
Grant Writing & Funding
562 episodes — Page 4 of 12
Ep 412Why Consultants Should Stop Pricing Hourly with Alexander Lapa
In this podcast episode, Alexander Lapa discusses his experience as a consultant for more than a decade.As a Salesforce consultant, he talks about how pricing by the hourly is damaging to you as a consultant.Tune in today to listen to this podcast.About Alexander LapaAlex Lapa is a Salesforce Solutions Architect, consultant, tech founder, and podcaster who specializes in helping nonprofit organizations simplify their Salesforce CRM so they can focus on their missions and do more of the work that matters.Alex is the founder of Dryad Consulting where he offers high-level Salesforce advising and implementation services. He is the creator of the Dryad Receipting app that allows Canadian nonprofits to easily automate donor tax receipts in Salesforce. And he’s the host of the Agents of Nonprofit Podcast where he interviews “everyday superheroes” on tools and strategies for nonprofits to grow.Alex also coaches junior Salesforce consultants and offers mentorship to university engineering students to help them better prepare for the job market.When he’s not helping nonprofits expand their social impact, Alex is most likely traveling the world, riding his motorcycle, or immersed in his favorite movies or books.Connect with Alexander Lapa:WebsitePodcastLinkedInNewsletter for ConsultantsLinks Mentioned in the Podcast:Freelance Grant Writer AcademyOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems ———————————————————————————

Ep 411Bonus Ep: Why You Need to Join the Academy in 2025 and Everything Included
The Close to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy on Feb. 2nd: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is a 12-month Group Coaching Program for aspiring and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income, on flexible hours, by writing grants from home. Find out why you should join in 2025 and Everything inside the Academy! "Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ——————————————————————————— This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS! This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems ——————————————————————————— #grantwriting #grants #nonprofit #freelance #freelancewriting #writing #workfromhome #retirejobs #digitalnomad #workabroad #nonprofitconsulting #entrepreneur #runningsmallbusiness #education #grantwriter #freelancegrantwriter #grantssoftware #grantresearch #freelance

