Christine Hiebel

Christine Hiebel is the founder of Free Money U, a mission-driven company dedicated to helping small businesses secure grant funding and achieve lasting success. Christine’s journey into the world of grants began when her son, Connor, launched his first business at just 14 years old. Realizing that relying on personal savings wasn’t sustainable, Christine sought mentorship and learned the art of grant writing—skills that led Connor to win a $10,000 FedEx grant that fueled his early growth. Connor has gone onto being awarded grants, fellowships and scholarships that continue to propel his success.

What started as a necessity quickly became a passion. As word spread about their success, other entrepreneurs began reaching out for help, inspiring Christine to turn her expertise into a thriving business. Today, through Free Money U, she empowers business owners by simplifying the overwhelming grant search and application process, using a proven system supported by AI tools that enhance, but never replace, authentic storytelling.

Christine and her team specialize in AI-powered grant matching, grant writing coaching, proposal refinement, and business messaging improvement. Their programs not only help clients secure funding but also sharpen their ability to communicate their business value—an essential skill for attracting customers, investors, and partners.

Christine’s work is driven by a powerful mission: to reduce the heartbreaking statistic that over 50% of small businesses fail within five years, often due to lack of funding. Through Free Money U, she provides entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to fund their dreams without sacrificing ownership or piling on debt.

With over 20 years of grant writing experience and tens of millions of dollars secured for clients, Christine’s team is building a reputation for turning overwhelmed entrepreneurs into confident, successful grant applicants. She is currently expanding Free Money U with a “Done-With-You” grant writing agency, a “Get Grant Ready” course, and new AI-enhanced tracking tools designed to help businesses maintain compliance and win future grants.

Christine’s greatest joy comes from seeing businesses she’s helped not just survive, but thrive— making a positive impact on communities across the country. You can connect with her at FreeMoneyU.com, on Facebook, or on LinkedIn.