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...
Grant Writing
What Medieval Manuscripts Can Teach You About Winning Grants
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...
USA Charitable Giving is NOT All About Grants?!?!
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...
![Not All Funder Websites Are Created Equal](https://haydayservices.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/li-blog-post-july-8-2024.jpg)
Not All Funder Websites Are Created Equal
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...
![Vulnerability Can Be a Game Changer](https://haydayservices.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/li-blog-post-on-7.1.24.jpg)
Vulnerability Can Be a Game Changer
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...
![Nailing Your Grant Proposal: 3 Must-Have Ingredients](https://haydayservices.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/li-blog-post-on-6.24.24.jpg)
Nailing Your Grant Proposal: 3 Must-Have Ingredients
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...
Traveling on the Government’s Dime: What You Need to Know About Federal Grant Travel Expenses
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...
It Takes a Village to Write a Grant
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...
Six Steps to Successful Grant Consulting
Pursuing a career as a grant consultant can be an incredibly rewarding path, allowing you to leverage your skills in writing, research, and project management to secure vital funding for non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and other worthy causes....
The Art of the “No”: When Grant Applications Aren’t the Right Fit
The pressure to apply for all the grants can be real in nonprofits and local government agencies with unrealistic expectations of this key funding and how it works. But there's a time to say "no." Strategically declining a grant opportunity can actually increase the...
5 Steps to Successful Grant Management
In the grant world, so many people focus on the award. There is a lot of emphasis on writing a successful proposal and winning the money, but the truth is, the award is just the beginning. The only way to keep the grant award, and find success in future applications,...
A Tale of Two Federal Program Officers
It was the best of responses; it was the worst of responses… A grant professional’s workload often centers around application deadlines. I have been tracking a funding opportunity for a client for over a month now. The 2023 application was released in early-April, and...
The ROI in Crafting an LOI
Letters of Intent (LOIs) can be beautiful things when it comes to streamlining your grant-seeking process. Over the past 10 years, more and more funders are using these (usually) shorter applications, or formatting for an actual letter, to screen applicant...
How to Have Difficult Conversations
I don’t know how you handle conflict, be it personal or professional, but my go-to modus operandi is avoidance. I’ve always been a peacemaker, and when things get uncomfortable for myself or anyone else, I will happily change the subject, crack a joke, or simply sweep...
Grant Professionals Are Change Agents
As grant professionals, we often see ourselves as mere intermediaries - facilitating the flow of funds from grant makers to nonprofits by carefully completing proposals, securing required documents, and reporting on outcomes. As grant professionals, we’ve all grappled...
Grow Productivity and Self-Understanding with the Enneagram
I was badly stuck on what kind of consulting business I wanted to build, and a deep fear of making the wrong decision had really shut me down. A trusted mentor recommended I work with The Enneagram of Personality to gain some much-needed insight. The Enneagram helps...
Write the Right Grants
Did you know that in 2022 alone, foundations, corporations, and the federal government offered over $146 billion in grants? A wealth of resources is available to support your nonprofit's mission, but securing those funds requires strategic planning. All too often,...
Don’t Be Afraid to Talk to Your Grantor
Last week Kimberly and I led a workshop for area police chiefs and other command staff. We spent time talking about what grants can and cannot do and how to build a grants team without a grant professional on staff. We spent a lot of time explaining that competitive...
Building Your Grant Writing Network: An Introvert’s Guide
While extroverts (like my podcast co-host and training partner Amanda Day) might thrive on large networking events and cocktail receptions, introverted grant writers (yours truly) can excel at building networks too. Our approach may be quieter, but it can be just as...
How to Bake a Just Write Proposal
How many of us dreamed of being a grant writer at age 12? Yeah, me neither. I also never dreamed of being a baker. Yet here I am with 25+ years of grant writing and fundraising experience and an addiction to the lovely amateur contestants on the Great British Bake...
How Grant Management is A Lot Like Broccoli
The grant world is split into two very distinctive halves: pre-award and post-award. Many organizations put pressure on their grant professionals to get the grant, causing the focus of our time to live on the pre-award side – conducting prospect research to find the...
Own Your Mistakes
Kimberly and I are currently going through the Dare to Lead training created by Brenè Brown. Our facilitator is Julie Boll, a fellow grant professional, whom we had the pleasure of interviewing on the Fundraising HayDay Podcast last year. If you want to learn more...
Silos: Good for Cattle Feed—Terrible for Grants and Fundraising
Silos are great for storing fermented hay or corn to feed cattle but make a terrible model for grants and fundraising success. So why do so many nonprofit professionals insist on separating two key revenue-generating functions—rarely working together or even taking...
Old School Productivity Tools Still Get the Job Done
When I first started working in the grant profession, there was no such thing as grant management software. The phrase “there’s an app for that” didn’t exist, and no one was talking about tools or hacks to keep up with grant deadlines. (I suddenly feel like my father...