By playing, you agree to uListen's Terms and Privacy Policy and YouTube's Terms of Service.

The Calum Johnson Show

The Ex-Banker REVEALS The Secrets To Find & Apply For $100K Grants In 78 Minutes (Without ANY RISK!)

Timestamps About the video Coach K started applying for grants to fund her daycare business. At first she didn't see much in it until she secured her first $500 grant.

Coach KguestCalum Johnsonhost

Feb 3, 20251h 18mWatch on YouTube

Summaries, chapters, transcripts, and FAQs on this page are made by uListen, not YouTube.

Great conversations run long. Their best ideas don't have to.

uListen is free on iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome, and Claude.

CHAPTERS

Jump to publisher timestamps

Chapter summaries

Why Grants Matter: Coach K's Opening Promise
The episode opens with Coach K describing her largest grant and a low moment in a work parking lot. Calum then asks what viewers will gain, and she says they will learn where to find grants and how to access debt-free funding.
- •Her largest grant was $146,000 at one time
- •A $100,000 grant required no follow-up beyond reinvesting in the business
- •Many people don't know they qualify as for-profit or nonprofit
- •Grants are debt-free, with no credit check and no repayment
From Wells Fargo Banker to Childcare Entrepreneur
Coach K explains how she started a childcare center to solve her own need for affordable, extended-hours care. She describes her banking work and seeing entrepreneurs declined for funding.
- •She started the childcare business to solve a problem for her daughter and other parents
- •She worked in several areas of Wells Fargo, including business lending
- •She often had to decline entrepreneurs seeking startup capital
- •She saw an education gap in how people access bank funding
The Financial Education Gap and Being in the Room
Coach K describes how minority families often leave kids outside while other families bring them into bank conversations. She says this early exposure gives children a head start and drove her to teach finance.
- •Some parents bring children into bank meetings; she says minorities usually don't
- •One customer set up accounts for his adopted daughter, who bought a home by graduation
- •Early exposure to finances is a head start
- •This gap inspired her to educate people about capital
Motivation: Retiring Her Mom and the T-Shirt Certificate
Coach K explains what pushed her to start a business: seeing wealthy clients who had businesses and her mother's long factory work. A gift certificate for a T-shirt after a multimillion-dollar loan convinced her the 9-to-5 wasn't for her.
- •Clients with large assets usually had businesses outside their jobs
- •She received a T-shirt certificate after closing a $3-4 million loan
- •Her mother worked early shifts and missed parts of her events
- •She wants to be present for her daughter
- •Calum shares a similar realization about not having autonomy at the top of a career
Daycare Struggles and the Paycheck Dilemma
Coach K recounts the highs and lows of running the daycare: low enrollment, a state rule cutting capacity in half, and maxed-out credit. She describes choosing between her mortgage and payroll, which led her to start writing grants. Two sponsor reads interrupt this section.
- •Overhead and payroll stayed high with few enrolled kids
- •A state change cut capacity from 50 to 25 children
- •She maxed credit cards and emptied savings
- •She used her Wells Fargo paycheck to fund the business instead of her mortgage
- •That moment pushed her into grant writing
First Grant and the Biggest Wins
Coach K recalls her first grant, $500 for answering four questions, which showed her the potential. She then shares the biggest grants she and her clients have received.
- •First grant was $500 from a local Huntsville foundation in under 20 minutes
- •One client has received $1.7 million in grants
- •Another client received two $500,000 grants
- •Her $100,000 grant needed no credit check or follow-up
Busting Grant Myths: Nonprofits, Time and the Legacy Grant Demo
Calum reads common misconceptions about grants. Coach K says for-profits qualify, and that some grants take under 60 seconds, then walks through a live example application.
- •Grants are not only for nonprofits
- •Larger six- and seven-figure grants take more time, but some take under 60 seconds
- •The Legacy Grant gives $2,500 quarterly and asks one question
- •Applying to one grant nightly keeps a pipeline going
The REAL Framework for Answering Grant Questions
