If you are looking to increase your clarity in grant writing , then this podcast is for you! You may struggle with writing succinct grant applications because of a myriad of issues: Not knowing if you include ‘enough’ words to convey your message Being unclear if you will reach all the grant proposal criteria points Being unsure if you are using the ‘right’ words This week, Erin Lebacqz of High-Value Writing shares some great tips to write more concise grants and emails! What We Discuss: Word Im...
Nov 08, 2022•47 min•Ep. 244
In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Christina to discuss why now is not the time for nonprofits to be shy about asking for donations—especially during critical fundraising seasons. They dive into how to overcome the fear of asking donors for money and introduce key strategies from a nonprofit “makeover” approach to help your organization stand out and stay top of mind. The conversation covers why nonprofits should increase their email outreach during end-of-year campaigns, how many ema...
Nov 01, 2022•34 min•Ep. 243
In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Sean Kosofsky to share timely strategies for navigating inflation during your nonprofit’s end-of-year giving campaign while maximizing fundraising results. They cover essential foundations of end-of-year fundraising, including how to anchor your revenue goals, which funding streams to prioritize, and why it’s critical to go deeper into proven strategies during this high-impact season. Sean shares insights on how inflation may impact smaller individua...
Oct 25, 2022•41 min•Ep. 242
Did you know that you can tap into your state and city government agencies for grants or contracts for your nonprofit organization? Yep, you can. First you might be interested in where your state or territory comes up with grant funding (side note: this is geared toward U.S. state and territory grants) . Where do State Grant & Contract Money Come From? Federal Pass-Through Money A lot of state and territory grant and contract money is derived from federal monies. This is called federal pass-...
Oct 18, 2022•14 min•Ep. 241
Federal grant funding can make a huge difference for your nonprofit organization, government agency, or business! But how to find this funding can be confusing. ------------------------------------------------------ ✨💌 Visit https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ for the Hub Haven Grant Writing 👉💰🖥️ 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 pa...
Oct 11, 2022•18 min•Ep. 240
Amy Cross joins us to unpack the realities of gender equity in the nonprofit sector and challenge the assumption that a female-dominated industry automatically ensures fairness. We explore how organizations can intentionally use funding to support equity, what a Gender Fair Assessment looks like, and why data and transparency—especially around pay—are critical to progress. Amy also shares insights on workplace priorities, policies nonprofits should evaluate, the role of vendors in advancing equi...
Oct 04, 2022•45 min•Ep. 239
In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Kamy Akhavan, Executive Director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, to explore what today’s growing political divide means for nonprofit organizations—and how to navigate it with intention, clarity, and impact. Together, they unpack key concerns nonprofits face, including which social movements to advocate for on social media, whether taking a public stance could risk losing funders, and if staying within familiar networks limits gr...
Sep 27, 2022•54 min•Ep. 238
Your nonprofit may be considering hiring a grant writer... BUT the bigger questions is: "Should you hire a freelance grant writer or a staff grant writer?” Check out all the reasons your nonprofit may want to join in the Freelance Revolution to save money, management woes, and resources when hiring a freelance grant writer. Check out the glorious pros and the meh cons. ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $...
Sep 20, 2022•20 min•Ep. 237
#1: Get your Business Formerly Set Up Should you open an LLC or Sole Proprietorship? The answer to this question really depends on your state and what your goals are. Other items you will want to do are consider getting your business bank account set up and identifying the name of your business . There’s nothing sweeter than getting your first check written out to your business :). Plus, when you go to your accountant you can run your report from your business account and not your personal bank ...
Sep 13, 2022•30 min•Ep. 236
There’s a lot changing in the nonprofit sector as we navigate 2022—and in many ways, it’s a doozy (in a good way!). In this episode, Shannon McCracken, leader of The Nonprofit Alliance, joins us to break down the latest trends shaping nonprofits today—from policies and training to fundraising and job opportunities. We explore how organizations like The Nonprofit Alliance are working to strengthen the sector, the impact of past tax laws and recent IRS changes on charitable giving, and why data pr...
Sep 06, 2022•52 min•Ep. 235
Do you ever feel like your nonprofit to-do list never ends? As a nonprofit leader, development director, or grant writer, you’re likely juggling a lot —and some of those tasks have been sitting on your list for months… or even years. But here’s the real question: Do you actually need to do all of them? In this episode, Patrick Kirby, founder of Do Good Better Consulting, challenges the idea that doing more leads to better results. Instead, he shares his simple yet powerful 5-day priority recipe ...
