Finding social media ambassadors and influencers for your nonprofit might feel like an unattainable goal. I mean, who really knows Kim Kardashian or Beyonce? But influencers and ambassadors do not have to equal super elite celebrities . In fact, influencers could include a work-from-home mom that has a YouTube channel about baking for toddlers or a really good friend that is a part of a networking group. Reaching out to the right type of people who have the audience that makes sense for your non...
Apr 12, 2022•38 min•Ep. 214
Stu joins us to share how nonprofits can use technology and data to significantly increase donor retention and long-term giving. With over 30 years of experience, he breaks down how organizations can better leverage the data they already have, implement simple but effective strategies to improve donor stewardship, and use tools like surveys and timely follow-ups—such as the critical 45-day touchpoint—to keep supporters engaged. We also explore the growing impact of technology in the nonprofit se...
Apr 05, 2022•48 min•Ep. 213
In this episode, we dive into how to build sustainable funding for LGBTQ+ nonprofits—and the real challenges and opportunities that come with it. Jack shares his journey of finding support through LGBTQ+ organizations and how that experience ultimately led him to found TurnOut, a platform designed to connect volunteers with grassroots LGBTQ+ nonprofits. We explore what it takes to fund and grow mission-driven organizations in this space, including the role of grants as startup or expansion fundi...
Mar 29, 2022•54 min•Ep. 212
Rachel Waterman joins us to share how grant writers and nonprofits can build stronger, more strategic relationships with funding sources to create sustainable funding pipelines. With over 25 years of experience, she breaks down why securing grants still costs nonprofits money, how to ensure funding supports core operational needs, and the often-confusing distinctions between program and operating expenses. We also explore how to build long-term relationships with both nonprofit clients and funde...
Mar 22, 2022•56 min•Ep. 211
If you’ve ever stared at a blank page wondering where to even begin with a grant… you’re not alone. Grant writing can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we break down a simple, step-by-step framework to help you move from confusion to clarity when writing grants. You’ll learn how to stop starting from scratch every time and instead use proven strategies to guide your process. We cover practical research tips so you know exactly where to find the right grants, how to wr...
Mar 16, 2022•17 min•Ep. 210
If you are looking to increase your grant writing skills to the next level, you are going to love these tips! First off, do you already know how to write grants ? If not, that’s okay! You might also want to refer to our article on the steps on drafting an effective grant application . In this article and podcast, I am going to go over some sidebar tips on grant writing that will increase your competitiveness for getting grant funding. I’ve used these tips throughout my 16+ years of grant writing...
Mar 09, 2022•23 min•Ep. 209
✨💌 Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com for the Hub Haven Grant Writing Resources 💌✨ 👉💰🖥️ Grant Writing Master Course: Get sample grants, logic models, videos, and more. Start to write winning grants! https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-writing-master-course/ 🖥️🔥 👉 Want to get paid to write grants? Join the Freelance Grant Writer Master Course to launch and grow a freelance grant writing business: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-course/ 🤗☕👉 Want to increa...
Mar 03, 2022•29 min•Ep. 208
YouTube isn’t just for entertainment—it’s a powerful platform for fundraising. But how can nonprofits actually leverage it? In this episode, Sydney Stelmaszek shares her firsthand experience using YouTube to raise funds for SynGAP1 research, a rare disease that personally impacts her family. As a student of the grant writing master course, Sydney brings both heart and strategy as she explains how she and her husband tapped into his YouTube channel to support their nonprofit mission. We explore h...
Feb 22, 2022•49 min•Ep. 207
Ansley Fender joins us to break down the essentials of nonprofit financial management, answering common questions around budgeting, cashflow planning, audits, and financial software like QuickBooks. She shares practical strategies to help nonprofits avoid financial red flags, including how to properly structure financial oversight with key roles like an internal reviewer, treasurer, and auditor. We also explore how financial systems connect across grant management, fundraising, operations, and p...
Feb 17, 2022•44 min•Ep. 206
Asking donors to give money to your nonprofit can feel uncomfortable—even stressful. Many nonprofit leaders, board members, and volunteers aren’t sure how to approach the conversation, what to ask for, or even who they should be asking. But here’s the truth: nonprofits need to ask for donations. The key is knowing how to do it effectively. In this episode, Dr. Omotola Akinsola of The Funding Magnet shares her powerful ASK Formula—a simple, actionable approach to help you confidently engage donor...
