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

Ep. 54: The Secret Formula To Unlock Funding For Your Nonprofit

This secret formula can unlock millions of dollars from the ether that are awaiting to be given to your nonprofit. It can increase partnerships and relationships at an exponential level. It can increase prosperity for your staff so that they are no longer glorified volunteers. 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 and I read each and every review! If you have any questions,...

Dec 13, 201827 minEp. 54

Ep. 53: How Do You Win Grants When You're A New Nonprofit?

This week’s podcast is focused on a wonderful question that we receive quite frequently. Thank you to Susan Silverman, President of the Women’s Tax Resolution Center, Inc. for asking, “My challenge is we are a very small and new nonprofit and don’t have enough of a track record for grants, etc. Do you have any thoughts on how we could get that first grant?” Tune in to learn six ways your organization can secure funding! Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and ...

Nov 30, 201814 minEp. 53

Thanksgiving Fundraising - 7 Tips for Success

This week, we have so much to be thankful for! Tune in as I share 7 tips to help you increase your fundraising success around Thanksgiving. These ideas are designed to be fun, meaningful, and impactful—not only during the Thanksgiving season but for other holidays throughout the year as well. If you’re looking to deepen donor relationships, increase engagement, and bring more heart into your fundraising, this episode is for you. ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global ...

Nov 21, 201814 minEp. 52

Ep. 51: 6 Ways To Stand Out On #GivingTuesday

As we are quickly approaching the holiday season we will be focusing on tips to help you with your organization's end of the year giving. Check out these 6 ways you can stand out on #GivingTuesday! 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 and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with yo...

Nov 15, 201812 minEp. 51

The Importance of In-kind Gifts for Nonprofits

In-kind resources are one of the most overlooked—but incredibly valuable—assets your nonprofit can leverage. These are the goods, services, and people who help offset the costs of running your organization. In other words, they are budget-relieving resources that can significantly expand your capacity without increasing your expenses. But here’s the key: their value shouldn’t just be appreciated—it should be documented and strategically used. In this episode, we break down what in-kind resources...

Nov 07, 201818 minEp. 50

Niñas Sin Miedo - Dylan Mehri

What does it mean to truly be fearless in following your passion? In this episode, we explore that question through the inspiring work of Niñas Sin Miedo (Fearless Girls), an international nonprofit dedicated to empowering young girls. Dylan Mehri joins us to share the mission behind Niñas Sin Miedo and his experience fundraising for an organization working across borders. We dive into the unique challenges and opportunities that come with international nonprofit work, along with practical insig...

Oct 30, 201857 minEp. 49

Ep. 48: How To Make Cash For Your Nonprofit

How are other nonprofits making money? Can nonprofits even do that? Yes! You are still a business, there are just key differences for nonprofit organizations and what you do with earned income. ✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ 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 and I read each and every review! If y...

Oct 24, 201823 minEp. 48

Scared Silly The Frightening Fundraiser Crash

No matter how well you plan your fundraising event, things can still go wrong. A sudden storm, a keynote speaker canceling last minute, or even a power outage—these unexpected disruptions can quickly derail your event if you’re not prepared. That’s why having a contingency plan isn’t optional—it’s essential. In this episode, we dive into how to proactively plan for the unexpected so your event can still succeed, no matter what happens. We talk about how to think through potential risks, identify...

Oct 17, 201817 minEp. 47

Ep. 46: Why Values Are Important For Your Nonprofit

Values are a critical part of your nonprofit organization. Knowing your organization's values is important in decision making, interactions and implementing programs and projects. This often overlooked component has powerful influence on the culture of your nonprofit! ✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener...

Oct 10, 201813 minEp. 46

How to Get Volunteers and Board Members to Write Grants

While running your nonprofit, you may find yourself in a bit of a pickle. You know you need support. You’d love to hire a consultant to write your grants, run your crowdfunding campaigns, develop donors, or lead your next big fundraiser—but the reality is, you just don’t have the budget to bring in those experts. So what do you do? In this episode, we explore a powerful (and often overlooked) solution: leveraging your volunteers and board members to support your grant writing efforts—without you...

