Grant Writing & Funding

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/academy1. Get the FOA/RFP First you need to download the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or Request for Proposal (RFP). These are usually for federal grants, state grants and contracts, and certain foundation grants. This is basically where the funding sources publish directions and guidance about the grant program. The grant funding sources also put in technical requirements (such as font size, margin sizes, number of pages allowed, and so forth). 2. Convert the FOA/RFP from a PDF to Word Doc PDFs can be really hard to work with! Especially if you copy something from a PDF and put it into a Word document. It might copy really strange and into a weird font or it might not even let you copy it. By converting the PDF file to a Word document you can work with the FOA/RFPs so much easier and it only take a few seconds to convert! 3. Copy the Scoring Criteria Section and Paste it Into a New Word Doc Now that the FOA/RFP is in a Word document you will want to go to the Scoring Criteria in the FOA/RFP. Copy that and put in a new Word document. I know, another Word document, but you will thank me. Ta-da! Now you’re not starting with a blank page! 4. Turn the Criteria Sections into Headers (Header 1, Header 2) What do I mean by this… well, make the criteria actual headers. Make the main scoring criteria (for example, Needs Section) a Header One and then any questions under Needs Section into a Header Two. 5. Put in a table of contents at the beginning (if you have space allowed) Go to the beginning of your Word Document and go to Reference Tab in the Word document and click on Table of Contents. This is nice to include in your cover page or in the top of the first page. This is of course, if you do have room. Why is this important? It shows there is a flow to the grant. 😊 6. Respond to the Grant Scoring Criteria Now you have all the questions formatted and you no longer have a blank page. Plus you will be responding directly the Scoring Criteria. This is super important because grant reviewers are real people who have to score according to the grant scoring criteria. Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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/academyAs a 15+ year grant writing veteran I have seen some amazing resources come and go, and I've seen other ones evolve. I am highlighting 8 resources that I LOVE and some of these I use on a consistent basis! In fact, I am using one right now (after you read through my recommendations, have a guess at which one I am using at this moment!).  In full transparency, I do have partnerships (and receive affiliate payments) with some of these products below and offer coupon codes for you. I do this as I love, love, love these products and they are proven to help grant writers succeed!  #1) Federal Grants: Grants.Gov  This is for you if you are seeking federal grants. And this one is free!  This is a U.S. government e-platform and is where all federal grants are required to be published. I recommend joining the email list and checking the boxes on what types of grants you are interested in being notified of.  #2) Federal Grants: Federal Agency Websites Okay, this one has a lot of links. What I recommend you do is visit the federal agency websites that are related to your nonprofit. Even though all federal grants are published on Grants.gov, it is still good to visit the federal agency website where the grant originates from.  3) Nonprofit & Foundation Information: Guidestar.org Guidestar.org is a great place to find both nonprofits and foundations. (Your nonprofit might even be listed here!) Check it out to ensure that your nonprofit's profile is updated and accurate as funding sources sometimes check out Guidestar.org when reviewing grants! 4) Foundation and Federal Grant Research: Instrumentl Looking for a grant research platform that includes foundation grants? Instrumentl is a an intuitive online software that matches your specific programs with funding opportunities.  5) Grant Management: GEMS (Grant Easy Management Software) GEMS was built by a grant writer to manage nonprofit clients, previously submitted grants, and more! Never miss a grant deadline with this program management system developed specifically for grants writers. 6) Project Management: Asana Track your fundraiser, project, and more (and share with your team!). You can also upload all files and graphics needed for projects so no more digging through emails! 7) Graphics: Canva I love, love, lova Canva! Do you need to create social media posts, fliers, or even webpages? Check out Canva for even the dinosaur techies! It’s so easy to use and has tons of templates! 8) Time Tracking: Toggl Yes, time tracking is a thing. It’s actually a major item that every grant writer should use! You need to know about how long it takes you to write a foundation grant, a federal grant, a fundraising proposal and more! All you have to do is write what you are doing and it tracks your time! Plus, it gives you  reports and more. This is also great for freelance grant writers who need to bill for your time. It’ll track everything and you can send your clients a jazzy report! Plus, there’s an app. Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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/academyWhat is the difference between an output and outcome in a grant proposal? The difference between an output and outcome in a grant proposal might not seem quite different at first. In fact, it might feel downright like the same darn thing. For many grant writers this difference between an output and outcome can feel a little abstract and confusing. You might be thinking, "What are the differences and why do grants have to be so meticulous?" Are grant funding sources just trying to trick you with these output and outcome words? Are they chuckling in the background while you scratch your head and think, “to-may-to / to-mah-to”? Nah, grant reviewers aren’t that bored, although they do have a good sense of humor. But it's good for you there is a quick way to know what this differences actually are and a way you can remember outputs and outcomes, and better yet, understand them. Once you understand what the differences (and similarities) are between grant outputs and outcomes it will make your grant writing SO much better. ✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨ Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzIfwJt0az9KKwKz1Uc8vg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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/academyFind out where you can get SO many free nonprofit fundraising courses! Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzIfwJt0az9KKwKz1Uc8vg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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 Free Workbook: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/167-how-to-write-objectives-for-a-grant-proposal/ ✨ Learning how to write objectives for grant application proposals is essential to your grant writing success. This is often overlooked. Many people think an objective can just be a wish. Such as, "We hope to accomplish this program." Let's just start with Captain Obvious. Would you be willing to give someone money for a project if they only hoped to accomplish it? Or would you be willing to shell out dough for a project that had a goal of 'Ending Poverty for All" but there was no plan on how to accomplish that goal? Sometimes it helps to flip the script and pretend you are the funding source, rather than the applicant. But how do you create a plan (objectives) for a grant proposal? What is the secret formula? Check out this week's article and podcast! ✨ Get the Free Workbook: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/167-how-to-write-objectives-for-a-grant-proposal/ ✨ Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzIfwJt0az9KKwKz1Uc8vg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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/academyAre you looking for tips to increase donor giving on your nonprofit's website? You might be frustrated because you finally went through the work of installing a donate button and connected it to your nonprofit's PayPal account, but you are getting nada.  Why aren't donors giving? Your website is up. The donor button is up. But still, no transactions. Ugh. It makes you want to crawl under your desk with a box of Kleenex. You might think, "Do people even care about my nonprofit?" The fact is, that plenty of people probably care about your nonprofit and the mission it provides. But have a think. Just think about all the times you have donated (or tried to donate) to nonprofit's online. Have you ever been on a website where you hit the 'donate' button and it brought you to a 404 Error Page? Or maybe your baby started crying in the background and the nonprofit was requesting a survey for you to fill out before you gave so you just hit the X button and closed out the page? There are a lot of reasons that people might not become donors online. And most of them aren't because they don't care about your nonprofit. (So throw that tissue away). A lot of times it is because of the friction to actually become a donor.  This could mean an error page, too many questions to donate, and lots, lots, more.  In this week's podcast, Brady Josephson from NextAfter Institute will this and more including: Online Donor Friction Worksheet Donor Giving overall was up 2 -10% in the United States in 2020 2020 was the Biggest Year in Online Giving (up at least 30%) in the history of the world Transition to investing in technology for nonprofits Digital fundraising ideas Important to remember when online marketing "You are not your donor" Why email marketing and nurturing should be more frequent than once a month Why you should do both online and offline donor updates (emails, social media, phone calls, direct mail) Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzIfwJt0az9KKwKz1Uc8vg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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/academyGrant management needs to be made easy otherwise you will miss a grant or funding deadline!  