
Grant Writing & Funding
Quit your toxic nonprofit job and replace your full-time income while writing grants part-time, from home! Join our students in the Freelance Grant Writer Academy to create Financial Stability and Flexibility through writing grants for causes you are passionate about: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy
World-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author Holly Rustick provides coaching that helps new and experienced grant writers replace their full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or anywhere they want to live or travel in the world).
She coaches changemakers to master grant writing and start to grow 6-figure+ grant writing businesses on part-time hours via her signature group program, “Freelance Grant Writer Academy."
As an unapologetic feminist, Holly’s work in coaching female grant writers to master grant writing, find their cause-area niche, and navigate value-based pricing and nonprofit sales is breaking glass ceilings for women all over the world.
Every week, she coaches thousands of people through the top-ranking podcast, Grant Writing & Funding, books on grant writing, and inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.
Holly has 20 years of experience in grant writing, and began her freelance grant writing journey back in 2005. While teaching in Kuwait and Indonesia, and then earning a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy in Belgium, Holly saw the light of setting up a virtual-based business in grant writing back in the mid-2000s. Having secured more than $45 million of dollars for nonprofit organizations, and then setting up a multi 6-figure freelance business, Holly has a mission to help female grant writers break out of toxic nonprofit J-O-B-S and create high-level income while freelance grant writing.
Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, students have secured more than $225+ million in grant funding and $4+ million in revenue in their grant writing businesses within two years.
To amplify this work, she is past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce and was appointed to the Guam Business Advisory Task Force as an advisor to the first female governor of Guam. Holly lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.
If you are interested in replacing your full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or from anywhere in the world!) join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy!
www.grantwritingandfunding.com.
Latest episodes

Oct 15, 2021 • 30min
Ep. 191: 4 Proven Tips to Price Your Grant Writing Services
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy👉✨ Want to check out the entire article? http://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/191 ✨👈
🖥️ Interested in my Freelance Grant Writer Master Course so you can have all the tools and resources to price your freelance grant writer services?
👏 Check out: http://www.grantwritingandfunding.com
Understanding how to price grant writing services is one of the biggest headaches that freelance grant writers have.
I know this because:
a) pricing services was what I struggled with the most, and
b) it is the biggest question / coaching sessions that I get asked about by people transitioning into freelance grant writing.
If you’ve ever been confused about how all the pieces of freelance grant writing fit together, and more importantly, what goes into creating massive success with freelance grant writing, this article is for you.
Maybe you’re a newbie grant writer, and you aren’t sure how to price services, or you’re already an accomplished grant writer that isn’t experiencing the kind of growth you're after.
• Don’t Just Look at the Market for Your Pricing
• Consider Publishing Your Grant Writing Pricing on Your Website
• Factor in Your Grant Writing Experience and Skills
• Factor the Time it Takes to Write Grants
🖥️ Interested in my Freelance Grant Writer Master Course so you can have all the tools and resources to price your freelance grant writer services?
👏 Check out: http://www.grantwritingandfunding.com
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Oct 11, 2021 • 35min
Ep. 190: How To Find Nonprofit Clients For Your Grant Writing Business
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy👉✨ Get the Downloadable: How to Get & Retain Nonprofit Clients HERE: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/190-how-to-get-nonprofit-clients-for-your-grant-writing-business/👈 ✨
Once someone either thinks about starting a freelance grant writing business or has already taken the leap, a huge question (rightfully so) comes up: How do I get nonprofit clients for my grant writing business?
Well, yeah, you need to get nonprofit clients (or even for-profit clients in some cases) for it to be an actual income-generating business. But just creating a website or a business card alone will not get you there.
Now in this article, I’m going to teach you how to get and keep nonprofit clients. And more importantly, this will help you increase revenue for your grant writing business.
So, if you’re a newbie grant writer, but you aren’t sure how you can get and keep nonprofit clients, or you’re already an accomplished grant writer looking to get your ducks in a row, you’ll discover how Freelance Grant Writers like you and me can get and keep nonprofit clients - and why it’s critical you focus on this right now.
In last week’s article and podcast, we talked about the First Step to Becoming a Freelance Grant Writer (also be sure to download your follow along guide for episode 189 and 190). I shared how this is going to immediately help you get off the floundering fence.
So, if you haven’t read that article or listened to the podcast, go back and watch it now - and then come back to this one.
In this article, I’m going to build on what we discussed by sharing the #1 thing you must master if you want to get and keep nonprofit clients. Think of this as your “first step” towards making this happen.