Ep 407Bonus Ep: Behind-the-Scenes of the Academy with the Co-Coaches
Doors to the Academy are now Open Until Feb. 2nd, 2025. Click here to join: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ Hear from our Academy co-coaches on how they see students getting results in the program, what their favorite features are, and why they became co-coaches! "Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————
Ep 410Bonus Ep. 8 Questions Answered About the Webinar "Quit Your Toxic Nonprofit Job"
Here’s all the details on our Upcoming webinar this Tuesday at 4 pm EST 🙂 "Quit Your Toxic Nonprofit Job: Replace Your 9-5 Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home" I will discuss how to replace your income with freelance grant writing. Register here: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/webinar Here are our most common questions: #1 - Will there be a Replay? There will be a limited-time Replay, but it’s best to come live to get your questions answered. #2 - Will you tell us more about the Freelance Grant Writer Academy? Yes, you will learn about the program and why you are a perfect fit to join. #3 - Will you teach us things that are inside the Academy? When you join tonight, you will get a nibble of our concepts inside the Academy. This is a good sample size of what you will get inside the Academy. You will walk away with a notebook full of golden gems. #4 - Will Academy students share their experiences in the program? Yes, we have some students who have quit their jobs that will be at the webinar and personally answer some of your questions! #5 - If I don't want to quit my job, should I still come? Yes, we will give you the TOP tips in the industry on how to earn revenue as a grant writer - whether you chose to quit your job or not, don't currently work, or want to pick up some extra skills. #6 - Is the webinar just a sales pitch? No. We have quality teaching and strategies that we will teach during the webinar. Yes, we will talk about the Academy, but whether or not you join the Academy, you will walk away with the best valuable nuggets about freelance grant writing. #7 - How long is the webinar? The webinar will be 1.5 hours, from 4 pm - 5:30 pm EST on Tuesday, Jan. 21st. We will stay on for an additional 30-45 minutes to answer any additional questions outside of the regular FAQ period. ;) #8 - Why Should I Register or Attend the Webinar Live? You'll get the most out of the webinar if you attend it live. For Sure. You can get any questions you have answered in the chat or after the training in the live FAQ section by me. Sure, life happens and we have a replay, but we recommend adding this in your schedule if you are able and coming live. Plus, by registering (even if you can't come live), you will access to a special webinar-only 48-Hour Bonus (see below). And we often have LIVE webinar-only surprises ;) When you join the webinar, "Quit Your Toxic Nonprofit Job: Replace Your 9-5 Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home" I will discuss how to replace your income with freelance grant writing. You will walk away from the webinar knowing how you can make a grant writing business work for you. This is for you if you are an aspiring or seasoned freelance grant writer. After the webinar, we'll open the doors to my program, Freelance Grant Writer Academy, where we help you achieve Replace Your Income While Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. Register now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/webinar "Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————
Ep 409Bonus Ep: Why 2025 is the Year to Quit Your Job and Write Grants
2025 is a great goal year for quitting your job and to become a freelance grant writer. Why? #1 - Milestone Year #2 - It’s Timing There has never been a better time to quit your job and work from home since working virtually is now mainstream. #3 - Easier to Get Work Nonprofits, For-Profits, and all other Agencies can more easily keep you long-term as a consultant. #4 - Adjust to Change (because it’s happening whether you want to face it or not) Because there will be a lot of change in 2025. With a new federal administration, there may be changes that will affect your 9-5. There will be new changes in tech and AI. Change is happening whether you like it or not. Prepare to be self-dependent now. #5 - It’s Time to Live Life for You - at Your Terms Because you’ve been telling yourself for years it’s time to retire or to live differently. Or life is just happening. #6 - Because You Can - it's Never Been Easier Because you have access to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy it's never been easier. We've been doing the work for years to get everything (templates, training, support) set up and tested so we have results. When you attend the webinar, "Quit Your Toxic Nonprofit Job: Replace Your 9-5 Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home" I will discuss how to replace your income with freelance grant writing. You will walk away from the webinar knowing how you can make a grant writing business work for you. This is for you if you are an aspiring or seasoned freelance grant writer. After the webinar, we'll open the doors to my program, Freelance Grant Writer Academy, where we help you achieve Replace Your Income While Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is a 12-month group coaching program for aspiring and seasoned grants writers to replace their income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. Join the Webinar, "Quit Your Toxic Nonprofit Job: Replace Your 9-5 Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home" on Tuesday, Jan. 21st, 2025. Register here: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/webinar Or join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy today: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ "Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————
Ep 408Bonus Ep: Why Stay at Home Moms Need to Write Grants
"Quit Your Toxic Job" Webinar on January 21st, 2024. Register, especially if you are a stay-at-home mom or want to become one. Are you a stay-at-home mom due to the rising costs of daycare, unsafe schools, inflation, and/or long transport times? Because of these reasons many moms have found that their salary isn't aligned with these costs. So they choose to stay home with the kids to save money, keep their kids safer, and not be exhausted from working 40+ hours per week and 10 hours per week in traffic. I am not here to shame anyone from making a choice that feels good for you and your family! Lots of moms are in this situation. But here's what happens. The mother starts depreciating her lifelong earning potential. Because she is taking off time from work she isn't contributing to her retirement, social security, etc. Because she isn't working there is a gap in her resume. Because she isn't working she isn't adding professional skills to her experience. This is unfortunate and shouldn't be the case. What if I told you moms that you can stay home with your kids, and earn more money on part-time hours? You CAN earn money, increase professional skills, stay in the 'workforce', add to your retirement, and be at home (and have time) with your kids. I know it sounds too good to be true, but listen to today's podcast episode to know why it's not! https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/podcast "Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————
Ep 386From 9-5 to Subcontracting to $93,000 as a Freelance Grant Writer
What does it really look like to transition from a 9–5 job into a thriving freelance grant writing business?In this episode, Daphney Jean shares her journey from working full-time to subcontracting as a grant writer—and ultimately stepping into full-time freelance.We dive into how she navigated that transition, the lessons she learned along the way, and what it took to build a sustainable business. After two years of freelancing, Daphney joined the Freelance Grant Writer Academy—and within one year, she increased her revenue to $93,000.This conversation highlights the power of refining your systems, building confidence in your pricing, and surrounding yourself with the right support to grow your business.If you’re thinking about making the leap—or want to scale your current freelance grant writing business—this episode will show you what’s possible.ABOUT OUR GUESTDaphney Jean is a freelance grant writer and consultant who has successfully built a full-time business helping nonprofits secure funding. After transitioning from a traditional 9–5 role into subcontracting and then full-time freelancing, she has grown her business to generate over $93,000 in annual revenue.Daphney is passionate about helping nonprofits access funding while also building a flexible and sustainable career for herself as a grant professional.OTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode is sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS)!Break up with your spreadsheet and never miss a deadline again. GEMS is designed specifically for grant writers and nonprofit professionals to streamline workflows, track deadlines, and manage grants with ease.Book your FREE demo now: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems———————————————————————————
Ep 383Grant Writing for Newbies
Are you feeling overwhelmed or thinking you need a certification or degree to become a grant writer? Maybe you believe only certain people can learn how to write grants. Here’s the reality—grant writing isn’t a mythical skill reserved for a select few.It’s a formulaic, learnable process that anyone can develop with the right guidance and practice. In this episode, Holly breaks down common misconceptions about grant writing, shares why you don’t need formal credentials to get started, and explains how understanding the structure and strategy behind grants can open up real opportunities for you.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by: Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now!———————————————————————————
Ep 403From Burned Out Development Director to Freelance Grant Writer in 2 Months
Welcome to another insightful episode of the Grant Writing & Funding Podcast! In this podcast episode, Phaedra Howe, Founder and Grant Specialist of Award Ready Consulting, discusses how she was a burned-out development director and quit her job to do freelance grant writing.She talks about joining the Freelance Grant Writer Academy after getting her first client and needing the necessary systems, support, and business plans to run her business.Tune in to listen to this podcast. Sign up for the Webinar, “Quit Your Toxic Nonprofit 9-5 Job” About Phaedra HowePhaedra Howe believes in using relevant data and details to highlight the heart of nonprofit work. With this vision, Phaedra has helped nonprofits identify new grant opportunities, develop clear funding strategies, and prepare compelling, concise proposals to win organizations over $4.5 million for operating and programmatic growth. With her background in science and independent sales, she brings a unique eye for clarity, details, and structure to mission-driven work that brings to life the importance of nonprofits for our communities.Connect with Phaedra:WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Sales CallLinks Mentioned in the PodcastFreelance Grant Writer AcademyOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems ———————————————————————————
Ep 404Quitting a Corporate Job and going FT into Freelance Grant Writing
Welcome to another insightful episode of the Grant Writing & Funding Podcast! In this podcast episode, Sydney Bass talks about how she went from freelancing for years to a corporate job back to full-time freelance grant writing. She talks about what she needed to have in place (systems, processes, and mindset) to confidently go back to full-time freelancing!About Sydney BassSydney Bass is a nonprofit grant consultant and strategist with over 15 years of industry experience. Through her strategic grant services, she’s helped dozens of organizations across the United States secure over $11M in private and government grant funds. With a Master of Social Work and specialties including mental health, substance use, homelessness, employment, housing, youth development and performing arts, Sydney uses her approach of systems + simplicity to create funding success.Connect with Sydney BassEmailLinkedInSchedule a Discovery Sales CallLinks Mentioned in the PodcastFreelance Grant Writer AcademyOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems ———————————————————————————
Ep 3827 Takeaways from the 2024 Grants State of the Union
Here is a look back at 2024 and all that happened around grant funding. From major shifts in federal funding to the rise of AI in the grant writing world, this year brought significant changes that impact how nonprofits and grant writers operate today.In this solo episode, Holly Rustick breaks down the key trends you need to know, including updates to federal funding, OMB Super Circular changes, increases in foundation and individual giving, and the growing role of video and online applications. She also dives into emerging nonprofit trends, how AI is reshaping the grant writing landscape, and what it all means for freelance grant writers moving forward.Tune in as we go deep into each of these areas so you can stay informed, adapt your strategies, and position yourself for success in the evolving world of grant funding.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by Bloomerang! Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps nonprofit across the U.S., like the 500 Festival Foundation, which increased their annual fundraising by an outstanding 50% after adopting Bloomerang If you’re ready to switch to a CRM that does more while you do less, book your demo today and learn how you can raise more with Bloomerang’s fundraising tools. Visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/ to learn more.———————————————————————————
Ep 401Ep. 380: How to Price Your Grant Writing Services
So let’s talk about the 6 main types of ways to price your grant writing services and which one is the best. Pricing your grant writing services can feel and be ambiguous at best. After decades of experience in freelance grant writing, find out the most sustainable way and equitable way to price your grant writing services. Tune in today to hear what Holly has to say about pricing your grant writing services. To learn more about the podcast episodes go to https://grantwritingandfunding.com/380 "Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ——————————————————————————— This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by Bloomerang! Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps nonprofit across the U.S., like the 500 Festival Foundation, which increased their annual fundraising by an outstanding 50% after adopting Bloomerang If you’re ready to switch to a CRM that does more while you do less, book your demo today and learn how you can raise more with Bloomerang’s fundraising tools. Visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/ to learn more.
Ep 400Stop Working as a Staff Grant Writer at Toxic Nonprofits
You might not realize it, but if you are a staff grant writer at a nonprofit you may be working in a very toxic environment.And it might not be the ‘fault’ of the nonprofit per se, but the system.This is a golden podcast episode for you today, to see how to still serve nonprofits as a grant writer, but to create a healthy working environment.Tune in today.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:Your fundraising efforts should be tailored to the different ways Gen Z and Baby Boomer donors engage with nonprofits. Backed by data from over 1,000 donors, the 2024 Generational Giving Report from Bloomerang and Qgiv reveals key differences in how various generations discover, connect with, and support nonprofits. Download your report today.———————————————————————————
Ep 379Opportunities and Challenges for Grant Writers Post-Election
Sean Kosofsky, the Nonprofit Fixer, joins us to break down the opportunities and challenges grant writers and nonprofits may face heading into 2025 in a post-election landscape. Drawing on his decades of experience in politics and the nonprofit sector, Sean shares key trends to watch, how shifting policies may impact funding, and what organizations can do now to stay ahead. We also explore how grant writers can position themselves strategically, adapt to change, and continue growing their impact in an evolving funding environment.ABOUT OUR GUESTSean Kosofsky is the founder of Nonprofit Fixer, where he helps nonprofits grow their impact through smarter fundraising, advocacy, and strategic planning. With decades of experience in politics and the nonprofit sector, Sean has raised millions of dollars, trained thousands of leaders, and advised organizations across the country.Known for his practical, no-nonsense approach, Sean specializes in helping nonprofits navigate change, strengthen their funding strategies, and build sustainable organizations that thrive in complex environments.OTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.---------------------------------------------------This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by Bloomerang! Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps nonprofits across the U.S., like the 500 Festival Foundation, which increased their annual fundraising by an outstanding 50% after adopting Bloomerang. If you’re ready to switch to a CRM that does more while you do less, book your demo today and learn how you can raise more with Bloomerang’s fundraising tools. Visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/ to learn more.---------------------------------------------------
Ep 398Bonus Ep: Why I'm Doing 1:1 3 Hour Intensive Coaching and What's Inside
Book your 3-Hour 1:1 Intensive Coaching with Holly Rustick by Dec. 3rd. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/intensives Eek! This is the first time that I have done 1:1 Intensives in YEARS and I miss them 🙂. But I also understand there are a lot of you aspiring and seasoned grant writers out there right now who want to make 2025 your best year yet. And you want a coach to look over your business (or potential business) so you have guidance for the entire year. Your private 1:1 coaching intensive with me includes: - A 3-Hour 1:1 Strategy Intensive Call with Holly - 2-Week Follow-Up Emails / Voxer Support for any Clarification - Clarity on your Services to earn another $30k-$50K in your grant writing business - A Money Plan to feel more peaceful in your business in 2025. - A Launch Calendar and Strategy for 2025 to hit all your Goals - ready to go! No more trying to do your year planning in January or February! Even if you have not launched your grant writing business yet, or are making multiple six figures in your business already, this 1:1 intensive coaching will save you years of paralyzation and challenges so you can have a more peaceful and quick path to earning your first or additional $30-$50K. This is the first time I have opened up my 1:1 Intensives in YEARS and I only have 5 slots available. These will fill out quickly. Sign up now to secure your spot (before it’s gone), or book a sales call. Looking forward to coaching you and helping you have your best year ever in 2025 before it even gets here! https://grantwritingandfunding.com/intensives
Ep 397Federal Grants in 2025 and Beyond and How Grant Professionals Can Lead
Find out why federal priorities shift in grant-making, when they do, and how you can be prepared for 2025. Federal grant funding changes and shifts are a reflection in many things, including:Responses to Society and Cultural Norms/ChangesAdministration Changes & Shifts in Priorities Global Events (Covid-19 is a recent example here) The reality is that grant funding is really a reflection on all the above. As a grant writer, it is important to pay attention to what is going on so we can lead nonprofits, individuals, governments, businesses, and organizations that we work with.Tune in today to hear what Holly has to say about the upcoming federal shifts and what you can be doing, no matter what your cause area is.Tune in today to listen to this podcast.Links Mentioned in the PodcastFreelance Grant Writer AcademyABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:Your fundraising efforts should be tailored to the different ways Gen Z and Baby Boomer donors engage with nonprofits. Backed by data from over 1,000 donors, the 2024 Generational Giving Report from Bloomerang and Qgiv reveals key differences in how various generations discover, connect with, and support nonprofits. Download your report today.———————————————————————————

Ep 396Why Branding is More than Just Color or Fonts with Erin Davis
In this podcast episode, Erin Davis discusses what you need to consider when branding your freelance grant writing website and business.It’s more than just colors or fonts when understanding how to make your freelance grant writing business stand out among other grant writers. Learn how to communicate your services, experience, and passion easily with your brand.Tune in today to listen to this podcast.About Erin DavisI’m a former ‘forced’ entrepreneur who embraced remote work long before it became the norm. With an Ag Science degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and nearly completed Master’s in Ag Communications, I started my career in Montana, writing about hardworking ranchers and even breeding cows (yes, really!). My journey wound through various ag-based non-profits until marriage and motherhood nudged me to work for myself, serving the same clients who had been my employers.Despite many years of success, burnout pushed me to (desperately) dream bigger. That’s why I founded Matchbox Women, a haven for women entrepreneurs to build their brands with clarity and confidence, harmonizing work and life with our spirits.Connect with Erin DavisWebsiteEmailLinkedInLinks Mentioned in the PodcastFreelance Grant Writer AcademyOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:Your fundraising efforts should be tailored to the different ways Gen Z and Baby Boomer donors engage with nonprofits. Backed by data from over 1,000 donors, the 2024 Generational Giving Report from Bloomerang and Qgiv reveals key differences in how various generations discover, connect with, and support nonprofits. Download your report today.

Ep 377How Nonprofits are Ranked on Gender Equality With Amy Cross
In this week’s episode of the Grant Writing & Funding Podcast, Holly Rustick sits down with Amy Willard Cross, founder of GenderFair, to discuss groundbreaking efforts to bring gender equality evaluations to nonprofits. GenderFair—known for assessing businesses, organizations, and governments for gender representation and pay equity—has expanded its work to evaluate nonprofits using IRS 990 data and other sources.Together, Holly and Amy explore how GenderFair analyzes leadership, pay disparity, and diversity reporting across 22,000 nonprofits, why gender equality matters across the sector, and how donors and freelance grant writers can leverage this data for more informed decision-making. They also discuss GenderFair’s innovative app for rating companies and how nonprofits can use these insights to improve equity, transparency, and impact.ABOUT OUR GUESTAmy Willard Cross is the founder of GenderFair, an organization dedicated to advancing gender equality through data-driven evaluations. GenderFair assesses companies, organizations, and institutions on representation, pay equity, and diversity, empowering consumers, donors, and stakeholders to make informed, values-based decisions.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTLinkedIn Website: Gender FairOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by Bloomerang! Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps nonprofit across the U.S., like the 500 Festival Foundation, which increased their annual fundraising by an outstanding 50% after adopting Bloomerang If you’re ready to switch to a CRM that does more while you do less, book your demo today and learn how you can raise more with Bloomerang’s fundraising tools. Visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/ to learn more.———————————————————————————

