Building Your Grant Writing Career This Grant Writer Business Building Series has been so much fun! We've had some great conversations around building your grant writing career. Today I've got a juicy topic for you!   If you’re tired of trying to figure it out on your own and you need support to connect the dots, sign up for the Fast Track to Grant Writer at teresahuff.com/vip. The students in there have a clear plan and even more importantly, they’re taking incredible action!    Questions from Grant Writers and Nonprofits

I hear a lot of questions from both grant writers and nonprofits. Nonprofits are trying to figure out what's a fair way to pay the grant writer, and grant writers are trying to price their services fairly.

Grant writers are asking me:

• Should I work for free?
• How much do I charge?

Grant writing requires a highly specialized skill set. Believe it or not, though, you probably have a lot to work with already, even if you’re new to grant writing.

Let’s make that gap as small as possible so you can feel good about what you have to offer. If that’s where you are, then join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer at teresahuff.com/vip.

Nonprofits often ask me:

• Do you know of any volunteer grant writers?
• Do you work on commission? Or performance-based grant writing?
• How much should we expect to pay a grant writer?

If this is where you are in your nonprofit, then fill out the application and we’ll map out a plan for you at teresahuff.com/nonprofits.

Should a Grant Writer Work on Percentage Fees?

Listen in for my recommendations along with questions to consider before determining how much to pay a grant writer.

If you’re a nonprofit and not sure how to move forward with grants, go to teresahuff.com/nonprofits and let’s chat about the next best steps for you.   If you’re a grant writer wanting to make a career out of this, join me in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so we can map out specific action steps for your income. Now is a great time to jump in so you can level up your grant writing career.    What is ONE SMALL thing you’ll do today to make the world around you a better place? Now go do it! Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a bad grant writer if I don’t win the grant?
• Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business
• Episode 53: Business Building: Tips for Grant Writer Consulting Contracts with Danielle Liss
• Episode 54: LinkedIn Profile Tips for Success
• Episode 55: Grant Writer Strategy Call - How to Start Freelance Grant Writing

More Grant Writer Strategy Calls:

• Is Grant Writing for Me? with Lisa Ortman
• Do I Have What It Takes? How Do I Get Started in Grant Writing?
• Starting a Grant Writing Business from Scratch

Click Here to Download the Free Guide for the LinkedIn Checklist

Join me over in the Grant Writing Simplified LinkedIn community. Let’s make LinkedIn the place where the cool kids hang out!

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: 

www.teresahuff.com/vip

Ready to Be a Grant Writer? This Business Building Series has been so much fun! A lot of you are asking the same questions about becoming a grant writer, so I wanted to address some of those this month.   If you’re tired of trying to figure it out on your own and you need support to connect the dots, sign up for the Fast Track to Grant Writer at teresahuff.com/vip. The students in there have a clear plan and even more importantly, they’re taking action!  How Can I Become a Freelance Grant Writer?

Today I'm talking with Julie Nyhus, a nurse practitioner-turned-grant writer. She's just beginning her grant writing career after 20 years in the nursing field. She’s asking:

• I’m good at writing, but how do I find clients? 
• How can I leverage my 20 years of experience as a nurse?
• Am I supposed to advertise my services?

We Talk About My Tips for Starting a Grant Writing Career:

• Look for ways to specialize
• Tap into your network
• Start with the opportunities around you, and then specialize over time
• How to research potential nonprofits that you’d like to work with
• The importance of understanding how nonprofits operate
• Reaching out to prospective clients to start the conversation

Listen in for a great conversation on how to become a freelance grant writer! We dig deep into this in Fast Track to Grant Writer, the VIP program where we’ll spend 90 days getting your grant writing career up and running. If this is the kind of support you need too, message me and let’s chat about how I can help you. 

Meet Julie Nyhus

Julie Nyhus is a nurse practitioner and freelance health & medical writer. Her first love is writing flash fiction and short stories, but when she’s not crafting words behind the keyboard, she’s busy biking, boxing, knitting, or playing saxophone with the band. 

Julie is a momma to two daughters and bonus-momma to two daughters and one son. She lives in Indiana, a five minute walk from Lake Michigan, with her husband and Bernese Mountain dog.

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business
• Episode 53: Business Building: Tips for Grant Writer Consulting Contracts with Danielle Liss

More Grant Writer Strategy Calls:

• Episode 5: Is Grant Writing for Me? with Lisa Ortman
• Episode 12: Do I Have What It Takes? How Do I Get Started in Grant Writing?
• Episode 49: Starting a Grant Writing Business from Scratch

Click Here to Download the Free Guide for the LinkedIn Checklist

Join me over in the Grant Writing Simplified LinkedIn community. Let’s make LinkedIn the place where the cool kids hang out!