This is an entirely new way of thinking about freelance grant writing, so you’ll want to pay close attention.
I’m also going to share how to identify your nonprofit client. When you know how to do this, you’ll know exactly what to aim for and how to market.
The goal is to break you free of wasting time and money on the wrong types of ads or continually getting 'no’s'. This way, you’ll never have to worry about how to get and keep nonprofit clients which means you’ll increase revenue for your biz.
We’ve got a lot to cover today, so be sure to have your pen and paper ready and download the follow along workbook.
👉✨ Get the Downloadable: How to Get & Retain Nonprofit Clients HERE: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/190-how-to-get-nonprofit-clients-for-your-grant-writing-business/👈 ✨
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Oct 5, 2021 • 28min
Ep. 189: The First Step to Become a Freelance Grant Writer
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com/189 to get free Workbook ✨✨
Why are some freelance grant writers able to create a thriving business while others are just dreaming about being a freelance grant writing professional?
Why do some grow their practice and seem to get all the clients while others just dream about it and get stuck in their J-O-B?
And why are some people clear about how to start and grow their freelance grant writing business while others are floundering?
Being on the Floundering Freelance Grant Writer Fence
This podcast is going to immediately help you get off the floundering fence when thinking about becoming a freelance grant writer and not knowing which step to take. Once you get this down, you’ll start experiencing more clarity and confidence.
If you’re a newbie grant writer, but you aren’t getting the grant writing experience you need, or you’re already an accomplished grant writer that isn’t leveraging your skills by getting and growing your nonprofit client base, stay with me because you’re going to discover why freelance grant writers like you and me can get more clarity and confidence and why it’s critical you get your system handled right now.
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Sep 30, 2021 • 32min
Ep. 188: Why Grant Writers Need To Stop Consulting For Free
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academyOh yes, I just typed the F-word. Yep, that one that makes most grant writers shiver in their sleep.
No, I am not cussing. But maybe this word should be a bona fide swear word.
Free.
I know it haunts you.
It’s interesting that as a grant writer your skills can have one of the biggest impacts on increasing funding for nonprofit organizations, however you will still be serenaded by nearly every nonprofit (not to mention individuals looking for that magic grant to fund a college degree) to write grants for free.
This has always puzzled me. Grant writers have technical writing skills to find and secure funding and in many cases millions of dollars for nonprofits.
However, many organizations seek out grant writers and some guilt them into writing for free or giving away all their knowledge at no cost.
Here’s the thing. There is a time and place for the F-word. Yep.
Free can be a pathway at times, but not all.
You might be wondering why you don’t get paid well when you see those hundreds, or millions of dollars come in.
Or you might be wondering how in the world you can make it as a grant writing consultant as you feel like no nonprofit can pay you for your services.
Side note: Nonprofits can, do, and should figure out ways to get money and pay for your grant writing services.
If you are in a position where you get an amazing wage or charge well, then kudos for you!
But I wanted to address this issue as I have seen way too many grant writing consultants play jump rope over the ever-changing line of boundaries, not sure where to land or how to stop jumping.
I was once there.
Check out the entire article and links at http://www.grantwritingandfunding.com
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Sep 23, 2021 • 28min
Ep. 187: Why Female Grant Writers Struggle with Pricing & Rates
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academyWhy Female Grant Writers Struggle with Pricing & Rates
Oh now, that is a fully-loaded statement. But worth the heavily weighed explanation.
I have been going back and forth with other grant writers on this question of “Do grant writers get paid less because most are female?” and even down to “Are grant writer rates high enough?” Moreover, nearly every single female grant writer I know struggles with how to do her pricing and come up with rates that feel good.
In this article, I am going to break down some of the gender-specifics on the grant writing industry. Some of these may surprise you because you have been living the life thinking you only need to Google “Grant Writer Salary” and the Internet will get some ideal number that you can just throw onto your freelance grant writing website or in that grant writer salary description.
Here’s the thing. The most deafening question I get from my grant writing students is, “How much should I charge for my grant writing skills?”
I am not going to give you a magic number in this article of what you should charge, but I think we first need to understand why we keep peering out into the information universe for this question instead of tuning inward.
What I am going to share with you in this podcast should wake you up a bit and hopefully will ripple some change across this female-dominant landscape.
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Sep 7, 2021 • 1h 41min
Ep. 186 Leveraging The Power Of Celebrity to Fundraise for Your Nonprofit
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academyLeveraging the Power of Celebrity to Fundraise for Your Nonprofit with Amy & Scott Malin
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
Let's be real. We talk about more than this in today's podcast, but we do really go through the nitty-gritty of leverage to the power of celebrity to fundraise for your nonprofit!