Ep 3752024 OMB Grant Guidance Updates - What Grant Writers Need to Know
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 is one of those episodes you don’t want to skip.It’s practical, timely, and packed with must-know information to help you stay compliant and competitive in the evolving grants landscape.ABOUT OUR GUESTRachel Werner is a federal grant expert, trainer, and founder of RBW Strategy and MyFedTrainer. She specializes in helping organizations and grant professionals understand and navigate federal grant compliance, procurement standards, and OMB Uniform Guidance.With deep expertise in federal funding regulations, Rachel provides training and consulting to ensure grant recipients and writers stay compliant while maximizing funding opportunities.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTMyFedTrainer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myfedtrainer-com/ Rachel Werner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabwerner/ RBW Strategy Website: https://rbwstrategy.com/ MyFedTrainer Website: https://myfedtrainer.com/OTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode is sponsored by Bloomerang!Bloomerang is a donor management and fundraising platform built specifically for nonprofits to help you raise more, retain donors, and grow your impact. With powerful tools for donor engagement, reporting, and relationship management, Bloomerang makes it easier to build meaningful connections and drive sustainable funding.Learn more at: https://bloomerang.com/———————————————————————————

Ep 393How to Align with Foundations for Requesting Grants with Carmen Randolph
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 in today to listen to this podcast.About Carmen James RandolphCarmen James Randolph is President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of the South (WFS). Founded by and created for women and girls of color in the South, WFS boldly revolutionizes gender and racial justice in the Southern U.S. and beyond. WFS is dedicated to building the health and well-being, wealth and legacy, and power of womxn of color and girls in the South. So far, WFS has succeeded beautifully: WFS has already raised over $6M and provided $350k in grants to 52 women-of-color-led nonprofits in the South. Carmen is honored and prepared to lead WFS, the only such endowed foundation of its kind; the organization’s sustainability is built into its charter and DNA.She can discuss philanthropy, women in leadership, sustainable nonprofits and strategies to build meaningful partnerships to avoid burnout.Connect with Carmen James RandolphLinkedInLinks Mentioned in the Podcast:Women’s Foundation of the SouthFreelance Grant Writer AcademyOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————Your fundraising efforts should be tailored to the different ways Gen Z and Baby Boomer donors engage with nonprofits. Backed by data from over 1,000 donors, the 2024 Generational Giving Report from Bloomerang and Qgiv reveals key differences in how various generations discover, connect with, and support nonprofits. Download your report today.Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps nonprofit across the U.S., like the 500 Festival Foundation, which increased their annual fundraising by an outstanding 50% after adopting Bloomerang If you’re ready to switch to a CRM that does more while you do less, book your demo today and learn how you can raise more with Bloomerang’s fundraising tools.Visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/ to learn more. ———————————————————————————

Ep 3922024 Generational Giving Results for Nonprofits with Bloomerang
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 ChromyMelaina 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 brand awareness campaigns, she can be found binge-watching Parks and Rec and taking photos of everyone else’s pets.Reach out to Melaina:EmailWebsiteResources Mentioned in this Episode:2024 Generational Giving Report from Bloomerang and QgivThe Freelance Grant Writer AcademyOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————Your fundraising efforts should be tailored to the different ways Gen Z and Baby Boomer donors engage with nonprofits. Backed by data from over 1,000 donors, the 2024 Generational Giving Report from Bloomerang and Qgiv reveals key differences in how various generations discover, connect with, and support nonprofits. Download your report today.Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps nonprofit across the U.S., like the 500 Festival Foundation, which increased their annual fundraising by an outstanding 50% after adopting Bloomerang If you’re ready to switch to a CRM that does more while you do less, book your demo today and learn how you can raise more with Bloomerang’s fundraising tools.Visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/ to learn more. ———————————————————————————

Ep 3917 Ways to Get Your ROI in the Academy
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 and join by Oct. 27th. 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/

Ep 390Bonus Ep. Learn How to Become a Federal Grant Reviewer inside the Academy
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 students how to do this and they LOVE it. Not only do they get paid, their grant writing skills increase exponentially AND they get clients easier than ever because they know how to score grants. And that is a HUGE selling point to nonprofits. You can get paid $1,500 - $2,250 for just ONE grant reviewer gig. Join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy to learn how to become a federal grant 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 and I read each and every review! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

Ep 389Bonus Ep. Learn How to Get a Nonprofit Grant Ready in the Academy
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 includes a complete Nonprofit Wellness Audit checklist, rating system, and FULL report. This can be a service you do as a stand-alone OR part of your packages/retainer. We show you how to utilize this as a selling point so that you can make sure that funding sources don’t have red flags to the overall nonprofit. Hint - this will also increase your grant competitiveness when the nonprofit has their ducks in a row. You can charge $2,500 for just ONE Nonprofit Wellness Audit. Join the Academy today to get this report! https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

Ep 388Bonus Ep. Learn Strategic Planning inside the Academy
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 strategic planning for nonprofits, how much to charge, and how to roll it into your services). 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

Ep 387Bonus Ep. Your Heart Strings Won't Pay the Bills. Stop Giving Discounts on Grant Writing.
*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 you design the RIGHT number of deliverables for your clients at the right price. You will figure this out going through our Change Statement Formula and get coaching and feedback on it. You can still get your heart strings pulled, be a nice person, and get paid - your full rates. When you join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, you get our formula to figure out how to price your unique services. In the first 90 days, you will work through the Change Statement to come up with your service offerings for the nonprofits that pull your heart strings. You will get this figured out before the end of the year - and it will literally take you only a few hours to work through this, get feedback, and get coaching. Even if you have a full-time job, kids running around, and travel on your plate. You will walk away with having grant writing services that only deliver services based on fair pricing. 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

Ep 386Bonus Ep. Will Your Nonprofit Job Be Upset Or Fire You If They Know You Are Freelance Grant Writing?
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 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

BONUS: With 11 years of Grant Writing Experience, Shonet made $83K in her Business
bonusWhat 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 that helped her step into her value as a freelance grant writer.If you’ve been wondering what’s possible when you combine your skills with the right systems and strategy, Shonet’s story will both inspire and show you what’s achievable.ABOUT OUR GUESTShonet is a professional grant writer and consultant with over a decade of experience securing funding for nonprofit organizations. After years of working in grant writing roles, she transitioned into freelance consulting and quickly built a successful business.Within her first year as a freelance grant writer, Shonet generated over $83,000 in revenue and helped her clients secure $190,000 in grant funding. She is passionate about helping nonprofits access the resources they need while building a sustainable and profitable grant writing business.OTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox.https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing.https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 384Bonus Ep. Can I Quit my 9-5 and do Freelance Grant Writing or do I have to Keep my Job?
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. ______________________________________________________ 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

Ep 382Bonus Ep: Even Introverts Can Get Nonprofit Clients for their Grant Writing Businesses
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. ______________________________________________________ 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

Ep 383Bonus Ep. Don’t Think You Have the Time to Write the Number of Grants to Get Paid Well?
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 a profitable business. ______________________________________________________ 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! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home! ------------------------------------------------ Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-g…er-academy/ ———————————————————————————