Aug 30, 2022•50 min•Ep. 234
The Burning Question to Help You Take Time off from Your Nonprofit It's been a busy week and I am back in the full-time swing of things. Why? School started! If you are a parent, you know what I am talking about. Summer is real for taking mandatory time away from the computer when you have kids. But it's a great mandatory time away. If we try to 'work through holidays' we may end up feeling guilty for not spending time with our kids or burned out by trying to work regular hours and getting frust...
Aug 23, 2022•15 min•Ep. 233
Are you thinking about running a webinar for your nonprofit consultancy—or your nonprofit organization? You’re not alone. Webinars have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years—and for good reason: they work. In this episode, we break down exactly how webinars can help you grow your organization, expand your reach, and build stronger relationships with your audience. We dive into the what, why, and how of webinars—what makes them effective, why they’ve become such a powerful tool for no...
Aug 16, 2022•42 min•Ep. 232
Knowing how to write grant applications is an essential technical skill in the nonprofit sector—but what happens when funders add layers of constraints that make the process even more challenging? In this episode, Teresa Huff of Grant Writing Simplified joins us to break down common frustrations in grant writing, from strict character limits to navigating funder expectations and misconceptions about proposals. We also dive into how to align your proposals effectively, find the best-fit grants th...
Aug 09, 2022•39 min•Ep. 231
Mary Gladstone-Highland, joins us to discuss how nonprofits can share powerful stories of impact while still honoring the dignity of the communities they serve. We explore the fine line between compelling storytelling and unintentionally exploiting beneficiaries for emotional appeal, and how “clickbait-style” narratives can do more harm than good. Mary shares how nonprofits can shift their messaging to be both effective and ethical—ensuring stories empower rather than disempower—while still driv...
Aug 02, 2022•42 min•Ep. 230
Getting a nonprofit client is amazing when you are a nonprofit consultant. Until it isn’t amazing. I’ve seen many nonprofit consultants pull their hair out (including me!) when they get the wrong type of client. The one that keeps negotiating your price down. The one that asks for continued revisions of grants outside of the scope of the contract. The one that doesn’t respect your boundaries. So how do you figure out who and what your ideal nonprofit client is? Well, that’s what Mandy Pearce fro...
Jul 26, 2022•25 min•Ep. 229
Hey, it’s my birthday! And in celebration of my 46th (woot-woot), I am giving you 46 grant writing tips! Grab this download of all the 46 tips when you join the FREE Grant Writing & Funding Hub Haven ! Grant Writing Tip #1: Be Concise in Your Writing No long, fluffy sentences in your grant writing! Be succinct. Be concise. Grant Writing Tip #2: Explain the Problem with Simplicity What is the problem? How will you solve it? When you get that across with clarity it goes a long ways! Grant Writ...
Jul 14, 2022•19 min•Ep. 228
How can you prevent your nonprofit from losing its tax-exempt status? And if you’re a nonprofit consultant, are you setting aside enough money for taxes? These are critical questions that can have major financial and legal implications. In this episode, Noura Almasri joins us to break down the red flags that could put your nonprofit at risk and what you need to know to stay compliant. With decades of experience in accounting and nonprofit finance, Noura shares practical insights to help both non...
Jul 12, 2022•48 min•Ep. 227
Knowing where to find grant funding sources is essential to winning grants—but simply Googling “grant funding” can send you down an endless rabbit hole (and waste a lot of time). In this episode, we dive into smarter, more strategic ways to find and manage grant opportunities with the help of Foundant Technologies. We explore Tammy’s journey working with nonprofit organizations, the learning curve of using online tools for grant research, and how Foundant supports philanthropy through effective ...
Jul 05, 2022•48 min•Ep. 226
Nonprofit Consultant Series #2 If you are considering a job transition, then becoming a nonprofit consultant could be your best bet. Why? Well, in mid-2022 the job market is prime. Plus, nonprofit organizations are looking for talent right now. In fact, studies have shown that the nonprofit sector is regaining some of its pre-pandemic growth, where it was the largest growing sector since 2009. Plus, what the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted is the need for technical skills in the nonprofit sect...
