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.

This episode, Sabrina Walker-Hernandez explains the ways to create a good board, how you should interact with your board members, and the different ways to get board members engaged with funding. 

Sabrina Walker-Hernandez is the CEO of Supporting World Hope and has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership.

Sabrina joins us to discuss board development, the different aspects of fundraising, and how nonprofits should market themselves. 

She also talks about the best practices of running a board, the type of relationship CEOs should have with their board, and the power of the title CEO. 

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The role of a nonprofit Executive Director with their board. 
• Ways to engage your board throughout the year. 
• How to get your board involved with fundraising. 
• Common mistakes Executive Director’s make when creating a board. 
• How to create a good board of directors. 
• Who you should have as your board members.
• How to interact with your board members.
• Best practices of running a board. 
• The different aspects of fundraising. 

About Sabrina Walker-Hernandez

Sabrina Walker-Hernandez is the CEO of Supporting World Hope and has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership.

She grew her operation revenue from $750,000 to $2.5M and completed a $12M capital campaign.

Sabrina is certified in Nonprofit Management by Harvard Business School and is a bestselling author.

Connect with Sabrina Walker Hernandez:

• Website
• Email

Quotables:

• “A lot of people say they have a fundraising problem but it really is a board problem.”
• “Get the board right and the fundraising will come.”
• “You always need to be fundraising. For a healthy organization no more than 20 percent of your budget should rely on one source.”

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free VIP Resource Library with sample documents for board, marketing, fundraising and policies. 
• Nonprofit Consulting Conference
• Freelance Grant Writer Academy Waitlist
• Hub Haven Weekly Newsletter Stress-Free Grant Writing Tips
• 3 Tactics You Didn’t Know to Become a Nonprofit Executive Director Ninja
• Top 10 Responsibilities of a Nonprofit Executive Director
• The Flawless Framework to Transform a Nonprofit’s Board of Directors with Sean Kosofsky

OTHER RESOURCES:

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

RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCAST

Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?

This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!

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

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

Thanks for listening!

Warmly,

Holly Rustick

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

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Thank you Bloomerang for sponsoring this week’s podcast!

Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps small to medium nonprofits, like First Tee of Greater Akron.

After just one year with Bloomerang First Tee of Greater Akron doubled their unique donors, improved donor stewardship, and raised more funds.

To hear the full story, visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/ 
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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.

Gregory joins us to share his expertise on nonprofit leadership and governance, breaking down the essential habits every board member should develop to effectively support an organization’s mission. He discusses how to communicate clearly with board members, properly onboard new members, and create a strong foundation for engagement and accountability.

We also explore practical ways to teach board members what good governance looks like, how bringing in consultants can help reinforce key messages, and strategies to ensure board members stay actively involved and committed to their roles.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Gregory is an experienced nonprofit CEO, consultant, and public speaker specializing in nonprofit leadership and governance. He is BoardSource Certified in Nonprofit Board Consulting and has helped hundreds of organizations strengthen their leadership and impact. As former CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNPE), he expanded services to support over 500 nonprofits and launched key leadership development programs for executives.

With a background spanning the nonprofit, corporate, and public sectors—including roles as Executive Director of Green Hill Therapy and Vice President at Bank of America—Gregory brings a well-rounded perspective to his work. He is also a military veteran and former attorney in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, and holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School. His leadership has been recognized nationally, including being named a “40 Under 40” honoree.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

Website

Email

Podcast

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.

—————————————————————————————
Support for this episode is brought to you by our friends at Bloomerang. 
Bloomerang offers donor management, online fundraising, and volunteer management software that helps small to medium nonprofits, like First Tee of Greater Akron. After just one year with Bloomerang, First Tee of Greater Akron doubled their unique donors, improved donor stewardship, and raised more funds. To hear the full story visit bloomerang.com/grantwritingpodcast/.
—————————————————————————————

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.

Jess Campbell is an email list expert and seasoned nonprofit fundraiser who has raised over $17 million throughout her career—and in this episode, she shares exactly how you can strengthen your digital fundraising strategy.

