Grant Writing

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...