First you will want to know what the needs are (through the Needs & Strengths Assessment), identify potential projects, and then evaluate those projects and refine your objectives. Don’t get scared by the term “Data Management Plan” which sounds super academic. Basically what this means is that you need to show: Why you are getting information? What are your project goal(s) What are your objective(s)/ data elements? What information do you desire? What data needs to be collected? Who collect...
Apr 06, 2018•24 min•Ep. 24
“Why should I evaluate a project and why we even talking about that before we just start the project? Can’t I just make the project happen and then look back at it and give my review of it worked or didn’t work?” I hear these types of questions when nonprofits may just want to move. Heck, I asked these same sorts of questions when I was just starting out as a grant writer myself. When we are all pressed for time and ready to go this may seem to make more sense, the ‘do it imperfectly and get it ...
Mar 30, 2018•21 min•Ep. 23
Where to begin. You have the information of what the need is in the community, now it’s time to establish what your team needs for the the specific project. If you found that there is a huge need for transporting clients to services, what do you need to help overcome the transportation barrier? Would it be possible to create an Uber-like project? By establishing local or regional programs in areas that are easily accessible, giving out bus passes, creating a carpooling activity, connecting with ...
Mar 09, 2018•18 min•Ep. 22
How to Do a Boss Needs and Strengths Assessment for a Nonprofit Organization Projects. The very word makes some nonprofits scurry around and try to develop something trivial out of thin air to look like they are doing something. Or, sadly, to develop something that they may not need just because there is grant funding out there for that type of project. The former is referred to as draining the money, and the latter is coined chasing the money. Before you even get to projects, you need to make s...
Mar 02, 2018•27 min•Ep. 21
Annual planning is where it’s at. Where what is at? That amazesauce level of productivity you see in highly successful nonprofits—the kind that makes you wonder how they do it (or maybe even makes you a little jealous). Here’s the truth: those organizations aren’t just lucky—they’re intentional. And the good news? You can be that nonprofit too. In this episode, we break down why annual planning is the foundation for sustainable success and how it helps you move from reactive scrambling to strate...
Feb 20, 2018•12 min•Ep. 20
Sometimes nonprofits exist inside a vacuum. This is not conducive for sustainability, let alone the chance of survival. One reason for this segregation, that I often hear, is that one thinks another nonprofit organization will ‘compete’ with them and limit their ability to obtain funding. Another reason is that many nonprofit staff and executives can never seem to get out of the office to meet with potential partners. The thing is, partnerships are resources . Partnerships can literally make the...
Feb 16, 2018•15 min•Ep. 19
Is your nonprofit stuck in survival mode? Planning is key, but taking the time to do it is where you need to start (refer to Episode 15 to see how to set a schedule). Once you have taken the time and have reviewed your previous year, it is time to set your goals, objectives, and activities, so you can go from struggling to thriving. So what the heck are the differences between goals, objectives, and activities? Goals are the overarching, comparable to a large globe of aspirational destinations y...
Feb 06, 2018•15 min•Ep. 18
Are you struggling to figure out how to crowdfund for your nonprofit, especially when most advice seems geared toward products instead of causes? In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Steve Vick, Founder of Nonprofit Ally, to break down how nonprofits can run successful crowdfunding campaigns that actually generate results. Drawing from his experience as Executive Director of Noble Paws, Steve shares what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to crowdfunding in the nonprofit space. They d...
Jan 26, 2018•50 min•Ep. 17
You’ve started your organizational strategic planning, now you are ready to evaluate last year and move into planning for this year. If you haven’t, no worries, just go ahead and listen to episode 15 on Grant Writing & Funding. Or better yet, visit our website at www.grantwritingandfunding.com/15 to get the free downloadable to set yourself up for your upcoming year You may be at the point where you have completed your “Why,” reviewed your organization’s mission and vision statements, conduc...
Jan 17, 2018•21 min•Ep. 16
It’s a new year and you are ready and organized with all your quarters outlined, projects in place, and all fund-raising events set up, right? I mean, you know when you will be applying for grants and have your calendars synced for all employees and board of directors…or do you? Or, like many other nonprofits, you are starting 2018: ● stuck in survival mode ● too busy to make time for planning ● have been meaning to do some research but are preoccupied ● don’t even know where to start as things ...
Jan 06, 2018•31 min•Ep. 15
Lead generators, oftentimes known as free opt-ins or email list builders, are essential for nonprofits. Online businesses have this down to a T and use lead generators on a regular basis. Lead generators are catching on in the nonprofit sector and websites, but some of you still may be saying, “Lead-what?” Just what is a lead generator? Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast...
Dec 14, 2017•13 min•Ep. 14
Oh boy. That’s right. It’s time to address it. The big W. Your Website. This episode is a nonprofit’s crash course on different types of websites, how to communicate your brand, and what you should NOT do on your website. Nonprofit websites, in particular, can be a little overwhelming and are known for being the cause of one too many headaches. With the prevalent combination of tiny fonts, non-contrasting colors, and a scream to “Give! Give! Give!” with no clear vision of why one should give or ...
Nov 22, 2017•25 min•Ep. 13
Why your nonprofit needs a website and not just a Facebook page You can have the most awesome nonprofit or business in the world, but in this day and age, you need that awesomeness to be reflected online. And by online, I don’t just mean social media or a mediocre URL. Do you still have a website that was created in the early millennium? You know the one that I am talking about. It is crammed with information in small font and looks more like a brochure than a website. I see this a lot, especial...
Oct 04, 2017•14 min•Ep. 12
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ So why do this fancy analysis? Well, it is very important to conduct an analysis of what stage your organization or company is and where you want to go. This is especially true when you have a new administration come in, or if you are expanding and growing. For instance, your organization may get some new grants and expand to a different target demographic. Or you may launch a new product to...
Sep 15, 2017•13 min•Ep. 11
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ What is your why? Or more specifically, what is the why of your board members, employees, volunteers, and beneficiaries? This question may seem like a no-brainer until you actually try and answer it. Is your organization, or the nonprofit you work with, challenged by poor governance, a high turn-over staff rate, or disgruntled beneficiaries? It may be due to not asking these four questions t...
Aug 30, 2017•14 min•Ep. 10
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ The six questions that will refine your mission and vision statements from 'meh' to amazing! Get clear and concise on your culture while creating the credibility that funding sources require. Do you need to listen to this podcast? If you, your staff, or your board of directors has to google your mission statement, then, yes, you do need to listen to this. Favor, please? If you love this podc...
Aug 17, 2017•13 min•Ep. 9
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Part Five of the 5 parts to writing a winning grant. You will learn how to write about the following elements to write a winning grant in this podcast: • Activities • Selection process • Location • Challenges, contingencies, and sustainability plan • Nonfederal partners and resources • Leveraged resources • Oversee and monitor nonfederal resources and partners Looking to advance your grant w...
Aug 02, 2017•25 min•Ep. 8
It’s time to talk about the money. The budget. The good news is you don’t have to be a CPA to write a budget. You do, however, need to understand budgets. In this podcast, you will learn how to write a consistent budget and budget narrative in the format that grant reviewers appreciate. You will know which category to put each item of your budget and how to calculate costs. ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good ...
Jul 19, 2017•39 min•Ep. 7
This section of the grant is where the magic happens. Once you know your problem statement (listen to the previous podcast), you can figure out clear objectives, goals, and outcomes. This is the backbone of your project. A grant is like a big jigsaw puzzle, and this section is really the backdrop and what guides you to be able to find and connect each piece of the puzzle. It’s the part of the puzzle that is the backdrop fence or the house with the clean line you use to connect the pieces. If you...
Jul 06, 2017•17 min•Ep. 6
Needs. We all have them, but how do you make yours stand out? How do you get funding sources to think your needs are crucial? How do you even identify the community you are serving? Welcome to the second in the series of the five basic parts of writing a winning grant. This podcast will articulate your target demographic, how to clearly state (and cite) your needs, and how to write a powerful problem statement to get funded. ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Move...
Jun 22, 2017•12 min•Ep. 5
Funding sources want to know about your nonprofit organization or the nonprofit you work with. They want to know that your nonprofit organization is credible , has adequate staffing and processes to implement grants and that you are fiscally responsible . They basically want to get a good idea about who and what you stand for so that, if awarded, you can manage the grant. In this podcast, I outline how to organize all this information so you can best be prepared to win that grant. I will show yo...
Jun 06, 2017•25 min•Ep. 4
It is crucial to set up a grant team and delegate responsibilities to write successful grants and get them submitted on time. Get your team together before you start writing the grant, and make sure you include the executive director, grant writing lead, budget lead, grant coordinator, and any specialist as part of this team. Furthermore, appoint someone (and a backup) to be in charge of submitting the grant application. ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement...
May 23, 2017•15 min•Ep. 3
Trying to figure out all the grant lingo - federal grants or foundation grants or proposal or application - can be confusing. In this podcast, Holly will break down the different types of grants in simple ways! You will know what a discretionary grant is versus a formula and have a way to even memorize this. Want to apply to a foundation, but have no idea on which ones to apply to? ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding f...
May 08, 2017•13 min•Ep. 2
“So, when I get a grant I can just spend money on anything?” Er… no. No, you cannot. In this episode, we break down why —and it’s one of the most important concepts to understand in grant writing. At its core, a grant is money given by an organization—most often a government agency—for a specific purpose . And that phrase matters more than anything else. When you apply for a grant, you are aligning your vision with the funder’s vision. You are agreeing to use that funding exactly as outlined in ...
Apr 06, 2017•8 min•Ep. 1
