Has your nonprofit—or the nonprofits you support—received CARES Act funding? If not, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. In this conversation, Tim Butler breaks down how nonprofits can still tap into CARES Act funding and why it’s critical to act quickly. With specific deadlines and distribution requirements set at the state and city level, there’s a limited window to access these funds—and waiting could mean missing out. Tim shares insights into how these funds are being allocated, what ...
Nov 10, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 144
Oh yes. Those pesky grant writing qualms. Here are the top questions that I get. #1: How Do You Get Funding From Grants for General Operating Expenses? You can get funding for general operating expenses through 3 ways: Pursue specific grants that target general operating Include a certain percentage of your general operating expenses within the direct categories of a grant project budget Include up to 10% of the grant amount in the indirect category in a grant budget #2: As a non-US grant seeker...
Nov 03, 2020•25 min•Ep. 143
Anytime you’re trying to find the best-fit grants, it can be hard. Because in the beginning, everything’s new. Things like figuring out the best grant search platform, knowing which grant programs are the best-fit, and knowing when to submit grant applications can be overwhelming. And you can see that as you grow, you come up against new challenges. Even if you have experience with grant writing already, you’re always looking for the 80/20. You don’t have time to waste, so you want to find the 2...
Oct 28, 2020•17 min•Ep. 142
This week, I’m going to teach you how to write winning grants with this 5-step How to Write a Grant Proposal. This will help you with your confidence if you are a beginner grant writer or even an advanced grant writer. If you want a free grant writing class you can watch NOW, check out this free grant class . So if you’re a new grant writer, but you aren’t sure how you can write winning grants, or you’re an experienced grant writer looking to understand the basic formula of all grant structure, ...
Oct 20, 2020•17 min•Ep. 141
As you may or may not know acronyms are grants best-friends. If you’ve heard the terms FOA, RFP, SAM, DUNS, or a number of other terms, then you are in the grant world. I once heard a grant writer speak an entire sentence using only acronyms! Ugh! If you are overwhelmed already, don’t worry, I’m going to start breaking it down right now! Let’s first dissect the main different types of grants and contracts. There are federal grants, state contracts, and foundation grants. Think of those like your...
Oct 16, 2020•22 min•Ep. 140
Navigating the road of freelance grant writing can feel lonely and overwhelming at times—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I sit down with Tawanda Ellis, whose journey is a powerful example of what’s possible when you follow a clear roadmap and stay committed. Tawanda shares how she built a thriving grant writing business from home, landing 25+ clients in under three years using primarily word-of-mouth marketing. We talk about how she’s helped secure over $2.8 million in grant funding,...
Oct 06, 2020•46 min•Ep. 139
In this week’s podcast, I’m joined by special guests Shinedelight Enterprises! This episode is perfect for nonprofits that want to become ADA compliant and attract more donors through effective digital marketing. Together, we explore how improving accessibility and strengthening your online presence can help you reach a wider audience and increase engagement. We cover simple tech solutions to help your nonprofit become ADA compliant, along with practical strategies for conducting effective digit...
Sep 29, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 138
There always comes a time when starting a business that stumps people. Creating the best name for your grant writing business is one of those times. Sometimes it completely throws people off the tracks that they never get back on and actually start their business. Don’t let this stop you! To help you navigate this process I have identified three different ways (and the pros and cons) to help you find the best name for you grant writing business. #1 Use Your Name Pros: It is more personalized If ...
Sep 11, 2020•18 min•Ep. 137
This episode is for you, if: ● You are tired of getting in your own way ● You are not confident in submitting a grant application ● You are not confident in securing nonprofit clients or partnerships What you will learn, is: ● You will gain confidence in approaching clients or funding sources ● You will learn how to believe in yourself in your business or nonprofit ● You will become the person you want to be What is impostor syndrome? You may have heard this term kicked around on social media, p...
Sep 05, 2020•24 min•Ep. 136
Have you ever known deep in your gut what your dream is, but you aren’t currently living in it? Or maybe you commit to living your dream but don’t even know where to start. If you could sit down and have coffee with someone who turned $1,000 into $15,000 during the pandemic while helping others and working less, then would you? Because today we are doing just that as we listen to how Dr. Omotola Akinsola as she shares all her secrets and how she overcame challenges. But even if you are not looki...
