What You're Getting WRONG About Grants For Small Businesses... | Ep. 221

• Tiffany opens by debunking the idea that only nonprofits qualify for grants. While many grants target nonprofits, for-profit businesses can also access them—though the process is more competitive.

Personally, I've gotten over $35,000 in grants, and I'm not a nonprofit, and I'm not an LLC.

• Some grants are straightforward, but only when documentation is already organized. Tiffany emphasizes that competitive grants require time and preparation.

I keep documentation of all the grants that I apply to and I just recycle some of the answers. So it does start to get a little easier.

• Grants are often restricted by industry, region, demographic, or focus area. Tiffany shares examples of podcasting grants and North Carolina-specific funding she's received.

• While grants don't need to be repaid, they come with expectations around usage and reporting. Recipients must often document how funds are spent.

• Grants can come from nonprofits, foundations, and even for-profit companies. Tiffany advises starting locally, where many grants go unclaimed due to lack of awareness.

• Tiffany, in business since 2017, recently received a grant in April of the current year. Grants exist for startups, growth, expansion, and pivots.

• Each application is unique, but maintaining a database of past answers allows for efficient reuse. Tiffany is developing the Business Money Makeover program to teach these systems.

• Tiffany stresses that grant decisions are based on the application itself, not brand size. Small businesses are fully eligible if they meet the criteria.

Grants are available for anyone. Honestly, they don't really know how big your brand is or how big your business is.