Feb 09, 2022•42 min•Ep. 205
To Move Mountains is an U.S. IRS tax-exempt nonprofit organization developed to facilitate education development in the conflict area of Nuba in Sudan. I had the pleasure of speaking to the founder of To Move Mountains, Ryan Boyette in this episode. He shares with you how this nonprofit has been able leverage resources and international funding. But first, they started (and remain) at the community level. They asked the pivotal question to the community, "What do you want?" A resounding voice wa...
Feb 02, 2022•53 min•Ep. 204
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every part of our lives—from mental and physical health to how we work and lead.Nonprofits and freelance grant writers are no exception. As we continue navigating the post-2020 landscape, the workforce has shifted dramatically—giving rise to what’s known as the Great Resignation. And while this shift has created challenges, it has also opened up new opportunities. In this episode, we explore how both nonprofit leaders and freelance grant writers can strategical...
Jan 27, 2022•33 min•Ep. 203
Grant writers cannot get paid to write grants on commission. This is one of the most popular urban myths of the grant writing world. It might sound like a win-win situation, but it's not. ✨💌 Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com for the Hub Haven Grant Writing Resources 💌✨ 🖥️ Free Training on January 24th 2022: "How to Identify 50 Nonprofit Clients in Less Than an Hour" https://grantwritingandfunding.com/get-clients ✨ 5-Day Challenge: Confidently Pitch Your Grant Writing Services to Nonprofit ...
Jan 20, 2022•15 min•Ep. 202
In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Mazarine Treyz to have an honest and necessary conversation about gender bias in the nonprofit sector. With nearly 66% of grant writers in the United States identifying as women, the prevalence of discrimination, underpayment, and inequity is both widespread and unacceptable. Together, they unpack how sexism shows up in the nonprofit world, including how white supremacy culture can influence freelance grant writing spaces and workplace dynamics. They...
Jan 12, 2022•55 min•Ep. 201
Grant writers ask me this question a lot, “Holly, how much should I charge to write grants?” While executive directors at nonprofit organizations ask me, “How much should I expect to pay to hire a freelance grant writer?” My answer… Well, there certainly is no magic number. But there are systems to identify what rates YOU can charge as a grant writer . Because the most important constant variable in this situation is… You. Whether that is you as a freelance grant writer or you as an executive di...
Dec 21, 2021•52 min•Ep. 200
Does your nonprofit struggle to retain donors while constantly searching for new ones? You’re not alone. This challenge is known as donor churn—and most nonprofits lose around 55% of their donors every year. Even more surprising? It can cost 50–100% more to acquire new donors than the value of their initial donation. So how do you break the cycle? In this episode, we explore a powerful and personal approach to donor engagement using video—with Matt Barnett, co-founder of Bonjoro. Bonjoro is a pl...
Dec 15, 2021•57 min•Ep. 199
✨💌 Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com for the Hub Haven Grant Writing Resources 💌✨ 👉💰🖥️ Grant Writing Master Course: Get sample grants, logic models, videos, and more. Start to write winning grants! https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-writing-master-course/ 👉 🖥️🔥 Want to get paid to write grants? Join the Freelance Grant Writer Master Course to launch and grow a freelance grant writing business: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-course/ 👉💡 🖥️ Want to inc...
Dec 08, 2021•17 min•Ep. 198
Is your nonprofit on Instagram—but not seeing real results? In this episode, Christina Edwards, founder of Splendid Consulting, shares how nonprofits can strategically use Instagram to grow their audience and convert followers into real supporters and donors. We dive into simple, actionable steps to help you avoid the social media rabbit hole and focus on what actually matters—conversion. Christina breaks down how to move followers to take meaningful action, how to use tools like Canva to create...
Nov 30, 2021•47 min•Ep. 197
The Grant Writing & Funding Hub Haven is your go-to space for support, strategy, and success in your grant writing journey. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure about your next steps in securing funding, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Holly Rustick dives into what the Hub Haven is, why it was created, and how it serves as a powerful resource for both new and experienced grant writers. From ongoing training and expert guidance to a supportive community of like-...
Nov 23, 2021•18 min•Ep. 196
✨💌 Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com for the Hub Haven Grant Writing Resources 💌✨ It's almost that time of the year! GivingTuesday is right around the corner and you might be getting ready to raise funds for your nonprofit! Therefore, it is only fitting that we have Nonprofit Jenni on the show to share some awesome tips about GivingTuesday strategies. Jenni has worked with nonprofits for years on GivingTuesday fundraising campaigns and shares some case studies on what works! Plus, she's got...
