Grant Writing

Grant Management Drives Future Funding Success

Grant Management Drives Future Funding Success

Grant management means so much more than tracking dollars spent—when done well, it’s an ongoing strategic process of communication, documentation, and dedication. To encourage long-term grant-seeking success, sound grant management is a comprehensive process that...

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Be Brave, Be Bold, Be Unabashedly You!

Be Brave, Be Bold, Be Unabashedly You!

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...

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990s Aren’t Nearly as Fun as the ‘90s

990s Aren’t Nearly as Fun as the ‘90s

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...

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You’re Never Too Old For A Mentor

You’re Never Too Old For A Mentor

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...

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How to Craft Winning Goals and Objectives

How to Craft Winning Goals and Objectives

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...

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Letter Writing – Not Such a Lost Art After All

Letter Writing – Not Such a Lost Art After All

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...

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How to Build Strong Budgets for Grant Proposals

How to Build Strong Budgets for Grant Proposals

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...

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The Hidden Costs of the 10% Overhead Myth

The Hidden Costs of the 10% Overhead Myth

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...

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Maximizing Your Nonprofit’s Funding Potential

Maximizing Your Nonprofit’s Funding Potential

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...

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Where Do Grant Pros Fit in the Org Chart?

Where Do Grant Pros Fit in the Org Chart?

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...

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USA Charitable Giving is NOT All About Grants?!?!

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...

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Not All Funder Websites Are Created Equal

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...

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Vulnerability Can Be a Game Changer

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...

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