Need a grant writing mentor? Here you go. www.teresahuff.com/mentor Have you ever had a mentor in your life? Someone who has inspired you, and encouraged you, and really given you solid advice for that point in your journey? I’ve wrestled with this episode a bit because I can’t do it justice to explain how much my mentors have helped me along the way, whether they knew it or not. My hope is that it inspires you to look for wisdom and encouragement in unexpected places. Mentors & Resources Me...
Feb 23, 2021•15 min•Ep. 26
Book an advisory session with Teresa at www.teresahuff.com/strategy I’m so excited to share today’s guest with you, friends! I’m introducing you to my new nonprofit friend and fellow podcaster Jenni Hargrove. Jenni is a Charitable Marketing Coach and host of the podcast the "Nonprofit Jenni Show." Jenni supports nonprofit leaders looking to define a cohesive Marketing and Development Strategy. When it comes to nonprofit marketing best practices, she knows her stuff! We get into so many good topi...
Feb 16, 2021•50 min•Ep. 25
Book an advisory session at www.teresahuff.com/strategy Did you know that on an average day, we make about 35,000 decisions? That doesn't even account for the big circumstances! Nonprofit leaders and grant writers wear so many hats on any given day. If we're not careful, this can lead to decision fatigue, exhaustion, and burnout. Today I'm sharing 5 ways to help take care of yourself. Resources Mentioned: The Brainy Business Podcast by Melina Palmer, Episode 132: Decision Fatigue, a Behavioral E...
Feb 09, 2021•13 min•Ep. 24
One thing I've enjoyed most about podcasting is getting to know more nonprofit leaders. I love seeing the work you’re doing in your communities and how you're making a difference. Today I’d like to introduce you to a unique nonprofit that is making such a difference in people's lives, and they're on a mission to educate others. I'm talking wtih Joel and Danea Key of Saber Life Foundation. They connect service dogs and people with disabilities, and they've partnered with a top-notch dog trainer t...
Feb 02, 2021•26 min•Ep. 23
Download today's checklist at teresahuff.com/prep . The #1 question I’m asked, by grant writers and nonprofits alike, is, “Where do I start?” Grant writing is a big process that takes a while to learn and develop. However, today I’m going to tell you one simple place you can start no matter where you are in the process - even if you’ve never written a grant before. This is true for both nonprofits and grant writers. Most grants will ask for some of the same basic information - your mission, cont...
Jan 26, 2021•8 min•Ep. 22
My friends, today’s episode is jam-packed with all kinds of grant writing goods. I’m chatting with the talented Brandi VanAntwerp , Grant Administrator of CoxHealth Foundation in Springfield, Missouri. Brandi provides grant writing and management for 6 hospitals, 83+ clinics, and Cox College. We cover all kinds of grant writing advice, including: The value of mentors in growing your grant writing and fundraising skills Brandi applied for jobs she wasn’t fully qualified for, but she went for it a...
Jan 19, 2021•32 min•Ep. 21
Welcome to Episode 20! I talk with a lot of new grant writers and nonprofits that are really nervous about starting out with grants. Even if you’re new, you can do this. We ALL have to start somewhere! There are so many factors that go into a grant decision. Today I'll talk through those and then share one specific way you can increase your chances of winning the grant. Grant Funder Call Script Template: www.teresahuff.com/call Other Episodes Mentioned: Episode 9: What a Grant Funder REALLY Want...
Jan 12, 2021•14 min•Ep. 20
Everything seems to be moving online these days, including nonprofit meetings, training, and events. That's why I've invited Heather Burright of Skill Masters Market on the show. She's an expert on all things training, onboarding, and people strategies - the "fun side of HR," as she calls it. Listen in for some awesome tips to maximize your virtual training and get the best results for your organization. Click to download Heather's list for virtual engagement and reduce the awkward silence in yo...
