Grant Writing Made Clear

This week we talk about food as a steady source of energy, clarity, and care for people who carry big workloads and bigger missions. My guest, Julia Ambrozy, RD, is a registered dietitian who helps busy professionals build simple, sustainable nutrition routines that support focus, mood, and stamina. We explore how food choices fuel the impactful work we do.

Julia offers a clear way to think about meals during heavy seasons, how to create a basic plate that steadies energy, and what to reach for when you are moving between classes, meetings, and proposal deadlines. We talk about blood sugar and focus, hydration that actually works, easy protein and fiber wins, and how to plan for the week without turning food into another job. Julia also shares a kind, realistic approach to change, including how to reset after travel, how to eat well on a budget, and how to care for yourself when life is full.

I think you will appreciate Julia’s practical guidance. The goal is not perfection. The goal is a few simple moves you can repeat, so you feel better and do your best work.

Join our growing private Facebook community for connection, practical resources, and steady support: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BBd1aCj7r/

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

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Grant Writing Made Clear

Today’s conversation is for those serious about becoming a strong leader. My guest, Josh Hinson, is Director of Relational Leadership @ Carolina, a human centered, transformational leadership program in the UNC Provost’s Office of Interprofessional Health Initiatives. Josh began partnering with Intend Health Strategies in 2019 through UNC’s pilot Relational Leadership Institute and previously served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UNC School of Social Work, where he directed the Global Transmigration – Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Initiative delivering mental health services to refugees across North Carolina.

We talk about practical ways relational leadership helps busy academics and nonprofit leaders steady the work: opening meetings in a way that centers people and still moves projects forward, sharing power without losing momentum, giving feedback that strengthens trust, and repairing quickly when things get tense. We connect these practices directly to grant writing, how presence beats performative urgency, how clear roles speed up proposal development, and how caring for the team actually improves deliverables and deadlines. Josh shares lessons about listening deeply, designing around real world constraints, and sustaining yourself and your team for the long haul.

Josh lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina, with his wife, their two children, a dog, and an ever declining population of chickens. I think you will appreciate his grounded, generous approach to leadership you can use this week as you manage many balls, including your next grant application.

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

Grant Writing Made Clear 

Sometimes the most strategic move you can make is to pause, plan, and strategize. In this episode, Dr. Trenette shares recommendations for designing your season with clarity so you can stop reacting and start leading with intention.

Here are the 3 key takeaways:

1- Seasons require prioritizing:  If you do not set priorities, the season will set them for you.
2- Rhythms create stability: Weekly anchors like writing blocks, team touchpoints, rest, and family nights hold your plan together.

3- Boundaries prevent burnout: Clear guardrails protect your time, energy, and mission.

What you will learn

• A three pillar season plan: Vision/Goals, Rhythms, and Boundaries
• How to run a simple mid-season check in that realigns focus
• A practical challenge to set 3 to 5 goals, anchor your week, and protect your energy

Action steps

• Block one hour to set 3 to 5 vision goals for this season
• Establish weekly rhythms that support those goals
• Write non-negotiable boundaries that keep the plan sustainable
• Schedule a mid-season check in today

More from me

• Join the Facebook community for weekly tips and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2385712291797538/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
• If this episode helps you, please subscribe and leave a quick review so others can build seasons of purpose

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

Grant Writing Made Clear

Many, if not most, foundations screen with Letters of Intent (LOIs). LOIs are short, high-stakes documents that decide whether you get to submit a full proposal. In this episode, I break down what program officers look for in LOIs, share a simple LOI structure that works, and the mindset that helps you rise to the top of a crowded review pile.

If you have ever felt unsure about how to stand out in 2–3 pages, this episode will show you how to communicate with confidence, clarity, and alignment.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1- Alignment is key: A tailored LOI that mirrors a foundation’s stated priorities will outperform a generic template every time. Speak their language and connect your project to their portfolio.
2- Clarity + compliance win first: Follow the instructions exactly. Be clear and specific in your writing. Clarity helps you succeed.
3- Credibility needs numbers: Replace vague claims with evidence (e.g., results, figures).

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• Why foundations rely on LOIs and how to use that to your advantage
• A clean LOI outline you can adapt quickly
• Common LOI killers and stronger alternatives

ACTION STEPS

• Identify one truly aligned foundation and draft a practice LOI (do not submit yet)
• Craft a one-sentence clear and compelling problem statement
• Compile preliminary results you can plug into any LOI

MORE FROM ME

• Join the Facebook community for weekly tips and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2385712291797538/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
• Subscribe and leave a quick review. Your support helps more organizations fund good work

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

Grant Writing Made Clear

Grants do more than fund interventions. In this episode, Dr. Trenette shares how the process of grant writing builds clarity of mission, professional credibility, strategic discipline, partnerships, and a resilient growth mindset. You will walk away with practical ways to treat each proposal.

