This episode, Sabrina Walker-Hernandez explains the ways to create a good board, how you should interact with your board members, and the different ways to get board members engaged with funding. Sabrina Walker-Hernandez is the CEO of Supporting World Hope and has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. Sabrina joins us to discuss board development, the different aspects of fundraising, and how nonprofits should market themselves. She also talks about th...
Oct 24, 2023•39 min•Ep. 294
Gregory joins us to share his expertise on nonprofit leadership and governance, breaking down the essential habits every board member should develop to effectively support an organization’s mission. He discusses how to communicate clearly with board members, properly onboard new members, and create a strong foundation for engagement and accountability. We also explore practical ways to teach board members what good governance looks like, how bringing in consultants can help reinforce key message...
Oct 17, 2023•39 min•Ep. 293
Jess Campbell is an email list expert and seasoned nonprofit fundraiser who has raised over $17 million throughout her career—and in this episode, she shares exactly how you can strengthen your digital fundraising strategy. We dive into how to run effective end-of-year campaigns that not only bring in donations but also create long-term donor relationships. Jess breaks down how to turn one-time end-of-year donors into consistent monthly supporters, why donor retention should be a top priority, a...
Oct 10, 2023•40 min•Ep. 292
Dr. Patton McDowell is a nonprofit consultant, leadership expert, and mastermind coach. Dr. Patton joins us to discuss the different ways executive directors can advance their leadership skills, effectively network, and build solid relationships. He also talks about how to consistently grow, engage with board members, and stay strategic throughout the year. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please ...
Oct 03, 2023•39 min•Ep. 291
Welcome back to another episode of Grant Writing & Funding, the podcast designed especially for all you changemakers out there, looking to grow funding and capacity for your causes and communities. In this episode, we'll be discussing strategies that will not only help you grow your grant writing business but also free up time for yourself and stimulate creativity. One of the key points we'll be exploring is how to take a much-needed vacation while still earning income for your business. Yes...
Sep 26, 2023•30 min•Ep. 290
Welcome to another episode of “Grant Writing & Funding” with your host, Holly Rustick. In this week’s episode, we have a special guest joining us: Yvonne White-Morey, a successful grant writer with a thriving freelance grant writing business. During our conversation, we will delve into the impact the mentorship program has had on Yvonne’s business, as well as the valuable tips and insights she has to offer for grant writers looking to start or grow their own freelance grant writing businesse...
Sep 19, 2023•48 min•Ep. 289
What does it really take to grow as a grant writer? In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Christine Taylor to discuss her experience inside the Grant Professional Mentorship and the key lessons that have helped her strengthen her grant writing skills and business. We dive into the importance of embracing feedback as a tool for growth, and how the grant review process can sharpen your proposals and elevate your work. Christine also shares why stepping outside your comfort zone is essentia...
Sep 12, 2023•35 min•Ep. 288
Welcome to another episode of “Grant Writing & Funding”! In this week’s episode, we have a very special guest joining us: Alejandra Salazar, a seasoned grant writer and business owner. Alejandra has been in the grant writing space for over 20 years, working closely with founders on various projects. Today, she shares with us her valuable insights and experiences in managing multiple projects and teams within a non-profit organization. Alejandra emphasizes the importance of being strategic an...
Sep 05, 2023•45 min•Ep. 287
Kim Collier joins us to explore how aligning your values with your grant writing business can lead to greater clarity, stronger client relationships, and increased revenue. She shares how learning to say no to the wrong opportunities can actually attract ideal clients and create more peace in your work. We also dive into her journey in the nonprofit sector, the importance of building relationships with government officials, setting meaningful objectives, and how mentorship can support long-term ...
Aug 29, 2023•56 min•Ep. 286
Welcome to another episode of Grant Writing & Funding with your host, Holly Rustick. In this episode we delve into the art and science of finding the right grants for your nonprofit or nonprofit clients. Holly shares valuable insights on the importance of separating grant research from grant writing, and the significance of building relationships with potential funders. She highlights the need to review and respond to grant instructions diligently, while considering practicalities like eligi...
