In this episode, Rachel Werner breaks down the latest updates to the OMB Super-Circular federal guidelines—and what they mean for grant writers right now. And here’s a big one: the indirect de minimis rate is going up. But that’s not all. Rachel walks us through key changes in procurement standards, shares insights on what’s coming down the pike, and explains how these updates can directly impact how you write, budget, and manage federal grants. If you work with federal funding—or want to—this i...
Nov 05, 2024•54 min•Ep. 375
In this podcast episode, Carmen James Randolph discusses her extensive background in working at a foundation and how she reviewed grant proposals. She goes over why a grant denial isn’t always a ‘no’ and how you can submit the most competitive grant to a foundation. Carmen discusses the importance of developing a relationship with funding sources and how your grants can stand out. Additionally, she discusses the work she is doing as President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of the South. Tune ...
Oct 31, 2024•54 min•Ep. 393
Melaina Chromy goes behind the scenes about generational giving and nonprofits. Learn the difference with how millennials, baby boomers, Gen X, and Gen Z are giving to nonprofits! Also learn the importance of how this can impact grant writers. About Melaina Chromy Melaina is Qgiv by Bloomerang’s PR & Communications Manager. Before coming to Qgiv, she worked as a director of annual giving and used her digital marketing savvy to lead several successful giving days. When she’s not coordinating ...
Oct 29, 2024•56 min•Ep. 392
Doors are Now Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy (for the final time in 2024)! Join by Oct. 27th if you are an aspiring or seasoned grant writer and want to Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Flexible Hours, Writing Grants from Home. >>Join Now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ In this podcast episode, Holly shows you 7 easy ways to get your Return on Investment ($2,500 back!) with just ONE sale inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy. Listen now ...
Oct 27, 2024•10 min•Ep. 391
Doors are Now Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy (for the final time in 2024)! Join by Oct. 27th if you are an aspiring or seasoned grant writer and want to Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Flexible Hours, Writing Grants from Home. >>Join Now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ In this podcast episode, Holly shows you how to become a PAID federal grant reviewer. Holly's been a federal grant reviewer for more than a decade and have shown countless st...
Oct 26, 2024•7 min•Ep. 390
Doors are Now Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy (for the final time in 2024)! Join by Oct. 27th if you are an aspiring or seasoned grant writer and want to Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Flexible Hours, Writing Grants from Home. >>Join Now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ In this podcast episode, Holly discusses how to get nonprofits grant ready. Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, we have a bonus - the Nonprofit Wellness Audit which in...
Oct 26, 2024•7 min•Ep. 389
Doors are Now Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy (for the final time in 2024)! Join by Oct. 27th if you are an aspiring or seasoned grant writer and want to Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Flexible Hours, Writing Grants from Home. >>Join Now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ In this podcast episode, Holly discusses how to do Strategic Planning for Nonprofits and what all is included inside the Academy (wink-wink: you get training on how to do str...
Oct 26, 2024•10 min•Ep. 388
*Doors Close to the Academy on Sunday, October 27th at 11:59 pm EST. Be sure to join for the Final time in 2024 so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Flexible Hours, Writing Grants From Home. >> https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy Giving discounts doesn’t make you a nice person. I’m sure you already are a nice person as you want to help nonprofits with causes that you care about getting funding. It can be a win-win situation, heart strings and all. Inside the Academy, we help...
Oct 25, 2024•8 min•Ep. 387
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is Now Open 🎉 The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is a 12-Month group coaching program, where aspiring and seasoned grant writers get curriculum, coaching, and a community to be financially stable on flexible hours. Doors close on Sunday, Oct. 27th at 11:59 pm EST. 👉 Join the Academy https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ In this podcast episode, Holly Rustick discusses how you can protect yourself when you transition into freelance...
Oct 25, 2024•10 min•Ep. 386
What does it look like to turn grant writing experience into a thriving freelance business? In this episode, we sit down with Shonet, who joined the Freelance Grant Writer Academy with 11 years of grant writing experience—but less than a year of running her own business. In just one year, she generated $83,145 in revenue and secured $190,000 in grant awards for her clients. We dive into her journey from employee to entrepreneur, how she structured and grew her business, and the mindset shifts th...