Coach K explains her REAL strategy for describing how you'll use funding. She says one prepared paragraph can be reused across many grants.
- •R: be relatable to the funder
- •E: educate them about your business and brand
- •A: provide an action plan for the funds
- •L: make sure the company can find you online and love your story
- •Reuse one paragraph, or expand into a proposal when required
Do You Need a Grant Writer? Training AI to Help
Responding to the myth that grants cost too much, Coach K says you should learn the strategy first and hire a writer later. She also recommends training AI on your business, and Calum adds the idea of AI getting you to 80%.
- •Learn the process before hiring a grant writer
- •Virtual assistants can be trained as grant writers
- •AI must be trained on your business, brand and mission
- •Some grantors use detection tools, so match your own tone
- •A client won a $150,000 grant using AI
Step Zero: Foundation, Business Plan and Positioning
Coach K's first step is building a foundation: write the vision down, make a business plan, and register the business. She covers using AI and the SBA for plans, and positioning a business to fit funders, with an Airbnb example.
- •Register the business with the secretary of state; LLC is the usual start
- •AI and the Small Business Development Center can help draft a plan
- •Include a budget showing how money will be used
- •An Airbnb owner won $10,000 by framing it as emergency shelter for domestic violence victims
Researching Funders and Where to Find Grants
Using Chick-fil-A and MacKenzie Scott as examples, Coach K explains tailoring applications to the funder. She names GrantWatch, shows how to read grading criteria, and discusses using ChatGPT with grant URLs. She also suggests beginner grants like Hello Skip.
- •Chick-fil-A's True Inspiration Grant calls for an inspiration-focused answer
- •GrantWatch lists grant amounts, eligibility and links
- •Funder sites may reveal their grading criteria
- •ChatGPT can summarize a grant and draft an answer from the URLs
- •Hello Skip gives $1,000 grants every Tuesday and Friday
Consistency: One Grant a Day and Automating the Routine
Coach K explains applying for one grant daily from a prepared list, with preparation making it easy. She cites Miss Emma's $500,000 grants and describes using AI to find grants and keeping a paragraph and proposal on hand.
- •One grant a day from a scheduled list
- •Longer applications are saved for weekends
- •Miss Emma shows consistency and outreach to funders
- •AI can find open grants for your location
- •Keep reusable paragraph and proposal ready
Writing a Grant Proposal and Planning How to Use Funds
Coach K explains what goes into a grant proposal, including a problem statement and an action plan. She shows how to build a budget with a conference example, and Calum says the exercise is useful regardless.
- •A solid business plan can double as a grant proposal
- •Funders want you to find a problem and be the solution
- •An action plan sets milestones for spending
- •Budgets can shift slightly, but funds must be reinvested in the business
- •Writing applications builds confidence in your brand
Grants for Women, Moms and Men; Corporate Funders
Coach K lists grants for women and mom entrepreneurs and explains that major corporations offer grants as tax write-offs. She adds that few grants are specifically for men, though the Knight Foundation gives on a rolling basis.
- •Amber Grant gives two grants a month and charges an application fee
- •Galaxy Grant gives $4,250 quarterly with one question
- •Walmart, Starbucks and Target have grants
- •Few grants are only for men
- •Knight Foundation gives rolling grants
Retiring Her Mom and Choosing Peace of Mind
Coach K describes being terminated from Wells Fargo, going full-time into coaching, and eventually retiring her mother. She and Calum discuss how the wrong environment affects health and how peace of mind is a luxury.
- •Wells Fargo terminated her after she taught grant education
- •A viral Juneteenth Reel and a mentor helped her coaching grow
- •Her mom was scared at first but now works for her
- •Her migraines stopped after leaving Wells Fargo
- •She remembers crying in a parking lot
Closing Advice: Don't Give Up
Calum asks what Coach K would tell someone at rock bottom. She says to keep going, make a game plan, and turn pain into power.
- •Don't give up
- •Make a game plan and go after what you want
- •Turn pain into power

Publisher timestamps

Get more out of YouTube videos.

Read along on your phone, search it beside the video, or ask your favorite AI app what was said.