Grant Writing & Funding

If you find yourself Googling when looking for grant funding or not even knowing where to start, then this podcast episode is for you! I’ve got Gauri Manglik, CEO and co-founder of Instrumentl on the show, and we go behind-the-scenes on how to use this platform. What is Instrumentl ? It’s a fundraising platform tool to help you find, well, funds. Looking for grants? This is your hub. About Gauri M...

Have you ever wondered how to write the evaluation section of a grant proposal? Maybe you sat there at 2 a.m. (of course the night before a grant is due) and scratched your head as you came across this section towards the end of a grant. You think, "You want me to write how I am going to run a program and now you need to know how I will evaluate that the project is running how I said it will run?"...

1. Get the FOA/RFP First you need to download the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or Request for Proposal (RFP). These are usually for federal grants, state grants and contracts, and certain foundation grants. This is basically where the funding sources publish directions and guidance about the grant program. The grant funding sources also put in technical requirements (such as font size, m...

Are you stuck in not knowing which type of grant writing resources to help you find, manage, and (eventually) win grants? Well, today is your lucky day! I’m giving the full review of 8 grant writing resources! As a 15+ year grant writing veteran I have seen some amazing resources come and go, and I’ve seen other ones evolve. I am highlighting 8 resources that I LOVE and some of these I use on a co...

What is the difference between an output and outcome in a grant proposal? The difference between an output and outcome in a grant proposal might not seem quite different at first. In fact, it might feel downright like the same darn thing. For many grant writers this difference between an output and outcome can feel a little abstract and confusing. You might be thinking, "What are the differences a...

Find out where you can get SO many free nonprofit fundraising courses! 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! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.you...

Learning how to write objectives for grant application proposals is essential to your grant writing success. This is often overlooked. Many people think an objective can just be a wish. Such as, “We hope to accomplish this program.” Let’s just start with Captain Obvious. Would you be willing to give someone money for a project if they only hoped to accomplish it? Or would you be willing to shell o...

Are you struggling to get donations through your nonprofit’s website—even after setting everything up? You’ve added the donate button, connected your payment system, and made your site live… but still, nothing. It’s frustrating—and it might even make you wonder if people care about your mission. But here’s the truth: they probably do. In this episode, Brady Josephson from NextAfter Institute break...

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night realizing you missed a grant deadline? Or maybe you submitted a grant months ago… and now you can’t find the final application anywhere? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and this episode is for you. In this episode, Rachel Waterman, CEO and Founder of GDS Grants, shares how to simplify grant management so you can stay organized, profession...

Are you not sure even what a SWOT Analysis is or how it relates to strategic planning? Well, I am definitely not saying get rid of the SWOT analysis altogether, but I am saying the old tired way of just shoving it in your planning and not knowing how to utilize is so over. How? Well, you do need a SWOT Analysis for your nonprofit’s strategic planning, however, it doesn’t have to be boring. It is a...

In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with federal grant research expert Jason Adkins to answer one of the most common questions: how do you actually find federal grants for your nonprofit?  Jason breaks down five clear, actionable steps to uncover federal funding opportunities and shares the exact websites and strategies you need to get started. What may seem overwhelming at first quickly beco...

A common question I get, as a grant professional, from nonprofit clients, is, “Can you guarantee that the grant you write for us will get awarded?” There are a number of reasons that I say no. Very simply put, here are a few of the determining factors: It depends also on the nonprofit’s capacity and experience in winning and managing grants that depend on their competitiveness with getting a grant...

Did you know that you can do grant research as a stand-alone service or package it into your nonprofit client offers? You might already be writing grants—but are you charging separately for researching and finding those grant opportunities? If not… this episode might just change your business model. Here’s the reality: many nonprofit clients will come to you with a list of grants and ask you to wr...

✨ Join my Free 5-day FB Challenge: Confidently Pitch Your Grant Writing Services to Nonprofit Clients" Click here: http://grantwritingandfunding.com/5-day ✨ Grant Writing Certificate. To have or not to have?  And then... from where? This is a question I get all the time.  I get this question from freelance grant writers and aspiring freelancers, but I also get it from potential nonprofit clients...

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about grant writing—and believing these myths can hold you back from success. In this episode, we break down seven of the most common grant writing myths and what you actually need to know. First, let’s talk about the idea that grants are easy to get. While grants are absolutely possible to win, they are competitive and require skill, strategy, and practic...

✨ Click here to download the Infographic Top 10 Responsibilities of a Nonprofit Executive Director: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/158-3-tactics-you-didnt-know-to-become-a-nonprofit-executive-director-ninja/ ​ ✨ What if you had a checklist to help streamline your duties as an executive director of a nonprofit organization? Sometimes an executive director of a nonprofit organization is stereo...

Ready to start growing your freelance grant writing business—but not sure where to begin? You’re not alone. Starting a freelance grant writing business or nonprofit consultancy can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to finding and securing your first clients. It can feel like you’re staring out at a massive ocean of possibilities with no clear direction. But it doesn’t have to be that way...

Being a freelance grant writer doesn’t have to feel like a frustrating career filled with stress and uncertainty—it can be the exact opposite.  In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with freelance grant writing expert and coach Rodney Walker to talk about how to build your business with a strong foundation and grow in a methodical, sustainable way.  Rodney shares his journey from struggle to su...

In this podcast, I am going to bring up when your freelance company or nonprofit should stand up for movements or injustice. Here’s the deal. Sometimes I see nonprofits and freelance companies not sure if they should publicly support something. Most of the time it’s not because you don’t support something, but rather you might not be sure if your brand should make a stand. In this episode, I am go...

In this episode, we tackle one of the most common questions: Why should I start a podcast? And once that’s answered, the next questions naturally follow— How do I start one? and Can I actually make money from a podcast? To break it all down, I’m joined by podcast expert Larry Roberts, host of Readily Random and 1 Big Win . Larry shares why podcasting is such a powerful platform for building your v...

Are you ready to stand out in your next job interview or elevate your professional presence online? In this episode, Lynée Alves shares expert strategies on how to position yourself for success—whether you're applying for a nonprofit role, growing your freelance grant writing business, or advancing your career. We dive into how to interview with confidence and clarity, including practical tips to...

Oh my goodness—this episode was so much fun to put together. I went back through some of the most-listened-to episodes of 2020 and pulled out the absolute best moments—the gold of the good. Think of this as your caramel boutique popcorn snack: bite-sized, powerful insights you can enjoy all in one place. In this special mash-up episode, we kick things off with impactful nonprofit tips before divin...

What is your New Year’s resolution for your nonprofit? As Dr. Beverly Browning says, “This is the time not to drink, but to think.” In this episode, we dive into how nonprofits can use this time to reflect, reset, and strategically plan for the year ahead—especially in a landscape that has shifted priorities and funding opportunities. We discuss why understanding the full journey from startup to s...

Branding is important—and it’s not going anywhere. Yes, even for nonprofit organizations. But if you’re thinking, “I don’t even have enough budget for my programs—how am I supposed to invest in branding?” —you’re not alone. Here’s the good news: you don’t need a big budget to build a strong brand. In this episode, Dr. Beverly Browning and I break down what nonprofit branding really means and how y...

Is your nonprofit struggling financially—or relying on just one type of funding like grants or fundraising? If so, this episode is for you. And guess who’s back on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast? Dr. Beverly Browning—woot-woot! In this conversation, we explore how nonprofits can build a more balanced and sustainable funding strategy by diversifying their income streams. We discuss how boa...