BONUS: Get Your Nonprofit to Pay for the Academy
bonusIn 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 ready to grow your skills and increase your earning potential without taking on financial risk, this episode is for you.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 380Do Nonprofits Have Money to Hire You for Your Grant Writing Services?
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 spaceProcure materials (paper, printers, etc.)Hire staff AND CONSULTANTSBuy computersPay for water and power and maintenancePurchase vehicles…and SO much more.They still contract out workers.This is HUGE!So if this is the case, why do so many of you think that nonprofits don’t have money to hire you?It’s because of some questions that nonprofits have:Can you work pro bono?Do you offer discounts?Can you get paid on commission?How many grants have you won?Nonprofits will ask you these questions. It doesn’t mean by saying “no” to any of these means they won’t become clients.These are just questions they feel they need to ask. Oftentimes, their board of directors will tell them to ask this question during any interview.It doesn’t mean that you need to say yes.It’s just a question that needs to be answered.Just think of this. If a nonprofit books a Discovery Sales Call with you – and you follow our recommendation to ask vetted questions with one main one being “Do you have a budget range to hire a grant writer and work with us?” Then they know you aren’t doing pro bono work.Even if they haven’t figured out how to get money yet to hire you, they booked a call with you with that thought in the back of their mind, “How can I find money for this?”Just like you aren’t going to book a sales call with a social media marketing company or even a doctor without knowing you are going to have to pay for the services rendered.How you respond to those questions is the Make or Break of Getting them as a Happily Paying Client. Inside the ETHICAL NONPROFIT SALES SYSTEM we teach you how to respond to these questions in an ethical way AND how to happily convert them to a paying client!In 15 months, our Academy students have collectively made $2.2 million in their freelance grant writing businesses. So obviously nonprofits have money – literally millions, to pay for your grant writing services.But you need the language on how to respond to these questions. Here are some tips for you:Don’t be offended when they ask if you can work for free. Tell them no and why.List pre-questions on your Discovery Sales Call page, including: “Do you have a budget range to hire a grant writer?”Also add a disclaimer on the Sales Call page “We do not offer free services.”Be curious instead of offended when they continue to say they have no money to hire you. Ask questions like: “How would getting grants solve problems at your nonprofit? Do you have time to learn how to write grants and keep up with a grants calendar? How would hiring us alleviate your stress of knowing that grant writing is a priority but also knowing you don’t have time to do it? Have you hired a grant writer before? If so, what did you like / not like about it?”Ask them leading questions on how they could get funding, “Can your board come up with funding for this if it’s important and a priority for your nonprofit?”“Do you have any unrestricted funds?” “How would it feel to hold a fundraiser to hire us so we can build out a strategy for you?”“Could you reach out to a corporation and ask them to be a sponsor to hire a grant writer so you can build capacity?”Most nonprofits do have revenue to hire you. Learn our Nonprofit Ethical Sales Systems on how to ethically respond to these questions so you show up to calls NOT feeling sleazy, but feeling helpful.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home.

Ep 379Bonus Episode: Everything Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy
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 AcumenIn 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 than 15 months, Academy students have secured $88 Million+ in grant funding. Our grant skill training is the best in the industry.SKILL #1 – GRANT WRITING30-DAY MASTER GRANT TEMPLATE CHALLENGE: Within 30 days, you will learn our system of writing a grant. This is for new AND seasoned grant writers. You will understand how to write a FULL grant template. You will understand the full process of writing a grant AND the system of creating this template as a deliverable for your clients. GRANT TEMPLATES: We have 70+ short videos, templates, and more so you know 1) How to Find Grants, 2) How to Submit Grants, and 3) How to Write Grants. Even if you are a seasoned grant writer, you will benefit from our HUGE resource library of templates and samples of LOIs, MOUs, Logic Models, and more. UNLIMITED GRANT REVIEWS: We are the only program in the industry that offers UNLIMITED grant reviews and feedback on your grants. Having grant experts even review ONE grant is easily worth the entire price of the program. (We charge $2,500 for reviewing grants to the public. You get as many grants reviewed as you want throughout the entire program! This is a no-brainer).SKILL #2 – BUSINESS ACUMENIn the first 90 Days, you will get everything off the ground to start your freelance grant writing business- whether that is part or full-time. Within 15 months, Students inside the Academy have secured more than $2.2 Million+ in Revenue in their grant writing businesses. The Academy Business Acumen Skills Work..GRANT WRITING SERVICE OFFERS (CHANGE STATEMENT): You will identify WHO you want to serve and create packages that are ethical for your clients.VALUE-BASED PRICING METHOD: You will identify fair prices that give you profit and are fair for organizations that work with you. No more giving discounts or feeling like you aren’t valued.ETHICAL NONPROFIT SALES SYSTEM: No more feeling ‘sleazy’ with sales calls or people ghosting you. You will have a system to have the highest converting sales calls IN the industry.UNLIMITED BUSINESS REVIEWS: Want us to give you feedback on your website? How about giving you feedback on your pricing? Need input on how to structure your services? Want us to look over a retainer before sending it to a client? Anything to do with your business, we look over and give you personalized feedback. This alone is HUGE as it’s the little decisions in business that cause paralysis. When you have a coach – who has literally made a successful six-figure business as a freelance grant writer and worked with 100+ successful freelance grant writers – give you feedback, this will help you drive your business forward peacefully and quickly.COACHING & COMMUNITYThis isn’t a ‘Do-it-by-yourself’ type of program. It’s a coaching program. We are successful freelance grant writers and teach you how to be, too. Plus, you get to interact with more than 100 other freelance grant writers. WEEKLY LIVE COACHING CALLS: Ask anything in our coaching calls from sales questions, dealing with troublesome clients, how to run a grant workshop, and more. We have space for you to bring any question related to your skills and business to these very powerful calls! PRIVATE PODCAST: Miss a Coaching Call? Log into your portal to watch the replay OR catch it on your podcast player, under a private podcast. DAILY SLACK CHANNEL: Did you win a grant? Or maybe you are wanting to know where to grab a logic model, feedback on a contract, or having imposter syndrome with posting your new company on LinkedIn. We got you. Our expert coaches will respond to any question, and it’s a great place to interact with your community.BE LISTED ON GW&F DIRECTORY: You can be listed on our Grant Writer for Hire Directory. Academy students have gotten clients just being listed on our website – even if they don’t have one!BONUS SKILL CURRICULUM: We also teach you how to get paid and facilitate Nonprofit Strategic Planning, a Nonprofit Wellness Audit, and a Grant Feasibility Study.When you join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, you get everything you need to replace your full-time job by working flexible hours while writing high-quality grants quickly.Join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy today!ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, be

