Grant Writing & Funding

By Holly RustickBusiness Education How To Non-Profit

Grant Writing & Funding episodes

April 02, 2025 Bonus Ep: The First Hire You Shouldn't Make as a Grant Professional
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Many grant professionals who are booking out clients and feeling overwhelmed think they need to hire a full-time, credentialed grant writer ASAP. They assume an experienced hire will require less training and be easier to manage. But here’s the truth: hiring a fully credentialed grant writer is NOT the first team member you should bring on.
In this episode, we break down why this is a costly mistake and what you should do instead. You’ll learn:
✅ Why hiring a credentialed grant writer is your most expensive hire
✅ Why you still need to train any new hire in your methods, even if they have experience
✅ The importance of creating Systems and SOPs before bringing in a team
✅ A smarter, more affordable way to get help with research and admin tasks first
You deserve to feel confident and financially safe as you build your team. Inside the Grant Professional Mentorship, we teach you exactly who to hire first, how much your business can afford, and how to streamline your hiring process with our Part-Time Lean Team Method.
Join the Grant Professional Mentorship!A 12-month group coaching mastermind designed to help grant professionals double their business revenue with a team, systems, and scalable offers—without burning out.
💰 Investment: $6,000 paid-in-full (includes a 1:1 Business Strategy Call with Holly!) or 6 payments of $1,000.🚀 Limited seats available! Once spots are filled, enrollment will close.
📌 Ready to grow your team the right way? Join now or book a sales call today! Doors close April 4th, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST
https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-professional-mentorship
9 min
April 01, 2025 Bonus Ep. How to Recession-Proof Your Grant Writing Business - Why Waiting Won’t Work
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

The world feels uncertain, but your grant writing business doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we talk about why waiting for the "right time" can cost you opportunities—and how leaning into change can set you up for success.
I’ll also share exciting updates about our Grant Professional Mentorship, including new Innovation Calls designed to help you pivot, expand, and double your revenue in 2024.
👉 Doors to the Mentorship close this Friday, and we may not re-open in 2025! If you’re serious about thriving, not just surviving, tune in to learn why NOW is the time to take action.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔ Why waiting for stability could hold back your success
✔ How to recession-proof your grant writing business
✔ The power of Innovation Calls and expert mentorship
✔ Why this may be the last chance to join before 2026
Doors to the Grant Professional Mentorship close Friday, April 4th at 11:59 pm EST.
Find out more here: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-professional-mentorship
13 min
March 31, 2025 Bonus Ep: How to Hire a Grant Writer in Your Grant Writing Business & Stop Doing all the Client Work
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

If you're a freelance grant writer or running a service-based business, there comes a point where you hit a financial and time ceiling. To scale beyond $50,000 to $100,000 per year, outsourcing is crucial. In this episode, we explore when and how to hire grant writers to help you grow your business without burnout.
Doors to the Grant Professional Mentorship close on Friday, April 4th at 11:59 pm EST.
The Grant Professional Mentorship is a 12-Month Group Coaching Mastermind for Grant Professionals to Double Your Business Revenue with a Team, Systems, and Scalable Offers - without Burning Out.
Join now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Signs it’s time to start outsourcing in your grant writing business
How to hire the right grant writers and avoid common hiring mistakes
The difference between subcontracting and hiring contractors
How to track time and set task expectations
Why Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential for smooth onboarding
How to determine what your business can afford to pay contractors
Creating a clear job description and application process
Why and how to use test projects before hiring
Steps to successfully hire and onboard your first grant writing contracto
Be sure to subscribe to our podcast!
25 min
March 26, 2025 Bonus Ep: Replay "Double Your Grant Writing Revenue, Writing Fewer Grants, During Any Administration"
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Join Holly and hundreds of folks who signed up for this Webinar, "Double your Grant Writing Business Revenue, by Writing Fewer Grants, During any Administration".
The doors are now open to the Grant Professional Mentorship!
The Grant Professional Mentorship is a 12-Month Group Coaching Mastermind for Grant Professionals to Double Your Business Revenue with a Team, Systems, and Scalable Offers - without Burning Out.
We have limited seats available. Seats are first-come, first-served. Once our seats fill up, we will not take any further calls.
This is the first time in 2025 that our Grant Professional Mentorship has OPENED publicly and might be the only time this year.
The Investment for the Mentorship is one payment of $6,000 (paid in full bonus includes a 1:1 Business Strategy Call with Holly) or 6 payments of $1,000.
Join by April 4th, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST or book a Sales Call: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-professional-mentorship
1 hr 50 min
March 19, 2025Growing a Grant Writing Business from $5k to $200k in 2 years with Isatou
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

