A 4-Week Live Zoom Class for
Black Women For-Profit Small Business Owners
20x Fully-Funded Grant Winner
Founder of http://www.blackwomeningrants.com
This 4-week (8 hours total) online class is a practical starting point for Black women for-profit small business owners who want to understand how for-profit small business grants work (and want to submit stronger small business grant applications).
You do not need another random grant list.
You need to understand:
– Which grants fit your business
– What funders {aka, Grant Check Writers} are looking for
– How to explain your funding needs
– How to connect your business to your secret weapon...social impact
– How to submit stronger small business grant applications
– How to keep applying [even after rejections] without becoming discouraged
This 4-week LIVE Zoom class, ‘How To Win Grants’, with Small Business Grant Expert, Dr. AJ Austin, gives you the foundation you need to begin finding the right grants for your Black woman-owned for-profit small business, applying for small business grants consistently (and knowing what to say on the application), and positioning your business to win small business grants and other debt-free business grant-funded opportunities like pitch competitions, contests, scholarships, stipends, sponsorships, partnerships, bursaries, and giveaways — repeatedly.
This class is for Black women (over 18) who own at least 51% of a legal, for-profit small business based in the United States.
Grants Are Not Just for Nonprofits.
Many business owners believe grant writing is only for nonprofit organizations.
That is not true.
For-profit small business grants are often granted by:
– Corporations
– Foundations
– Business associations
– Banks
– Accelerators
– Incubators
– Fellowship programs
– Pitch competitions
– Business contests
BLACK WOMEN IN GRANTS, LLC GRANT WINS
These applications are different from traditional nonprofit grant proposals.
You usually do not need to write a 40-page proposal.
You need to clearly communicate:
– Who you are
– What your business does
– Who your business serves- What problem you solve
– Why your work matters
– How you will use the funding
– What results the funding can help you produce
That is what you will begin learning inside this class.
This Class Is for You If You Are:
– Searching for small business grants but do not know where to begin
– Applying for grants but receiving rejection after rejection
– Unsure what to say when a small business grant application asks about your business story
– Struggling to explain how grant funds would help your business
– Copying generic answers from AI without knowing whether they are strong
– Interested in pitch competitions, accelerators, fellowships, and other funding opportunities
– Ready to stop waiting for one large grant and start building a real funding strategy
– Willing to research, apply, learn, and improve
This Class Is Not for You If:
– Expect someone else to complete every application for you
– Need guaranteed funding
– Want money immediately without doing the work
– Are unwilling to research opportunities
– Plan to apply using several unrelated business ideas at once
– Believe AI should replace your story, experience, or judgment
– Are only looking for government or nonprofit grants
There are no guaranteed grants.
In this class, you will receive small business grant education, examples, feedback, and guidance.
In This Class, You Will Learn:
1: How To Understand Small Business Grants
2: How grants for for-profit businesses work (and how they differ from nonprofit grant writing)
You are still responsible for completing and submitting your applications.
STUDENT TAKEAWAYS
Have you ever said.
“I need money.”
“I’m trying to get some funds.”
“I’m trying to build.”
“I want to scale my business, but I don’t want an influx of orders and not have the product or the team to deliver the service.”
“I need systems.”
“I need marketing.”
“I want to get the confidence to pitch.”
“I’ve always tried to get a grant, and I’ve been turned down.”
“I want to help other small business owners.”
“I need to get my business / name out there.”
“I want to be a resource. I want to help people.”
“I have a really good product/service. I just need funding.”
“I want to learn how to write grants. Maybe I should take a class.”
Participants learned the importance of:
- Authentic storytelling
- Community giveback / social impact
- Positioning the business as a social enterprise
- Staying focused on one grant goal at a time
- Overcoming the feat of applying for grants with consistency, and confidence
- Learning the small business grant application process
- Applying for larger amounts than requested
- Persistent application efforts
- Reducing reliance on AI while using it effectively in small business grant applications
During this class, we will also discuss:
-What a grant is
– Who offers small business grants
– Common grant myths
– What grant reviewers evaluate
– How to identify legitimate opportunities
– The difference between grants, pitch competitions, accelerators, fellowships, and contests
– Why one grant should not be your entire funding plan
You will also begin:
– Identifying the strongest funding goal for your business
– Finding the Right Opportunities
Stop applying for every grant you see.