Aug 22, 2023•27 min•Ep. 285
Thinking about starting your own consulting business—but not sure where to begin? In this episode, Andy Robinson brings over 27 years of experience running a successful consultancy to break down what it really takes to build and sustain a consulting practice. We dive into the different business models consultants can follow and how to choose the right one for your goals. Andy shares practical strategies for networking effectively with nonprofits, how to land your first clients, and what to expec...
Aug 15, 2023•49 min•Ep. 284
Are you thinking about starting your own nonprofit consultancy—or wondering how to grow the one you already have? In this episode, Sean Kosofsky, also known as the NonProfit Fixer, brings nearly three decades of experience in the nonprofit sector to share what it really takes to build a successful consulting business. We dive into why nonprofits need consultants and the value they bring to organizations looking to grow, stabilize, or scale. Sean also breaks down how nonprofit consultancies are s...
Aug 08, 2023•40 min•Ep. 283
This episode, Christian Edwards explains the ways to create a passive income using evergreen courses, the central role marketing plays in creating a passive income, and the techniques introverts can use to learn to love selling. Christina Edwards is the Founder of Splendid Consulting and a marketing expert and experienced coach. Christiana joins us to discuss how evergreen courses can be used to create passive income, the importance of marketing when creating passive income streams, and the diff...
Aug 01, 2023•36 min•Ep. 282
Geri Leon Guerrero joins us to share why having a strong online presence is essential for nonprofits, and why a website is more than just a digital placeholder. With nearly two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and digital strategy, she breaks down the key functions of a nonprofit website, the importance of collecting and leveraging supporter data, and how to effectively brand your organization online. We also explore why social media alone isn’t enough, how to create a more impactful a...
Jul 25, 2023•43 min•Ep. 281
In this episode, Tammy Tilzey joins us to share her insights from nearly a decade in the philanthropy sector. As the Nonprofit Relationship Manager at Foundant Technologies and a board member of the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, Tammy brings a unique perspective on bridging the gap between grant-making foundations and grant writers. We discuss how foundations can make applications more accessible, the evolving landscape of grant-making, and why creating clear systems—separate from...
Jul 18, 2023•46 min•Ep. 280
Philip Deng has over a decade of experience in grant writing and is the creator of Grantable, an AI-powered world-class grant writing assistant. Philip joins us to discuss how AI will affect future grant funding, the ways AI can help grant writers submit more grants, and how AI will affect grant writing jobs. He also explains the ways AI is already integrated into our lives, how technology can be used to improve grant writing processes, and how we can further streamline the grant writing process...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 279
On this episode of Grant Writing & Funding, our guest Meredith Noble from Learn Grant Writing shares an inspiring journey from corporate grant writing to launching a startup idea. We learn about the challenges she faced when realizing the idea wasn’t solving a real problem that people were willing to pay for. Meredith emphasizes the importance of grounding ideas in addressing real problems, and she shares the lifestyle freedom she gained from entrepreneurship despite the financial difficulti...
Jul 04, 2023•49 min•Ep. 278
Mandy Pearce explains the strategies for building strategic partnerships, how to know who will be a good partner for your business, and when to turn down a potential partnership. Over a decade ago Mandy Pearce founded Funding for Good to equip organizations with all the skills and tools they need to become successful and sustainable. Mandy joins us to discuss how most partnerships are formed, the vetting process involved in potential partnerships, and how to know who will be a good partner for y...
Jun 27, 2023•48 min•Ep. 277
Marie Palacios, Lead Consultant for Funding for Good, joins us to share how having clear, structured processes can transform your grant writing success and overall consulting business. She breaks down how to better understand and implement effective workflows, streamline your grant writing systems, and improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. We also explore the benefits of building your own business, the importance of identifying your “why,” and how to grow a sustainable consulting pract...
Jun 20, 2023•39 min•Ep. 276
Deborah Reed, founder of All Funded, explains what she learned from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy , the benefits of having a community of grant writers, and how she increased her grant writing rates. Deborah Reed is a full-time consultant and grant writer who completely changed the way she was running her business after joining the Grant Writing Academy. Deborah joins us to discuss what she learned from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy , the ways it changed her grant writing business to b...