In this conversation, Isatou Bittaye-Jobe shares her journey from being an in-house grant writer to becoming a freelance grant writer specializing in grassroots social justice organizations.
She discusses the challenges and opportunities in the funding landscape, particularly the shift from federal to foundation grants. Isatou emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community support in her business growth, highlighting how delegation and team building have allowed her to achieve a better work-life balance.
Holly and Isatou also touch on the mindset shifts necessary for success in the nonprofit sector.
About Isatou
Isatou Bittaye-Jobe is a Grant Writer and strategist dedicated to mobilizing resources for nonprofits advancing women’s rights, gender and racial justice, human rights, democracy, and social change. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of AmiKha Consulting, she assists U.S.-based and Global South nonprofits with funding strategy, grant writing, grant research, and grant readiness services. With over 15 years of experience, Isatou has secured more than $10 million in grant awards from private foundations, multilateral donors, and government agencies. She specializes in foundation, state, and federal grants, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s OVW and OVC grants, to support social justice movements in the U.S. and Internationally. Before founding AmiKha Consulting, Isatou served as Director of Institutional Giving at UltraViolet, leading institutional funding strategy and raising the organization’s $5 million annual budget.
Isatou’s intersectional approach to grant writing draws from her expertise in fundraising, program management, community organizing, and advocacy within the social justice and international development sectors in Africa and the U.S. Beyond grant writing and fundraising, Isatou actively advocates for philanthropy to shift toward Community Centric Fundraising-aligned principles and trust-based philanthropy models, including presenting at prominent events on topics such as “Grant Writing as Activism and Advocacy” at the 2024 Grant Professionals Association GrantSummit.
Originally from The Gambia, Isatou began her career in human rights advocacy. She is a 2016 Women Deliver Young Leader Alumni, recognized globally for advancing gender equality. She holds dual M.A. degrees in Women’s and Gender Studies from the City University of New York Graduate Center and International Studies from National Chengchi University in Taiwan.
Connect with Isatou
AmiKha Consulting website
Isatou Bittaye-Jobe’s LinkedIn
Links Mentioned:
Freelance Grant Writer Academy
Grant Professional Mentorship
OTHER RESOURCES:
Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/
Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/
Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship
RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCAST
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!

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.

Thanks for listening!

