7 Misconceptions Creators Have About Grants

Think you know grants? These truths might surprise you.

Hey! I’m Danielle from Grants For Creators. I’m a former grants administrator turned 4x grant-funded creative entrepreneur. I lead a small team that curates this monthly newsletter with grants and other funding opportunities for US-based creatives and small business owners. If you are new here, add your email below so you receive future posts and never miss our weekly updates.

The process of obtaining grants is often misunderstood, which can lead to unrealistic expectations and missed opportunities. Misconceptions about grants can prevent you from accessing valuable funding opportunities to support your work. Let's debunk these myths and uncover the truth behind securing grants for your business or creative projects.

1. Grants are not only for nonprofits and civic institutions like libraries, museums, community centers, and schools. They are also for individuals with great ideas, existing projects, programs, or small businesses. Grants cater to a wide range of creative fields, including artists, journalists, gamers, filmmakers, podcasters, and more.

If you are new to the world of grants, learn the fundamentals quickly with our Grants 101 Workshop.

2. Google is not always the best place to search for grants. Many times, grants that show up in Google search results may have expired or are only announcing winners. There are also a lot of redundancies. After a while, you’ll see the same funding opportunities. With a clearly defined grant-finding strategy, like joining our newsletter as a paid subscriber, save precious time looking for funding.

Grants For Creators simplifies the process of finding grants. In 2023, our paid subscribers had access to over 1,000 grants. In addition to our monthly newsletter (see grants with deadlines in July 2024 and August 2024), we’ve made it easier for you to find the funding opportunities you’re looking for quickly with our Grants For Creators playlists divided by identity and interest. We update these playlists weekly as we find new funding sources.

3. Applying for grants is worth it. Not quite convinced? We currently have (3) success stories of creators who have won grants sourced from this newsletter. They all describe how instrumental those funds have been in supporting their creative work. While grant funding isn’t predictable, it’s a potential income stream with significant benefits for your business or project.

How Dr. Janina Jeff Won $25,000 to Produce a Genetics Podcast

How Mike Brown Won $1,500 For a Self-Improvement Podcast

How Jesse Mercury Won a $3,000 Grant For a Podcast About Living With Chronic Illness