Jun 28, 2022•28 min•Ep. 225
Do Not Use These Words In Your Grant Proposals There are certain words and things that you should NOT include in your grant proposals! I often teach about what to DO in your grant writing (such as in the Grant Writer Master Course), but I haven’t really said, “Don’t do this!” Therefore, this episode is dedicated to what NOT to do in your grant writing. #1 Don’t Use Ambiguous Language #2: Don’t Use the Word Very or Rarely #3 Don’t Use Emotional Language #4 Don’t Use Poetic Language #5 Don’t Use A...
Jun 21, 2022•12 min•Ep. 224
Strong communication is the foundation of any successful relationship—and that’s especially true when it comes to grant writers and nonprofit clients. In this episode, Steve Boland, founder of Next in Nonprofits, shares decades of experience on how consultants and nonprofit teams can collaborate more effectively. We explore how clear communication and defined roles can ensure grants are completed on time, why grant writers are not program managers (and where that line should be drawn), and how d...
Jun 14, 2022•46 min•Ep. 223
This is a fully loaded question. The thing is that freelance grant writers can make as much money as they want to make. No, I am not trying to be cheeky. It’s true. So, really the question underneath this one is: “How much money can I make as a freelance grant writer?” Which brings us to another layer of a question… “How much can I charge as a freelance grant writer?” You can see that these questions are all related, right? The thing is the answers to these questions are not cookie-cutter or set...
Jun 07, 2022•29 min•Ep. 222
Let’s be real. Being a nonprofit executive director isn’t always a walk in the park. There are definitely challenges that one faces with wearing the following hats: Leader and visionary Fundraiser Being the face of the organization Marketer Manager …and so much more. It’s a good thing that Dolph Goldenburg, founder of Successful Nonprofits , comes on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to discuss his lessons learned as an executive director and as a nonprofit consultant. Dolph goes in deep, ...
May 31, 2022•52 min•Ep. 221
One of the best ways to improve your grant writing is to become a federal grant reviewer. This and, of course, writing grants . Grant reviewing is when you put on your critique hat and analyze a variety of grants. This is SO beneficial to understand how federal grants are scored. A federal grant reviewer is someone (non-federal) who reviews federal grant applications. Why is this beneficial for you as a grant writer? #1: Increases your grant writing skills #2: Improves your ability to get grants...
May 24, 2022•12 min•Ep. 220
Nonprofit Consulting Series #1 Understanding how much time to spend working on your business versus working in your business can be a head scratch. Even the most seasoned nonprofit consultants and freelance grant writers can find themselves going down the rabbit hole of non-prioritized tasks. For example, if you find yourself spending 80 percent of your time on social media and are getting a lot of likes but no clients, then it definitely isn’t a good use of your time. Vice versa, if all you are...
May 17, 2022•42 min•Ep. 219
A question I often get is, “How do I create a logic model?” This is a great question, and in today’s episode Dr. James Pann describes how to create a logic model. But one also needs to understand what a logic model is and why it’s important to the grant writing process. A logic model is really a process in a visual display. This visual process helps grant reviewers, grant writers, and your nonprofit team really understand the program you are developing. A lot of grant writers even like to develo...
May 12, 2022•45 min•Ep. 218
If you are a nonprofit executive director or nonprofit leader, this episode is for you! Many nonprofit executive directors feel overwhelmed wearing 25 different hats — from fundraising and grant strategy to board management, staff oversight, and operations. According to The Nonprofit Fixer, Sean Kosofsky, nonprofit executive leadership does not have to feel this chaotic or unsustainable. I have Sean Kosofsky on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to discuss executive leadership for nonprofit...
May 03, 2022•36 min•Ep. 217
Budgets can be unnerving for nonprofit organizations. Understanding what all goes into a budget can seem simple until you start adding into your budget: Programs , Operating expenses, Indirect costs, In-kind Donations , and Income At this point, your nonprofit may want to consider hiring an accountant or having some training. It’s a good thing that Damien Scott of My Summit CFO comes on the podcast show to give you specific nonprofit budget tips! About Damien Scott Damien Scott, owner of My Summ...
Apr 26, 2022•48 min•Ep. 216
In this episode, I’m joined by nonprofit expert Patton McDowell to explore what it really takes to transition into a nonprofit executive role. We dive into how to navigate lateral moves within organizations, understand philanthropy and volunteer management, and build essential governance knowledge for working with boards. Patton also shares how to recognize and break through career plateaus, assess the skills you need to grow, and identify key areas of expertise when shifting from the corporate ...
Apr 19, 2022•37 min•Ep. 215
