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.

What if the missing piece in your grant writing business isn’t your skill—but your systems?

In this episode, Academy student Mapi Garcia shares how she transformed her freelance grant writing business after two and a half years of inconsistent clients and revenue.

After joining the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, everything shifted.

Within just four months, Mapi generated $62,775 in her business and secured her first-ever retainer client—creating consistent, predictable income.

We dive into what changed for her, including how implementing systems and reframing how she set expectations with nonprofit clients became a total gamechanger. Mapi shares how clarity in communication, pricing, and service delivery allowed her to attract better-fit clients and build a more sustainable business.

If you’ve been stuck in inconsistent income or wondering how to create stability in your grant writing business, this episode will show you what’s possible with the right structure and mindset.

Be sure to give it a listen!

BOUT OUR GUEST

Mapi Garcia is a freelance grant writer who successfully transformed her business by implementing strategic systems and client management practices. After working in the field for over two years, she joined the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and quickly scaled her business to generate over $62,000 in just four months.

Mapi specializes in helping nonprofits secure funding while building long-term client relationships through retainer-based services, creating both impact and consistent revenue.

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.

This episode, Isatou Bittaye-Jobe is a Grant Consultant specializing in gender justice, youth development, and human rights.

Isatou explains why having a specific niche is so important, how to increase the conversion rate of your sales calls, and what you need to transition from employee to business owner.

She also talks about how The Freelance Grant Writer Academy can support grant writers, the benefits of having a community of grant writers, and the type of goals you should have when entering the academy.

About Isatou Bittaye-Jobe

Isatou Bittaye-Jobe is a Grant Consultant specializing in gender justice, youth development, and human rights. 

Isatou’s passion for social justice and the need to address the systemic inequities in the funding landscape inspired her to found AmiKha Consulting to provide grant writing services, and program design and strategic planning for U.S-based nonprofits and NGOs in the Global South to skyrocket their funding potential.

She has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has successfully supported nonprofits to secure grant awards totaling $10 million throughout her career. Most recently, she was the Director of Institutional Giving at UltraViolet, where she oversaw and managed the organization’s institutional funding strategy and plan for raising the $5 million annual operating budget. 

Originally from The Gambia, Isatou served as a Senior Program Officer at the National Council for Civic Education, securing six-figure level grants and promoting civically engaged citizenry among Gambians. She was also a founding member and Communications Manager of The Girls’ Agenda. Since immigrating to the United States, Isatou has served in various roles with the Population Council, Women Deliver, and the National Network for Safe Communities. 

Connect with Isatou:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Calendly

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Freelance Grant Writer Academy
• Everything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One Sale
• Finding a Community of Grant Writers
• How Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the Academy

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.

This episode, Olive Idehen explains the mindset you need as a business owner, how to identify your ideal clients, and the different strategies she’s used to grow her business.

Olive Idehen is the founder and owner of Callive, LLC an independent organizational development consulting firm for small and medium sized social change and nonprofit organizations.

Olive explains how to decide which nonprofits to work with, the strategic planning systems that can be created for onboarding clients, and the ways having a master grant template can help with prospecting.

She also talks about the importance of pricing your grant writing services correctly, how she positioned herself as a more credible grant writer, and the ways that the Freelance Grant Writer Academy has supported her.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The importance of pricing your grant writing services correctly.
• The mindset you need as a business owner.
• How to decide which nonprofits to work with.
• How the Freelance Grant Writer Academy can support you.
• The strategic planning systems that can be created for onboarding clients.
• How to identify who your ideal clients are.
• The ways having a master grant template helps with prospecting. 
• How to make yourself a more credible grant writer.
• Different strategies to grow a grant writing business.
• The type of networking you should do before starting your own business.

About Olive Idehen

As the founding Executive Director, Coalition for Nonprofit Housing Development in Washington, DC, Olive was immersed in affordable housing issues in partnership with a sixty plus membership of nonprofit and for-profit developers, activists, and funders. 

To better understand how philanthropy could be leveraged in community, she had a tenure as Senior Director, Housing and Community Development at the Fannie Mae Foundation. Here she funded and provided technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and capital campaigns for programs and physical expansion in Washington, DC.

Then she wanted to understand the flow of both private and public sector capital in community development and served as Bank of America’s Vice President, Community Relations Manager where she implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative within the Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs line of business. She supported the Market President, charitable foundation and community outreach activities and initiatives that addressed critical needs in the low-and moderate-income communities in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. This resulted in an “outstanding” regulatory rating for three consecutive years.

In 2019, Olive wanted to explore new ways of working with nonprofits and became the founder and owner of Callive, LLC an independent organizational development consulting firm for small and medium sized social change and nonprofit organizations. Callive’s services include strategic planning, grant writing, board training and development, and succession planning and leadership continuity. 

Olive presently serves on the Board of Directors of three nonprofit organizations including, Manna (affordable housing), Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (housing and economic development) and Life Asset (community development financial institution).

Connect with Olive:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Calendly
• Email

Quotables:

• “Being able to be clear with my services has helped me with marketing, it’s helped me become a expert, and it’s helped with my credibility.”
• “The academy has helped to build my confidence because it’s one thing to work for somebody else and it’s another thing to work for yourself and go out and get the business.”
• “Do lots of networking before you leave a nonprofit so that when you do leave you still have that one client.”

Resources mentioned in this episode.

• Freelance Grant Writer Academy
• Everything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One Sale
• Finding a Community of Grant Writers
• How Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the Academy

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 Rus...

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.

This episode, Gwen Valentino explains how the freelance grant writing academy has helped her business, the value she gets from unlimited grant reviews, and why having a community of grant writers is so impactful.

Gwen Valentino is a grant administrator at NM Grant Writers, where she empowers local governments and nonprofit organizations by unlocking the full potential of grant funding.

Gwen explains how she’s streamlined her grant writing process through using the checklists and systems available in the freelance grant writing academy.

She also talks about how to get returning customers as a grant writer, the different types of organizations grant writers can work with, and the impact having a website has had on her grant writing business.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The different types of organizations grant writers work with.
• How to get returning customers as a grant writer.
• The challenges of working with a 501(c)(12) and how to overcome them.
• The checklists you can use when writing grants for a nonprofit.
• Different systems you can follow to write grants.
• The value of getting a grant review.
• How having a website can help a freelance grant writer.
• Why having a community of grant writers is so impactful.
• The impact the freelance grant writing academy has had on Gwen’s business.

About Gwen Valentino

At NM Grant Writers, we believe in the transformative power of grants to propel local governments and nonprofit organizations toward their full potential. With a deep commitment to demystifying the grant application process, we offer expert guidance and personalized support at every step of the journey. We aim to turn visionary projects into impactful, funded realities, fostering community growth and innovation.

Our services range from preparing organizations to apply for grants with our Starter Package to enhancing grant efforts with the Essential Package and providing ongoing support with our Growth Package. With professionalism as our cornerstone, we navigate each grant journey with expertise, precision, and integrity.

In 2023 alone, our specialized experience in securing over $4 million in state, federal, and foundation grants speaks to our ability to bring knowledge to every project. Let NM Grant Writers transform your grant aspirations into funded successes.

Connect with Gwen:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Calendly

Quotables:

• “Follow up with previous clients, they’re your best resource for returning customers.”
• “With systems in place you save the client more money because you can do things so much quicker. That’s why I love the academy so much because you set up so many systems that we can follow. I don’t have to think of anything at all I just follow the system and go.”
• “I tell my family I’m writing grants but they don’t really understand at all, but in the community you know they feel it. They know exactly what you’re going through, they know how hard writing a grant can be, and how invested you are in the outcome.”

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Freelance Grant Writer Academy
• Everything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One Sale
• Finding a Community of Grant Writers
• How Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the Academy

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’ve ever wondered how long it takes to get a return on your investment in your grant writing business—this episode is for you.

In this episode, we take a closer look at what it really means to invest in your growth as a freelance grant writer, especially inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy. We talk about realistic timelines for seeing a return on your investment and how that’s directly connected to the actions you take, the systems you build, and the support you have around you. 

You’ll also learn about the power of community inside the Academy and how being surrounded by other grant writers can accelerate your growth, provide accountability, and help you navigate challenges along the way. We break down how the grant review service works and why getting feedback on your work is a game-changer when it comes to improving your skills and increasing your success rate.

Plus, we dive into the essential systems you need in place to build a profitable grant writing business—and how to approach sales conversations with nonprofits in a way that is both ethical and effective. If you’re ready to create a sustainable, profitable business with the right support and structure, 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.

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.

This episode, Holly Rustick explains how the freelance grant writer academy can help your nonprofit, why they’ll pay for you to go to the academy, and the amount they’ll save in grant reviews.

Holly Rustick is a world-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author who has been coaching grant writers on how to run successful 5-6 figure businesses since 2017.

Holly explains the different features available in the freelance grant writer academy, what you’ll learn in the academy, and why a nonprofit will pay for you to go there.

She also talks about the different grant training and reviews available, how much it normally costs to get a grant reviewed, and how you can get your nonprofit to pay for you to go to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why a nonprofit will pay for you to go to the freelance grant writer academy.
• What you learn in the freelance grant writer academy.
• The amount it costs to get a grant reviewed.
• The different features available in the freelance grant writer academy.
• The grant training and grant reviews available in the freelance grant writer academy.
• How the freelance grant writer academy can help the nonprofit you work at.
• How to get your nonprofit to pay for the freelance grant writer academy.
• How to make money writing grants at home.

Quotables:

• “Your current nonprofit can utilize our grant formula curriculum, the entire grant writing master course, our 30-day grant writing template challenge, our grant writing reviews, all our templates and samples, and more.”
• “People come into the program after their nonprofit paid for the academy and want a grant review for the nonprofit and they can submit that for the nonprofit.”
• “If you have grant writing in your job description or they want you to uplevel to grant writing, then you need the training, the support and the reviews so you can write more grants quickly, this is going to help the nonprofit it’s a huge ROI.”

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• SPONSORSHIP LETTER FOR THE ACADEMY
• Toggl Track
• Freelance Grant Writer Academy
• Everything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One Sale
• Transitioning to Freelance Grant Writing: Building Your Business Gradually
• Finding a Community of Grant Writers
• Grant Easy Management Software

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.

———————————————————————————

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 

———————————————————————————

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.

Have you ever wondered what it really looks like to be a freelance grant writer—full-time versus part-time?

In this episode, we break down the key differences between the two and how each path can offer flexibility, freedom, and income potential depending on your goals. 

Grant writing is one of those unique skillsets that allows you to design your schedule and create a business that fits your lifestyle. Whether you’re looking to replace your full-time income or build a side business with flexible hours, there are real opportunities to make it happen. We also dive into how most grant writers actually get clients (hint: it’s not as complicated as you might think), and the different ways you can start building your credibility—even if you’re just getting started.

From leveraging past experience to positioning your services effectively, you’ll learn how to begin your freelance grant writing journey with confidence. If you’re ready to explore a career path that offers both purpose and flexibility, this episode will show you what’s possible.

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.

In this episode, Holly Rustick breaks down the mindset shift needed to successfully transition into freelance grant writing. She shares why you should view your 9–5 job as your first “anchor client” and how to strategically reposition yourself from employee to contractor without burning bridges. Holly also walks through practical ways to strengthen your relationship with your nonprofit, reposition your services, and transition into freelancing with minimal risk—so you can build a more flexible, profitable grant writing business.

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.

Do you really need a grant writing certification to be successful?

It’s one of the most common questions aspiring and even experienced grant writers ask—and the answer might surprise you.

In this episode, Holly breaks down what a grant writing certification is, when it can be helpful, and why it’s not always necessary to build a successful career.

We explore the benefits of certifications, including how they can boost confidence, provide structure, and enhance your credibility—but also why real-world experience, skill development, and results often matter more.

Holly also shares how to position yourself as an experienced grant writer (even if you’re newer), how to continuously improve your grant writing skills, and why getting feedback on your proposals is one of the fastest ways to grow.

If you’ve been debating whether to invest in a certification—or wondering how to level up your expertise—this episode will give you clarity and direction.

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/

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.