Ep 378Alex 10X Her Investment in the Freelance Grant Writer Academy in 7 Months
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 advice, inspirational stories, and actionable tips to help you maximize your potential and achieve sustainable success. Stay tuned as we uncover how Alex leveraged the Academy’s resources to build a thriving consultancy that not only meets but exceeds her financial and professional goals.About Alex SchuppertAlexandra founded Lighthouse Nonprofit Consulting in 2022 to leverage her 25+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector to assist nonprofit organizations in advancing their missions. Before launching Lighthouse, Alex spent five years in a dual role as a grant writing consultant and Vice President of Organizational Practices with a Colorado-based nonprofit consulting firm. There, she provided grant writing services, grant strategy and funder cultivation consult, and grants management to clients with various mission types, including workforce development, disabilities, older adults, healthcare, youth development, education, community development, mental health, substance abuse and recovery, the environment, LGBTQ+, and more. During this time, Alex successfully wrote grants that collectively raised more than $7.5 million of funding from private foundations and government entities for her clients.Prior to becoming a consultant, Alex spent more than 20 years at nonprofit organizations that provided direct services within the areas of early education, out-of-school time, child welfare, and mental health. As the Director of Programming and Evaluation at a settlement house in Somerville, Massachusetts that delivers early education and out-of-school time programs, she provided oversight for all the programs, developed new programming initiatives, designed and implemented program evaluation systems, wrote grants, and built partnerships with other local nonprofits and schools. Before that, she was the Director of Programs and Operations at a youth services organization in New York City where she oversaw all programs and operations including human resources, finance, policy and regulations, fundraising, and the organization’s contracts with the City of New York. During her time there, she developed a new policy manual, shored up finances by vetting and hiring a new accounting firm, and greatly improved compliance and billing of its city contracts. Her first management-level position was overseeing the program evaluation and outcomes measurement team for a large child welfare agency in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex received her MBA in Nonprofit Management from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She also has a Master’s in Psychology from Boston University and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Psychology from Hamilton College.In her spare time, Alex enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, skiing, and on romps with her rescue pup, a lovable senior pit-mix.Connect with Alexandra:EmailLinkedInWebsiteResources Mentioned in this Episode:The Freelance Grant Writer Academy. OTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 377Staci went from Burned Out Executive Director to Make $49K in Freelance Grant Writing
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 her story.About Staci NelsonStaci Nelson is a founding principal at Nelson Stevenson Consulting. She has more than 25 years of experience as a nonprofit leader, communications professional and fundraiser. Nelson Stevenson Consulting is a Spokane, Washington based firm that has been supporting nonprofits throughout the Intermountain Northwest since 2010. Clients include small grassroots organizations, well-established community action agencies, industry trade associations and public entities. Nelson Stevenson Consulting provides grant strategy, writing and management services that enable clients to better fulfill their missions and improve the quality of life for those they serve.Connect with Staci:EmailLinkedInResources Mentioned in this Episode:The Freelance Grant Writer AcademyOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 369Antoinette Quit her Teaching Job and Doubled Her Revenue as a Freelance Grant Writer
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 difference in her transition to full-time freelance grant writing.ABOUT OUR GUESTAntoinette Ethridge, founder of Antoinette Writes, LLC, is an experienced grant writer with four years in the field after transitioning from a decade-long career as an elementary educator. She began her freelance grant writing journey during the peak of the pandemic, leveraging her background in education and leadership to support mission-driven organizations focused on human services, education, community development, and youth initiatives.Antoinette holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Educational Leadership, and has helped secure over $3.5 million in funding for nonprofit organizations. Her expertise extends beyond grant writing to include strategic nonprofit planning and project management. A dedicated community advocate originally from Hampton, Virginia, she now resides in North Carolina with her husband, three children, and their spirited yorkie-poo, where she continues to make an impact through both her work and family life.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTEmailWebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 375Replay "Create a Profitable Grant Writing Business with Little to No Experience"
🎉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 Writing Business with Little to No Experience." To watch the entire replay visit: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/replay ——————————————————————————— Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and subscribe and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Coach & CEO for Aspiring and Seasoned Grant Writers to Replace Income, on Flexible Hours, Writing Grants from Home ✨💌 Get FREE Grant Writing Resources when You Join the Newsletter “Write Grants. Get Paid”: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/write-grants-get-paid-newsletter 🖥️🔥 👉 Freelance Grant Writer Academy: 12 Month Group Coaching Program for Aspiring & Seasoned Grant Writers to Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ ———————————————————————————

Ep 374Do You Need Grant Writing Experience to Get Paid as a Freelance Grant Writer?
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 with nonprofit clients and got a subcontracting position. She made $73,000 in her grant writing business in four months.She had NO grant writing experience before joining the Academy.Tiffany didn’t have much grant writing experience, but added it to her content writing, and quit her job early. Jeremey lives in California and works a 9-5 in a nonprofit. Inside the Academy, he started to view his 9-5 as an anchor client while he got his business going. Within a month, he secured his first retainer client while retaining his full-time job (i.e., anchor client)We have many folks that come in with no grant writing experience and 1) get confident in writing grants, and 2) secure clients within the year!That is one of the reasons that we have the grant writing master course and offer grant reviews :)#1 – Get some Grant Writing Skills to Boost Confidence in Making SalesThe Grant Writing Master Course alone has helped over a thousand people learn our simple grant formula and win grants. We have had senators take it, teachers, volunteers, lawyers, nonprofit staff, content writers, retired folks, and so many more who have literally never written a grant – learn how to write grants and secure literally millions of dollars in grant funds!Our Unlimited Grant Reviews are the amazing kicker, because you can have us review any grant application draft or grant template draft and we give you feedback on areas to improve.We have our 30-Day Master Grant Template Framework, too. Even if you use a fictional client, you will develop a mock Master Grant Template in the first 30 days of joining the Academy! And then you will get a personalized review and feedback on your work. We have folks who have gotten their first nonprofit clients by offering the Master Grant Template (and getting paid to do it for their first time!).So you can see how you can get the grant writing skills. But how do you go from skills to your first paying client?#2 – Even if you Still Haven’t Won a Grant, You Can Get a Paying Client EthicallyWhy people will still hire you, even if you have never won a grant before, is because you will develop grant writing skills and you have TIME. Plus, in the Ethical Nonprofit Sales we will show you how to create a Change Statement so you have a process to write grants and you can actually substantiate your price. Think about this for a minute…A nonprofit will hire a staff grant writer with no grant writing experience and tell them they will train them.Oftentimes they never train that person BUT they still expect them to win grants.This ends in disappointment for both the executive director at the nonprofit and the grant writer! So in a Discovery Sales Call, we teach you how to communicate why it’s ethical and makes sense to hire you – even if you have no grant writing experience.You don’t have to worry if you are new to grant writing. We teach you the skill of grant writing AND the skill of pricing and selling to nonprofit clients.Some folks feel more comfortable first volunteering (to get real-world experience) before pitching their grant writing services. This is NOT a requirement, but this might be where you feel ethical about it. We have an entire part of our curriculum inside the Academy on how you go from “Free to your first Paying Client”. So if you do want to volunteer for 3 months at a nonprofit to write grants, we show you how you will transition that into a paying job. We also have our “Identify 50 Nonprofit Leads in an Hour” curriculum, so even if you are new, we help you create a list of folks that you know and can reach out to.No website required or Social Media required.We got you.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an