Aug 28, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 135
*Sign up for the Freelance Grant Writing Master Course Waitlist and get a Bonus Downloadable today: www.grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance.* In this podcast you will learn how to get clear on who you want to serve as a freelance grant writer or nonprofit consultant, as well as what types of grants are best suited to you to write. This is super important as serving all nonprofits isn’t always the best place to start. Why not? Well, it is hard to really market specifically, cultivate clients, an...
Aug 19, 2020•22 min•Ep. 134
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a freelance grant writer—but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve already started your business but you’ve hit a plateau. Either way, this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: there are core fundamentals to building a successful freelance grant writing business—and if you skip them, you’re going to struggle. Not just a little… a lot. You may find yourself constantly busy but not making progress. Always doing, but never feeling focused. Stuck in wh...
Aug 14, 2020•22 min•Ep. 133
Are you interested in becoming a better grant writer while gaining real, paid experience—not just volunteering? If you have a background in fields like education, homelessness, climate change, workforce development, tribal work, or more, you may be qualified to become a federal grant reviewer. In this episode, I’m joined by two of my amazing Changemaker Members, Christine Taylor and Jennifer Mitsch, who share their journeys into becoming federal grant reviewers. We dive into what the grant revie...
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 132
If you are a nonprofit leader, freelance grant writer , or nonprofit consultant then you know that the role and efficiency of a healthy board of directors is vital for nonprofit health! That’s why I brought Sean Kosofsky from Nonprofit Fixer on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to share with you how to improve a nonprofit’s board of directors. If you resonate with not knowing how to ask your board to contribute financially, what their expectations are of showing up, or how they can be the ...
Jul 28, 2020•53 min•Ep. 131
Why is this important? Well, it’ll do the following things for you Freelance Grant Writers and Nonprofit Consultants: • Create relationships on and offline • Develop & nurture warm leads • Give you a plan of how to start the pitch discussion Okay, I am going to outline the 3 Essential Steps for Freelance Grant Writers to Pitch Services #1: Reframe Your Thinking from When Do I Ask for Money to What Problems Do I Solve? #2: Create / Share Valuable Content that Solves the Problems #3: Implement...
Jul 21, 2020•17 min•Ep. 130
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to your Freelance Grant Writer: 6 Weeks to Summer Success Toolkit! ✨✨ I know, I know, many of us still have our kids at home this summer as summer programs are still closed (ahem), and we may be burned out with being on our screens all the time. I get it. You need something tangible that you can do today that will move your business forward and pick up some serious momentum. The “Work Smarter, Not Harder’ adage could never be truer than right now. So first...
Jul 15, 2020•34 min•Ep. 129
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ If you are a freelance grant writer / nonprofit consultant: ● You might be paralyzed with going after funding because you just aren’t sure what to do. ● You might not want to pitch your services because you are nervous asking nonprofits for money right now. ● You aren’t sure what types of grants and funding are available. If you are a nonprofit leader or development coordinator: • You might ...
Jul 08, 2020•23 min•Ep. 128
This week’s episode continues our Nonprofit Strategic Planning series—and it comes at the perfect time. We’re halfway through the year, which makes this the ideal moment to pause, reflect, and get clear on your strategy moving forward. If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership skills or you’re a consultant (or aspiring one) wanting to expand your services into strategic planning, this episode is for you. Joining me is Samantha Taitano, Executive Director of Mañe’lu (formerly Big Brothers B...
Jun 30, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 127
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Are you ready to make all your 2020 goals happen during the next six months? Or are you still trying to figure out how to survive during the pandemic? If you are either a nonprofit leader, staff, or volunteer and are trying to move the needle forward on your nonprofit OR if you are an aspiring freelance consultant and are stuck in overwhelm then this podcast and article is for you! Just imag...
Jun 25, 2020•42 min•Ep. 126
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Being stuck in decision paralysis is real. This might be because you have made the 'wrong' decision before or you aren't sure about the future and how it will all turn out. Honestly, either of those reasons feeds into your decision paralysis, but digging a layer deeper is more important and effective. It's knowing not just what your values are, but in what order you follow your values. For t...
