Ripped from the Headlines: Grant Fraud Hurts Us All

Grant fraud really pisses me off.

I’m not talking about mistakes. I get that those happen. Heck, it’s happened to me on more than one occasion. We submit a report days late. We don’t get all the grant funding spent before the deadline. We forget to count the number of people at an event. That’s not fraud – that’s human error.

But when organizations and individuals steal grant funding or blatantly disregard rules and requirements, they are not only hurting the communities and people who were meant to be served with grant funds, but they are making life harder for the rest of us grant recipients.

I have a theory that every grant management rule in existence is a direct result of someone doing something stupid in relation to grant funding. The more grant fraud is committed, the harder it is for those in our profession to convince funders that trust-based philanthropy is the right way to go.

One of the ways we can impress upon our organizations and clients to implement policies and procedures, internal controls, and checks and balances to ensure all funding is properly cared for is to share examples of worst-case scenarios. That’s exactly what we are doing with our latest “Ripped from the Headlines” edition of the Fundraising HayDay Podcast.

I’ll speak for myself when I say that I cannot fathom taking advantage of grant funding for my own personal gain. As a grant professional, I am entrusted with overseeing public funds for the better of the communities I serve. And what I want to say to those who steal from grant funds is this: WHY CAN’T YOU USE YOUR POWERS FOR GOOD???

Because in our latest podcast we share three instances of grant recipients who couldn’t have been more blatant in their disregard for their federal funding’s stated purpose. One researcher straight up lied about research results, multiple people at a nonprofit lied about feeding hungry children (and instead spent the money on their own person needs and wants), and a former NFL player used influence and pressure to redirect money meant to help low-income families to build better college sporting facilities.

These stories break my heart. And they also infuriate me. But we need to talk about them. To bring attention to what happens when people aren’t good stewards of the funds entrusted to them. When I was employed within an organization, I would share these types of stories with my grant management team and other colleagues. It’s a way to remind everyone that grant rules and regulations need to be followed so our own organizations don’t end up in the newspapers or podcasts as examples of what not to do. And also, these examples are a reminder that I am going to do my job as a grant professional to ensure we follow the rules, because I’m not risking jail time for anyone.

Beyond that, I want more organizations to follow rules and regulations in the hope that trust-based philanthropy becomes the norm in my lifetime.

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Amanda Day

Amanda Day, GPC, is a national trainer and speaker. With 20 years of grant prospect research, writing, and management experience, she has the knowledge, know-how, and stories to keep every workshop participant and conference attendee engaged and better prepared to succeed in the grant profession. She is well versed in federal and private grant funding, as well as educating up and using your professional network to best build career path. Her passion lies in preparing grant professionals to successfully fund their organizational and community needs, along with meeting their personal career and leadership goals.

Latest posts by Amanda Day (see all)

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• Ripped from the Headlines: Grant Fraud Hurts Us All - October 30, 2025