Warmly,
Holly Rustick
Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

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This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!
This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems
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39 min
March 18, 2025 Bonus Ep: From Higher Education Grant Writer Job to Retirement Business
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Go behind-the-scenes of the Grant Professional Mentorship with Dr. Cheri Westmoreland of Spirit Excel.
Doors to the Grant Professional Mentorship Close on Friday, April 4th, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST.
https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-professional-mentorship
In this episode, Holly Rustick interviews Dr. Cheri Westmoreland, CEO of Spirit Excel, who shares her extensive experience in grant writing and management. Dr. Westmoreland discusses her journey from federal grants to foundation grants, the importance of compliance, and how mentorship has helped her build confidence and business acumen.
She emphasizes the need for nonprofits to adapt to changing funding landscapes and the value of investing in oneself through mentorship programs. The conversation highlights the challenges and successes of managing a grant writing business while working full-time, and the evolution from being a grant writer to becoming a business owner.
Takeaways
- Dr. Westmoreland has 30 years of grant management experience.
- She initially resisted grant writing but found success through mentorship.
- The transition from federal to foundation grants opened new opportunities.
- Compliance is crucial in grant management, especially with federal grants.
- Building confidence through mentorship has been transformative for Dr. Westmoreland.
- Managing clients while working full-time requires strategic planning.
- Investing in oneself is essential for growth in the nonprofit sector.
- The mentorship program provides valuable resources and support.
- Evolving from a grant writer to a business owner is a significant shift.
- Networking and marketing are key to finding clients in grant writing.
About Dr. Cheri Westmoreland
Dr. Cheri Westmoreland, founder of Spirit Excel, exists to energize, empower, and elevate faith- and community-based organizations through tools to enhance professional excellence. Cheri has worked for over 30 years in higher education and in non-profit community-based agencies. She currently works at the University of Cincinnati as the Executive Director for Academic Enrichment and Outreach.
Cheri has successfully received federal grants totaling over 1.2 million per grant for 3-5 years of funding. Offering services to write foundation and state agency grants, strategic planning for nonprofit and business/ministry, program development and program evaluation, grant review and grants management services.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, from Wittenberg University, Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Miami University, and Doctor of Education in Educational Foundations from the University Cincinnati. She is also a member of the Grant Professional Association. Dr. Westmoreland is married to Kim Westmoreland and has an adult married son and two beautiful granddaughters.
Contact with Dr. Cheri Westmoreland
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://spiritexcel.org
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!
“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!
Thanks for listening!
Warmly,
Holly Rustick
Coaches new and experienced grant writers to earn high 5-6 figure incomes writing grants from home!
Get Freelance Grant Writing Spicy Tips when you Join the weekly newsletter series “Write Grants. Get Paid” https://grantwritingandfunding.com/
27 min
March 12, 20253 Items to Restructure Your Grant Writing Business in 2025
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

You may need to restructure your grant writing business in 2025.
Meaning three main things need to be re-evaluated:
Offers
Systems
Team
There has been a lot going on with grants in the last month, and there will be changes in 2025.
Does that mean all grant funding is gone, or will your clients dry up?
No.
But you may need to get back to the heart of your business.
Pivoting is a word you may bring back into your vocabulary this year.
Knowing what service offers to keep, what to double down on, and what to let go of is vital to growing revenue and serving clients.
As a grant writing CEO (yes, you’ve graduated from the thought that you are ‘only’ a freelancer), you may even have a virtual assistant and/or subcontract grant writer or two on your team.
You may be wondering if you need to restructure your team and offers in 2025 with everything that is happening with the new Administration.
#1 - Restructure Your Grant Writing Offers
If you have a federal grant writing service that offers (meaning you write federal grants), then you will want to work closely with your clients on how to adjust to all the changes.
This might mean re-working your scope of work retainer and taking out a couple of grants and putting in Monthly Updates instead.
#2 - Update Your Business Systems
You need to create or update SOPs. Even if this year wasn’t full of new grant things, we recommend you do this every quarter! Look over SOPs and update any.
See if you can add AI to support any functions.
#3 - Examine Your Team and Reset Roles
You may need to role reset some team members. Your virtual assistant may need fewer hours this year or you may assign them some hours to attend webinars on federal grant updates and send you notes.
Your grant writers may need to report on grant updates or work on doubling foundation grant outputs.
But within everything, you need to make sure this aligns with your budget.
Students inside the Grant Professional Mentorship have been addressing these needs to see how to adjust in 2025.
Some are hiring virtual assistants to help with more admin duties so they can be in front of a lot of issues.
Others are streamlining team members and paying for a scope of work instead of just hourly.
ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK

Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.

Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.

CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK
Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/

RESOURCES:
Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/
Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/
Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship

RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCAST
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!

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.

Thanks for listening!