We dive into how to run effective end-of-year campaigns that not only bring in donations but also create long-term donor relationships.

Jess breaks down how to turn one-time end-of-year donors into consistent monthly supporters, why donor retention should be a top priority, and how building a strong donor base can create more sustainable funding for your nonprofit.

We also explore what makes an email marketing campaign truly effective—from messaging to strategy—and how to grow your digital campaigns in a way that feels both authentic and impactful.

If you’re looking to level up your fundraising, especially during your most important giving season, this episode is packed with insights you can put into action right away.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Jess Campbell is an email marketing expert and nonprofit fundraising strategist with nearly two decades of experience helping organizations grow their donor base and increase revenue. Over her career, she has raised more than $17 million for nonprofits through strategic campaigns, donor engagement, and digital marketing.

Jess specializes in helping nonprofits leverage email marketing to build stronger relationships, improve donor retention, and create sustainable, recurring revenue streams.

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!

This helps me support more people — just like you — move toward writing higher quality grants without overwhelm, and to start and grow successful grant writing businesses!

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 is sponsored by Bloomerang!

Bloomerang is a donor management and fundraising platform built specifically for nonprofits to help you raise more, retain donors, and grow your impact. With powerful tools for donor engagement, reporting, and relationship management, Bloomerang makes it easier to build meaningful connections and drive sustainable funding.

Learn more at: https://bloomerang.com/

———————————————————————————

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.

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.

Welcome to another episode of “Grant Writing & Funding” with your host, Holly Rustick. In this week’s episode, we have a special guest joining us: Yvonne White-Morey, a successful grant writer with a thriving freelance grant writing business. 

During our conversation, we will delve into the impact the mentorship program has had on Yvonne’s business, as well as the valuable tips and insights she has to offer for grant writers looking to start or grow their own freelance grant writing businesses. We are excited to hear Yvonne’s personal story and discover how she got started in the world of grant writing.

Yvonne addresses the importance of handling grant rejection in the grant writing world and offers strategies for turning rejection into opportunities for growth and improvement.

Additionally, she will touch on the significant role of artificial intelligence in the grant proposal process, and explore both the positive advantages and potential challenges it presents. 

Yvonne also shares her experience in the Grant Professional Mentorship program and how it has benefited her grant writing career. 

Join us as we connect with Yvonne White-Morey to learn more about her journey in grant writing and the valuable insights she has to offer. 

Plus, we will reveal how you can connect with Yvonne and the resources she provides. So grab your headphones and get ready for another informative and inspiring episode of “Grant Writing & Funding” with Holly Rustick.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How the Grant Professional Mentorship has been beneficial Yvonne’s grant writing business
• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Grant Proposal Process
• Positive and negative implications of AI and large language models in grant writing
• Handling Rejection and Building Relationships in Grant Seeking
• – The tendency to feel discouraged after a grant proposal rejection
• The importance of evaluating the fit between the proposal and funder’s values
• Embracing rejection as an opportunity to demonstrate organizational integrity
• Grant writing as part of the revenue stream and flow for organizations
• Building a sustainable funding model for organizations
• Considering the overall funding picture and incorporating grants into the organization’s strategy
• The challenge of low scores on grant proposals with minimal feedback

About Yvonne White-Morey

Yvonne White-Morey, RSM is CEO & Principal Grant Strategist at GrantStream Consulting LLC, bridging the gap between mission and impact, through stress-free grant seeking and management, so that people who help people can afford to make a difference. GrantStream’s clientele include growing small-mid sized nonprofits and small businesses helped to secure more than $14 million in funding.

Yvonne brings expertise working in government, nonprofit and the private sector; with faith-based groups and community-led organizations, celebrating the opportunity of assisting others to do great work creating a more just and humane world. 

In addition to extensive grant training, Yvonne holds a Masters of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary; earned a BS in Psychology and BA in Speech and Drama from DePaul University and, Certificates in Litigation and Employee Benefit Plans from the ABA Approved Lawyers’ Assistant Program at Roosevelt University; and is credentialed by Scrum, Inc. as a Register Scrum Master (RSM). Each of these areas of professional development helped her to hone skills in research, writing and project management.

Yvonne is a proud member of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), currently serving as a board member and Programs Co-Chair of the GPA Chicago Area Chapter, and member of the GPA Great Lakes Virtual Chapter.  An active member of the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits;  a Chicago Conservation Corps leader since 2010, as well as a Climate Reality Project Leader, Chicago Metro Chapter and trained as a public engagement interpreter of the Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Yvonne is part of an extensive network of environmental and environmental justice organizations. 

When not absorbed with grants, nonprofit consulting, proposal development and character counts, she enjoys the brilliant and colorful Midwestern change of seasons, especially in Autumn/Winter, where you will most likely find her tucked in with a cup of hot tea, a cozy mystery and in the company of either an exuberant Hurricane Maria rescue dog named Rico or a frolicking feline called Selina Kyle (aka Cat Woman) her Co-Directors of Work/Life Balance.

Connect with Yvonne:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ywhite-morey/
• Email: [email protected]

Quotables:

• Dealing with Grant Rejection: “Just because it didn’t get funded doesn’t mean that one can’t be funded somewhere else. If it’s a solid program, it can be rewritten and reworked so that it does meet the needs of the organization and a particular funder… See it as an opportunity to build relationships and demonstrate the integrity of the organization.”
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Grant Funding: “Two things along that line. One is actually the newer invention with everyone talking about artificial intelligence and large language models. That’s a two sided coin.”
• The Importance of Grant Strategy: “So if seeking grants are going to be a major revenue stream for your organization, then how to build out that strategy? I think we get this sense that grants are just like raining down from heaven, and you just put your bucket out and the water will come in, and then you take it. And there’s really no need for that kind of plan.”
• The Benefits of Joining the Mentorship: “The Grant Professional Mentorship has been phenomenal… I love Book Club because we read two books a quarter and I found most of the book...

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 does it really take to grow as a grant writer?

In this episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Christine Taylor to discuss her experience inside the Grant Professional Mentorship and the key lessons that have helped her strengthen her grant writing skills and business.

We dive into the importance of embracing feedback as a tool for growth, and how the grant review process can sharpen your proposals and elevate your work. Christine also shares why stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for progress—and how pushing yourself can open new opportunities.

One of the standout moments in Christine’s journey was becoming a federal grant peer reviewer. She explains how this experience deepened her understanding of what funders are truly looking for, including insights into budgets and evaluation criteria.

We also explore the power of community—why having a support system of like-minded grant writers can provide accountability, encouragement, and meaningful connections that help you grow faster.

If you’re looking to improve your skills, gain confidence, and build a stronger grant writing career, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Christine Taylor is a grant writer and consultant who has advanced her skills through the Grant Professional Mentorship program. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, she has leveraged feedback, peer collaboration, and hands-on experience to strengthen her grant writing expertise.

Christine has also served as a federal grant peer reviewer, gaining valuable insight into the grant evaluation process and bringing that knowledge back into her work to create stronger, more competitive proposals.

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.

Welcome to another episode of “Grant Writing & Funding”! In this week’s episode, we have a very special guest joining us: Alejandra Salazar, a seasoned grant writer and business owner. Alejandra has been in the grant writing space for over 20 years, working closely with founders on various projects. Today, she shares with us her valuable insights and experiences in managing multiple projects and teams within a non-profit organization.

Alejandra emphasizes the importance of being strategic and authentic in grant applications, cautioning against making promises that cannot be kept to funding sources. She advises against chasing every opportunity, highlighting the need to focus and build expertise in order to increase success and position oneself as an expert in the field.

Furthermore, Alejandra shares her passion for conservation and her journey in the environmental sector, discussing the difference between being a grant writer within an organization and being a freelance grant writer consultant. She opens up about the challenges she faced in finding a job in the environmental sector and her decision to pursue a master’s degree in natural resources management. Alejandra also shares her experiences working with NGOs in Latin America and Central America, highlighting the limited funds and challenges faced by smaller organizations.

We delve into the impact of grant writing on the conservation field, and Alejandra’s company, the Social Environmental Design Project, which aims to help NGOs increase funding and impact. She also discusses her personal growth as a business owner and the importance of setting higher prices to achieve financial stability and invest in oneself.

She also shares how she has been able to get clear about her business within the Grant Professional Mentorship, and that she now has joy and freedom in her business and life!

You won’t want to miss this insightful conversation with Alejandra as she shares her expertise as a grant writer and the lessons she has learned along the way. So, sit back, relax, and let’s dive into this episode of “Grant Writing & Funding”!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How the Grant Professional Mentorship has been beneficial for Alejandra’s freelance grant writing business
• Through the mentorship program, Alejandra is continuously learning new skills and abilities as an independent nonprofit worker and business owner.
• How Alejandra identified her target population nonprofit client and developed strategies to position her business for success.
• Designing effective projects for social and environmental problems
• Alejandra’s journey in the environmental sector
• The difference between being a consultant and an in-house grant writer
• Alejandra’s expertise in biodiversity, conservation, and grant writing as a consultant
• Developing accessible products for small and medium organizations

About Alejandra Salazar:

Alejandra is a certified grant writer and funding expert, with a passion for helping civil society organizations increase their funding and impact. She has 19 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector on biodiversity conservation, climate change, and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. She holds a degree in international relations (2000) and a master’s degree in environmental legislation (2004). She has been a freelance certified grant writer for nonprofits since 2019. In 2022 she launched her signature company “Diseño de proyectos socioambientales”, serving clients in Mexico, Central America, Germany, and the United States of America.

During her career, she has co-developed and implemented on ecosystem-based adaptation, environmental education, environmental policy, community forest management, forest conservation,  green finances, mainstreaming biodiversity in agriculture, migratory bird conservation, protected areas effective management, REDD+, resilient cities, sustainable fisheries, voluntary forest carbon markets,  wetland conservation, among others. She has worked with private, public, and social sectors,  helping secure millions of dollars from international and national funding sources.

She lives in Mexico City with her husband, two kids, a dog, and a cat.

Contact Alejandra:

• [email protected]
• linkedin.com/in/alesalazardreja
• Hire Alejandra

Quotables:

• The Importance of Increasing Prices: “If you want to do it all alone, it won’t work. So you have to keep in mind that you have to increase your prices so you also have the bandwidth to outsource other services. And then you can really improve the service that you’re giving and get it’s not about growing and getting more clients and getting more money. No. That’s not the mindset. The mindset is to make a living where you are financially stable, and you can do what you love. I think that is the main goal.”
• Grant Writing: “One of the most valuable things that grant writers bring to the table is this expertise or know-how in really looking at the design of the project. Find out where the gaps are and ask yourself, ‘What are we not saying that this is important?’
• About the Grant Professional Mentorship Program: “The mentorship has helped me identify my target population and broaden my perspective beyond just working in Mexico. Another great thing about the Grant Professional Mentorship is that you learn all of these different strategies and you feel the support. You’re not alone. You have a space where you can just say, ‘Look, I’m thinking about doing this,’ and someone else has done it and they help you out. They have templates. And, well, that’s been, yeah, an incredible support.”

Resources mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kim Collier joins us to explore how aligning your values with your grant writing business can lead to greater clarity, stronger client relationships, and increased revenue. She shares how learning to say no to the wrong opportunities can actually attract ideal clients and create more peace in your work. We also dive into her journey in the nonprofit sector, the importance of building relationships with government officials, setting meaningful objectives, and how mentorship can support long-term success in creating a value-driven grant writing business.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Kim Collier is an experienced nonprofit consultant who specializes in helping grant writers and organizations align their work with their core values to build sustainable and impactful businesses. With a background in the nonprofit sector, Kim brings a thoughtful and strategic approach to grant writing, relationship-building, and long-term growth. She is passionate about helping professionals create meaningful work, strengthen partnerships, and achieve success through clarity, purpose, and intentional decision-making.

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.