Jun 16, 2020•30 min•Ep. 125
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Just what is the difference between growth and expansion, and why should I think about this half-way through 2020? One of the best ways I have heard the difference is: “Growth is doing the same thing bigger. Expansion is using the current platform to develop other areas of business.” However, I’d like for you to think of expanding also as a mindset and as an action. The way I am talking abou...
Jun 10, 2020•31 min•Ep. 124
In this special behind-the-scenes episode from the Open Kimono series, Holly Rustick is interviewed by Dr. James Pann to share her journey and insights into building a successful grant writing consultancy. This episode is perfect for aspiring and established consultants alike who want to sharpen their grant writing skills and grow their business with real-world lessons. Together, they dive into how Holly got started in grant writing, why conducting a Needs and Strengths Assessment is essential, ...
Jun 04, 2020•48 min•Ep. 123
Jenni Hargrove joins us to share what foundations are really looking for when deciding to fund your nonprofit and how you can better position your organization for success. She breaks down key insights into funder expectations, along with practical strategies for improving your nonprofit’s visibility through Search Engine Optimization (SEO) so you can rank higher in Google search results. We also explore how to easily host online auctions as a fundraising strategy, giving nonprofits additional t...
May 19, 2020•55 min•Ep. 122
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ This week my project manager and I are taking you behind the scenes of Grant Writing & Funding to share with you how we’re pivoting in light of Covid-19. We also share our favorite systems for running online businesses. If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzIfwJt0az9KKwKz1U...
May 12, 2020•47 min•Ep. 121
As we’ve navigated through the pandemic and into a more digital world, one thing is clear—online engagement and fundraising are here to stay. And if you’re like many nonprofit leaders, you might be thinking: I need to learn everything about online marketing and invest all my resources into it. But what if it didn’t have to be that complicated? In this episode, Brady Josephson joins us to share a simpler, more effective approach to online fundraising for nonprofits. Instead of overwhelming strate...
May 05, 2020•46 min•Ep. 120
If you’re a grant writer—or aspiring to become one—especially during times of uncertainty, you probably have a lot of questions. That’s exactly why we brought two powerhouse experts, Dr. Beverly Browning and Rodney Walker, together for a live, virtual Q&A session to tackle some of the most common (and real) challenges grant writers face. In this episode, we dive into lessons learned from failed grant applications, recommendations on grant writing certifications, and how to navigate the ups a...
Apr 29, 2020•46 min•Ep. 119
This is an extra-special episode! I hope you enjoy listening to this dynamic panel of grant writing experts, including Rodney Walker of Grant Central USA, Dr. Beverly Browning, author of Grant Writing for Dummies , and Holly Rustick. Together, they bring a broad range of experience and insights from across the grant writing field, sharing perspectives, lessons learned, and expert advice to help you strengthen your grant writing skills and approach. ABOUT OUR GUESTS Rodney Walker is the founder o...
Apr 27, 2020•58 min•Ep. 118
Sarah Olivieri joins us to discuss how nonprofits can increase productivity and strengthen their operations during times of uncertainty, including the challenges brought on by Covid-19. She shares insights on whether nonprofits should pursue CARES Act funding, how to plan spending to not only survive but thrive, and ways to expand and engage your donor base. We also explore what it truly means to pivot operations, the eight key areas of nonprofit operations, strategies for building resilience, t...
Apr 23, 2020•49 min•Ep. 117
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ I know that nonprofits are struggling right now because of event cancellations and all of the changes that come from the circumstances of Covid-19. As we move forward in this unstable time, we can find peace and calmness in the things we can control, and much needed relief in letting go of the things we can’t control. I am here with encouragement! There’s actually a huge influx of grant fund...
Apr 10, 2020•24 min•Ep. 116
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Oftentimes, freelance grant writers and nonprofit consultants think they are ready to go. They have their packages, they know their mission and vision, and they have a functional website and followers on LinkedIn, but they are hearing crickets. In this podcast, I am going to give you the first step for getting more clients. It’s probably not going to be what you think. But it’s really the mo...
Mar 17, 2020•23 min•Ep. 115