Learn how to search for opportunities that make sense for your business stage, industry, location, identity, goals, and community impact.
We will cover:
– How to search for grants online
– How to find small business pitch competitions
– How to evaluate eligibility requirements
– How to determine whether an opportunity is worth your time
– How to research the company or organization offering the funding
– How to recognize scams and questionable opportunities
– Why eligibility does not always mean alignment
You will learn how to focus your time on stronger opportunities.
Writing Stronger Grant Application Answers
Grant reviewers need more than a list of expenses.
You must tell a clear story about your business, your customers, your goals, and the results the funding can create.
We will discuss how to answer questions about:
– Your founder story
– Your business mission
– The problem your business solves
– Your target customer
– Your community impact
– Your greatest business challenge
– How you will use the grant
– What will happen after you receive the money
– Why your business should be selected
You will learn how to move beyond answering grant application essays like:
“I need money for rent, payroll, marketing, inventory, supplies, and equipment.”
You will begin explaining what those expenses will help your business accomplish.
Pitching, AI, and Your Grant Strategy
Some opportunities will require you to explain your business through a written pitch, video pitch, interview, or live presentation.
You will learn:
– The difference between an elevator pitch and a competition pitch
– How to focus on one business and one funding goal
– How to lead with your strongest business story
– How to connect your business to measurable social impact
– How to explain your use of funds
– How to use AI responsibly
– How to avoid generic AI-generated answers
– How to build confidence after rejection
– How to create a consistent application routine
You will leave with a clearer understanding of what to work on next.
What Makes This Class Different
This class does not teach theory.
You will learn from real Black women-owned for-profit small businesses who are currently winning grants for their business, real small business grant application questions, real small business pitch competition pitches, real grant application answer feedback, and real, current small business grant-winning experiences.
Previous class discussions have included businesses seeking funding for:
– Commercial kitchen construction
– Catering and meal preparation
– Transportation and delivery vehicles
– Beauty and skincare products
– Marketing and advertising
– Production materials
– Hiring and business support
– Reentry and recovery programs
– Event spaces
– Technology and AI businesses
– Consulting and media companies
You will see how different businesses can improve the way they communicate their funding needs.
The class will move you from:
- Confused to clear
- Afraid to more confident
- Waiting to taking action
- Thinking only about grants to seeing a larger funding system
- Focusing on what they lacked to communicating what they could build
- Applying alone to learning with support and accountability
You do not have to have a perfect business to begin pursuing funding. You need a clear story, a focused funding goal, a strong connection to impact, the right opportunity, and the willingness to keep applying.
Learn From a Grant Winner and Funding Educator
Dr. AJ Austin is the Founder of Black Women In Grants, LLC. She teaches Black women with for-profit small businesses how to find, apply for, and win grants and grant-funded opportunities.
After experiencing 42 rejections, Dr. Austin went on to secure more than $200,000 in grants and grant-funded opportunities within 12 months.
Her clients and community members have collectively secured more than $500,000 in small business grant funding, opportunities, and experiences.She understands the applications, interviews, pitches, rejections, follow-up, and consistent work required to secure funding.
Dr. Austin has participated in major business programs and funding opportunities connected to organizations including:
- Goldman Sachs
- Intuit
- Vital Voices
- Watson Institute
- New York University Stern School of Business
She teaches from personal experience.
What Past Participants Have Learned:
Participants have reported gaining greater clarity about:
– How much funding to request
– How to describe the use of funds
– How to position their business as a social enterprise
– How to connect their personal story to their business
– Why community impact matters
– How to search for pitch competitions
– How to stop relying on generic AI answers
– Why persistence is part of the grant process
– How to focus on one business goal at a time
One participant shared that she had previously given up on grants but was now prepared to follow the process and continue applying.
Another participant realized she needed to stop asking only for the smallest amount she thought she needed and begin presenting a more complete funding plan.
Your Business Needs More Than Money
Money cannot fix an unclear business model.
A grant cannot replace planning.
Funding cannot help you scale if you do not know:
– What you are selling
– Who you are serving
– What you need
– What the money will fund
– What result you expect
– How you will sustain the business after the funding is spent
This class will help you identify the gaps in your funding story before you submit another application.
