Grant Writing & Funding

In this special behind-the-scenes episode from the Open Kimono series, Holly Rustick is interviewed by Dr. James Pann to share her journey and insights into building a successful grant writing consultancy. This episode is perfect for aspiring and established consultants alike who want to sharpen their grant writing skills and grow their business with real-world lessons.  Together, they dive into h...

Jenni Hargrove joins us to share what foundations are really looking for when deciding to fund your nonprofit and how you can better position your organization for success. She breaks down key insights into funder expectations, along with practical strategies for improving your nonprofit’s visibility through Search Engine Optimization (SEO) so you can rank higher in Google search results. We also...

✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ This week my project manager and I are taking you behind the scenes of Grant Writing & Funding to share with you how we’re pivoting in light of Covid-19. We also share our favorite systems for running online businesses. If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingan...

As we’ve navigated through the pandemic and into a more digital world, one thing is clear—online engagement and fundraising are here to stay. And if you’re like many nonprofit leaders, you might be thinking: I need to learn everything about online marketing and invest all my resources into it. But what if it didn’t have to be that complicated? In this episode, Brady Josephson joins us to share a s...

If you’re a grant writer—or aspiring to become one—especially during times of uncertainty, you probably have a lot of questions. That’s exactly why we brought two powerhouse experts, Dr. Beverly Browning and Rodney Walker, together for a live, virtual Q&A session to tackle some of the most common (and real) challenges grant writers face. In this episode, we dive into lessons learned from faile...

This is an extra-special episode! I hope you enjoy listening to this dynamic panel of grant writing experts, including Rodney Walker of Grant Central USA, Dr. Beverly Browning, author of Grant Writing for Dummies , and Holly Rustick. Together, they bring a broad range of experience and insights from across the grant writing field, sharing perspectives, lessons learned, and expert advice to help yo...

Sarah Olivieri joins us to discuss how nonprofits can increase productivity and strengthen their operations during times of uncertainty, including the challenges brought on by Covid-19. She shares insights on whether nonprofits should pursue CARES Act funding, how to plan spending to not only survive but thrive, and ways to expand and engage your donor base.  We also explore what it truly means to...

✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ I know that nonprofits are struggling right now because of event cancellations and all of the changes that come from the circumstances of Covid-19. As we move forward in this unstable time, we can find peace and calmness in the things we can control, and much needed relief in letting go of...

✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Oftentimes, freelance grant writers and nonprofit consultants think they are ready to go. They have their packages, they know their mission and vision, and they have a functional website and followers on LinkedIn, but they are hearing crickets. In this podcast, I am going to give you the f...

I often get emails from people asking about grants in Europe. Although I have worked on international grants before, that is not my forte. So I was super pleased when Geir Sand Nilsen reached out to me to discuss the challenges and solutions of European grants. This goes for grants for businesses, grant writers, and nonprofits. In this podcast, Geir and I discuss: Challenges of EU grants Navigatio...

In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Ashia Stevens to discuss how to strengthen your nonprofit from the inside out by building a committed board, increasing product-based revenue, and organizing impactful fundraisers. Ashia shares how her passion for animals led her to create a growing nonprofit and the strategies she’s used to expand its reach and sustainability.  The conversation dives...

Do you know the difference between research and evaluation? Or how to clearly explain what a logic model is used for? These may seem like small distinctions, but they can make a major impact in grant writing. In many grant applications, the evaluation section alone can be worth up to 30 points—and with competitive grants often requiring scores of 93 or higher, getting this right is critical. In th...

✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ The nonprofits you work with (or the nonprofit you work at) need to not only look at grants, but also other funding sources. Yes, grants can be awesome, but the fiscal health of a nonprofit should not be fully reliant on grants. Get your FREE checklist at https://grantwritingandfunding.com...

Vu Le of Nonprofit AF discusses grant writing challenges I met Vu Le at the Grant Writing Professionals conference in D.C. We talked after his wonderful keynote. I love his fresh outlook on the grant process and progressive nonprofits! About Vu Le Vu Le (“voo lay”) is a writer, speaker, vegan, Pisces, and the former Executive Director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by...

I’m going to walk you through the outline of how to write a grant in 15 minutes. For some of you, this will be a reminder. But my goal is that you walk away from this podcast having learned at least one new thing! I’ve had different grant writing courses on various platforms, I teach it in universities, and I have even written a book on grant writing, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing: Tips, T...

Dr. Bev Browning is the person everyone knows in the grant writing world. She is the author of 43 grant-related publications, including six editions (over 1 million books sold) of Grant Writing For Dummies™. Dr. Browning shared with me that she first started writing grants back in the 1970s. She’s been doing this for half a century and tells all on how grant writing has changed and how you as a fr...

If you are tired of tracking grants in Excel sheets or jumping around on Google and constantly missing out on deadlines, then Instrumentl might be what you are looking for. I met Angela in November 2019 at the Grant Professionals Association annual conference. After she showed me some of what Instrumentl can do, I asked her to be on the podcast! Eek, it was like she was reading my grant writing mi...

Have you ever wondered how your mindset around money is shaping your success? In this episode, Sean Croxton—an expert in money mindset—dives deep into how our beliefs about money are formed and how they influence our decisions, behaviors, and outcomes. Having followed Sean’s work for years, Holly shares how impactful his teachings have been—not just from a motivational standpoint, but from a pract...

Get ready for 2020 with some strategic planning!

Hey Changemakers! It's our last episode of the decade so here's a mashup of our top 4 most listened to episodes including 2 great interviews! Happy New Year!

Grant Writing Certification One of the most common questions I hear is “Should I become a certified grant writer?” Well, the answer is different for everyone! That’s why we walk you through all the ins and outs of certification in this episode. “I may not write grant proposals or manage grant funds, but I want to make sure that grant professionals everywhere have the tools and resources so that th...

If you think you don’t know enough to write a book—this episode will completely change your mind. As Honoree Corder says, “Turn the volume up on the voice of possibility.” In this inspiring conversation, we explore how writing a book can open doors you never imagined—from building authority to creating multiple income streams. Honoree shares her journey of writing (now 50+ books!) and how becoming...

Boris Hertslet joins us to break down two of the most essential (and often confusing) acronyms in federal grant funding—DUNS and SAM—and how to navigate them successfully. We walk through the first steps to accessing federal grants, including obtaining your EIN, understanding what a DUNS number is and why it matters, and how to properly register with SAM.  Boris also shares common pitfalls to avoi...

Hey changemaker! I am so excited about today’s podcast! I know I say that every week, but today is the 100th episode! Can you believe it? Before we even start today I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU for listening and hanging out with me on this journey! You are simply amazing! Today I am paying homage to you and this podcast! You are going to learn about creating content, why it is super important to...

Dan Portnoy joins us to share how nonprofits can increase funding through the power of storytelling—just in time for Giving Tuesday. With decades of experience working with organizations and Fortune 500 companies, Dan explains how simplifying your message can create deeper connections with donors, how to assess your nonprofit’s story both internally and externally, and how strong narratives can br...