Most founders think funding starts with the application. It doesn’t.
Funding starts with preparation, with how tight your back-end is, how clearly you can explain your business, and how confident you are that you meet eligibility before wasting precious hours applying.

This checklist is your warm-up. It’s everything you should have ready before you chase grants, pitch competitions, or small-business funding. And yes — later in this article, I’m announcing GrantED, our new vetted funding index for women of color founders.

Let’s get you prepared.

Section 1: Your Core Business Info

Before anyone gives you money, they want to know who you are and what you’re building.

Checklist:

✔ Registered business name
✔ EIN number
✔ Business address (not your apartment if you can help it)
✔ Website or landing page
✔ Clear description of what you sell + who you serve
✔ Social profiles with your business name visible

Section 2: Your Proof of Work

Funders want receipts. Not perfection.

Checklist:

✔ Revenue snapshot (monthly or yearly)
✔ Number of customers or downloads
✔ Testimonials, reviews, or buyer screenshots
✔ Photos of products or portfolio of services
✔ Any press, partnerships, or notable wins

Section 3: Your Numbers

Even microgrants want to see basic financial readiness.

Checklist:

✔ Cost to produce your product or deliver your service
✔ Your pricing — and the reasoning behind it
✔ Your profit margin or expected margin
✔ Your cash-on-hand estimate
✔ Estimated runway (how long you can operate before funds run out)

Section 4: Your Funding Story

Every application asks this in some form:
What will you do with the money?

Checklist:

✔ 1–2 specific goals (inventory, equipment, hiring, marketing)
✔ How the funding helps you grow
✔ What happens if you don’t get funding
✔ Timeline for use of funds

Myth vs Fact

Myth: You need a dramatic story to win grants.
Fact: You need a clear, believable story that shows you will use money responsibly.

Section 5: Documents You Should Have On Hand

Checklist:

✔ LLC/Corp documents
✔ Operating agreement (if applicable)
✔ Basic budget for the next 6–12 months
✔ Prior grant wins or previous applications
✔ A strong, clean headshot (they always ask)

Section 6: What Reviewers Actually Look For

Grant reviewers are reading hundreds of applications. What makes you stand out is not overwhelm — it’s organization.

Checklist:

✔ You follow instructions
✔ You meet eligibility
✔ You write in plain, concise language
✔ You attach only what they ask for
✔ You submit early (deadlines are real)

THE ANNOUNCEMENT: Introducing GrantED

You’ve been asking for a vetted, up-to-date, no-scam, no-fluff funding index designed specifically for women of color.
Here it is.

GrantED Includes:

• Weekly-updated, verified grant listings
• Eligibility filters so you never waste time
• Clear notes on whether a fee is legitimate
• Insight on deadlines, funding cycles, and award amounts
• Guidance on your funding story and positioning

Why We Built It:

Because women of color founders lose too much time sorting through fake grants, outdated lists, and programs that were never designed for them.
Because Khila’s legal background and training at Bloomberg shaped her belief that data, clarity, and access should be a right — not a luxury.
Because you deserve funding that’s actually within reach.

How to Get It:

GrantED is available only inside the INSIDER membership.
If you want to stop guessing and start applying with confidence, now is the time to start your free 32-day trial.

Action Steps

1. Complete this checklist today (save it to your notes or print it).
2. Pick one grant you’d love to apply for this month.
3. Join INSIDER for access to GrantED, deadlines, and step-by-step funding guidance.
4. Submit at least one application within the next 10 days.