Jan 05, 2021•32 min•Ep. 19
Hi friends! As we're nearing the end of 2020, I want to take a few minutes to reflect on the past year and look ahead to next year. Whether you're a grant writer or a nonprofit leader, it's good to take some time away from technology to think through these. You can print out the quick download in the Freebie Vault at www.teresahuff.com/free . Questions to Reflect and Plan First, we're talking about six questions to help you think about where you've been and where you want to be: What went well t...
Dec 29, 2020•11 min•Ep. 18
Hi friends! The last few weeks we’ve talked about a lot of grant writing skills and nonprofit strategies. Today I want to shift gears a little bit and address more of the business and personal side of things. And, along those lines, If you are ready to invest in your future - and ultimately, leave a legacy for the community around you - then don’t wait to sign up for the pilot program, Fast Track to Grant Writer . We’ll cover in-depth grant writing strategies, work through business building deci...
Dec 22, 2020•31 min•Ep. 17
One Practical Step to Improve Your Writing Hey friends! I’ve heard from a lot of you lately at different stages of your grant writing journey. The one thing I keep hearing over and over is, “ Where do I start ?” There are lots of places you COULD start, and that’s where we often get paralyzed. This podcast is called Grant Writing Simplified for a reason. We're looking at various aspects of grant writing and breaking it down into doable baby steps. Today I’m going to give you one simple way to im...
Dec 15, 2020•9 min•Ep. 16
Today I’m interviewing my friend and fellow grant writer Kathy Hoeck who has written grants for over a decade. I invited Kathy on the show because she works with several international nonprofits, but as you’ll see, we also get into a LOT of great strategy and tips as we talk shop today. Grab a pen and notebook because there are so many good takeaways in today’s episode! Kathy owns KLH Grant Services and is a consultant with National Christian Foundation Heartland. She works with faith-based nonp...
Dec 08, 2020•55 min•Ep. 15
The #1 question I hear from new grant writers is, “But how do I start?” Funny thing is, they’re still asking this even after they’ve learned some of the basics of grant writing. They aren’t sure if they have what it takes. They don’t know how to approach prospective clients. They don’t know what services to offer. I’ve even had grant writers say to me, “Nonprofits want a grant writer with experience, but how are you supposed to get experience when you’re new?” It’s kind of a catch-22. It always ...
Dec 01, 2020•9 min•Ep. 14
Wow, you guys, today’s episode is a nonprofit spotlight and their work is SO impactful. Not only that, but you’ll hear some innovative ways they’re funding the nonprofit by creating fair trade, living wage jobs. Join the VIP Pilot Program: Fast Track to Grant Writer Before we dive in, I want to let you know about a new opportunity for those of you ready to get serious about your grant writing career in 2021. I’m opening up a limited number of spots for a VIP Program called Fast Track to Grant Wr...
Nov 24, 2020•45 min•Ep. 13
I hope you came ready to learn today because we have another grant writer strategy session, and this is packed full of good stuff. If you are thinking about grant writing, or if you are a grant writer and you just don't know how to move forward, this is the episode for you. Pay attention and be ready to take notes because we cover so much in this - everything from imposter syndrome to how to find resources for board members and where to connect with networking groups and other grant writers. Res...
Nov 17, 2020•47 min•Ep. 12
People often ask me about grant writing, but they aren't sure if they would be any good at it. You can take the quiz to help you figure out, but today I want to talk through some of the important characteristics that are ideal for a grant writer. These grant writing skills fall into three main categories: Hard skills - like research and writing Interpersonal skills - like communication and playing nice with others Internal qualities - such as your love for a good cause, being organized, and able...
Nov 10, 2020•14 min•Ep. 11
Now and then I like to do a quick Q&A episode with questions I often hear about grant writing. Today's question: How long does it take to actually get the grant funding after you submit the application? The short answer is that it'll probably take much longer than you'd like. Truth: Sometimes waiting is the hardest part! Listen in as I explain funder timelines, the range of time you can expect, and other aspects you probably hadn't thought of. Other episodes mentioned: Episode 3: Grant Writi...
