Grant Writing & Funding - podcast cover

Grant Writing & Funding

Quit your toxic nonprofit job and replace your full-time income while writing grants part-time, from home! Join our students in the Freelance Grant Writer Academy to create Financial Stability and Flexibility through writing grants for causes you are passionate about: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy World-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author Holly Rustick provides coaching that helps new and experienced grant writers replace their full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or anywhere they want to live or travel in the world). She coaches changemakers to master grant writing and start to grow 6-figure+ grant writing businesses on part-time hours via her signature group program, “Freelance Grant Writer Academy." As an unapologetic feminist, Holly’s work in coaching female grant writers to master grant writing, find their cause-area niche, and navigate value-based pricing and nonprofit sales is breaking glass ceilings for women all over the world. Every week, she coaches thousands of people through the top-ranking podcast, Grant Writing & Funding, books on grant writing, and inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy. Holly has 20 years of experience in grant writing, and began her freelance grant writing journey back in 2005. While teaching in Kuwait and Indonesia, and then earning a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy in Belgium, Holly saw the light of setting up a virtual-based business in grant writing back in the mid-2000s. Having secured more than $45 million of dollars for nonprofit organizations, and then setting up a multi 6-figure freelance business, Holly has a mission to help female grant writers break out of toxic nonprofit J-O-B-S and create high-level income while freelance grant writing. Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, students have secured more than $225+ million in grant funding and $4+ million in revenue in their grant writing businesses within two years. To amplify this work, she is past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce and was appointed to the Guam Business Advisory Task Force as an advisor to the first female governor of Guam. Holly lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. If you are interested in replacing your full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or from anywhere in the world!) join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy! www.grantwritingandfunding.com.
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Episodes

Challenges & Solutions of European Grants & How to Get Paid as a Grant Writer w/ Geir S. Nilsen

I often get emails from people asking about grants in Europe. Although I have worked on international grants before, that is not my forte. So I was super pleased when Geir Sand Nilsen reached out to me to discuss the challenges and solutions of European grants. This goes for grants for businesses, grant writers, and nonprofits. In this podcast, Geir and I discuss: Challenges of EU grants Navigation is a mess EU is a union with many different languages and cultures so it is difficult to organize ...

Mar 10, 202041 minEp. 114

Get a Committed Board, Increase Product Sales & Organize a Fundraiser with Ashia Stevens

In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Ashia Stevens to discuss how to strengthen your nonprofit from the inside out by building a committed board, increasing product-based revenue, and organizing impactful fundraisers. Ashia shares how her passion for animals led her to create a growing nonprofit and the strategies she’s used to expand its reach and sustainability. The conversation dives into practical ways to engage board members more effectively, develop income streams through product ...

Mar 03, 202041 minEp. 113

How to Write a Successful Evaluation Section in Grants with James Pann

Do you know the difference between research and evaluation? Or how to clearly explain what a logic model is used for? These may seem like small distinctions, but they can make a major impact in grant writing. In many grant applications, the evaluation section alone can be worth up to 30 points—and with competitive grants often requiring scores of 93 or higher, getting this right is critical. In this episode, Dr. James Pann joins us to break down the differences between research and evaluation, e...

Feb 25, 202047 minEp. 112

111: 7 Steps to Quickly Get Money From Products & Services for Nonprofits

✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ The nonprofits you work with (or the nonprofit you work at) need to not only look at grants, but also other funding sources. Yes, grants can be awesome, but the fiscal health of a nonprofit should not be fully reliant on grants. Get your FREE checklist at https://grantwritingandfunding.com/111 If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect ...

Feb 18, 202022 minEp. 111

Why Grants Should be Eliminated with Vu Le of Nonprofit AF

Vu Le of Nonprofit AF discusses grant writing challenges I met Vu Le at the Grant Writing Professionals conference in D.C. We talked after his wonderful keynote. I love his fresh outlook on the grant process and progressive nonprofits! About Vu Le Vu Le (“voo lay”) is a writer, speaker, vegan, Pisces, and the former Executive Director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering ...

Feb 11, 202042 minEp. 110

How to Write a Grant in 15 Minutes

I’m going to walk you through the outline of how to write a grant in 15 minutes. For some of you, this will be a reminder. But my goal is that you walk away from this podcast having learned at least one new thing! I’ve had different grant writing courses on various platforms, I teach it in universities, and I have even written a book on grant writing, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing: Tips, Tools, & Templates to Write Winning Grants which hit #1 in 10 categories on Amazon. Thanks to all...

Feb 04, 202017 minEp. 109

Freelance Grant Writing Wisdom with Dr. Bev

Dr. Bev Browning is the person everyone knows in the grant writing world. She is the author of 43 grant-related publications, including six editions (over 1 million books sold) of Grant Writing For Dummies™. Dr. Browning shared with me that she first started writing grants back in the 1970s. She’s been doing this for half a century and tells all on how grant writing has changed and how you as a freelance consultant can keep up with all those changes and trends. About Dr. Beverly A. Browning: Dr....

Jan 28, 20201 hr 13 minEp. 108

Behind the Scenes with the Co-Founder of Instrumentl (Plus, grant research tutorial!)

If you are tired of tracking grants in Excel sheets or jumping around on Google and constantly missing out on deadlines, then Instrumentl might be what you are looking for. I met Angela in November 2019 at the Grant Professionals Association annual conference. After she showed me some of what Instrumentl can do, I asked her to be on the podcast! Eek, it was like she was reading my grant writing mind of how I want grant research presented. But what really intrigued me is that Instrumentl is a wom...

Jan 21, 202059 minEp. 107

How to Shift Your Mindset to Build Confidence & Increase Funding with THE Sean Croxton

Have you ever wondered how your mindset around money is shaping your success? In this episode, Sean Croxton—an expert in money mindset—dives deep into how our beliefs about money are formed and how they influence our decisions, behaviors, and outcomes. Having followed Sean’s work for years, Holly shares how impactful his teachings have been—not just from a motivational standpoint, but from a practical, science-backed perspective. Sean breaks down money mindset in a way that’s not “woo-woo,” but ...

Jan 14, 202057 minEp. 106

104: Top 4 Episodes of 2019

Hey Changemakers! It's our last episode of the decade so here's a mashup of our top 4 most listened to episodes including 2 great interviews! Happy New Year!

Dec 31, 201937 minEp. 104

Grant Writing Certification: To Be or Not to Be with Mike Chamberlain, CEO of GPA

Grant Writing Certification One of the most common questions I hear is “Should I become a certified grant writer?” Well, the answer is different for everyone! That’s why we walk you through all the ins and outs of certification in this episode. “I may not write grant proposals or manage grant funds, but I want to make sure that grant professionals everywhere have the tools and resources so that they can make those impacts on their communities.” – Mike Chamberlain Mike and I discuss: How Mike got...

Dec 24, 201949 minEp. 103

How to Create a Platform & Secure Multiple Streams of Income with Honoree Corder

If you think you don’t know enough to write a book—this episode will completely change your mind. As Honoree Corder says, “Turn the volume up on the voice of possibility.” In this inspiring conversation, we explore how writing a book can open doors you never imagined—from building authority to creating multiple income streams. Honoree shares her journey of writing (now 50+ books!) and how becoming a published author transformed her life and business. We dive into how books can lead to speaking o...

Dec 17, 201955 minEp. 102

Why the DUNS & SAM is Vital to Securing Federal Money with Boris Hertslet of Guam PTAC

Boris Hertslet joins us to break down two of the most essential (and often confusing) acronyms in federal grant funding—DUNS and SAM—and how to navigate them successfully. We walk through the first steps to accessing federal grants, including obtaining your EIN, understanding what a DUNS number is and why it matters, and how to properly register with SAM. Boris also shares common pitfalls to avoid, including scams (these registrations are always free), tips for annual renewals, and how organizat...