Oct 24, 2024•45 min•Ep. 385
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is Now Open 🎉 The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is a 12-Month group coaching program, where aspiring and seasoned grant writers get curriculum, coaching, and a community to be financially stable on flexible hours. Doors close on Sunday, Oct. 27th at 11:59 pm EST. 👉 Join the Academy https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ In this podcast episode, Holly Rustick discusses how to transition from a 9-5 to freelance grant writing. ______...
Oct 24, 2024•7 min•Ep. 384
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is Now Open 🎉 The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is a 12-Month group coaching program, where aspiring and seasoned grant writers get curriculum, coaching, and a community to be financially stable on flexible hours. Doors close on Sunday, Oct. 27th at 11:59 pm EST. 👉 Join the Academy grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-g…ter-academy In this bonus podcast episode, Holly Rustick discusses how you don't need 40 hours a week to learn how to write grants and start...
Oct 24, 2024•12 min•Ep. 383
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is Now Open 🎉 The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is a 12-Month group coaching program, where aspiring and seasoned grant writers get curriculum, coaching, and a community to be financially stable on flexible hours. Doors close on Sunday, Oct. 27th at 11:59 pm EST. 👉 Join the Academy https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy In this podcast episode, Holly Rustick discusses how introverts can get grant writing clients. __________________...
Oct 24, 2024•11 min•Ep. 382
In this episode, Holly Rustick speaks directly to grant writers who may feel stuck working in a toxic nonprofit environment or operating on a restricted income. She shares a powerful strategy many of her Academy students use—getting their nonprofit to pay for their grant writing training. Holly explains why this makes sense, especially if you’ve been tasked with writing grants without formal training, and how to position this opportunity as a win-win for both you and your organization. If you’re...
Oct 23, 2024•13 min•Ep. 381
Nonprofits will happily hire you for your grant writing services. Says hundreds of freelance grant writers and nonprofits that I, and Academy students, have worked with. A nonprofit is a business. It is just a not-for-profit business, meaning all profit goes back into the business. They still need to pay for some (or all) of the following: Rent or lease a space Procure materials (paper, printers, etc.) Hire staff AND CONSULTANTS Buy computers Pay for water and power and maintenance Purchase vehi...
Oct 22, 2024•21 min•Ep. 380
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is the #1 Grant Writing and Nonprofit Business Acumen Program in the Industry. Each part of the Academy is a simple process, even if you work a full-time job. You get 12 months to do the curriculum, community, and coaching: Learn the Legacy Skills of Grant Writing & Business Acumen In the first 30 days, whether you are new to grant writing or experienced, you will increase your grant writing skills and understand how to strategize as a grant writer. In less...
Oct 22, 2024•43 min•Ep. 379
This episode is truly special as we delve into the incredible journey of Alex Schubert, a passionate grant writer and consultant who managed to 10X her investment in the Freelance Grant Writer Academy within just seven months. Alex joins us to discuss the transformative power of a supportive community, the importance of clear service offerings, and the mindset strategies that drove her business growth. Whether you're a seasoned grant writer or just starting out, this episode offers practical adv...
Oct 21, 2024•48 min•Ep. 378
Staci Nelson joined the Academy to streamline her business and within 7 months was able to make $49,000 in her freelance grant writing business! She has leaned into utilizing the Academy unlimited grant reviews to grow her grant writing confidence and grant writing structure in her business. This has helped her deliver the highest quality resources for her clients. Staci also had mindset coaching in the Academy on how to be confident in her pricing even when grants don’t get awarded. Tune into h...
Oct 20, 2024•44 min•Ep. 377
Antoinette Ethridge shares her inspiring journey of building a successful freelance grant writing business after joining the Academy, generating $42,750 in revenue and securing $25,000 in grant funding for her clients. She walks us through how she quickly gained momentum, landed her third client, and confidently left her 9–5 job within just a few months. We also dive into how she was able to double her revenue in a single month, the strategies that helped her grow fast, and what made the biggest...
Oct 18, 2024•45 min•Ep. 369
🎉Doors to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy on Sunday, Oct. 27th at 11:59 pm EST. The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is a 12-Month group coaching program, where aspiring and seasoned grant writers get curriculum, coaching, and a community to be financially stable on flexible hours. 👉 Join the Academy https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy This is a bonus episode of the entire REPLAY of the Webinar that was held on Tuesday, Oct. 15th "Create a Profitable Grant Writin...
