banks

– Types and Sizes of Grants Available

Micro-grants start at $500–$5,000; larger awards from corporations, foundations, and government range from $5,000 to $500,000.

There’s a grant out right now for $4,250. It’s called the Galaxy of Stars grant… two multiple choice questions and then you hit submit.
– Stormi Banks

– When to Hire a Professional Grant Writer

Pink Print Firm charges a flat upfront fee ($900–$3,900) and applies on your behalf; charging a percentage of the grant is unethical and often disallowed.

We’ve been able to raise $18 million in grant funding with an 88% success rate.
– Stormi Banks

Resources

Topics

grant readinesssmall business fundingnon-dilutive capitalgrant writingbusiness registrationdigital presencenarrative storytellingbusiness bankingminority certificationsmicro-grants