Oct 05, 201827 minEp. 45

Ep. 44: Are You Frustrating Your Volunteers? Eight Ways To Recruit And Retain Volunteers

Are you Frustrating your Volunteers? Here are 8 Ways to Recruit and Retain Volunteers for your Nonprofit. Volunteers can provide help, support, and manpower for nonprofits. However, does your nonprofit have the necessary processes in place to take full of advantage of your volunteers? Many nonprofits I have come across understand the importance of volunteers and even WANT more volunteers, but unfortunately are not organized enough to really utilize volunteers well for their nonprofits. You may b...

Sep 26, 201819 minEp. 44

Ep. 43: How To Find The Best Fit Grants

Seven steps to help guide the review of foundations and grant guidelines. Be sure the foundation and your organization are aligned before you pursue funding opportunities. 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 and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writ...

Sep 19, 201817 minEp. 43

Ep. 42: How To Write A Winning Grant Proposal

Writing a grant proposal can feel overwhelming. It can be the looming monster in the back of your mind because you know a deadline is coming up, but you just can’t seem to make the time to sit down, read over the application guidelines and start writing. 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 and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email hol...

Sep 14, 201845 minEp. 42

Ep. 41: What Is The Value Of Volunteer Time?

Volunteers CANNOT be given a tax-deduction based on their hours, but they CAN be given a tax-deduction on a number of other items, such as travel expenses, uniforms, donates supplies etc. as long as the nonprofit is a registered IRS Tax-exempt 501(c)3. 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 and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly...

Sep 06, 201822 minEp. 41

How To Regain Time and Do Your Job

In this episode, Holly Rustick dives into what to do when your workload feels overwhelming and grant writing keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. If you’ve ever felt buried under endless tasks, overcommitted by saying “yes” too often, or struggled to find enough time in the day, this episode is for you. Holly shares practical strategies to manage your time more effectively, set better boundaries, prioritize high-impact work, and create space to stay focused and productive—so yo...

Aug 29, 201819 minEp. 40

True Or False: Your For-Profit CAN Get Grants

You are developing a really cool solution to a problem or providing a service/product that can benefit others, but the thing is you are a for-profit. You want to help others, but you also need cash to run this part of your business. You aren’t sure if you can get grants for your idea/product/service as you have been getting mixed messages from those around you. ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Milli...

Aug 22, 201819 minEp. 39

Ep. 38: Overcoming Grant Writer's Block

Here is the thing. It takes focus to write a grant. But the real thing that it takes is a project. If you do not have a specific project that you know you need funding for, then it’s like trying to paint a picture with rocks. It will be sloppy, awkward, and unprofessional. The grant reviewers will know that you are just trying to make something work and are trying to fit a square into a circle. Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes o...

Aug 14, 201815 minEp. 38

Ep. 37: How to Become a Grant Reviewer

Did you know that you can make money while becoming a better grant writer? What?! Yes, indeed. You can also learn about the federal grant process and meet other specialists. How? By becoming a federal grant reviewer. Check out this podcast on how to 10x your grant writing skills while getting PAID to be a federal grant peer reviewer. 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 an...

Aug 03, 201812 minEp. 37

Ep. 36: Indirect Cost Rate

Is your nonprofit including an indirect cost rate in your budget and grant applications? Did you know you can have a maximum 10% indirect cost rate according to federal regulations? Learn why your organization should include this line item to your budget. 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 and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email ho...

Jul 13, 201820 minEp. 36

Ep. 35: How to Embrace Grant Rejection

You’ve put your heart and soul into it. You may have lost sleep. You definitely missed the latest Breaking Bad episode. Or you paid a grant writer a hefty sum. For all of that, what you got was a mass email that started with the lines, “We regret to inform you…” Your heart plunges and you decide to write off grants for the rest of the year… or for the rest of your life. You might have at some point said, Enough with that foundation / federal grant. I’ll never get it. I get it. Nobody likes rejec...

Jul 06, 201821 minEp. 35

Leone Rohr On Mind Mapping For Grants

Have you been stuck when it comes to writing grants? Leone Williams-Rohr shares her secret weapon of Mind Mapping for your Nonprofit grant writing. Leone is the executive director of a nonprofit, Parents Empowering Parents of Children with Disabilities (PEP) and is CEO of Crafting My Powerful Life. Leone is the executive director of a nonprofit, Parents Empowering Parents of Children with Disabilities (PEP) and is CEO of Crafting My Powerful Life. She started PEP in 2013 after advocating for her...