Dec 10, 201951 minEp. 101

100th Episode! How to Create Valuable Content that Brings in Donors & Clients

Hey changemaker! I am so excited about today’s podcast! I know I say that every week, but today is the 100th episode! Can you believe it? Before we even start today I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU for listening and hanging out with me on this journey! You are simply amazing! Today I am paying homage to you and this podcast! You are going to learn about creating content, why it is super important to show your credibility as a nonprofit or consultant, how to effectively tell your story as a nonprof...

Dec 03, 201925 minEp. 100

Do You Just Ask for Money or Do You Tell a Story? Featuring Dan Portnoy of Portnoy Media Group

Dan Portnoy joins us to share how nonprofits can increase funding through the power of storytelling—just in time for Giving Tuesday. With decades of experience working with organizations and Fortune 500 companies, Dan explains how simplifying your message can create deeper connections with donors, how to assess your nonprofit’s story both internally and externally, and how strong narratives can break down barriers between donor cultivation and acquisition to drive real results. ABOUT OUR GUEST D...

Nov 26, 201952 minEp. 99

How to Make a Nonprofit Fly with Zac Woonsam of Youth Inspiration Nation

Zac Woonsam joins us to share the real, behind-the-scenes journey of building and running a nonprofit, while Holly provides powerful, practical tips to help increase funding and secure more grants. Zac opens up about the inspiration behind Youth Inspiration Nation and how he teaches and empowers middle school students through aviation, including the logistics of teaching kids how to fly. We also dive into the realities of nonprofit work, funding challenges, and the downsides of offering free ser...

Nov 19, 20191 hr 16 minEp. 98

What You Need to Know Before You Start a Fundraiser w/ Matt Hugg, Founder of Nonprofit.Courses

Matt Hugg’s passion is education, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to the nonprofit sector. In this episode, we explore how his platform, Nonprofit.Courses, provides access to over 300 free courses designed to help nonprofit professionals grow their skills and expand their impact. Matt shares how he got started with Nonprofit.Courses, his background in teaching and fundraising, and why nonprofit professionals must look beyond the “mission bubble” to build skills in areas like marketing, HR, a...

Nov 12, 201956 minEp. 97

Raise Funds Without Overwhelm for Your Nonprofit with Beaudy Camacho

If you’re looking for fresh, creative fundraising ideas that actually work—you’re going to love this episode. Beaudy Camacho brings incredible energy and expertise as she shares how fundraising events can (and should!) be safe, fun, and profitable. In this conversation, we explore how Beaudy got started in fundraising and built her business, along with a wide variety of fundraising strategies your nonprofit can start using right away. From events and sponsorships to crowdfunding, contests, givea...

Nov 05, 20191 hr 2 minEp. 96

3 Steps for Ultimate Self-Care for Nonprofits

In this episode, Holly Rustick dives into the importance of self-care—not as a luxury, but as a necessity for sustainable success. She shares practical strategies to help you take control of your time, reduce overwhelm, and stay productive without burning out. Holly breaks down how planning your week in advance can transform lingering, stressful to-do lists into clear, manageable action steps. She also discusses the power of saying no, setting boundaries, and protecting your time so you can focu...

Oct 29, 201919 minEp. 95

Trials & Triumph in the First 6 Months of Freelance Grant Writing with Derrick Clark

This is your chance to hear from someone who is 6 months into their grant writing business. Where could you be 6 months from now? Derrick and I discuss: Motto – “Resolve to have an impact on your community.” Derrick’s military experience His “why” for getting into grant writing and how he got started Business started as a side hustle and is now full-time “Writing a grant is like writing a research paper and a business plan together.” How to use your experiences to develop a niche Offering free s...

Oct 22, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 94

Growing a Freelance Grant Biz & Lessons Learned w/ Pres. Rodney Walker of Grant Central USA

If you have a grant writing business, or you want to become a grant writer, then this interview is gold for you! Rodney and I discuss: Rodney’s background and how he got started with grants First grant that he got funded At what point do grant writers get paid How do you typically charge clients? Decide on your ideal client How do you provide value to clients? 2 big things every business and organization has to do Challenges and solutions in his business Changing your mindset – How failure becam...