This Class Includes
– Four live Zoom training sessions
– Practical small business grant education
– Small Business grant application insider insight
– Small business pitch competition examples
– Business storytelling support
– Social-impact positioning
– Ethical AI guidance
– Live opportunities to ask questions
– Weekly access to Dr. Austin by email during the class period
– Information about additional learning and mentorship opportunities
Class Details
Class Format: Live on Zoom
Length: Four weeks
Meeting Days: Tuesdays, September 1st-22nd, 2026
Meeting Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m. (EST)
Investment: $147 {Early Bird]
THERE WILL BE NO REPLAYS.
You Do Not Need to Feel Completely Ready
You may still be building your confidence.
You may not have your perfect business story.
You may not know which grant to apply for first.
You may have already received several rejections.
You do not need to know everything before joining.
You need to be willing to learn, apply, receive feedback, and keep improving.
Stop Waiting for Someone to Hand You a Grant
Grant funding is competitive.
Funders do not select businesses simply because they need money.
They select businesses that communicate a clear purpose, strong plan, credible story, and potential for impact.
The How to Win Grants class will help you understand how to present those parts of your business more clearly.
ENROLL NOW
Join Dr. AJ Austin for this four-week live Zoom experience and begin building the knowledge, language, and strategy you need to pursue small business grants with greater confidence.
Space is limited to support live participation and class discussion.
More Student Takeaways
“One thing I like about this class is you telling us that grants are available through pitch competitions, scholarships, contests and giveaways. That was totally new to me. That alone is a golden nugget for me. It’s not just grants, but the possibility of expressing yourself and sharing with others what your business does in a pitch competition. I see the possibilities. Thank you so much. It’s really nice. I really love it. Thank you.” -Agnes B.
“For me, the biggest aha that is blowing my mind is what’s possible. I have a flood of ideas. You gave me gems. It’s a win for me, just showing up and that mindset shift is beautiful. I’ve been in coaching programs, and it’s like hustle, hustle, grind, grind, grind, all the things, and I just be wore out like listening to it. There is something about being in this space that’s just like, “Okay, Cecily, you can settle. Your shoulders can drop”, and I just feel like I need to like acknowledge that for myself.” -Cicely
“That was so much information. That was great! I honestly think you having classes where I know that I gotta have something done because I’m coming to class, that really helped me really get going. I was afraid to apply. I was afraid because I didn’t feel like I made it [enough yo apply for grants for my business]. I appreciate the knowledge that you’ve given me and has taken that fear and turned into fuel. So thank you. I felt more accountable, so I really appreciated the class. I just, I really feel like I have a fire lit that I didn’t have before. I appreciate you holding this class and taking this time with us. Thank you, Dr. AJ.” -A. Harris
“One thing that I took away was my pitch strategy. Just figuring out how I need to pitch, what I need to include, and being mindful of what audience I’m pitching to and how to evaluate that. That was my takeaway.” -Akela
“I’ve joined the class three times, and I’ve just never stayed with it because my life just be “life-ing”. [But, because of] this class right here, I’m gonna make the decision to just go ahead and do what I need to do, because it doesn’t sound like it’s easy, but it does sound like it’s doable. It is doable if you put your hands to the dirt, and that’s that. Literally.” -April
“Thank you for your help. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you” -Cyndy
Elle learned the importance of “applying for larger amounts than requested.”
Jahlysa plans to “research grants in her area.” and said, “I’m running a grant consulting business. I’m just trying to figure out there’s ways that I can support myself in the start. I’m just a little babe. I’m trying to build.”
Cindy emphasized “the importance of persistent application efforts.” by saying, “Initially I hated AI. Now… I am learning that… they taking the information that you’re giving them and making it that much clearer. It’s not as scary as I think it is. Dr. AJ, I appreciate everything that you have done for me. I appreciate how you have not given up on me. You said, ‘I said I’m gonna let you go at your own pace, but let’s go, girl. Let’s get it. You can you can do this!’, and I appreciate you pushing me, like ‘You got this, girl. You can do this. I’m not gonna do it for you, but I’m here for you.’ So, I just really appreciate you taking the time to be here for me, and I would like to thank you for that. I have learned so much, and I I’ve become really, really confident. And like I said, I hated AI, but I am really learning how to make AI work for me. And I just need to get out of my head and stop trying to make it 100% perfect and just do it. Just send it. I would like to thank you for that, and for anyone who is on the fence, stop wasting your time. Invest in yourself. Just do it. Just go on and do it. You will not be upset that or disappointed that you did, you may be disappointed that you waited so long and that you wasted so much time, but you won’t be upset with Dr. AJ.”