Nov 06, 2020•9 min•Ep. 10
You know how I’m always throwing out grant writing advice like, “Follow the guidelines!” or “Don’t miss a deadline!” Well, today you don’t just have to take my word for it. I’m interviewing a grant maker so you can hear from someone on the other side of the desk what grant funders really want. I’m talking with Mindy Honey from the Skaggs Foundation in Branson, MO. As Director of Community Relations for the Foundation, Mindy's duties include grant administration for Skaggs Legacy Endowment as wel...
Nov 03, 2020•34 min•Ep. 9
Today I’m doing a quick Q&A episode for you on grant application guidelines. Next week’s episode is such a good interview with a grant funder, so be sure to come back for Episode 9 to catch that. In preparation for that episode, I want to address a question I often hear: Why do grant funder guidelines vary so much from one foundation to the next? Short answer: Because it’s their money so they get to make the rules, that’s why. I preach over and over how important it is to follow the guidelin...
Oct 30, 2020•7 min•Ep. 8
If you work in the nonprofit world in any capacity, you need to know about this resource. This could benefit so many nonprofits, but most don’t even know it exists. I’m talking about the Google Ad Grant. This gives registered nonprofits a $10,000/month advertising credit to use for Google ads . I’ve brought in an expert today to share the ins and outs of this resource. Grant Hensel is the CEO of Nonprofit Megaphone, an agency focused 100% on Google Grant Management for nonprofits. Nonprofit Mega...
Oct 27, 2020•26 min•Ep. 7
Today's episode is going to lay the groundwork for preparing a non-profit for grants. Many people want to jump right into grant writing. They think, "Just send the money ‘cause we need it now!" Let me challenge you to a different approach. We’re going to take a few steps back and talk about preparation. Is the nonprofit ready for grants? If not, you won’t get very far and your efforts won’t be nearly as effective. Let’s talk about how to prepare for grants in the first place so you’ll be ready t...
Oct 20, 2020•11 min•Ep. 6
I'm excited to share this grant writing strategy call with Lisa Ortman. Her background is so unique! (Hint: Her undergrad degree is in forestry.) Lisa reached out to me wondering if grant writing might be her next right step, so we met for a strategy session and worked out an action plan. I think she even surprised herself with how relevant her skills and education are to grant writing! We discuss several aspects of grant writing strategy on the call: Her background, education, and work experien...
Oct 13, 2020•29 min•Ep. 5
Today I want to share with you some important lessons I've learned over the last 15 years of being a grant writer. The journey hasn’t been linear, but I’ve learned from every step. I'll talk about four key areas: Skill Implementation Mindset Success To download the full PDF guide, go to www.teresahuff.com/lessonslearned . I can’t write ALL the grants for ALL the great causes out there. Nor would I want to! That’s why I feel strongly about mentoring others. Together we can create a much bigger ri...
Oct 06, 2020•11 min•Ep. 4
I get all kinds of questions about grant writing, from simple to complex. Today I'm going to discuss a few of the most common questions. We'll get back to the basics as we talk about: Why is it called grant writing when it should be called filling out a grant application? How do I figure out which organization to get involved with? Is there still opportunity out there for more grant writers? How much time does it take to write a grant? Join me today as we unpack these questions! I also want to e...
Oct 06, 2020•11 min•Ep. 3
Today I'm going to start with the basics of grant writing so you understand what I’m even referring to in the first place. Grants are a process of applying for funding to be used for a specific cause. The grants I work with are typically given to 501c3 nonprofits, schools, or government agencies such as a health department or library. We'll talk about what a grant is NOT and also what a grant IS. Join me on the show! If you're considering a career in grant writing, head over and take my free qui...
Oct 02, 2020•7 min•Ep. 2
Introducing the Grant Writing Simplified Podcast where I'm stepping up to help freelancers and nonprofit leaders maximize their impact and change the world. Grant writing is one of those “mystery fields” that everyone kind of knows about, but no one seems to really know WHAT it really is other than a way to get money for free. As you can guess, there’s a lot more to it than that. I’m here to break it down for you into practical takeaways to help you understand the purpose and strategies behind s...
Oct 02, 2020•7 min•Ep. 1
