Grant Writing Simplified

Today we're continuing the conversation from my TEDx Talk by discussing strategies for grant writing and nonprofits. You might recognize Sean Hale from the Nonprofit Mythbusters Roundtable. Sean is a nonprofit accounting and HR expert.

As part of these nonprofit strategy conversations, we need to include nonprofit accounting and HR systems. However, I didn't want you to snooze during the episode! That's why I invited Sean, because he understands accounting and reporting without focusing solely on spreadsheets and numbers. He knows how to use the data to tell your nonprofit's full story.

We talk about questions like:

• How do accounting best practices apply to nonprofits?
• How can we track our books better?
• How can we have sound systems to support our work better?

Sean has fascinating experience and stories about nonprofit work and the systems supporting nonprofits. He's worked in nonprofits for over 20 years and loves helping get smooth-running administration so the organization shines, allowing them to focus on the work they do best.

Sean helps organizations reduce waste, produce more revenue, and boost morale and productivity while growing transparency and stability.

Did you know that 93% of American adults have math anxiety? That's 13 out of 14 people! And that's why we need good systems that can translate math into easily readable graphs and data. This is even more important for nonprofits trying to convey the importance of their work.

Sean shares how a good graphic can spark the organization to have critical conversations around money and solvency.

We also discuss how Form 990s can be used for good and bad data points. We even discuss whether external audits are an effective fraud prevention and what steps can be taken to add additional fraud protection on top of audits.

Often when we have these financial discussions, it can feel personal. But if organizations are set up with the proper checks and balances from the beginning, the system works to protect everyone. No one gets singled out or picked on. While back office and systems conversations can be difficult, these small measures and systems help set our team up for stability and growth.

What systems can be a benefit to your nonprofit or grant-writing business? What two steps will you take today to start those conversations?

I've served nonprofits for more than twenty years. I love getting the administrative side running smoothly so the organization can truly focus and shine. Over my career, I have made improvements that reduced waste, generated new revenue, boosted staff productivity and morale, grew financial transparency, and shrank risk. I've also helped boards and management to navigate complex situations and consistently left the organizations stronger and ready for their next stage of growth. Today I get to lead a team of outstanding nonprofit accounting and finance professionals. Together, we provide temporary and ongoing services to small and mid-sized nonprofits so they can have the back office support they need for the whole organization to flourish.

• Sean Hale Consulting
• Philanthroforce
• Connect with Sean on LinkedIn

• 7% Board Engagement is Not Enough
• Data Visualization for Financial Reports Engages Leadership
• Be Frugal, Not Cheap, With Nonprofit Administration
• Southwest Airlines: A Cautionary Tale About Being Cheap with Administration
• Nonprofit Administrator Burnout: Warning Signs and Alternatives
• Audits Won't Protect Your Nonprofit From Fraud
• Loom video explaining how to document your processes

• TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
• Nonprofit Mythbusters #1: The Overhead Myth - Expert Roundtable Discussion
• Episode 62: Pro Tips to Step Up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems
• Episode: 63: Systems for Hire: Ways to Help Your Nonprofit Thrive

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing

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

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

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

I enjoy hosting a variety of topics relating to nonprofits and the issues surrounding them. Occasionally, we'll have a nonprofit spotlight episode. The issue of this episode is one I have wanted to highlight for a while, but the topic is a challenging one.

Today's nonprofit spotlight is DeliverFund and their efforts to stop human trafficking. Due to the subject matter, you may want to grab earbuds or headphones if you have little ones around.

Several years ago, a U.S. soldier on duty overseas was distraught when he saw the effects of human trafficking. He asked a superior what they could do to stop the selling of women and children. The response was, "Nothing. We don't have the budget."

He decided to do something about it himself. Since that veteran, Nic McKinley, founded DeliverFund, this nonprofit has been developing technology and training law enforcement to attack trafficking networks to put an end to traffickers.

The founder realized his unique skills could be used to fill a significant need, and that vision is growing and restoring victims of this industry.

Today I'm talking with DeliverFund's Director of Development, Christi Nabors. She has experience in the for-profit world and has brought that experience to her work in nonprofit spaces. All of that experience has helped her view technology as a helpful tool.