Oct 17, 2024•2 hr 25 min•Ep. 375
Getting grant writing clients without winning any grants can feel akin to being a college graduate. You may have some skills, but don’t have any real-world experience. Let’s talk about how you can easily bridge the gap with some real-world examples of folks from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy , who were exactly where you are. Within four months, Jen, who left her corporate job at HBO and lives in Florida, secured more than $260,000 in grant funding (writing her first grants) and booked out w...
Oct 15, 2024•20 min•Ep. 374
In today’s episode, we dive deep into the importance of knowing your worth and setting professional boundaries in your grant writing business. We have the pleasure of speaking with Nija Rivera from Gritty Grants Consulting, who shares her inspiring journey of transforming her grant writing practice by adhering to essential business policies. Nija discusses a pivotal moment where she realized the detrimental impact of offering discounts for her services. This important lesson in valuing her work ...
Oct 11, 2024•41 min•Ep. 373
If you are wondering if you need a grant writing certification to pursue grant writing and get clients, you don’t need one. But some people are still interested in getting a grant writing certification due to external or internal reasons. Let’s examine these: External Considerations for a Grant Writing Certification A nonprofit might ask you if you have a certification during a Discovery Call. When a nonprofit prospect asks you this question, really they are asking how experienced you are. So if...
Oct 08, 2024•23 min•Ep. 372
In this episode, our guest, Sarah Rowe, is not just a successful freelance grant writer but also a devoted mother. Within an astonishingly short period of four months, Sarah was able to replace her full-time job’s income, thanks to her newfound skills in grant writing. What makes her story even more compelling is how she achieved this remarkable success while being able to stay home with her 4-year-old daughter. Sarah’s journey is a testament to the empowering possibilities that come with master...
Oct 03, 2024•58 min•Ep. 371
In this solo episode, Holly Rustick dives into what both aspiring and seasoned grant writers should be doing in Quarter 4 to increase confidence, attract clients, and boost revenue. She shares how to strategically plan for the final stretch of the year, engage clients effectively, and implement revenue-generating tactics that set you up for success now and into 2025. Holly also debunks common myths—like nonprofits not hiring at the end of the year—and offers practical strategies for time managem...
Oct 01, 2024•40 min•Ep. 363
In this episode, Holly Rustick dives into a critical but often overlooked part of running a successful grant writing business—qualifying your leads before ever getting on a discovery call. Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, Holly shares how having a structured vetting process, including key pre-call questions, helps ensure that potential clients are serious and aligned with your services. She explains why saying yes to every inquiry can quickly lead to burnout, especially as more people ...
Sep 27, 2024•18 min•Ep. 362
We discussed how to price your grant writing services in the last episode , but now we are going to something more nuanced in ethical sales. It’s ethical to NOT give discounts on your grant writing services. Here’s the thing. Because you are choosing to do Value-Based Pricing , you are confident in your pricing. So why would you give a discount if you already figured out your fair price? Here are some reasons you give a discount when a nonprofit asks you for one in a discovery sales call (let me...
Sep 27, 2024•16 min•Ep. 368
Pricing. I get the most questions about this when it comes to folks selling their grant writing services. “What should I price my grant writing services for?” The word that needs to change to ease the nervous system is to change ‘what’ to ‘how’. I can’t tell you, “Oh yeah, charge $150 per hour” because we don’t promote hourly for one thing, but there are a variety of other factors that come into play. To figure out how to price your grant writing services, we do recommend Value-Based Pricing . T...
Sep 27, 2024•19 min•Ep. 367
When it comes to selling your grant writing services, there are a few critical things you need to understand first. You need clarity on: Who you are working with What their expectations are What the reality of grant funding looks like And how long it actually takes to get results Without this foundation, it’s easy to overpromise, undercharge, or misalign with your clients. The good news? Even if you’re brand new to grant writing, this is something you can absolutely figure out. Whether your expe...
Sep 27, 2024•16 min•Ep. 359
Imposter syndrome is something so many grant writers face—especially when you’re building or growing your business. But here’s the truth: one of the most effective ways to overcome imposter syndrome is to build confidence in your grant writing skills. When you intentionally invest in improving your skills, you naturally begin to trust your abilities more. You start to see what you’re capable of—and that confidence carries over into how you show up, communicate, and sell your services. However, t...
Sep 27, 2024•16 min•Ep. 358