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: 

www.teresahuff.com/vip

Download the Free Guide: www.teresahuff.com/linkedin   Let's Talk LinkedIn Why am I sharing LinkedIn profile tips today, you ask?

1. Open up a browser in private mode on your computer. 
2. Google your name. 
3. What comes up in the first 3 results? Lemme guess...

Your LinkedIn profile.  Maybe it was even first. Amiright? In this series, we're going through tips for building your grant writing career. These episodes give you a sneak peek into the VIP Fast Track to Grant Writer program where, among lots of other game-changing strategies, we go through your LinkedIn profile in detail and you can get feedback from the group. We talk about which strategies are best for your career goals to help you become the go-to grant writer in your community. What's So Special About a LinkedIn Profile?

I'm going to let you in on one of LinkedIn's best-kept secrets: your LinkedIn profile is not a cut and paste of your resume. This is a space where you can be professional yet show some personality. 

Your LinkedIn profile and activity essentially become a brochure for your business and career, so steward them wisely and you'll soon see momentum.

4 Phases of Polishing Your LinkedIn Profile

I recommend that you start with the basics and build your muscles from there. We'll talk about this in 4 phases:

1. Phase 1: Polish your Profile
2. Phase 2: Find and Follow
3. Phase 3: Comment and Connect
4. Phase 4: Master your Messaging

Click Here to Download the Free Guide for the Full Checklist

Join me over in the Grant Writing Simplified LinkedIn community. Let’s make LinkedIn the place where the cool kids hang out!

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business
• Episode 53: Business Building: Tips for Grant Writer Consulting Contracts with Danielle Liss

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: 

www.teresahuff.com/vip

Protecting Your Grant Writing Consulting Business Today we're covering an important topic: How do you design a contract for your consulting work? In this series, we're going through tips for building your grant writing career. These episodes give you a sneak peek into the Fast Track to Grant Writer program where I walk you through these in detail. We talk about which strategies are best for your career goals to help you become the go-to grant writer in your community.

As we go through the series this month, I want to answer your questions. What’s your biggest challenge or frustration when it comes to grant writing? Email [email protected] or message me on LinkedIn. 

What Should a Grant Writing Consulting Contract Include?

If you decide to be a grant writing consultant or do any type of freelance work, you'll need a good contract. But what should that have? Where do you start with making sure you're protected?

Lawyer and contract expert Danielle Liss, Esq., of Liss Legal and Businessese, shares great tips for designing your grant writing contracts to work for you, not the other way around.

About Danielle Liss, Esq.

Danielle is passionate about simplifying legal for small business owners. She is the owner of Businessese, which offers DIY legal templates. She also has a law firm, LISS Legal, where she focuses her practice on online business owners, bloggers & influencers, and wellness professionals. 

Danielle has previously served as Chief Marketing Officer and General Counsel of an influencer network, as well as general counsel and vice president of affiliate programs for an 8-figure digital health and wellness company. 

• Websites: Businessese, Liss Legal
• Instagram 

Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified community over on LinkedIn and let's keep the conversation going! Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: 

www.teresahuff.com/vip

Building Your Grant Writing Consulting Business I'm excited about some great new grant writing resources coming up in August! We'll be going through a series on building your grant writing career. This series is a sneak peek into the Fast Track to Grant Writer program where I walk you through these in detail. We talk about which ones would be best for you based on your situation and budget and then map out a custom plan for you. What's Your Biggest Grant Writing Challenge?

As we go through the series this month, I want to answer your questions. What’s your biggest challenge or frustration when it comes to grant writing? Email [email protected] or message me on LinkedIn. 

Let me know so I can make this series content useful for you!

How Do I Start as a Grant Writer?

One of the questions I hear most is, "Where do I start?" I advise my Fast Track to Grant Writer students to find the shortest distance from Point A to Point B. Take inventory of your skills, start with what you know, and make the gap as small as possible. 

My Favorite Tech Tools in My Grant Writing Business

Today I’m going to share some of my favorite tech tools that I use every single day to run my business. As an added bonus, I have referral links for a few of these so you can get extras like a discount or free trial. It’s a great chance to give these a test drive.

Website: 

• Wordpress
• A2 Hosting - use this link for a great deal on hosting

Storage: 

• Google Docs
• Dropbox

Email:

• Gmail
• Boomerang for Gmail

Bookmarks Bar

Payments:

• Freshbooks - get a 30 day free trial

Documents:

• Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Publisher
• Google Suite - Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides

Contracts:

• HelloSign
• DocuSign

Passwords:

• LastPass 

Grant searches & tracker:

• Instrumentl - $50 off your first month with my code GWS50 

What's Your Favorite Grant Writing Tool?

Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified community over on LinkedIn and share your favorite grant writing tool with us!

  Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 40: Questions to Consider Before Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant
• Fast Focus Power Series - Episodes 43-46. Download the free workbook to dig into the homework.

 

We Are More Than Grant Writers I've had several conversations lately with students in the Fast Track to Grant Writer program and with my nonprofit strategy clients about all the different roles we fill. 

Our job is so much more than just writing grants. Often it’s about building relationships, supporting a nonprofit in other fundraising or development projects, and evaluating programs to provide accurate reports.

Listen to the full podcast episode as I share examples of each area. 

6 Ways to Build Positive Relationships with Donors and Grant Funders:

1. They are the expert in their grant programs, so be respectful of their feedback. 
2. Do your homework so you can ask intelligent questions. 
3. Send them photos and friendly updates to show the impact you’re making. 
4. Show your appreciation by tagging them on social media and mention them when you’re sharing about your programs. If you want an amazing example, check out thestore.org's social profiles.
5. Turn in your applications and reports in on time, and proactively communicate any issues along the way. 
6. Become a good storyteller. Remember the 3 Cs: Clear, Concise, Compelling.

There is a person on the other side of everything you write, so write for that person.  The same goes for building relationships with grant funders or donors. There is a person on the other side of everything. You’re not talking to a stack of money. Talk to the person.   Put in the time and effort to cultivate sincere, meaningful relationships. Remember your bigger mission and let that shine through everything you do. I am here to support you in this, friend!   Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified community on LinkedIn for more support. If you are ready to scale your grant writing career, the Fast Track to Grant Writer is open. Sign up at teresahuff.com/vip. Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 20: How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Grant: Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Success
• Upcoming Episodes: Stay tuned for a series on building your nonprofit consulting business coming up in August
• Grant Writing Simplified community on LinkedIn

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip

Think Grant Writing Is Boring? Think Again! Grant writing might sound a little dry, and maybe it can be at times, but it can also be quite creative and innovative. There may be days when we feel stuck or can't think through a problem. We've stared at the screen so long, when we close our eyes we still see the screen in front of us.

That's a good sign it's time for a break!

These are a few tips to get you started; listen to Episode 50 for the full explanation of each.

What is ONE thing you’ll do this week to encourage creativity? Who knows, that might just be the catalyst that will change your world.

What are some ways you enjoy being creative? Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified group on LinkedIn and tell us! If you are ready to scale your grant writing career, the Fast Track to Grant Writer is open. Sign up at teresahuff.com/vip. Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 24: How to Prevent Nonprofit Decision Fatigue
• Episode 22: Preparation for Grant Writing: 6 Things Your Nonprofit Should Have on Hand
• Episode 20: How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Grant: Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Success
• Episode 43: Grant Writer FAST Focus Power Series - Part 1: Do I Have What It Takes?
• Episode 21: Tips for Successful Grant Writing & Federal Grant Project Management: Interview with Brandi VanAntwerp, CoxHealth Foundation Grants Administrator

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip

How Do I Start a Grant Writing Business from Scratch? Have you ever wondered...

• Where do I start as a grant writer?
• Do I have the skills to help nonprofits?
• Where do I find clients?
• How do I price my services? 

If so, then you're in good company! Over the last few months of podcasting, the grant writer strategy calls have been some of my most popular episodes. That's why it's time for another!

Today I'm talking with Jacqueline White who is ready to step into freelance grant writing. I shared some hints about her story in Episode 44. She has an incredible background that you'll want to hear about.

Grant Writer Strategy Call

We cover all kinds of good grant writing topics like:

• How Jackie’s background in Olympic training, research, business, and nonprofit work has prepared her for grant writing
• What I wished I’d known starting out as a new grant writer
• How to think through pricing her services as a new grant writing consultant 
• My favorite invoicing software
• Tips on building recognition for yourself
• The importance of systems in grant writing
• My 4 recommended next steps for Jackie so she can position herself for success as a consultant