What you will learn

• How writing proposals clarifies who you serve, why it matters, and the activities you use to serve your population
• Why an unfunded proposal can still grow credibility and open doors 
• How collaboration around grants strengthens relationships and reduces duplication
• A healthy way to use reviewer feedback so every no becomes data for your next yes

Next steps

• Share this episode with a colleague who needs encouragement
• Subscribe so you never miss an episode

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

DWelcome back to Season 2! In this opening episode, Dr. Trenette reflects on her summer sabbatical and the powerful lessons she learned about rest, renewal, and resistance. From presenting in Paris to glamping in South Carolina and soaking up sunshine in Jamaica, she shares how stepping back created space for new ideas, creativity, and joy.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Insights from international conferences and cultural experiences that sparked fresh perspectives.
• Honest reflections on what it feels like when everyone suddenly “needs you” the moment you take a break.
• Why rest is more than self-care. 
• Practical strategies for protecting your time and creating healthier rhythms for yourself and your team (like ending meetings at :50 instead of :00).
• A sneak peek at what’s ahead in Season 2 from grant writing strategies and mindset shifts to leadership and self-care.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Join the Grant Writing Made Clear Facebook community.
• Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss Season 2’s episodes.
• Watch for details about Dr. Trenette’s November workshop on navigating today’s funding landscape.

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

 I'm on a short sabbatical, but this episode is too good not to revisit. Enjoy this listener favorite while I rest and recharge! 

Grant Writing Made Clear

As we prepare for a summer sabbatical, this powerful episode offers heartfelt encouragement for anyone who has ever doubted their place in the room.

Dr. Trenette shares a personal and affirming message that you are the assignment. Your unique voice, perspective, and story are not just valuable - they are essential. This episode is a call to walk boldly in your purpose.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why your lived experience is a great asset
• Encouragement to embrace your strengths and imperfections as your greatest source of power

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

 I'm on a short sabbatical, but this episode is too good not to revisit. Enjoy this listener favorite while I rest and recharge! 

Grant Writing Made Clear

In this episode of Grant Writing Made Clear, we explore consistency and why it matters. If you've ever struggled with staying focused, getting started, or making progress on big goals like grant writing, this episode is for you.

We unpack how consistent effort builds momentum, creates cognitive residue that fuels creativity, and mirrors the way our bodies continue burning energy after intense exercise. With practical encouragement and simple mindset shifts, this episode will help you resume consistency one small step at a time.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why consistency is powerful
• What cognitive residue is and how it leads to innovative ideas
• How daily engagement rewires your brain for creative problem-solving
• The connection between consistent effort and physical training
• A simple call to action to help you build momentum over the next 14 days

Join the Challenge:
➡️ Join my private Grant Writing Made Clear Facebook group to participate in our free 14-Day Consistency Challenge, happening mid–late June! Set one small, sustainable goal and get support every day as you follow through. 

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

I'm on a short sabbatical, but this episode is too good not to revisit. Enjoy this listener favorite while I rest and recharge! 

Grant Writing Made Clear

In Episode 19 of Grant Writing Made Clear, Dr. Trenette explores what it means to maintain momentum when resources are limited. Lean seasons are common but they don't have to derail your work. Dr. Trenette shares seven actionable strategies to help you protect your progress and move forward with intention. This episode is packed with both inspiration and implementation tips, and there’s a free companion resource to help you apply what you learn.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to reframe lean seasons as strategic transitions
• Seven proven strategies to keep your research moving
• Tools for maximizing student collaborations
• Ways to use existing data and pursue quick-win collaborations
• The role of wellness and community in staying grounded

Download the Freebie: https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum, which includes worksheets, templates, prompts, and more.

Join the Conversation:
We’d love to connect. Join our community at the Grant Writing Made Clear Facebook Group to connect, share, and support each other through every season of the grant writing journey. 

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!

I am on a short sabbatical, but this episode is too good not to revisit. Enjoy this listener favorite while I rest and recharge! 

Grant Writing Made Clear

In today’s episode of Grant Writing Made Clear, Dr. Trenette dives into something many of us need now more than ever—community. When funding dries up and institutional support feels shaky, where do we turn? Dr. Trenette explores how creating or joining a research or grant writing collective can offer a powerful sense of grounding, support, and strategy during uncertain times. Dr. Trenette strongly believes we are stronger together.

She outlines three core models of research collectives: The Skills Exchange, The Community Bridge, and The Multi-Institutional Partnership, and walks you through four clear, practical steps to help you build your own collective. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher, a nonprofit leader, or somewhere in between, this episode offers both emotional encouragement and strategic insight to help you keep going.

Because yes, the work is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What a research collective is and why it matters now
• How to build one that reflects your values and goals
• The power of collaboration, connection, and shared mission
• Practical strategies to strengthen your network and reduce burnout
• How to pivot your strategy—not your mission

📢 Join our Facebook group!
Continue the conversation, find your people, and build your collective with us in our new Facebook group:
👉 Join the Group

Grab your free copy of Maintaining Momentum guide at https://trenette-goings.mykajabi.com/maintainingmomentum

If you’re thinking “I love Dr. Trenette and Grant Writing Made Clear” please rate, review, and subscribe!