Let me know if you resonate with any of the following: You've woken up in the middle of the night with a start and pry out your phone realizing you just missed a grant deadline Or maybe you submitted a grant a year ago but can't find the final application anywhere. Or a combination of the above! Yes, whether you are a nonprofit leader that is juggling your actual job and had the role of grant writer thrown on your lap or if you are a freelance grant writer and are having a hard time keeping up with grant opportunities (or plain management) of your nonprofit clients, then this episode is for you! In this week's podcast episode Rachel Waterman, CEO and Founder of GDS Grants, shares her Grant Management System Made Easy (GEMS). She also discusses her unique system of managing clients and her background on how she got started with writing grants. (wink-wink, it might include the Peace Corps). What We Discuss in This Episode: How Rachel got started in writing grants How leveraging your strengths can help you as a grant writer Rachel's unique grant writing methods Writing out objectives and goals in grants  How federal and foundation grant writing are similar How to manage upcoming grants and funding opportunities to never miss a deadline How to manage nonprofit clients How to be more professional as a grant writer About Rachel: Rachel Waterman has over 25 years of community development and grant writing experience, is Grant Professional Certified (GPC), a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Approved Trainer, and an expert in grant management. She holds a Master’s degree in community and economic development with a concentration in applied social research from Illinois State University and a Bachelor’s degree in international studies from Barry University. Her career has encompassed a broad spectrum of professional experiences, including serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, nonprofit executive director, community organizer, city master planner, researcher, and Mayor of the city of Lake Worth Beach, Florida. Rachel is CEO and Founder of GDS Grants. She is responsible for client strategy, new program & budget development, data tracking systems, outcome measures and data analysis. Rachel also oversees the GDS Professional Development Program and personally coaches GDS interns, fellows and mentees. 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

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/academyAre you not sure even what a SWOT Analysis is or how it relates to strategic planning? Well, I am definitely not saying get rid of the SWOT analysis altogether, but I am saying the old tired way of just shoving it in your planning and not knowing how to utilize is so over. How? Well, you do need a SWOT Analysis for your nonprofit’s strategic planning, however, it doesn’t have to be boring. It is actually one of the most FUN activities in your strategic planning. A SWOT Analysis A SWOT stands for: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (or Challenges) Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzIfwJt0az9KKwKz1Uc8vg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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/academyThis is a question I get a lot... “Holly, how do I find federal grants for my nonprofit?” Federal grant research expert Jason Adkins, gives us 5 steps to find those pesky federal grants. Well, er, they seem pesky until you find them, and then federal grants rock. I know you might feel like federal grants are elusive, but after Jason breaks down the steps (and gives you websites to find them), then you will be feeling like a pro. So if thinking about finding federal grants makes you immediately zone out and start stress-chewing your nails, then you will want to listen to today's podcast episode on finding federal grants (and save that precious manicure). Some Highlights We Discuss: Why sometimes having an English Degree doesn’t automatically equate to being a Grant Writer Why ‘failing forward’ is important Keeping a flipchart list of grants secured to make sure you have moments of celebration and don’t go from grant deadline to grant deadline How Jason uses the same strategies of writing a foundation and federal grant How being a federal grant reviewer has been helpful in writing federal grants Grant writing is best at a 9th to 12th grade level Why formatting a federal grant is  important Schedule time in your workday to find grants Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzIfwJt0az9KKwKz1Uc8vg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingandfunding/ Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ 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

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/academyA common question I get, as a grant professional, from nonprofit clients, is, "Can you guarantee that the grant you write for us will get awarded?" There are a number of reasons that I say no. Very simply put, these are some of the determining factors: 1) It depends also on the nonprofit's capacity and experience in winning and managing grants that depend on their competitiveness with getting a grant awarded. 2) It depends on how well the grant project aligns with the priority of the funding source. 3) It depends on how 'trendy' the project is with current funding overall. 4) It depends on how many grant applications the funding source receives. These are just a few, but there are many more reasons. Listen to this week's podcast to hear them all and how you can respond to this question! 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