Warmly,
Holly Rustick
Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.
———————————————————————————
This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!
This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems
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12 min
March 11, 2025Why Grant Writers Must Track Their Time: Pricing Strategies and Smart Decisions
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

As a freelance grant writer, or freelancer in general, are you keeping track of your time?
One of the biggest flaws I see is that freelance grant writers don’t keep track of their time.
Why is tracking your time so important? Because our time is our most valuable asset.
What Happens When Freelancers Don’t Track Their Time When freelance grant writers don’t track their time, they underestimate how much time the following takes:
Writing grants
How much time to write a foundation grant
How much time to write a federal grant
How much time to write a state grant
How much time to write a Letter of Inquiry
Finding grant prospects
Meetings with clients
Emails with clients
Talking to funders
Working on financials
Marketing
Industry updates
Administration
And so much more…
And what happens when you don’t accurately count or track your time?
According to our friends over at Global Development Solutions, who conduct an annual Pricing Survey among grant professionals (2023), YOU don’t get paid for all your work!
This is SO dangerous because if you don’t get paid for your work, then you are not able to sustain a business.
You need to know how much time that things take you to do.

ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK

Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.

Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.

CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK
Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/

RESOURCES:
Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/
Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/
Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship

RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCAST
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!

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.

Thanks for listening!

Warmly,
Holly Rustick
Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

———————————————————————————
This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!
This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS). Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN! Book YOUR FREE demo now! Click here: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/gems
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15 min
March 10, 2025 Bonus Ep: Doubling Revenue with Work-Life Balance as a Consultant & a Mom
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Joy Maxwell, Owner and Lead Advisor of ARK Advising, joins us to share her journey from working in the nonprofit sector to launching her own successful business. She opens up about the financial challenges, mentorship, and community support that shaped her path, as well as how shifting to a retainer-based model helped her increase revenue while creating a more sustainable work-life balance.
We also explore how she navigates the intersection of nonprofit work and business strategy, manages evolving client relationships, embraces flexibility in her operations, and continues to grow through mentorship and adapting to the ever-changing nonprofit landscape.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/
Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/
Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship
RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCAST
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!
“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.
Thanks for listening!
Warmly
Holly Rustick
Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.
50 min
March 06, 2025 Bonus Ep: Accountability and Growth: How Fielding Doubled Her Grant Writing Revenue
The Freelance Grant Writer Academy is OPEN for the last time in 2026!

You’re ready to quit your toxic job, retire with meaningful, part-time work, or work from home so you can pick up the kids. But how do you replace your paycheck?
Our 12-month group coaching program helps aspiring and seasoned grant writers replace your full-time income, on flexible hours, writing grants from home. You will build grant writing, marketing, and sales skills to find clients and create recurring income on flexible hours.
Get weekly coaching, unlimited grant and business reviews, business and grant training, hundreds of templates,Grant Writer & Consultant Certification, a community, and listed on our Grant Hire for Hire Directory.
Our students have earned over $12.6 million in freelance business revenue. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the Academy for $3,500 or 8 monthly payments of $475. Doors close October 23rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Holly Rustick and Fielding Jezreel discuss the transformative experience of the Grand Professional Mentorship, focusing on Fielding's journey from a toxic job to becoming a successful grant consultant.
They explore the importance of accountability, community support, and financial strategies in navigating the challenges of running a grant writing business. Fielding shares insights on developing a federal grants course and the significance of having a supportive network of peers. The discussion emphasizes the need for financial planning and the value of mentorship in achieving business growth and stability.
Takeaways
- Fielding transitioned from a toxic job to grant consulting.
- The mentorship provided accountability and support during tough times.
- Community support is crucial for solopreneurs.
- Financial planning is essential for business sustainability.
- Fielding developed a federal grants course to help others.
- The importance of restructuring pricing and contracts for efficiency.
- Celebrating wins within the community boosts morale.
- Navigating challenges is easier with a supportive network.
- Fielding's revenue doubled after joining the mentorship.
- Mentorship can help avoid common mistakes in business.
Join the Free Webinar, "Double your Grant Writing Business Revenue, by Writing Fewer Grants, During any Administration” on Tuesday, March 25th at 4 pm - 5:30 pm EST
Click here: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship-webinar
34 min

About Grant Writing & Funding

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This show is for grant writers who are working in nonprofits or already have a few freelance clients but haven't replaced their nonprofit income yet, and don't have a clear system to get there.

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