The $19 Million Secret: How One Woman Cracked the Code on Free Business Money
The $19 Million Secret: How One Woman Cracked the Code on Free Business Money
And why you're probably leaving thousands on the table right now
Aug 01, 2025
Picture this: You're lying awake at 2 AM, staring at the ceiling, your mind racing through the same exhausting loop. How am I going to pay for inventory? Should I max out another credit card? Maybe I should give up equity to that investor who keeps calling...Sound familiar? Here's what might blow your mind: while you're losing sleep over funding, there are literally billions of dollars sitting in government and corporate accounts, waiting for someone exactly like you to simply ask for them. No strings attached. No credit checks. No giving up pieces of your dream.
I'm talking about grants, and before you roll your eyes and think "that's not for me," let me tell you about Stormi Banks.
The Woman Who Changed Everything
Four years ago, Stormi Banks was just another entrepreneur trying to figure out how to fund her vision. Today? She's helped her clients secure over $19 million in grant funding. Not loans. Not investments. Free money that never has to be paid back.
When I caught up with Stormi recently on the Black Wealth Weekly podcast, she dropped some truth bombs that honestly made me question everything I thought I knew about business funding.
"Your business is not as special as you thought," she told me with a laugh that somehow managed to be both crushing and liberating. "There's money that grantors are literally giving out—billions of dollars that goes untapped simply because we're in our heads so deeply thinking that we don't qualify."
Ouch. But also... hope?
Why I Was Dead Wrong About Debt (And You Probably Are Too)
Here's something Stormi said that stopped me in my tracks: "A lot of people who are taking on debt really early on in their business have to make quick decisions in desperation because they owe somebody that money back."
Been there, right? That sick feeling in your stomach when you're making business decisions not because they're right, but because you need to make payroll or cover that loan payment.
Stormi continued: "When you're not operating in that type of capacity, you just have more momentum to be able to make decisions with clarity."
Think about Pinky Cole from Slutty Vegan. Hugely successful, right? But she had to buy back her own business after investors tried to push her out. Her own business! Can you imagine working your tail off to build something, only to have someone else try to take it from you?
That's the hidden cost of traditional funding that nobody talks about until it's too late.
The Myth That's Costing You Thousands
Raise your hand if you think grants are only for nonprofits. (I'm raising mine too—I totally believed this.)
Wrong. Dead wrong.
Stormi works with 50% for-profit companies and 50% nonprofits. Equal opportunities for both. I had to ask her to repeat this because it seemed too good to be true.
"Whether you're just an idea in someone's head or you're a company doing $400 million annually," she explained, "there are grant opportunities for you."
The only real requirement? Your business needs to help people. That's it. You're not curing cancer? Doesn't matter. You're running a local bakery that brings joy to your community? You qualify. You're a consultant helping other businesses succeed? You definitely qualify.
The Strategy That Actually Works (No BS)
Okay, here's where Stormi got really practical, and I pulled out my notebook because this stuff is gold.
Her approach is simple but systematic:
Apply to one grant per day (just one!)
Expect to win about 10% of what you apply for
Focus on smaller, stackable grants rather than swinging for the fences
Let me do the math for you: If you apply to 30 grants worth $10,000 each in a month, and you win just 10% (which is her average), that's $30,000 in free money. Every month.
"This is what grants are supposed to do," Stormi told me, talking about how she funded her entire podcast through grants. "This is money that I've never had to pay back, that never affected my personal credit, that was literally just a written idea."
A written idea that turned into real money. Mind = blown.
The Game-Changing Strategy Nobody Talks About
Here's where Stormi shared something that made me literally pause the interview and ask her to repeat it.
Before she applies to any grant, she emails the grant provider directly. Not with her application—just with her pitch deck and a simple question: "What are you looking for? What do you hope for in terms of partnering with a small business through this grant opportunity?"
Most people would never think to do this. We're so used to faceless applications and hoping for the best. But Stormi treats grant providers like human beings (revolutionary, I know) and actually talks to them.
She also does something else brilliant: she finds people who've won grants and simply asks them about their experience. Not to copy them, but to learn what worked.
"I would DM them directly asking about their winning proposals," she shared. "Ask for feedback on what made their applications successful."
Most successful entrepreneurs are happy to share what worked for them. You just have to ask.
The Truth About What Happens After You Win
I had to ask about the elephant in the room: What's the catch? What happens after you get the money?
Stormi's answer was refreshingly honest: "It depends on the grant."
Corporate grants? Often no reporting required at all. Government grants? Usually just profit/loss statements and progress reports. Some include accelerator programs to make sure you're using the money wisely.
"For those people who are like, 'Oh, I don't want to do all this paperwork,' I don't want you in my business—no problem. Leave grants for us," she said with a laugh. "We are so fine with continuing to get this money debt-free and building our businesses."
I love her energy about this. If filling out some paperwork is the price of free money, sign me up.
Why You're Not Doing This Already (The Real Talk)
As our conversation went deeper, Stormi got more personal about what really holds people back. It's not the application process or the competition—it's something much more fundamental.
"You qualify if you start a business and you are helping someone in your business. But you have to understand that my business is worthy, that I'm actually doing good, that I actually believe in what I'm doing."
There it is. The real barrier isn't external—it's internal. It's that voice in your head saying you don't deserve it, you're not ready, you need to prove yourself first.
But here's what Stormi knows that most of us don't: Grant providers want to give away this money. That's literally their job. They have budgets they need to spend, impact they need to create, and businesses they need to support.
You're not asking for charity. You're offering them a partnership.
Where to Start Right Now (Like, Today)
If you're feeling overwhelmed, Stormi suggests starting small and local:
Need basic business setup (website, LLC, bank account)? Look for grants in the $5,000-$10,000 range
Already running a substantial operation? Consider workforce development grants
Looking to expand? Target growth-focused opportunities
Start with state and local grants because you're creating jobs and opportunities in your community. Then move to corporate grants (companies like QuickBooks, AT&T, and Hello Alice). Federal grants come last—they're bigger but require more established relationships.
The key is to start somewhere. Today. Not when you're "ready" or when your business is "perfect." Today.
The Community You Didn't Know You Needed
One thing that struck me about Stormi is how much she emphasizes community. Her Pink Print community has over 2,000 women, and everyone has to contribute value, not just consume it.
"Even if you're in community with me or anyone that you see online that has followers, you still have something to bring to the table," she told me. "You're an educated, smart person who has all this life experience. Bring that to the table."
This isn't about finding a guru to follow. It's about finding your people and building together.
The Five Things That Actually Matter
Before we wrapped up, I asked Stormi about her "secret sauce." What really makes the difference between entrepreneurs who succeed and those who struggle?
Her answer surprised me. It's not about business strategy or funding tactics. It's about having the right support systems:
Operations Team- People who handle the systems so you can focus on vision
Legal Team- Protecting what you build
Accounting Team- Strategic financial planning (not just bookkeeping)
Bible Study Group- Spiritual grounding and wisdom
"Wealth building isn't a solo journey," she emphasized. Success isn't just about the money—it's about building a life and business that can sustain that money.
The Question That Changes Everything
As our conversation wound down, Stormi left me with something to think about:
"If you have the skillset to go for jobs and you have some extra time—an hour a day at home to apply to a grant opportunity—why wouldn't you get funding that you never have to pay back, that isn't based on your credit score, that is never going to affect you financially but only going to actually help?"
She's right. We spend hours scrolling social media, watching Netflix, or doing a dozen other things that don't move our businesses forward. But one hour a day applying for grants? That could literally transform your entire financial future.
Your Move
I'll be honest—talking to Stormi changed how I think about funding. Not just the tactical stuff (though that's incredibly valuable), but the mindset piece. The realization that I've been making this harder than it needs to be.
The money is there. The opportunities exist. The question isn't whether you qualify—it's whether you're ready to believe you deserve it and do the work to claim it.
So here's my challenge to you: Before you read another article, before you scroll to the next thing, take five minutes and search for one grant opportunity in your area. Just one. Read the requirements. See if you qualify.
Because somewhere out there is a grant provider with money budgeted specifically for businesses like yours. They're waiting for your application. They want to partner with you.
The only question is: Are you going to let them?
Ready to dive deeper? Start by researching state and local grants in your area. Remember what Stormi said: consistency is key. One application per day could be the difference between struggling and thriving.
And if that voice in your head is already listing reasons why this won't work for you, that's exactly the voice you need to ignore. Your business is worthy. You deserve this opportunity. Now go claim it