Jun 27, 201843 minEp. 34

Ep. 33: 15 Creative Ideas To Thank Your Funders

Are you getting funding for your nonprofit or project? Yay! That’s amazing! Just don’t forget to give thanks to the funders and donors who are supporting your project. In this episode, Holly shares 15 Creative Ideas to say Thank You to Funders. Are you racking your brain trying to find cost-effective ways to say, "Thank you"? Or, worse yet, did you totally forget to thank those foundations or corporations who gave you a hefty check for a project? Or are you just trying to find different ways to ...

Jun 21, 201817 minEp. 33

Finding Grants on GuideStar

Are you struggling to secure foundation grants, facing constant rejections, or unsure where to even begin your search? In this episode, Holly Rustick breaks down how to use GuideStar.org as a powerful and accessible resource to find the best-fit foundations for your nonprofit projects. She walks you through four key elements to look for when researching funders so you can stop wasting time on poor-fit opportunities and start applying to grants that align with your mission. Holly emphasizes the i...

Jun 14, 201820 minEp. 32

The Four Best Places to Find Contracts for Your Nonprofit

Do you know the difference between a grant and a contract? And more importantly—are you leveraging contracts as a funding stream for your nonprofit? In this episode, we break down the key differences between grants and contracts, and why contracts can be an incredibly powerful (and often overlooked) way to fund your organization—especially when it comes to covering operational costs. We dive into how contracts work, why they can provide more consistent and flexible funding, and how they fit into...

Jun 08, 201822 minEp. 31

GDPR For Nonprofits & Grant Writers

Have you been seeing a flood of emails asking you to “opt in” or confirm your subscription? That’s not a coincidence—it’s because of GDPR. In this episode, we break down what GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) actually is, why it doesn’t just affect organizations in the EU, and what it means for nonprofits and grant writing consultants around the world. Even if you’re not based in Europe, GDPR has global implications. If your organization collects or uses data from EU citizens, you are re...

Jun 01, 201831 minEp. 30

Review A Federal Grant Opportunity And BEST Tips On Grant Writing

Ready for a crash course in federal grants? If you’ve ever opened up Grants.gov and immediately felt overwhelmed—you’re not alone. And if you’ve been searching for grant writing tips that actually help you move toward an awarded grant, this episode is exactly what you need. In this episode, we break down how to navigate federal grant announcements in a way that’s clear and manageable. You’ll learn how to review opportunities on Grants.gov without getting lost in the details—and how to identify t...

May 24, 201848 minEp. 29

Grants.gov in a Nutshell: Pros and Cons

We made it. Grants.gov. For those of you who have been following this podcast series on How to Find Grants , you are probably ready to dive in and start finding grants. We ain’t quite ready, yet, though. Believe you, me, it’s all about getting SET up and understanding the layout of the grant world before you dive in and get overwhelmed. You may have been using Grants.gov for years, but have only ever used it to search or apply for grants. Or you may be new to Grants.gov and have never visited th...

May 17, 201828 minEp. 28

Ep. 27: How To Register On Grants.Gov

Grants.gov is the haven for federal grants. Are you registered? Need some tips on all the "pre" enrollments, such as EIN, DUNS, and SAM to then be able to register on Grants.gov. Check out this short podcast on the process and go to www.grantwritingandfunding.com to see the short video on how to apply on Grants.gov and getting the new templates for SAM notarization. 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...

May 09, 201820 minEp. 27

Ep. 26: Where To Find Grant Opportunities

“Obscurity is a bigger problem than money,” quotes Grant Cardone and this could not be truer when it comes to finding grant funding sources. If these funding sources are hidden away in some obscure world to your nonprofit, then this becomes the main root of not having any grant money. If you cannot find the sources that hold the money, then you will never be able to tap into the funding. Thanks so much for listening! Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and lea...

Apr 27, 201824 minEp. 26

Ep. 25: How To Find Grants: What Is a Grant?

To find grants, it is first important to understand what they are and what they are not. Let’s start with what they are not. Let me say this very clearly. 1) Grants are NOT free money. I mean, sure if you handle them correctly it is money given to you that you do not have to pay back. Holly, how is that not free money? Well, because you have to spend the money on what you said you were going to spend it on, reach the objectives you stated you were going to reach, and send a report to the funding...

Apr 13, 201821 minEp. 25
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