Christi helped build training programs and digital online products in the for-profit world. I loved discussing the learning curve of nonprofit language vs. for-profit work.

We discuss fears that can stall nonprofits' growth and the work of weaving nonprofit speak together to tell the compelling story of nonprofits.

Christi also takes the time to bust myths about human trafficking. I hope you find value in this conversation.

To learn more about how to support this nonprofit or get involved, visit deliverfund.org

1. Did any of the human trafficking myths surprise you?
2. What is one way can you be a part of the solution to human trafficking today?

Christi Nabors has been serving DeliverFund as Director of Development since January 2022. Her for-profit executive leadership and non-profit Executive and CEO experiences have set the foundation for her to be credited with three non-profit turnarounds. First, she increased programmatic impact and expansion; introduced program delivery into new ecosystems; and created new revenue-generating and sustainability pipelines.

• Linkedin
• DeliverFund Website
• Youtube

• Learn the signs of Human Trafficking

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing

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

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

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

Successful Strategy: Next Steps For Grant Writers & NonProfits

Today I'm excited to talk about grant writing strategy with you. I love helping grant writers and nonprofits think through their first steps and simplify the process. If you haven't watched my TEDx talk, I recommend it as additional context for the conversation in this episode.

Today's guest Silvia reached out with interest in grant writing. She has international volunteer experience and sees firsthand some of the dire needs in our world. I love what she is wanting to do through the power of grant writing. On this grant writer strategy call episode, Silvia asks some great questions and we talk about several ideas for how she can get started.

As grant writers and nonprofits, it's important to ask hard questions and not wear rose colored glasses as we approach requests for grant funding.

Silvia and I talk about questions like:

• How do I start?
• How do I know if I am grant ready?
• How do I get past the fear of writing the first application?
• How to discuss helping nonprofits resolve needs?
• How important is it for nonprofits to have an online presence?

I get it! New things are scary. I never thought I would do a TEDx Talk. Yet doing new things is how we continue to improve. Pushing ourselves is a way to help us learn to serve better. By learning and taking action, we help others fulfill their missions.

Whatever you're working through, I hope today's episode gives you ideas and inspiration of how to move forward.

How Grants Build Generosity And Empower Volunteers

Whether you are a grant writer or a nonprofit, building relationships is the foundation. This builds the confidence of everyone within the area of impact.

Grant writers have a lot of influence. We're able to connect the generosity of those unable to travel or volunteer with those who are on the ground physically serving. We also connect these causes and missions with the funding they need to fulfill those missions. It becomes a powerful force for good.

Challenge Question:

What 2-3 action steps you can take this week to help you connect and build relationships with organizations around you?

Meet Silvia Bonvini

Silvia is the mother of two young boys and wife to an American family doctor who is completing his Global Health Fellowship this year. His work has brought the family to Ethiopia, Kenya where they are now, and soon to Uganda.

The family plans on working in Africa long-term at a Catholic mission hospital starting next year. Silvia hopes that she will be able to help hospitals and NGOs there through grant writing, while also exploring her interests in regenerative agriculture as it relates to nutrition, livelihoods, environmental protection, and women's empowerment.

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing

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

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

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

A lot of people ask me how they should start the grant writing process. In this episode I talk with my friend Kent Sanders, a ghostwriter, about the connections between ghostwriting and grant writing. He reminds us of some foundational things we should prioritize in our journeys.

First Lesson:

Be okay with imperfection. Nothing is going to be perfect. Give grace to yourself and to your writing. Care about and be proud of what you do; don't nitpick everything about it.

Parallels Between Ghostwriting and Grant Writing

1. Be up for the challenge. Just like the client, writer, editor, and publisher may all want something different out of a book, everyone involved in the grant process will want a little something different out of it. You as the writer want one thing, the receiver may want another thing, and the people benefiting may want another. Be ready to tackle that challenge! And be prepared to listen.

2. Have a good relationship with your client. Camaraderie can make a huge difference when it comes to the efficiency and stress levels involved in any task.

