Grant Writing & Funding

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.

Getting grant writing clients without winning any grants can feel akin to being a college graduate.

You may have some skills, but don’t have any real-world experience.

Let’s talk about how you can easily bridge the gap with some real-world examples of folks from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, who were exactly where you are.

Within four months, Jen, who left her corporate job at HBO and lives in Florida, secured more than $260,000 in grant funding (writing her first grants) and booked out with nonprofit clients and got a subcontracting position. She made $73,000 in her grant writing business in four months.

She had NO grant writing experience before joining the Academy.

Tiffany didn’t have much grant writing experience, but added it to her content writing, and quit her job early. 

Jeremey lives in California and works a 9-5 in a nonprofit. Inside the Academy, he started to view his 9-5 as an anchor client while he got his business going. Within a month, he secured his first retainer client while retaining his full-time job (i.e., anchor client)

We have many folks that come in with no grant writing experience and 1) get confident in writing grants, and 2) secure clients within the year!

That is one of the reasons that we have the grant writing master course and offer grant reviews :)

#1 – Get some Grant Writing Skills to Boost Confidence in Making Sales

The Grant Writing Master Course alone has helped over a thousand people learn our simple grant formula and win grants. We have had senators take it, teachers, volunteers, lawyers, nonprofit staff, content writers, retired folks, and so many more who have literally never written a grant – learn how to write grants and secure literally millions of dollars in grant funds!

Our Unlimited Grant Reviews are the amazing kicker, because you can have us review any grant application draft or grant template draft and we give you feedback on areas to improve.

We have our 30-Day Master Grant Template Framework, too. Even if you use a fictional client, you will develop a mock Master Grant Template in the first 30 days of joining the Academy! And then you will get a personalized review and feedback on your work. 

We have folks who have gotten their first nonprofit clients by offering the Master Grant Template (and getting paid to do it for their first time!).

So you can see how you can get the grant writing skills. 

But how do you go from skills to your first paying client?

#2 – Even if you Still Haven’t Won a Grant, You Can Get a Paying Client Ethically

Why people will still hire you, even if you have never won a grant before, is because you will develop grant writing skills and you have TIME. 

Plus, in the Ethical Nonprofit Sales we will show you how to create a Change Statement so you have a process to write grants and you can actually substantiate your price. 

Think about this for a minute…

A nonprofit will hire a staff grant writer with no grant writing experience and tell them they will train them.

Oftentimes they never train that person BUT they still expect them to win grants.

This ends in disappointment for both the executive director at the nonprofit and the grant writer! 

So in a Discovery Sales Call, we teach you how to communicate why it’s ethical and makes sense to hire you – even if you have no grant writing experience.

You don’t have to worry if you are new to grant writing. We teach you the skill of grant writing AND the skill of pricing and selling to nonprofit clients.

Some folks feel more comfortable first volunteering (to get real-world experience) before pitching their grant writing services. 

This is NOT a requirement, but this might be where you feel ethical about it. 

We have an entire part of our curriculum inside the Academy on how you go from “Free to your first Paying Client”. 

So if you do want to volunteer for 3 months at a nonprofit to write grants, we show you how you will transition that into a paying job. 

We also have our “Identify 50 Nonprofit Leads in an Hour” curriculum, so even if you are new, we help you create a list of folks that you know and can reach out to.

No website required or Social Media required.

We got you.

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...

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 today’s episode, we dive deep into the importance of knowing your worth and setting professional boundaries in your grant writing business. We have the pleasure of speaking with Nija Rivera from Gritty Grants Consulting, who shares her inspiring journey of transforming her grant writing practice by adhering to essential business policies.

Nija discusses a pivotal moment where she realized the detrimental impact of offering discounts for her services. This important lesson in valuing her work led her to make significant changes, resulting in an impressive earning of $55,000 in just nine months. Nija's experience underlines the critical balance between business sustainability and community contribution, a topic that resonates deeply within fields like social work and public health.

Throughout this episode, Holly and Nija explore practical strategies for maintaining professional detachment, setting appropriate service prices, and the indispensable role of coaching in running a successful grant writing business. Whether you are new to the field or an experienced professional, today’s discussion promises actionable insights that can elevate your practice and help you achieve financial stability.

So, get ready to be inspired and informed as we uncover the strategies that transformed Nija Rivera’s business and how you can apply these lessons to your own grant writing journey. Tune in, and let’s get started!

About Nija Rivera

Born and bred in the vibrant city of Philadelphia, PA, Nija is a seasoned public health professional with over 10 years of expertise in nonprofit program management, grants management, and proposal development. She is the lead consultant at Gritty Grants. 

Nija earned her undergraduate degree in biobehavioral Health from Penn State University, laying the foundation for her multidisciplinary approach. She furthered her education by obtaining a master’s in public health from Temple University.

Nija’s passion lies in creating impactful grants proposals that address the well being of under resourced communities. Her wealth of experience encompasses the entire lifecycle of grant projects, from conception through successful implementation.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Nija is an avid traveler who delights in exploring different corners of the world. Her love for adventure extends to trying diverse cuisines from around the globe.

Connect with Nija:

• Email: [email protected] 
• LinkedIn
• Website

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.

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 are wondering if you need a grant writing certification to pursue grant writing and get clients, you don’t need one.

But some people are still interested in getting a grant writing certification due to external or internal reasons.

Let’s examine these:

External Considerations for a Grant Writing Certification

A nonprofit might ask you if you have a certification during a Discovery Call.

When a nonprofit prospect asks you this question, really they are asking how experienced you are.

So if you do have a grant writing certification or certification, then say, “YES!”

However, if you don’t have one, then instead let them know that there is not an industry requirement for grant writers to have a certification. 

Because, well, there’s not.

Instead let them know that you have written X # of grants, secured $X of funding, or any of your experience in grant writing. 

Let’s face it. 

Even if you did have the Grant Writing & Funding certification (yes, that’s a thing inside the Academy! wink-wink) or your Grant Professional Certification (the Academy also offers 31 education credits towards it) a nonprofit lead isn’t going to know how many hours of grant writing you have done, how long it took you to go through a course, etc.

They don’t know what the difference is between the Academy certification or the GPC. 

So even if you do not have a grant writing certification, then mention all the other cool things related to grants you have done.

If you are new to grant writing, this might be a reason you want some sort of certification, as you can eliminate a lot of OTHER questions that might come up if you say ‘no’ to this.

Externally, what having a grant writing certification will get you is 

• a nod of approval,
•  a signature of experience (literally, put the logo in your email signature), and 
• credibility. 

You can put the name of your certification on your resume, website, LinkedIn profile, or / and business card!

This lends to the external affirmation of your skills.

But once again – this is NOT required.

Internal Considerations for a Grant Writing Certification

The process of getting a grant writing certification can help improve your skills, knowledge, and confidence in writing grants.

If you are looking to improve any of the above, then you may consider going through a course, workshop, or program (like the Freelance Grant Writer Academy) to get a grant writing certification. 

This is the heart of it.

Disclaimer.

Grant Certification or not, it doesn’t really showcase your grant writing abilities. To have long-standing credibility and a reputation and to implement your learned skills, you need to practice writing grants.

Even if you aren’t working inside a nonprofit or have a current nonprofit client.

We show you how to get a ‘fictional’ client and write up a mock grant template. 

This can even serve as a writing sample for future clients.

So, yes, a grant writing certification can increase your resume and improve your skills, but actually going through the process of writing an entire grant template and getting feedback will make this skill real.

We’ve even had students come into the Academy where their nonprofit that they work at pays for the Academy because we are training their employee to write a grant. Amazing!

So do you really need a grant writing certification?

No. 

However, a grant writing certification can be helpful in increasing credibility, knowledge, skills, and confidence. But you still will need to actually start writing grants.

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” <–...

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 episode, our guest, Sarah Rowe, is not just a successful freelance grant writer but also a devoted mother. Within an astonishingly short period of four months, Sarah was able to replace her full-time job’s income, thanks to her newfound skills in grant writing. What makes her story even more compelling is how she achieved this remarkable success while being able to stay home with her 4-year-old daughter.

Sarah’s journey is a testament to the empowering possibilities that come with mastering grant writing. From securing over $40,500 in grants for her clients to earning $45,400 through her own business this year, she’s living proof that you can have both a fulfilling career and quality time with your loved ones.

So, sit back, relax, and prepare to be inspired by Sarah’s incredible journey. Whether you’re juggling a demanding job, parenting responsibilities, or both, this episode is for you. Stay tuned to learn how you, too, can turn your passion for helping others into a profitable and flexible career.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Swift Transition to Freelancing: Within just four months, Sarah Rowe transitioned from a traditional full-time job to a freelance grant writer, effectively replacing her full-time income.
2. Financial and Personal Fulfillment: Sarah has successfully earned $45,400 through her grant-writing business and was able to secure $40,500 in grants for her clients, providing both financial stability and personal fulfillment.
3. Flexibility for Family: The Freelance Grant Writer Academy allowed Sarah to change her lifestyle, working around her daughter’s schedule—including tasks like dropping her off at preschool while still being productive.
4. Enhanced Work-Life Balance: Sarah’s freelance work structure enabled her to reduce her work hours compared to her previous nonprofit job, leading to more family time and less burnout.
5. Motivation Driven by Parenthood: Sarah’s desire to spend more time with her daughter, especially after fertility challenges, motivated her to take the risk of starting her own business, providing greater control over her work-life balance.

About Sarah Rowe

With over 14 years of comprehensive experience in the grant industry, Sarah Rowe is a distinguished grant strategist and consultant who has excelled on all sides of the funding process. From securing millions in grant funding to managing complex, multi-state projects, Sarah’s expertise is unparalleled.

Sarah’s journey in the grant world began with a strong educational foundation, holding a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Her academic background is complemented by a Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM) credential from the Project Management Institute.

Throughout her career, Sarah has demonstrated exceptional skill in grant writing, administration, and strategy. She has successfully overseen the distribution and request of funds, provided timely grant and impact reports, managed all aspects of post-award success, and grown grant portfolios across multiple continents. Her strategic oversight has expanded grant portfolios across Africa, Australia, Cambodia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

Sarah’s expertise extends to her role as a collegiate professor, where she teaches “Intro to Grant Writing.” Her ability to convey complex grant writing concepts in an engaging and accessible manner has made her a sought-after educator, inspiring the next generation of grant professionals.

Recently, Sarah has transitioned from working as a full-time internal grant expert to serving a variety of missions through contract, project-based, or retainer opportunities. This shift allows her the variety and flexibility to hyper-focus on her expertise in the grant industry and build meaningful relationships with nonprofits and small businesses. By working with diverse organizations, Sarah can tailor her strategies to meet specific needs, ensuring optimal outcomes for each project.

Her volunteer work as a Federal Grant Reviewer is extensive, having served on numerous grant review panels for various federal agencies. Sarah has reviewed grants for initiatives such as the Healthy Families Community Based Perinatal Health Initiative, Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs, Youth Engagement in Sports, and many others. This experience has given her a deep understanding of the criteria and standards required for successful grant applications.

Sarah Rowe is not just a grant expert; she is a visionary leader who brings a wealth of knowledge, strategic insight, and a proven track record of success. Whether you are looking to secure funding, manage grant projects, or develop a robust grant strategy, Sarah is the expert you need to achieve your goals.

Connect with Sarah:

• Email: [email protected]
• Sarah Rowe | LinkedIn

Quotables:

•  “A lot of the questions I have or the pain points I run into, someone else is already talking about it or I’ve heard someone talking about it before it becomes an issue for me.” – Sarah Rowe
• “I think with not being an internal employee, it kind of empowers you to say things you might not have felt comfortable saying as an internal employee because your livelihood does not depend on your opinion about how they should move things forward.” – Sarah Rowe
• “So it’s just having all those resources in your back pocket. And then when things come up that you don’t expect or, you know, that you start to question yourself, like, there’s this whole community behind you to jump in Slack at any time of day.” – Sarah Rowe 
• “I want as much time with this little girl as I possibly can because there was a while I didn’t know if I would have her. So it’s like, this is what works for us because I now have the ability to, you know, show up for her as a mom first and still use all the skills and things that I have built. And I don’t have to pick being a mom or a grant writer.” – Sarah Rowe
• “To have, you know, a little girl watch you do all this from scratch is really powerful and shows her that same mindset of you can do anything if you put your mind to it and if you surround yourself with the right people.” – ...

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 solo episode, Holly Rustick dives into what both aspiring and seasoned grant writers should be doing in Quarter 4 to increase confidence, attract clients, and boost revenue. She shares how to strategically plan for the final stretch of the year, engage clients effectively, and implement revenue-generating tactics that set you up for success now and into 2025. 

Holly also debunks common myths—like nonprofits not hiring at the end of the year—and offers practical strategies for time management, building high-value services, and consistently attracting and retaining clients for long-term business growth.

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, and 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.

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 episode, Holly Rustick dives into a critical but often overlooked part of running a successful grant writing business—qualifying your leads before ever getting on a discovery call. Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, Holly shares how having a structured vetting process, including key pre-call questions, helps ensure that potential clients are serious and aligned with your services. She explains why saying yes to every inquiry can quickly lead to burnout, especially as more people begin reaching out to “pick your brain” for free advice. 

Holly emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, valuing your expertise, and creating systems that filter out unqualified leads so you can focus your time on high-quality, paying clients. If you’re ready to stop giving away free consulting and start running a more strategic, sustainable grant writing business, this episode will show you how.

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.

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.

We discussed how to price your grant writing services in the last episode, but now we are going to something more nuanced in ethical sales.

It’s ethical to NOT give discounts on your grant writing services.

Here’s the thing. Because you are choosing to do Value-Based Pricing,  you are confident in your pricing.

So why would you give a discount if you already figured out your fair price?

Here are some reasons you give a discount when a nonprofit asks you for one in a discovery sales call (let me know what sounds familiar):

• You think the nonprofit can’t afford your services unless you give them a discount.
• You want to make them ‘happy’.
• You think it’ll make you look nice.
• You are too scared to lose out on the lead.
• The first word that blurts out of your mouth is, “Sure!” before you even process what they asked,

The thing is, just because a nonprofit asks for a discount during a Discovery Sales Call (or in an email) doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have money to hire you. 

Sometimes it is literally a part of their culture to ask every vendor for a discount.

If you do give a nonprofit a discount what will inevitably happen are the following:

• You don’t show up 100% because they aren’t paying your full rate
• They become an ‘annoying’ client in your mind because you aren’t being fully valued.
• You kick yourself because you are losing out on other clients who will pay your full rate.
• They start trying to push boundaries in other places – like paying later than usual, throwing you last minute grants, etc.
• Things just get weird.

Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, we have an entire module and scripts on how to reply to Pesky questions like, “Can you give us a discount”. 

This helps you to start pausing and adapting language that feels neutral and has boundaries. 

Check out the bonus episode “It’s Ethical to Not Give Discounts” Listen to Series #4.

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.

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.

Pricing.

I get the most questions about this when it comes to folks selling their grant writing services.

“What should I price my grant writing services for?”

The word that needs to change to ease the nervous system is to change ‘what’ to ‘how’.

I can’t tell you, “Oh yeah, charge $150 per hour” because we don’t promote hourly for one thing, but there are a variety of other factors that come into play.

To figure out how to price your grant writing services, we do recommend Value-Based Pricing.

This type of pricing utilizes the following elements:

• Time
• Expenses
• Similar professional costs
• Features/Benefits of Services
• Experience/Education
• Types of Grants
• Your Confidence

Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, we have an entire Framework on Value-Based Pricing because we understand the importance behind learning how to price services.

Let’s face it. Product-based pricing is SO much easier. 

Service-based industries are more ambiguous.

But when you have a formula for figuring out your pricing, guess what happens? You get confident in your prices!

Check out the bonus episode “It’s Ethical to Price Your Services with Value-Based Pricing”  to figure out how to price your grant writing services. Listen to Series #3

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 Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Freelance Grant Writer Academy

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.

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.

When it comes to selling your grant writing services, there are a few critical things you need to understand first.

You need clarity on:

•  Who you are working with 
•  What their expectations are 
•  What the reality of grant funding looks like 
•  And how long it actually takes to get results 

Without this foundation, it’s easy to overpromise, undercharge, or misalign with your clients. 
The good news?

Even if you’re brand new to grant writing, this is something you can absolutely figure out.

Whether your experience comes from volunteering, education, or previous work, you can begin defining the types of nonprofits you want to serve and the types of grants you want to focus on.

In this episode, we break down how to do exactly that using the Change Statement Framework—a tool we teach inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.

You’ll learn how to clearly position your services, set realistic expectations with clients, and build your business in a way that is both strategic and ethical.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to communicate your value or structure your services, this episode will give you the clarity you need.

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.

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.

Imposter syndrome is something so many grant writers face—especially when you’re building or growing your business. But here’s the truth: one of the most effective ways to overcome imposter syndrome is to build confidence in your grant writing skills.

When you intentionally invest in improving your skills, you naturally begin to trust your abilities more. You start to see what you’re capable of—and that confidence carries over into how you show up, communicate, and sell your services. However, there’s an important balance. 
While learning and upskilling are essential, they can also become a form of procrastination if you’re not careful. There’s always more to learn—but that shouldn’t stop you from putting yourself out there.

In this episode, we talk about how to navigate that balance—how to continue growing your skills while also taking action to market your grant writing services with confidence.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “not ready yet,” this episode will help you move forward anyway.

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.