Toyka shared that she “had previously given up but was now committed to following the class guidance.” by saying, “I have not started my business. I’ve always tried to get a grant, and I’ve been turned down. I said maybe I should take a class. I can definitely do that.”
“Being a a first time business owner in my family and just like trying to figure this out, it’s been such a scary landscape. This class has really helped so much for me to like understand that I have an aptitude for business that I didn’t think I had before. It really helped me to see that I’m more capable than I thought I was. I have the ability to like really take ownership of my business that I have. These classes have really helped me to like see that I can take initiative at any step. So, right off the bat, it was it it’s like what you’ve been saying. It’s it wasn’t a story about like I desperately need money. It was more of this is what I’m already accomplishing, and this is what you’re adding to. So that was like a big takeaway that it’s you’re already recognizing like the great and the or the good that you’re already doing and your mission and how the money can add to it. I feel like this is something where, like, in my family, money is just something that’s not discussed. This helps a lot to just like narrow that down of like what I can look at and how I can set my business up for success, and so I really appreciate how this is laid out. That helps tremendously. Thank you.” -J. Azare
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will you find grants for me? You will learn how to search for and evaluate grant opportunities. You may also bring opportunities to class or email them to Dr. Austin for educational feedback during the class period. This is not a done-for-you grant research service.
Will you write my applications? No. This class teaches you how to understand and improve your own grant applications. Dr. Austin does not complete grant applications for students.
Is this class for nonprofit organizations? No. The primary focus is Black women with for-profit small businesses in the United States.
Do I need to be certified as a woman-owned or minority-owned business? No. Many private small business grant opportunities do not require formal minority-owned or woman-owned business certification. Every grant has its own eligibility requirements.
Can a startup join? Yes. You should have a clear business concept and be actively working toward establishing or growing your business. Businesses that are legally formed, generating revenue, or already serving customers may qualify for more opportunities.
Can I use ChatGPT for grant applications? Yes, but AI should support your thinking rather than replace it. You will learn how to use AI to organize ideas, strengthen clarity, and review answers without removing your voice or submitting generic information.
Will I win a grant after taking the class? No one can guarantee that you will win a grant. Your results depend on eligibility, alignment, competition, application quality, consistency, timing, and the decisions of each funder. This class gives you education and guidance to improve your approach.
What happens after the four-week class? You may continue applying independently or explore the Grant G.A.M.E. Mentorship Program for deeper training, grant resources, replays, coaching, and ongoing support.
Your Next Grant Application Should Be Stronger Than Your Last One.
You may not control who wins.
You can control how well you prepare.
You can control how clearly you communicate.
You can control how consistently you apply.
You can control whether you learn from rejection or allow it to stop you.
Start building your grant strategy today.
[YES, I AM READY TO LEARN HOW TO WIN GRANTS]
Grants are not limited to traditional grant applications. Learn about pitch competitions, scholarships, fellowships, incubators, accelerators, sponsorships, contests, awards, and giveaways. Several students said this was completely new information and helped them see more funding possibilities.
A for-profit business can qualify for grants at different stages. Students realized they do not have to wait until the business is perfect, profitable, or fully established before applying. Jalisa said the class helped her see that she could “take initiative at any step.”
Strong grant applications require alignment (not leading with desperation).
Students learned to study the opportunity, follow the instructions, understand what the funder wants, and match the application to the grant’s purpose instead of sending the same response everywhere.
Pitching became less intimidating. Several students started the class afraid of pitching but became more confident after watching real examples, learning the structure, and seeing other women win.
AI can support the process, but it should not replace the founder’s thinking or voice.
Live accountability helped students take action.
This class gave them deadlines, assignments, coaching, and a reason to show up prepared.
Community reduced procrastination and isolation. Students valued learning with other women, seeing each other’s progress, hearing real examples, and knowing they were not working alone.
The class strengthens business (and small business grant application) confidence, not only grant confidence.
Funding requires consistency.
The overall message is not to depend on one application or one grant. You need to apply repeatedly, improve answers, look for several types of opportunities, and stay the course.
This class creates action.
Inside the ‘How To Win Grants’ class, you’ll research opportunities, prepare small business grant applications, pitch videos, and join The Grant G.A.M.E Mentorship program, and began applying the lessons instantly.
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