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. 64: 6 Steps Before You Start a Nonprofit

So you have an idea for a new nonprofit, now what? In order to get your organization together it's a good idea to first conduct some market research. Find out where your new nonprofit will stand among the other organizations in your area. This will help strengthen your stakeholder relationships and discover if your nonprofit will be filling a gap in your community. ✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Favor, please? If you love...

Mar 22, 201915 minEp. 64

All About 501(c)3 Nonprofits with Lawyer Vanessa L. Williams

Thinking about starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit—but not sure where to begin? In this episode, Holly Rustick interviews business lawyer Vanessa L. Williams to break down the legal essentials of forming a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Vanessa shares common mistakes and challenges she sees nonprofits face early on, along with practical guidance on the key documents and steps required to properly establish your organization. We dive into what you need to have in place before applying for 501(c)(3...

Mar 06, 201944 minEp. 63

How Will a MOU Strengthen Your Grant Application?

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) can strengthen your grant application in the eyes of a funding source. It demonstrates a strong, committed partnership to ensure the project can and will happen as it is laid out in the proposal. This commitment gives security to all the partners involved as well. Plus, MOUs are frequently REQUIRED when submitting grant applications and can be scored! Have a template to create the highest scoring MOUs by listening to this podcast! ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Wri...

Mar 02, 201919 minEp. 62

Get Ready & Prepare Strong Letters of Commitment

In this solo episode, Holly Rustick shares practical tips on how to develop a strong letter of commitment that strengthens your grant proposals and builds funder confidence. She explains how a well-crafted letter can demonstrate meaningful collaboration, highlight partner alignment, and showcase the depth of support behind your project. Holly also walks through what funders are really looking for and how to position your commitments in a way that elevates the overall quality and competitiveness ...

Feb 08, 201920 minEp. 61

How to Get Letters Of Support on Time

The dreaded Letter of Support. This is the one that you forgot to get and then go to upload the grant application you’ve been working on for weeks and realize you forgot to get your partners to endorse your project. Ugh. Yeah, this is one of the first things that I have my clients to gather as getting letters of support from partners can take TIME. If they are out of town or just busy (as most are), Letters of Support can take weeks to get signed and approved, and returned to your nonprofit. Now...

Jan 23, 201914 minEp. 60

Ep. 59: How to Boost an Invitation to Apply for a Grant - The Letter of Intent

Yes, it’s true, you need to ask some funding sources on a date before you actually go on a date. That’s what a Letter of Intent is all about. In order to get a date - you need to ASK for a date! Find out the tips on how to write a Letter of Intent! Also, check out the YouTube video and all the awesome sauce on our website for funding and grant 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 ...

Jan 16, 201919 minEp. 59

Ep. 58: How to Knock your Letter of Inquiry out of the Park in 10 Steps!

Hi Changemakers, A Letter of Inquiry is a gateway to funding. This Letter of Inquiry, not to be confused with Letter of Intent, can be the difference between a foundation accepting a full application from your nonprofit or shutting you down. These are 10 steps to Write a Successful Letter of Inquiry that will secure your Invitation to Apply for a Grant #1 Alignment You will normally find requests for Letters of Inquiry from private foundations. Basically, they want to get a snapshot of what your...

Jan 10, 201927 minEp. 58

Ep. 57: Your Best Year - How To Increase Funding, Eliminate Burnout, And Avoid Competition

Hi Changemakers, In early December I finished facilitating a 10-week Strategic Planning Group. Those nonprofits are definitely set up and ahead of the curve in 2019! In any case, even if you haven’t sat down and did your planning yet, or even if you have, you are going to want to listen to this episode. This is a snapshot of one of the modules from the Strategic Planning Course. It is one that the nonprofits in the group got really excited about and will give you excellent tips on: How to get ah...

Jan 03, 201917 minEp. 57

Ep. 56: How to Find Your S.U.R.E. Word for the Year

This word should guide you and keep you focused so you don’t get busy chasing the shiny pennies, trapped in projects that don’t meet your mission, or say yes (or no!) to partners that aren’t aligned with your vision. 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...

Dec 27, 201823 minEp. 56

Ep. 55: Simple 10 Step Checklist to Write Winning Grants

Check out the simple 10-Step Check to Write Winning Grants. Be sure to check all the guidelines, determine eligibility, prepare, take the steps to create a strong proposal. Then be sure to review and submit. Happy grant 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 holly@grantwritingandfunding....

Dec 20, 201827 minEp. 55

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
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