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

The 2026 Tax Change Every Grant Writer Should Know About

The 2026 tax change quietly handed nonprofits a fundraising gift, and most of them have no idea. In this episode, Holly breaks it down in plain English: what changed, who it actually helps, who it does not, and exactly how you can turn it into real value for your clients and new business for you. No tax degree required. In this episode: The new rule that lets everyday donors get a tax break for giving again (and why it's permanent this time) Who this really helps: small nonprofits and the everyd...

Jun 23, 202621 minEp. 459

Bonus Ep: "Can I Even Do This? (For Beginners, Career-Changers & ESL Grant Writers)"

If you've ever wondered whether you're qualified to become a grant writer, this episode is for you. Holly Rustick answers some of the most common questions from aspiring grant writers, including whether English as a second language is a barrier, if beginners can really succeed, and whether certifications or degrees are required. Through practical insights and real student success stories, Holly shares why grant writing is more accessible than many people realize—and how support, systems, and com...

Jun 19, 20266 min

Bonus Ep: "I Want the Negatives: An Honest Look at Freelance Grant Writing"

Freelancing sounds appealing from the outside: flexible hours, meaningful work, and the freedom to build a business on your terms. But what about the challenges no one talks about? In this episode, Holly Rustick shares an honest look at the realities of freelance grant writing—from inconsistent income and difficult clients to loneliness, rejection, and the patience required to build a sustainable business. If you've ever wondered whether freelance grant writing is really worth it, this candid co...

Jun 19, 202613 min

Bonus Ep: Do Clients Really Pay Every Month? The Truth About Grant Writing Retainers

Have you ever wondered whether nonprofits really need grant writing support every month, or if clients will eventually stop paying once they have a few grant templates in hand? In this episode, Holly answers two of the most common questions aspiring freelance grant writers ask: Do clients actually have ongoing work every month? And why wouldn’t they simply reuse your previous grant applications instead of continuing to hire you? The answer comes down to understanding the difference between being...

Jun 19, 20265 min

BONUS: What Is the Summer Curriculum Sprint? Plus Answers to Your Most-Asked Questions

Have questions about the Summer Curriculum Sprint, the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, or whether now is the right time to join? In this special bonus episode, Holly answers the most common questions that came in during last week's live training. From understanding the difference between the Summer Sprint and the Academy to learning about the time commitment, payment plans, business setup requirements, and what happens after your first year, Holly breaks down everything you need to know in a cle...

Jun 19, 202610 min

The Fear Never Fully Goes Away, Even After Six Figures (What 12 Years in Business Taught Me)

What if the thing standing between you and a thriving freelance grant writing business isn't lack of experience, but fear? In this deeply personal bonus episode, Holly Rustick pulls back the curtain on her 21-year journey from teaching overseas and volunteering in post-tsunami Indonesia to building a successful freelance grant writing business that provides both financial freedom and meaningful impact. Along the way, she shares the struggles most people never see: living paycheck-to-paycheck, be...

Jun 19, 202637 min
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