This will also give you a taste of what we do in the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Some amazing people are in there who are leveling up their nonprofit grant writing careers. About Jacqueline White: From athlete to advocate, Jacqueline is a former elite athlete and personal trainer who has taken up the pen to support non-profits on a mission to do good in the world.  Leveraging a diverse business background and years of experience with non-profits, she has set out to help organizations improve their funding, expand their impact and positively influence their communities.     Over the years Jacqueline’s life experience has varied from Olympic caliber athlete training at the Olympic Training Center to content acquisition/COO  for a small publishing company, to zoning and compliance officer for local government to operations manager for a gym franchise. The opportunity to lead fundraising efforts for various non-profits along the way was all preparation to open the door to grant writing.     As the daughter of a military officer,  Jacqueline has lived in numerous places and currently resides in the Atlanta area.  While interested in helping as many non-profits as she can, she has a particular interest in non-profit organizations that work with veterans, involve cultural arts and organizations  that are focused on youth and youth sports.

Other Episodes and Resources Mentioned:

• Freshbooks Invoicing and Bookkeeping Software
• Episode 5: Grant Writer Strategy Call with Lisa Ortman
• Episode 12: Grant Writer Strategy Call with Alexandra Enns
• Episode 44: Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer FAST Focus - Who am I to be a grant writer?
• Episode 47: Our Role as Grant Writers

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip

Get on the F.A.S.T. Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip Riding Coast to Coast: Innovative Ideas to Make an Impact

It's time for another nonprofit spotlight, and this is one interesting ride! I'm talking with Rodney Olsen with Compassion Australia.

He's gearing up to lead a huge mission in September 2021 - riding coast to coast across Australia! The team is raising awareness and funding to help children in poverty. 

Listen in as Rodney shares:

• His story of how he learned about Compassion Australia’s impact.
• How much the need for help has grown over the years.
• The ways they’re tapping into volunteers and resources in local communities.
• Their structure for training and preparing volunteers for the work.
• The importance of keeping your why top of mind for the whole team.
• How you can use the things you love to make an impact for good.

About Rodney Olsen:

Rodney Olsen spent much of his working life as a professional communicator working in radio, but these days he is a Relationship Manager with Compassion Australia.

After visiting Haiti and Dominican Republic in 2008, Rodney’s burden to serve those living in extreme poverty began to grow. He began working for Compassion Australia in 2013. He’s passionate about children being released from poverty in Jesus’ name.

He has travelled to a number of nations where Compassion is working and has seen firsthand how children’s lives are being transformed.

Rodney is a keen cyclist who has crossed Australia 6 times by bike as well as cycling in Canada and India. Rodney begins his seventh crossing of Australia in September 2021 as part of Ride for Compassion Coast to Coast.

Connect with Rodney & Compassion Australia:

• www.rideforcompassion.com
• Facebook Group: Ride for Compassion Coast to Coast 2021
• rideforcompassion.raisely.com/rodneyolsen
• www.compassion.com.au
• www.compassion.com
• Rodney's Podcast: Bleeding Daylight

Other Episodes and Resources Mentioned:

• Book: When Helping Hurts
• Episode 32: What It Means to Change the World
• Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46 (Download the free workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus) 
• Episode 13: Nonprofit Spotlight: The Global Orphan Project - On a Mission to Change a Generation 
• Episode 23: Nonprofit Spotlight: Changing Lives Through Service Dogs - Interview with Joel & Danea Key, Saber Life Foundation 
• Episode 27: Keys to Success as a Nonprofit Leader: Interview with Dr. Johnathan Kraus, Love Never Fails International 
• Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call, Ashley McMichael, Innovative Academy of Liberal Arts & Sciences 
• Episode 039: How a Real Estate Company Makes a Nonprofit Impact, Gregg Cohen, JWB Real Estate Capital

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip

Grant Writer Mid-Year Checkup

It's hard to believe we're halfway through 2021 already! Have you taken time to reflect on your progress and celebrate your wins so far this year?

I'm celebrating 10,000 podcast downloads! Thank you all for your support and encouragement along the way.

Grant Writing Seasons

Grant cycles tend to be seasonal, so I hope you're getting in some down time this summer. If you are, it might just be the perfect time to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer! 

Asking the Hard Questions

Sometimes as grant writers, we have to ask the hard questions. We have to dig deeper and play devil's advocate even when it's easier to just go with the flow.

However, that's not good in the long run. We need to be proactive and look for the potential problems so we can address those up front. Listen in as I share several examples of tough questions we may need to ask when preparing a grant project or program design.

Looking Ahead

What's next for you in your grant writing journey? I've got some great episodes coming up on the podcast this summer, so come hang out with me every Tuesday!

In the meantime, go change your world. :)

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 22: Preparation for Grant Writing: 6 Things Your Nonprofit Should Have on Hand
• Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip