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.

Finding social media ambassadors and influencers for your nonprofit might feel like an unattainable goal. 

I mean, who really knows Kim Kardashian or Beyonce?

But influencers and ambassadors do not have to equal super elite celebrities. In fact, influencers could include a work-from-home mom that has a YouTube channel about baking for toddlers or a really good friend that is a part of a networking group.

Reaching out to the right type of people who have the audience that makes sense for your nonprofit’s programs is really key to finding influencers and ambassadors.

That’s what Christina Edwards highlights in this episode of Grant Writing & Funding! Christina is a guru in the nonprofit marketing space and gives you a low-down on practical tips for any sized nonprofit to secure marketing from influencers and ambassadors. 

What We Discuss In This Episode:

• Difference between ambassadors and influencers
• How connecting with ambassadors and influencers is like online dating
• How friends can be really amazing ambassadors and influencers
• Why a toolkit is vital to share with ambassadors and influencers
• Why your nonprofit’s updated social media presence is vitae

About Christina Edwards

Christina Edwards, Founder of Splendid Consulting, is a marketing expert and coach who helps ambitious social impact businesses and nonprofits increase revenue, supporters, and engagement. She’s ever-passionate about equipping organizations to step into their expertise, be bold, and find their unique voice and audience online. Her packed-out workshops and courses spark enthusiasm, social action, and powerful results. Amplify Social Impact, her signature online course teaches organizations how to make marketing movements that matter online. For more information, visit: www.splendidatl.com.

Reach Out to Christina:

• Christina’s Website
• Christina on Instagram
• Christina on Facebook
• Splendid Consulting’s Email

Related Episode:

• Why Every Nonprofit Should Be On Instagram – and how to use it effectively

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.

Stu joins us to share how nonprofits can use technology and data to significantly increase donor retention and long-term giving. With over 30 years of experience, he breaks down how organizations can better leverage the data they already have, implement simple but effective strategies to improve donor stewardship, and use tools like surveys and timely follow-ups—such as the critical 45-day touchpoint—to keep supporters engaged. 

We also explore the growing impact of technology in the nonprofit sector, how even small organizations can make meaningful improvements, and practical ways to authentically thank and retain donors.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Stu is a recognized thought leader in the nonprofit sector and currently serves as the Director of Thought Leadership and Advocacy for Omatic Software, a data integration platform that helps nonprofits gain a complete view of their donors and make data-driven decisions. With more than 30 years of experience, Stu has implemented data and integration solutions for hundreds of nonprofit organizations across a wide range of subsectors.

He has been widely published by industry leaders such as Blackbaud and Salesforce, and his work continues to shape how nonprofits use technology to improve fundraising outcomes. Omatic Software, founded in 2002, has been named to Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 500 | 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for five consecutive years.

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.

In this episode, we dive into how to build sustainable funding for LGBTQ+ nonprofits—and the real challenges and opportunities that come with it. Jack shares his journey of finding support through LGBTQ+ organizations and how that experience ultimately led him to found TurnOut, a platform designed to connect volunteers with grassroots LGBTQ+ nonprofits.

We explore what it takes to fund and grow mission-driven organizations in this space, including the role of grants as startup or expansion funding (not a long-term sole strategy), and how nonprofits can create more sustainable revenue streams through services and strategic pricing.

Jack also discusses TurnOut’s first government grant, the importance of building a diversified funding program, and why nonprofits should regularly evaluate and increase their pricing when offering services.

This conversation is packed with insights on how to think differently about funding, community support, and long-term sustainability—especially for organizations serving LGBTQ+ communities.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Jack is the founder of TurnOut, an organization dedicated to connecting volunteers with LGBTQ+ nonprofits to strengthen community impact. He began his career working with community-based HIV organizations and has spent over 15 years supporting grassroots queer groups around the world.

Recognizing a gap between those who wanted to help and organizations that needed support, Jack launched TurnOut in 2015. Today, TurnOut mobilizes more than 5,000 volunteers across 150+ LGBTQ+ nonprofits in California, supporting initiatives focused on youth homelessness, mental health, the arts, and more.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

Website: www.turnout.org

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.

Rachel Waterman joins us to share how grant writers and nonprofits can build stronger, more strategic relationships with funding sources to create sustainable funding pipelines. With over 25 years of experience, she breaks down why securing grants still costs nonprofits money, how to ensure funding supports core operational needs, and the often-confusing distinctions between program and operating expenses. 

We also explore how to build long-term relationships with both nonprofit clients and funders, creating a more effective and aligned approach to grant funding.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Rachel Waterman is a thinker, published author, award-winning researcher, professional artist, and mother of two with over 25 years of experience in community development and grant writing. She is a Grant Professional Certified (GPC), Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and a Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Approved Trainer, as well as the CEO of Global Development Solutions (GDS Grants), a grant consulting and research firm serving organizations in the U.S. and internationally.

Rachel holds a master’s degree in Community and Economic Development with a concentration in Applied Social Research from Illinois State University and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Barry University. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, her diverse career includes serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, nonprofit executive director, city master planner, consultant, coach, and Mayor of Lake Worth Beach, Florida.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

LinkedIn

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 stared at a blank page wondering where to even begin with a grant… you’re not alone. Grant writing can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be.

In this episode, we break down a simple, step-by-step framework to help you move from confusion to clarity when writing grants. You’ll learn how to stop starting from scratch every time and instead use proven strategies to guide your process. We cover practical research tips so you know exactly where to find the right grants, how to write clear and compelling objectives, and how to map out activities that align with your proposal.

We also walk through how to develop a strong, realistic budget—plus share bonus tips to make your grant writing more efficient and effective.

If you’re ready to stop pulling your hair out and start feeling confident in your grant writing skills, this episode is for you.

Say YES to:

•  Understanding grant lingo 
•  Learning simple, effective grant writing hacks 
•  Knowing where to find grant opportunities 
•  Getting your grant writing reviewed 
•  Using plug-and-play templates to save time and energy 

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.

If you are looking to increase your grant writing skills to the next level, you are going to love these tips!

First off, do you already know how to write grants? If not, that’s okay! You might also want to refer to our article on the steps on drafting an effective grant application. 

In this article and podcast, I am going to go over some sidebar tips on grant writing that will increase your competitiveness for getting grant funding.

I’ve used these tips throughout my 16+ years of grant writing.

Grant Writing Tip #1

Sure, sometimes it may not be worth going after certain grants if they do not have the funding to support your program.

However, more often then not, I see nonprofit leaders just looking at how much money is available and then trying to fit their program into the funding source’s scope. This is referred to as chasing the money or mission drifting.

Your eyes might light up when you see all those zeroes in a grant announcement. However, this does not mean that the funding source is just pouring money out to anyone and everyone.

You will have better luck to secure grants when you apply for grants where you can show that your project is a good fit in one sentence. If you have to create complicated Venn diagrams and write more than a couple of sentences on why your project is a good fit, it probably isn’t a good fit after all.

Grant Writing Tip #2

This may seem like a no-brainer, but I can’t tell you how many nonprofit organizations come up with ideas for projects, but they don’t realize that the exact programs may already be operating in the neighborhood.

Here’s the thing. Just because you don’t know if a project exists, does not mean that it doesn’t exist. Do your due diligence to check and see if other partner organizations are already running that specific project.

Are you ready for the Catch-22?

Just because a partner nonprofit is running that same type of project, it does not mean that you cannot develop the project. Your project might serve a different demographic, or be able to serve a wider network.

However, it is important when writing your grant application that you demonstrate why there is a need for your project if there is already an existing similar project.

For example, your nonprofit organization may want to start a community garden. You do your research and find out that less than five miles away, another nonprofit is running a community garden. It does not mean you have to throw in the towel, but instea,d you can reach out to the nonprofit and find out more about who they serve and any existing gaps.

Let’s just say that they have a wait list for people wanting plots at the community garden. In that case, your project might be almost identical. In your grant, you could clearly state that there is a need for additional plots of land for gardening based on the wait list.

However, let’s say that this other nonprofit has lots of plots available at their community garden. However, maybe their plots are only available for senior citizens, and your community garden will serve the community-at-large. In this way,  your project may still be needed since you serve a different demographic.

You can see how this information will help shape the need for your project, and without this research, it might fall flat.

Grant Writing Tip #3

I can’t tell you how many grant applications I have reviewed that do not use citations! Many (mostly federal) funding sources require you to cite sources in your grant proposal. However, a lot of foundation grants do not stipulate this, but that does not mean that they do not want citations included.

Also, use more than one citation in your grant proposal.

What do I mean by this?

Well, if you are showcasing the needs for a community garden project, then include quotes, references, testimonies, statistics, reports that identify the need for the project. Make sure that you include the citations from where you found these sources.

For example: “According to the Nutritious Study Report (2022), sixty-eight percent of children under the age of ten in Gray County suffer from malnourishment.”

Insert a footnote or attach a bibliography that includes the full citation!

This showcases credibility.

Grant Writing Tip #4

Do not use any of the following words by themselves: lack and need for.

I see these words utilized a lot in grant applications, and the issue is that they are not specific. Grant writing is a technical language and requires specificity.

The following examples would not be specific enough:

“There is a need for community gardens in Grey County.”

The following examples that are specific:

“Currently Gray County has one co...

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.

YouTube isn’t just for entertainment—it’s a powerful platform for fundraising.

But how can nonprofits actually leverage it?

In this episode, Sydney Stelmaszek shares her firsthand experience using YouTube to raise funds for SynGAP1 research, a rare disease that personally impacts her family. As a student of the grant writing master course, Sydney brings both heart and strategy as she explains how she and her husband tapped into his YouTube channel to support their nonprofit mission.

We explore how nonprofits can partner with influencers to amplify fundraising efforts, how Sydney leveraged an existing audience to drive donations, and what it looks like to think outside the box when it comes to funding. She also shares insights from working within an international nonprofit, how to identify and collaborate with influencers, and how creative campaigns—like livestreaming a Tesla drive across the country—can generate both engagement and revenue.

If you’re looking for innovative, mission-aligned ways to raise funds and expand your reach, this episode will inspire you to think bigger and take action.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Sydney Stelmaszek is a nonprofit advocate and fundraiser dedicated to advancing research for SynGAP1, a rare genetic condition that affects her son. Through creative fundraising strategies and digital platforms like YouTube, she has helped raise awareness and funds for international nonprofit efforts.

Sydney combines her passion for advocacy with innovative thinking, leveraging technology and partnerships to drive meaningful impact for families affected by rare diseases.

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.

Ansley Fender joins us to break down the essentials of nonprofit financial management, answering common questions around budgeting, cashflow planning, audits, and financial software like QuickBooks. She shares practical strategies to help nonprofits avoid financial red flags, including how to properly structure financial oversight with key roles like an internal reviewer, treasurer, and auditor. 

We also explore how financial systems connect across grant management, fundraising, operations, and programming, along with best practices for setting up your books, working with a CPA, managing financial reporting for grants, and understanding the importance of 990s to maintain transparency and compliance.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Ansley Fender is a serial entrepreneur who carved her own path while working as a nonprofit financial consultant and bookkeeper, where she saw firsthand how time-consuming and expensive grant management can be. Driven to create a better solution, she founded Atlas to streamline the process. When the challenges of startup life arise, Ansley draws inspiration from her two fearless daughters.

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.

Asking donors to give money to your nonprofit can feel uncomfortable—even stressful. Many nonprofit leaders, board members, and volunteers aren’t sure how to approach the conversation, what to ask for, or even who they should be asking. But here’s the truth: nonprofits need to ask for donations. The key is knowing how to do it effectively.

In this episode, Dr. Omotola Akinsola of The Funding Magnet shares her powerful ASK Formula—a simple, actionable approach to help you confidently engage donors and increase giving. We break down how to start by asking those closest to you, how to expand your reach through your network, and how to confidently connect with new potential donors. 

Dr. Akinsola also shares insights on how to develop and implement a funding plan that supports long-term sustainability. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, grant writer, or board member, this episode will give you practical tools to approach fundraising with more clarity and confidence.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Omotola Akinsola is a funding strategist and founder of The Funding Magnet, where she helps nonprofits and changemakers attract sustainable funding through strategic planning and donor engagement. With a background in social work and grant writing, she brings a holistic approach to funding that combines relationship-building, program development, and financial strategy.

Dr. Akinsola has extensive experience supporting nonprofits across the U.S. and internationally, helping organizations strengthen their funding pipelines and increase their impact.

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

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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.