Jun 13, 2023•44 min•Ep. 275
Jill Turner explains how to make writing grants a full-time job, the benefits of having systems in your grant writing, and how to properly price your grant writing services. Jill Turner was based in northern Idaho and got into grant writing after being asked to help some friends while in grad school. After writing grants as a side hustle, Jill turned it into a full-time business in less than a year, tripling her income and working with clients nationally and internationally. Jill joins us to dis...
Jun 06, 2023•35 min•Ep. 274
As a panel we discuss the benefits of using Grant Easy Management Software , how it makes working with non-profits more efficient, and the different ways it helps you analyze data faster. As you write more grants the amount of time you spend tracking grants and analyzing data increases to a point where it can seem impossible to scale any further. Grant Easy Management Software can help optimize grant writing and make working with non-profits more efficient and productive. We’re joined by a team ...
May 30, 2023•52 min•Ep. 273
This episode, Holly explains the problems with paying grant writers commission, the reasons why nonprofits miss out on funding, and how nonprofits should pay freelance grant writers. Nonprofits often think that paying freelance grant writers on a commission basis is a win-win, but this could not be further from the truth. Not only is paying grant writers a commission unethical and against industry best practices, but there are also some pretty serious legality issues. This episode, Holly explain...
May 23, 2023•19 min•Ep. 272
In this episode, Holly Rustick breaks down why becoming a freelance grant writer—even during a recession—is not only viable, but a strategic opportunity. She explains the key benefits of freelancing, including the ability to adjust your rates, services, and client base in response to economic changes, unlike traditional employees with fixed salaries. Holly dives into how freelance grant writers actually make money, how many clients are typically needed to sustain a business, and how competitive ...
May 16, 2023•27 min•Ep. 271
This episode, Holly explains how to write a budget for a grant, the math grant writers need to understand, and the different categories to include in a budget. The budget can seem like the scariest part of writing a grant for people who get into writing grants. Why? Because the typical grant writer considers themselves more of a writer than a mathematician. But as a grant writer, you will master both writing and math. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be CPA or have taken calculus! Fortunately, a g...
May 09, 2023•12 min•Ep. 270
Steve Bollard joins us to break down how grant funding is shifting in 2023 as the sector moves beyond Covid and into a rapidly evolving AI-driven landscape. He shares how the traditional grant application process is being restructured, the increasing barriers and gatekeepers to government funding, and the lasting changes brought on by the pandemic. We also explore how major philanthropic shifts—like MacKenzie Scott’s approach—are influencing the nonprofit sector, alongside growing concerns aroun...
May 02, 2023•48 min•Ep. 269
This episode, Holly explains how to write a goal in a grant, what to include in a grant’s objective, and how to put a task in a grant. The goal of a grant is one of the most important sections of a grant application and is usually where you’ll get the most points. But what should you include in the goal section of a grant? How should you structure it? And how ambitious should you be? This episode, Holly explains why this section is so important, how to write a goal in a grant, and everything you...
Apr 25, 2023•12 min•Ep. 268
Navigating funding for educational programs can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s unclear where to find the right opportunities or how to apply successfully. In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Chiara to break down how nonprofits and schools can access Department of Education grants and tap into the wide range of funding still available. They discuss how to identify the right grant opportunities, which Department of Education funds are currently open for applications, and how to ...
Apr 18, 2023•40 min•Ep. 267
In this episode, Holly Rustick breaks down one of the most critical components of a winning grant proposal—the research section. She explains how this section is evaluated by funders, what specific elements you need to include, and the type of data required to make your proposal competitive. While it can be tempting to rely on emotional storytelling, Holly emphasizes that the research section must be grounded in strong, data-driven evidence to earn points. She shares how to structure your resear...
Apr 11, 2023•11 min•Ep. 266
Feeling overwhelmed by grant proposals? You’re not alone. Many people struggle with where to start, what to include, and how to make sure they don’t miss critical details when writing a grant. In this episode, Holly breaks down how to simplify the process by using grant templates effectively. We dive into how to find and use templates to structure your proposal, how to follow grant instructions correctly, and how to ensure you’re aligning your content with what funders are actually looking for. ...
Apr 04, 2023•17 min•Ep. 265