Nov 16, 2021•46 min•Ep. 195
Are you looking for a place to find Foundation Grants? Look no further, Instrumentl is your place! ✨ [Start your 14-day trial here: https://www.instrumentl.com/holly] and use ‘HOLLY50′ to save $50 off your first month. 🍾 Want other FREE Grant Writing & Funding Tools? https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com 🖥️ Want the Grant Writing Master Course? Get tons of templates and tools to write winning grants: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-writing-master-course/ We have Gauri Manglik bac...
Nov 09, 2021•36 min•Ep. 194
Sean Kosofsky from Nonprofit Fixer joins us to share how nonprofits can successfully launch or revive a development (fundraising) committee to increase revenue without overburdening their board of directors. He breaks down what a development committee is, why it shouldn’t consist solely of board members, and the essential actions it must take to be effective. We also explore how to recruit and engage volunteers, assign and complete tasks efficiently, avoid social loafing, run productive meetings...
Oct 25, 2021•32 min•Ep. 193
If you’re tired of being on the fence and you want to start a real business and get nonprofit clients, I can help. Or, if you’re already an accomplished grant writer and want to grow your business, you’ll see how the Freelance Grant Writer Master Course can get you there easier and faster. Let's outline how to start a real business and get nonprofit clients. I’m going to show you how to get there with a lot more ease. And it’s all because of the system I’ve developed behind the Freelance Grant W...
Oct 20, 2021•36 min•Ep. 192
Understanding how to price grant writing services is one of the biggest headaches that freelance grant writers have. I know this because: Pricing services was what I struggled with the most, and It is the biggest question / coaching sessions that I get asked about by people transitioning into freelance grant writing. If you’ve ever been confused about how all the pieces of freelance grant writing fit together, and more importantly, what goes into creating massive success with freelance grant wri...
Oct 15, 2021•28 min•Ep. 191
Once someone either thinks about starting a freelance grant writing business or has already taken the leap, a huge question (rightfully so) comes up: How do I get nonprofit clients for my grant writing business? Well, yeah, you need to get nonprofit clients (or even for-profit clients in some cases) for it to be an actual income-generating business. But just creating a website or a business card alone will not get you there. Now in this article, I’m going to teach you how to get and keep nonprof...
Oct 11, 2021•33 min•Ep. 190
The First Step to Become a Freelance Grant Writer Why are some freelance grant writers able to create a thriving business while others are just dreaming about being a professional grant writer? Why do some grant writers grow their practice and seem to get all the clients while others just dream about it and get stuck in their J-O-B? And why are some people clear about how to start and grow their grant writing business while others are floundering? Can I be a Grant Writer even with No Experience?...
Oct 05, 2021•26 min•Ep. 189
Oh yes, I just typed the F-word. Yep, the one that makes most grant writers shiver in their sleep. No, I am not cussing. But maybe this word should be a bona fide swear word. Free. I know it haunts you. It’s interesting that as a grant writer your skills can have one of the biggest impacts on increasing funding for nonprofit organizations , however you will still be serenaded by nearly every nonprofit (not to mention individuals looking for that magic grant to fund a college degree) to write gra...
Sep 30, 2021•30 min•Ep. 188
Now that is a fully loaded statement. But worth the heavily weighed explanation. I have been going back and forth with other grant writers on this question of “Do grant writers get paid less because most are female?” and even down to “Are grant writer rates high enough?” Moreover, nearly every single female grant writer I know struggles with how to do her pricing and come up with rates that feel good. In this article, I am going to break down some of the gender-specific on the grant writing indu...
Sep 23, 2021•26 min•Ep. 187
Let’s be real—we cover a lot in today’s episode, but we definitely dig into the nitty-gritty of how to leverage the power of celebrity to fundraise for your nonprofit. And yes… we’ve all seen it before. The starry eyes. The excitement. The moment a nonprofit drops a celebrity name and everything feels bigger, brighter, and full of possibility. Why? Because celebrities can bring massive visibility. They can leverage their audience to get more eyes—and support—on your nonprofit’s mission. But here...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 186
In 2020, nonprofit organizations experienced a major shift toward online and digital fundraising. What began as a rapid push to “get online” during the early days of COVID-19 has now evolved into a bigger question: are nonprofits truly optimizing their digital marketing strategies to advance their missions? In this replay episode, Brady Josephson from the NextAfter Institute joins us to break down online marketing for nonprofits—from increasing digital trends and using authentic, focused messagi...
Aug 31, 2021•53 min•Ep. 185