Oct 15, 201956 minEp. 93

092: What, Why, & How Nonprofits Can Get Money (Not from Grants)

**Get your Free Checklist Downloadable www.grantwritingandfunding.com/90 Are you looking for ways to increase money for your nonprofit, or nonprofits that you work with, that doesn’t include funding from grants? Diversifying streams of income for nonprofits is vital. Many clients, especially start-up nonprofits, may think that grants are the only type of funding that they can get. Today, you are going to learn many ways of creating products for your nonprofit. These ideas may help your nonprofit...

Oct 08, 201927 minEp. 92

5 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Make Money from Services

Is your nonprofit ready to earn income? “What?? But we’re a nonprofit. We can’t earn income!” Oh, yes you can! Just because you are a nonprofit organization does not mean that you cannot earn income. Nonprofit doesn’t mean ‘no’ profit. It simply means you take the profit and put it back into the organization. However, you do have to make sure that anything you do to earn income directly relates to the mission of your nonprofit. For example, if your nonprofit is an animal shelter and you start ra...

Oct 01, 201921 minEp. 91

090: 8 Powerful Ways to Get Money for Your Nonprofit

**Get your Free Checklist Downloadable https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/90 Do you feel like earning revenue for your nonprofit or the nonprofit you work with is REALLY difficult? Do you feel like there is NO money left? Are you tired of only going after grants for revenue or approaching the same darn corporate sponsors as every other nonprofit? These may be signs that your nonprofit, or the one you are working with, may not be healthy when it comes to funding. But the fact is that most non...

Sep 24, 201929 minEp. 90

How For-Profit Businesses Support Nonprofits with Alexis Cook of Unlocked

Alexis Cook, Co-Founder and Co-President of Unlocked, joins us to share the inspiring story behind her ethical jewelry brand that empowers women transitioning out of homelessness. She walks us through how Unlocked was built from the ground up while she was still a student at Vanderbilt, how market research shaped their business model, and how they partner with nonprofits to create meaningful employment opportunities. We also explore why they chose a for-profit structure, how they’ve scaled and g...

Sep 17, 201951 minEp. 89

088: The S in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula: How to develop a strategic budget for your grants

The final step in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula is "S," Strategic budget. I am going to show you how to create a strategic budget that you can use for every single grant that you write. By the end of the episode, you will have the tools to create an amazing budget. Having a simple and unified budget format could save you hundreds of hours of frustration. Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'...

Sep 11, 201933 minEp. 88

087: The T in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula: How to Draft Activities that Get your Grant Funded

The fifth step in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula is "T," Timetable your Activities. Activities describe what you are going to do, but a timetable will show a clear delineation of each activity, who is responsible for ensuring that it happens when it will happen, and how each activity will be measured. The actual table also helps to break up all the WORDS in your application. You must include the following in your table: Description of the activity, Lead person who will be responsible for the activity,...

Sep 04, 201924 minEp. 87

086: The N in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula: 5 Tips If You Want to Avoid Failure When Writing Objectives

The fourth step for setting up a winning grant structure is "N," Narrowing Your Objectives. In just 5 easy steps, we can take your objective from a wish to a plan! Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'll get Holly's proven, step-by-step system that has helped her secured millions of dollars for nonprofits over the last 15 years, as well as eliminate wasted hours as a consultant. Create ...

Aug 28, 201919 minEp. 86

085: The A in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula: How to Quickly Articulate a Goal to Guide your Grant

The third step for setting up a winning grant structure is "A," Articulate Goals. I'll show you step by step how to write a goal that aligns with the priorities of the funding source. Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'll get Holly's proven, step-by-step system that has helped her secured millions of dollars for nonprofits over the last 15 years, as well as eliminate wasted hours as a...

Aug 21, 201916 minEp. 85
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