Grant Writing & Funding

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 d...

If you are wondering if you need a grant writing certification to pursue grant writing and get clients, you don’t need one. But some people are still interested in getting a grant writing certification due to external or internal reasons. Let’s examine these: External Considerations for a Grant Writing Certification A nonprofit might ask you if you have a certification during a Discovery Call. Whe...

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-yea...

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 myt...

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....

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...

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 p...

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?...

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—an...

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...

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 pro...

Grace Scamurra is a grants professional, writer, and educator with over 15 years of experience supporting youth in education and wellness programs. In this episode, Grace Scamurra explains how to become a freelance grant writer, get paid for writing grants, and how the academy helps grant writers. She also talks about the importance of pricing grant writing services correctly, what’s included in a...

This episode, Sabrina Walker-Hernandez explains what you should include in your sales calls with nonprofits, the tone you should use when talking to a board of directors, and why some nonprofits need a dedicated grant writer. Sabrina Walker-Hernandez is the CEO of Supporting World Hope and has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. In this episode, Sabrin...

This episode, Christina Edwards explains the process of pricing grant writing services, how to effectively network, and different marketing strategies grant writers can use.  Christina Edwards is a marketing expert and coach who helps ambitious social impact businesses and nonprofits increase revenue, supporters, and engagement. In this episode, Christina Edwards explains how online grant writing...

Are you trying to grow your grant writing business—but feel like you’re spinning your wheels? In this episode, Patrick Kirby, Founder of Do Good Better Consulting, shares what grant writers really need to focus on to build a sustainable and profitable business. With nearly 15 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, Patrick breaks down why finding a niche is critical—and how it can actually m...

This episode, Sheleia Phillips explains how to grow a grant writing business, different ways to make your grant writing business more enjoyable, and the benefits of having an anchor client. Sheleia Phillips is the Founder and Principal Consultant at SMP Nonprofit Consulting and has dedicated herself to the growth and development of nonprofits for nearly ten years. In this episode, Sheleia Phillips...

Ready to grow your grant writing business and better serve nonprofits—especially those under new leadership? In this episode, DeaRonda Harrison, founder and President of June First Firm, shares how she helps nonprofits transform their organizations through strategic grant writing and development support. We dive into how to understand and pursue federal contract grants, what it takes to become a p...

***Doors to the Grant Professional Mentorship are open until August 2nd, 2024 Join Now or Book a Sales Call: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-professional-mentorship The Grant Professional Mentorship is a 12-Month Group Coaching Mastermind where Grant Professionals Double Your Revenue with a Part-Time Team, Systems, and a Scaling Offer - Without Burning Out. Holly Rustick is a world-renown...

***Doors to the Grant Professional Mentorship are open until August 2nd, 2024. Book now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-professional-mentorship Holly Rustick is a world-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author who has been coaching grant writers on how to run successful 5-6 figure businesses since 2017. In this episode, Holly shares the 3 strategies to overcome burnout...

Welcome to a special episode of Grant Writing & Funding!  In this behind-the-scenes episode, Host Holly Rustick shares her journey from grant writing to coaching eager entrepreneurs on how to start their own grant writing businesses. She delves into her decision to rebrand and focus exclusively on teaching others to become successful business owners, uplifting women, and increasing their incom...

Are you operating as a freelance grant writer—or truly stepping into the role of a business owner? There’s a big difference. In this episode, Holly breaks down the shift from freelancer to business owner, and why this identity change is essential if you want to grow and scale your grant writing business. We explore what it really means to adopt a business owner mindset, including how you make deci...

In this episode, Holly breaks down what it really takes to create and deliver a successful grant training program. She shares insights on how much time goes into developing training, how to price your program for profitability, and effective ways to market your training to the right audience. Holly also explores the differences between hosting grant trainings in person versus online, how to turn t...

In this episode, Holly Rustick takes you inside the Grant Professional Mentorship and breaks down how grant writers can increase their income without increasing their workload. She shares what’s included in the mentorship curriculum and how it’s designed to help grant writers build sustainable, scalable businesses.  Holly also dives into common challenges grant writing businesses face, from incons...

What does it actually take to build a successful grant writing business? In this episode, Holly breaks down the four major areas every grant writing business needs to focus on to grow sustainably and profitably. We dive into how your business is structured, the different types of support you can bring in, and how to think strategically about scaling. Holly explains the various types of grant writi...

This episode, Niki Wanner explains what services grant writers should provide to their clients, the boundaries you need as a grant writing consultant, and how to turn a grant writing job into a grant writing business. Niki Wanner is an experienced Grants Consultant, Fundraising Professional, and Grant Writer who has won funding from 12 federal agencies and dozens of leading national and regional f...