During the 2024 GrantSummit, hosted by the Grant Professionals Association, I had the distinct pleasure of being officially inducted into the Grant Professionals 2024 Class of Distinguished Fellows. I knew I would be recognized during the opening session, along with...
HayDay Services is bringing y ou a series of "how-to" articles related to successful grant development. Part 8: Sustainability On more extensive grant proposals, there’s almost always at least one of those dreaded questions: “How will your agency continue this program...
I love the ‘90s. It was the decade of all my high school and college years (class of ’96 and ’00). Music was popping, fashion was questionable (though I did love a good pleather pant and wide-legged jeans), Friends and ER ruled Thursday nights, and I knew the exact...
HayDay Services is bringing you a series of “how-to” articles related to successful grant development. Part 7: Evaluation The evaluation section of your grant proposal is often one of the last sections of a grant application. At that point, you may be tired of coming...
As a development director, city clerk, or solo grant writer, you may often find yourself juggling multiple responsibilities and facing increasing demands on your time and energy. The pressure to do more with less in the workplace or in the heavily staged photos that...
HayDay Services is bringing you a series of “how-to” articles related to successful grant development. Part 6: Program Description I find the program or project description, sometimes called the methodology section, to be the easiest section of a grant proposal to...
Picture mentorship as a cozy sweater – most folks think you only need it when fresh out of college and shivering in the cold winds of the "real world." But slipping into the comfy career cardigan of mentorship never goes out of style. Over the past 28 years, I have...
HayDay Services is bringing you a series of “how-to” articles related to successful grant development. Part 5: Goals & Objectives Goals and Objectives are a kind of shorthand for an entire grant proposal. In fact, writing goals and objectives really doesn’t feel...
From my birth in 1978 until I graduated from college in 2000, I moved (on average) every three years. And I’m not talking down the street. It was always a different state and sometimes a different country. That’s the life of an army brat. Check those dates, and you’ll...
HayDay Services is bringing you a series of “how-to” articles related to successful grant development. Part 4: Budgets When I first started writing grants, budgets were the last thing I wanted to deal with. My focus was on using words to convey needs and telling...
Securing a large grant feels like hitting the jackpot—making all the hard work worth it. But the real work is just beginning. Bigger isn't always better when it comes to grant funding. Grant funding can provide much-needed resources for programs, but often comes with...
HayDay Services is bringing you a series of “how-to” articles related to successful grant development. Part 3: Needs Statement Whether you are writing a one-page Letter of Intent (LOI) or a 150-page federal proposal, every grant funder wants to know the need/problem...
Raise your hand if you’ve ever: • Been asked your organization’s overhead cost by a donor. • Had to share your organization’s overhead percentage on a grant application. • Felt inclined to define your agency’s overhead costs. • Realized that your position was an...
HayDay Services is bringing you a series of “how-to” articles related to successful grant development. Part 2: Strategic Grant Seeking If I had a nickel for every time someone told me that Mackenzie Scott makes lots of grants, corporations are a great source of...
I used to dread any grant application that required a logic model. It was just another form to fill out, another hoop to jump through. After a while, I realized that logic models offer a visual representation of a program's key components and expected outcomes for...
HayDay Services is bringing you a series of “how-to” articles related to successful grant development. Part 1: Grant Readiness School started yesterday in my community, and over the past two weeks my daughter and I have been making preparations for a successful year....
As a grant professional, who you report to and where you sit in the org chart matters. When I worked in local government, my position (Grants Administrator) was nestled in the Administration Department and reported directly to the City Manager/Administrator. I had no...
I read and write historical fiction and have immersed myself in all things medieval Bruges for a Young Adult historical mystery that is in its final edits with a trusted professional. One of the many things that fascinates about this time are the medieval...
It happens every year, but I still get excited about it. A family cookout? Poolside lounging? A beach trip? A mountain getaway? Nope. I’m talking about the annual June release of charitable giving trends from Giving USA and the Indiana University Lilly Family School...
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been frustrated because a funder website: Sent you round and round but never gave you information on their grant funding process Shared who they awarded grants to, but never gave information on their grant application process Told you...
Whether you're a nonprofit grant writer, a city clerk “voluntold” to write grants, a newly minted development director, or a harried consultant, grant writing is intense. The pressure to meet deadlines, navigate complex requirements, and craft perfectly written...
Winning grants can be a game-changer for your organization. Whether you're running a nonprofit, seeking federal funding for a local government agency, or launching a new program or service, a well-turned grant proposal can transform the community you serve. What’s the...
Have you been awarded a federal grant with travel expenses included within the approved budget? I have, and even if it’s the smallest part of your overall grant budget, it can cause the biggest heartache if not given proper care and attention. Ask me how I know… The...
Being the only person with the word “grant” in your job title, or even mentioned as “other duties as assigned” on an outdated job description, doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. While having a dedicated grant writer, team, or consultant is invaluable, grant...