Ep 373How Nija Stopped Giving Discounts for her Grant Writing Services and Made $55K in 9 Months
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 led her to make significant changes, resulting in an impressive earning of $55,000 in just nine months. Nija's experience underlines the critical balance between business sustainability and community contribution, a topic that resonates deeply within fields like social work and public health.Throughout this episode, Holly and Nija explore practical strategies for maintaining professional detachment, setting appropriate service prices, and the indispensable role of coaching in running a successful grant writing business. Whether you are new to the field or an experienced professional, today’s discussion promises actionable insights that can elevate your practice and help you achieve financial stability.So, get ready to be inspired and informed as we uncover the strategies that transformed Nija Rivera’s business and how you can apply these lessons to your own grant writing journey. Tune in, and let’s get started!About Nija RiveraBorn and bred in the vibrant city of Philadelphia, PA, Nija is a seasoned public health professional with over 10 years of expertise in nonprofit program management, grants management, and proposal development. She is the lead consultant at Gritty Grants. Nija earned her undergraduate degree in biobehavioral Health from Penn State University, laying the foundation for her multidisciplinary approach. She furthered her education by obtaining a master’s in public health from Temple University.Nija’s passion lies in creating impactful grants proposals that address the well being of under resourced communities. Her wealth of experience encompasses the entire lifecycle of grant projects, from conception through successful implementation.Beyond her professional endeavors, Nija is an avid traveler who delights in exploring different corners of the world. Her love for adventure extends to trying diverse cuisines from around the globe.Connect with Nija:Email: [email protected] LinkedInWebsiteOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 372Everything You Need to Know about Grant Writing Certification
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 CertificationA 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 you do have a grant writing certification or certification, then say, “YES!”However, if you don’t have one, then instead let them know that there is not an industry requirement for grant writers to have a certification. Because, well, there’s not.Instead let them know that you have written X # of grants, secured $X of funding, or any of your experience in grant writing. Let’s face it. Even if you did have the Grant Writing & Funding certification (yes, that’s a thing inside the Academy! wink-wink) or your Grant Professional Certification (the Academy also offers 31 education credits towards it) a nonprofit lead isn’t going to know how many hours of grant writing you have done, how long it took you to go through a course, etc.They don’t know what the difference is between the Academy certification or the GPC. So even if you do not have a grant writing certification, then mention all the other cool things related to grants you have done.If you are new to grant writing, this might be a reason you want some sort of certification, as you can eliminate a lot of OTHER questions that might come up if you say ‘no’ to this.Externally, what having a grant writing certification will get you is a nod of approval, a signature of experience (literally, put the logo in your email signature), and credibility. You can put the name of your certification on your resume, website, LinkedIn profile, or / and business card!This lends to the external affirmation of your skills.But once again – this is NOT required.Internal Considerations for a Grant Writing CertificationThe process of getting a grant writing certification can help improve your skills, knowledge, and confidence in writing grants.If you are looking to improve any of the above, then you may consider going through a course, workshop, or program (like the Freelance Grant Writer Academy) to get a grant writing certification. This is the heart of it.Disclaimer.Grant Certification or not, it doesn’t really showcase your grant writing abilities. To have long-standing credibility and a reputation and to implement your learned skills, you need to practice writing grants.Even if you aren’t working inside a nonprofit or have a current nonprofit client.We show you how to get a ‘fictional’ client and write up a mock grant template. This can even serve as a writing sample for future clients.So, yes, a grant writing certification can increase your resume and improve your skills, but actually going through the process of writing an entire grant template and getting feedback will make this skill real.We’ve even had students come into the Academy where their nonprofit that they work at pays for the Academy because we are training their employee to write a grant. Amazing!So do you really need a grant writing certification?No. However, a grant writing certification can be helpful in increasing credibility, knowledge, skills, and confidence. But you still will need to actually start writing grants.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship

Ep 371Sarah Replaced her FT Job within 4 Months as a Freelance Grant Writer
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 mastering grant writing. From securing over $40,500 in grants for her clients to earning $45,400 through her own business this year, she’s living proof that you can have both a fulfilling career and quality time with your loved ones.So, sit back, relax, and prepare to be inspired by Sarah’s incredible journey. Whether you’re juggling a demanding job, parenting responsibilities, or both, this episode is for you. Stay tuned to learn how you, too, can turn your passion for helping others into a profitable and flexible career.What you’ll learn in this episode:Swift Transition to Freelancing: Within just four months, Sarah Rowe transitioned from a traditional full-time job to a freelance grant writer, effectively replacing her full-time income.Financial and Personal Fulfillment: Sarah has successfully earned $45,400 through her grant-writing business and was able to secure $40,500 in grants for her clients, providing both financial stability and personal fulfillment.Flexibility for Family: The Freelance Grant Writer Academy allowed Sarah to change her lifestyle, working around her daughter’s schedule—including tasks like dropping her off at preschool while still being productive.Enhanced Work-Life Balance: Sarah’s freelance work structure enabled her to reduce her work hours compared to her previous nonprofit job, leading to more family time and less burnout.Motivation Driven by Parenthood: Sarah’s desire to spend more time with her daughter, especially after fertility challenges, motivated her to take the risk of starting her own business, providing greater control over her work-life balance.About Sarah RoweWith over 14 years of comprehensive experience in the grant industry, Sarah Rowe is a distinguished grant strategist and consultant who has excelled on all sides of the funding process. From securing millions in grant funding to managing complex, multi-state projects, Sarah’s expertise is unparalleled.Sarah’s journey in the grant world began with a strong educational foundation, holding a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Her academic background is complemented by a Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM) credential from the Project Management Institute.Throughout her career, Sarah has demonstrated exceptional skill in grant writing, administration, and strategy. She has successfully overseen the distribution and request of funds, provided timely grant and impact reports, managed all aspects of post-award success, and grown grant portfolios across multiple continents. Her strategic oversight has expanded grant portfolios across Africa, Australia, Cambodia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Sarah’s expertise extends to her role as a collegiate professor, where she teaches “Intro to Grant Writing.” Her ability to convey complex grant writing concepts in an engaging and accessible manner has made her a sought-after educator, inspiring the next generation of grant professionals.Recently, Sarah has transitioned from working as a full-time internal grant expert to serving a variety of missions through contract, project-based, or retainer opportunities. This shift allows her the variety and flexibility to hyper-focus on her expertise in the grant industry and build meaningful relationships with nonprofits and small businesses. By working with diverse organizations, Sarah can tailor her strategies to meet specific needs, ensuring optimal outcomes for each project.Her volunteer work as a Federal Grant Reviewer is extensive, having served on numerous grant review panels for various federal agencies. Sarah has reviewed grants for initiatives such as the Healthy Families Community Based Perinatal Health Initiative, Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs, Youth Engagement in Sports, and many others. This experience has given her a deep understanding of the criteria and standards required for successful grant applications.Sarah Rowe is not just a grant expert; she is a visionary leader who brings a wealth of knowledge, strategic insight, and a proven track record of success. Whether you are looking to secure funding, manage grant projects, or develop a robust grant strategy, Sarah is the expert you need to achieve your goals.Connect with Sarah:Email: [email protected] Rowe | LinkedInQuotables: “A lot of the questions I have or the pain points I run into, someone else is already talking abou

Ep 363What Aspiring and Seasoned Grant Writers Need to Be Doing in Quarter 4
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 management, building high-value services, and consistently attracting and retaining clients for long-term business growth.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 362Ethical Grant Writing Sales Series #5: Ask Questions Before Booking Sales Calls
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 begin reaching out to “pick your brain” for free advice. Holly emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, valuing your expertise, and creating systems that filter out unqualified leads so you can focus your time on high-quality, paying clients. If you’re ready to stop giving away free consulting and start running a more strategic, sustainable grant writing business, this episode will show you how.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing.https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 368Ethical Grant Writing Sales Series #4: It's Ethical to Not Give Discounts
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 know what sounds familiar):You think the nonprofit can’t afford your services unless you give them a discount.You want to make them ‘happy’.You think it’ll make you look nice.You are too scared to lose out on the lead.The first word that blurts out of your mouth is, “Sure!” before you even process what they asked,The thing is, just because a nonprofit asks for a discount during a Discovery Sales Call (or in an email) doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have money to hire you. Sometimes it is literally a part of their culture to ask every vendor for a discount.If you do give a nonprofit a discount what will inevitably happen are the following:You don’t show up 100% because they aren’t paying your full rateThey become an ‘annoying’ client in your mind because you aren’t being fully valued.You kick yourself because you are losing out on other clients who will pay your full rate.They start trying to push boundaries in other places – like paying later than usual, throwing you last minute grants, etc.Things just get weird.Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, we have an entire module and scripts on how to reply to Pesky questions like, “Can you give us a discount”. This helps you to start pausing and adapting language that feels neutral and has boundaries. Check out the bonus episode “It’s Ethical to Not Give Discounts” Listen to Series #4.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 367Ethical Grant Writing Sales Series #3: Price Your Services with Value-Based Pricing
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.This type of pricing utilizes the following elements:TimeExpensesSimilar professional costsFeatures/Benefits of ServicesExperience/EducationTypes of GrantsYour ConfidenceInside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, we have an entire Framework on Value-Based Pricing because we understand the importance behind learning how to price services.Let’s face it. Product-based pricing is SO much easier. Service-based industries are more ambiguous.But when you have a formula for figuring out your pricing, guess what happens? You get confident in your prices!Check out the bonus episode “It’s Ethical to Price Your Services with Value-Based Pricing” to figure out how to price your grant writing services. Listen to Series #3ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Resources Mentioned in this Episode:The Freelance Grant Writer AcademyRESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 359Ethical Grant Writing Sales Series #2: Create Services that Make Sense for Nonprofits
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 experience comes from volunteering, education, or previous work, you can begin defining the types of nonprofits you want to serve and the types of grants you want to focus on.In this episode, we break down how to do exactly that using the Change Statement Framework—a tool we teach inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.You’ll learn how to clearly position your services, set realistic expectations with clients, and build your business in a way that is both strategic and ethical.If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to communicate your value or structure your services, this episode will give you the clarity you need.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 358Ethical Grant Writing Sales Series #1: Learn how to Write High-Quality Grants
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, there’s an important balance. While learning and upskilling are essential, they can also become a form of procrastination if you’re not careful. There’s always more to learn—but that shouldn’t stop you from putting yourself out there.In this episode, we talk about how to navigate that balance—how to continue growing your skills while also taking action to market your grant writing services with confidence.If you’ve ever felt like you’re “not ready yet,” this episode will help you move forward anyway.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

Ep 364How Bridget Secured $89K in Her Grant Writing Business with Retainers in 8 Months
In this episode, we delve into the impressive success story of Bridget Lomax, founder and principal of WordSource. Bridget joins us to discuss how she secured an astounding $89,000 in her grant writing business within just eight months, using a strategic approach focused on retainer-based pricing.Bridget will share her journey from feeling uncertain about raising her rates to confidently pricing her services, all with the support of our specialized academy. She'll also reveal how the consistency and financial stability of retainers have transformed her business, allowing her to meet her financial goals, sustain her household, and even take well-deserved vacations.Stay tuned as we dive into how Bridget leveraged her extensive experience in creating grant proposals and utilizing AI, overcame the challenges of shifting priorities in grant funding, and empowered herself to operate not just as a freelancer, but as a thriving business owner. Plus, we'll touch on how outsourcing can save valuable time and discuss strategies for growing your client base and scaling your business.Whether you're a seasoned grant writer or just starting your journey, this episode offers invaluable insights into structuring your business for success, building financial resilience, and positioning your services to appeal to a diverse array of funders. Let's get started!About Bridgett LomaxBridgett Lomax is a seasoned philanthropy professional with 20 years of experience in corporate and foundation fundraising, proposal writing, grants management, and program development. She has worked with nonprofits across various sectors, including arts and culture, immigration, entrepreneurship, workforce development, violence intervention, economic justice, and education. Bridgett’s expertise has helped organizations secure over $10 million in funding to support their missions.In her roles as both a consultant and director, Bridgett has led and managed teams of fundraising professionals, guiding them in developing and executing successful corporate and foundation funding strategies. She has also overseen capital campaigns and programmatic funding efforts, ensuring organizations achieve their goals.Connect with Bridgette:LinkedInOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems ———————————————————————————

Ep 363Behind-the-Scenes of GEMS 3.0: How to use Grant Management Software Everyday
Rachel Waterman is the CEO and Founder of GDS Grants and has over 25 years of experience in community development and grant writing. In this episode, Rachel Waterman discusses the different grant management services available in GEMS, how to use GEMS as an onboarding tool, and the AI technology that’s available for grant writing processes. She also explains how to streamline your grant writing process, track multiple grant applications, and find potential funders. About Rachel WatermanRachel Waterman has over 25 years of community development and grant writing experience, is Grant Professional Certified (GPC), a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Approved Trainer, and an expert in grant management.She holds a Master’s degree in community and economic development with a concentration in applied social research from Illinois State University and a Bachelor’s degree in international studies from Barry University.Her career has encompassed a broad spectrum of professional experiences, including serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, nonprofit executive director, community organizer, city master planner, researcher, and Mayor of the city of Lake Worth Beach, Florida.Rachel is the CEO and Founder of GDS Grants. She is responsible for client strategy, new program & budget development, data tracking systems, outcome measures, and data analysis. Rachel also oversees the GDS Professional Development Program and personally coaches GDS interns, fellows, and mentees.Connect with Rachel:LinkedInOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, 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!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.———————————————————————————This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems ———————————————————————————