I know, I know. I've seen it all before. Starry eyes and a golden haze when a nonprofit drops a celebrities name. Why?
You know why. The celebrity can leverage a huge audience to get eyes on your nonprofit organization's mission. But should this be your main aim? Should it be your only aim?
Like any type of funding partnership it is a partnership. There needs to be a win on both sides of the partnership. There needs to be strategy in forming a partnership.
Hollywood's Social Impact Experts Amy & Scott Malin also discuss their newest tech for good: Trueheart social impact search engine and how to value your service.
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Aug 31, 2021 • 54min
Ep. 185: Online Marketing For Nonprofits in the New Normal
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academyOnline Marketing for Nonprofits in the New Normal with Brady Josephson.
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
In 2020 we experienced a big shift in nonprofit organizations moving to online and digital fundraising. Now more and more nonprofits are wondering what type of online marketing for nonprofits there is to advance their missions.
In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a just a rush to, "Get Online"!
But now, more than a year and a half into the pandemic, have nonprofit organizations optimized their online marketing presence?
In this replay podcast, Brady Josephson will talk about Online ✨Marketing for Nonprofits:
✨How the NextAfter Institute helps nonprofit organizations
✨Counterintuitive fundraising practices
✨Resources and research for Covid-19
✨Collecting data through donating to nonprofits
✨The Big Question: What are other nonprofits doing?
✨Increasing digital marketing trends for nonprofits
✨Using focused and authentic marketing
✨Data-informed strategy for fundraising
✨Email marketing vs. social media
✨The basics you need for fundraising
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Aug 17, 2021 • 40min
Ep. 184: Why & How You Should Start a Cause Movement for What You are Passionate About
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academyWhy & How You Should Start a Cause Movement for What You are Passionate About
Starting a nonprofit organization is not the only way to create and advance a cause movement that you are passionate about. Sometimes it's as simple as volunteering for a cause, donating to a mission, or cleaning up a beach.
But sometimes you want to go a step deeper and have your passion drive your creativity into manifesting something new. That's what Rebecca Soriano has done! She has always been passionate about mental health and in her medical billing business serves a clientele of mental health providers.
During the pandemic though, Rebecca started a movement she calls Roar to Soar where she started to write handwritten letters to help with her own isolation. She started to see the impact these letters had (both for those who received them, as well as for her personal growth), and started to reach out to strangers who also felt isolated.
In fact, she posted online if people felt hopeless if they would like a letter and received 40+ requests per day. The movement grew from there where she also started writing letters to incarcerated individuals and creating friendships.
Click here to see all the amazing efforts Rebecca is doing and to join her movement: www.grantwritingandfunding.com/184
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Aug 10, 2021 • 57min
Ep. 183: The Grant Writing Coach Tells All on Going from Biologist to Grant Professional
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academyThe Grant Writing Coach Tells All on Going from Biologist to Grant Professional
You weren't an English major or Public Administration major? No worries. You don't have to have been a writer all your life to transition into grant writing.
In this podcast, Sheleia Phillips tells all on how she has gone from biologist to grant professional... all from the suggestion during an internship.
This literally turned her life around as she realized she could apply her background in research papers and evidence-based practices to writing a grant. She then found out she loves grant writing as has pivoted her career!
What we Discuss:
Sheleia's transition into grant writing
✨How become a federal grant reviewer is important
✨Why she offers a hybrid of services to nonprofits
✨Nonprofit common challenges (and solutions!)
✨How to say no to too much work
✨How to set up a referral network
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy

Aug 3, 2021 • 39min
Ep. 182: How to Save Time in Your Nonprofit & Grant Business with the Impact Method
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academyHow to Save Time in Your Nonprofit & Grant Business with the Impact Method
Capacity can really mean time and money. Sometimes money can leverage time and vice versa. But time seems to be the most valuable metric for nonprofits and grant writing businesses.
In this week's podcast, special guest Sarah Olivieri goes over the Impact Method that she has created and how it is used for nonprofits and freelance grant writers.
You will want this blueprint!
What we Discuss
What the Impact Method is
What capacity means
How to create an effective blueprint
How to get more time back in your day
How to have accountability
How to delegate better
Thanks for listening!
Holly Rustick
Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author
https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/
Favor, please?
If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?
✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨
THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE FREELANCE GRANT WRITER ACADEMY! The Academy is for new and aspiring grant writer so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants & Funding Assets from Home. Join before Sunday, June 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy