It’s official.
I submitted my grant application. ✅
Last night, I completed my final review. I read through the responses one more time, made sure I was comfortable with the story we were telling, and confirmed that the application reflected my business, my voice, and the impact I want to make.
Then came the moment I’ve been documenting this entire journey toward. I paid the $25 application fee + SUBMITTED and just like that, the application was out of my hands.
This Was About More Than Filling Out an Application
One of the reasons I decided to document this process was because I wanted you to see what applying for a grant can look like behind the scenes.
For me, for this grant, that included working with a professional grant writer. Having someone with experience across multiple businesses and grant applications added a level of strategy, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail that I truly valued throughout this process.
And there’s another value I don’t want to overlook. While these responses were thoughtfully written for this specific grant opportunity, the work doesn’t necessarily end with this application. I now have stronger language around my business, my story, the audiences I serve, and the impact of my work that I can reference when pursuing other grant opportunities.
That doesn’t mean copying and pasting the same answers into every application. Every grant has its own questions, requirements, and priorities. But I’m not starting from scratch next time either.
I’m building a stronger foundation for future applications.
To me, that’s another part of the value of working with an experienced grant writer. I’m investing in this application, but some of the strategy and thoughtfulness that went into developing these responses can continue to serve my business beyond this one opportunity.
Then came my part.
When I received the draft, I printed it, sat down with my coffee, grabbed my highlighters and pens, and went through every response. I added more color to my personal story. I made sure the audiences I’ve served over the years were represented. I added more of my digital footprint. And I looked for places where I could be more specific.
That review reminded me of something important:
No one knows your story and your business like you do. That said, having experienced eyes helping you shape and communicate that story can make a difference in the process.
And, as I’ve said throughout this journey, professional grant-writing support does not guarantee funding.
And Then There Was That $25.
If you’ve been following this grant journey series from the beginning, you already know the $25 application fee became a whole conversation. I asked a Facebook group of women entrepreneurs:
Would you pay $25 to apply for a $5,000 grant?
Thirty-four responses later, I had A LOT to think about.
➡️ Some said absolutely not.
➡️ Some said they never pay application fees for grants.
➡️ Some questioned where the money goes and wanted more transparency.
➡️ Some said they evaluate opportunities like this on a case-by-case basis.
➡️ And others encouraged me to do my research and consider the potential ROI.
I listened. I researched. I asked questions. And then I made the financial decision that was right for me and my business. I paid the $25.
Does That Mean I’ll Get the $5,000? No. And I want to be very clear about that.
Paying an application fee doesn’t guarantee funding. Working with a professional grant writer doesn’t guarantee funding. Putting together an application I’m proud of doesn’t guarantee funding.
There are no guarantees. But I do know this: I put my business in the room for consideration. And I’m glad I did.
That’s something I talk about often when it comes to money and business. We can research. We can prepare. We can seek professional support. We can make thoughtful decisions. But we can’t control every outcome.
Sometimes our job is to prepare ourselves as best we can, take the opportunity, and then see what happens. That’s where I am now.
So, What Happens Next?
One thing I don’t want to do is submit the application and forget about it.
The grantor explains that the review will be 8 weeks past the deadline and applicants who make the shortlist will be contacted for a 30-minute conversation so they can learn more about the founder and the business and verify the application.
What caught my attention was their statement that “No preparation is required, just the vision and passion.” If selected, that would be the next step in my journey and yes, I’ll take you along for that too.
They also indicate that winners are announced the following month, with results shared through their website and social media.
So I’m doing something else that I think is important when applying for grants: I’m adding this opportunity to my grant tracker, along with the anticipated response timeframe.
Because applying is only part of the process.
I want to keep track of:
What I applied for
When I submitted
How much I paid, if anything
The expected notification timeframe
Whether there is an interview or additional step
The final outcome
That way, I’m not relying on my inbox, or my memory to manage my grant opportunities.
Now We Wait.
This may be the hardest part. The application is submitted. The fee is paid. My part is done. Now the decision belongs to someone else. And whether the answer is YES or NO, I’ll come back and share what happens. Because when I started this Grant Journey, I didn’t promise to show you how to win a grant. I promised to take you through my real process of applying for one. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.
Grant Journey Status
✅ Grant researched
✅ Professional grant-writing support
✅ Draft completed
✅ My review and revisions
✅ Final review
✅ $25 application fee paid
✅ APPLICATION SUBMITTED
⏳ Now we wait.
🔒 For My Elite Subscribers
Now that the application has officially been submitted, it’s time for me to go deeper.
I’m putting together the Grant Application Playbook I’ve been promising you. I’m going deeper into the strategy, due diligence, questions, decision-making framework, lessons from working with a professional grant writer, and practical tools you can use when evaluating and preparing for your own grant opportunities.
Everyone gets to come on the journey. Elite gets a look inside the playbook.
Several readers have also asked about the professional grant-writing support I’m using. I’ll share more about that resource and how you can access that support as well.
For now…The application is submitted. Now we wait.
Your business bestie,
Patrina