3. Be easy to work with. Show respect, provide clear communication, and be on top of your responsibilities.

4. Be on time with the project. Or better yet, early.

5. Be a stress reliever to those around you. You're here to make things better, not worse.

So Where Do You Start?

Begin by listening to the people you're writing for, be empathetic, learn their stories, and then tackle every task each step of the way!

You've got this!

Challenge Question:

How can you apply one of the above parallels to your grant writing process?

Meet Kent Sanders:

Kent Sanders is the founder of Inkwell Ghostwriting, which helps leaders grow their business through books and other content. He is also the author and co-author of numerous books, including 18 Words to Live By: A Father's Wisdom on What Matters Most and co-author of The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell with Billy Stanley, Elvis Presley's stepbrother.

In addition to writing books for himself and his clients, Kent loves to help other writers. He is the host of the Daily Writer podcast and the founder of the Daily Writer Club, a membership community that helps writers build a business with their skills. He lives just outside of St. Louis and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and teenage son.

Connect with Kent Sanders:

• The Daily Writer Podcast

• Daily Writer Club

• Daily Writer Website

• Kent's Website

Resources:

• Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin

• Anything You Want: 40 Lessons For a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek Sivers

• Any resource from Ryan Holiday

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing

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

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

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

Almost all of us know at least one person who has been affected by cancer. Our guest on today's podcast episode, Eric Newman, was just a child when he was diagnosed with cancer.

When he later asked his mother what she remembered about that day, she said that she remembered his dad having to leave her to go pack an overnight bag. She felt alone and afraid at the hospital trying to navigate the devastating news. From this, a mission to eradicate that moment from the lives of others was born. The Roc Solid Foundation created Ready Bags to give families when their children are diagnosed with cancer. These bags provide help in a time of need so families can stay together in a time of pain.

In addition, Roc Solid Foundation partners with businesses to build playsets for children going through cancer. The kids often have to remain secluded due to a compromised immune system, which means they can't go to a typical playdate or public park. Roc Solid steps in and rounds up a team and supplies to build a brand new playset in the family's back yard.

In this episode we talk with Eric Newman, founder of Roc Solid Foundation, about how his experience has developed into an incredible mission. He wants to bring joy and play to children dealing with cancer. Eric also shares some of the foundational pieces required to run a nonprofit, including how volunteers can help in more ways than you may think.

Things To Know About Making A Difference

1. Marry your mission, not your model. Be committed to your passion/goal, but allow adjustments along the way. When you're clear on your mission you can pivot your model to best tackle whatever's in front of you.

2. You don't need to be fancy. Focus on your mission; don't worry about being flashy.

3. Focus on the people; the money will come. When you're people- and mission-focused, your staff is happier, you see more results, and donations tend to come. When you focus on the money, people start to leave, you make less of an impact, and the money flow dwindles.

Taking Care of Volunteers

Provide a little something for your volunteers when the day is over. Eric's advice is to give them a drink, pizza, and t-shirt. Now it doesn't have to be exactly that, but this gives you a valuable opportunity to talk with those who came out to help. Listen to their stories and what motivated them to help. Ask them what their favorite part was. You can learn if you're hitting your mark or if you need to adjust.

Don't always seek to be understood, but seek to understand. Be a constant learner and seek to understand why that volunteer came, or why they come back more than once. That's the type of information you need in order to understand where the money is going to come from. This gives you valuable insight. Seek wisdom above anything else.

Lastly, always remember to always say thank you. Don't underestimate the power in being an organization that shows gratitude and feels welcoming.

Challenge Question:

How can you be relentless, but not reckless, when it comes to pursuing your mission?

Meet Eric Newman:

Eric Newman is a passionate entrepreneur, speaker and visionary leader. A childhood cancer survivor, he founded Roc Solid Foundation in 2009, a non-profit that builds hope for kids fighting the same battle throughout the U.S.

Roc Solid partners with over 100 children's hospitals to gift Ready Bags to families just after diagnosis, and they've provided thousands of playsets for children throughout the country who need a safe place to play and a reason to smile. As a best-selling author and guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Eric's story continues to inspire people who are looking for ways to turn their pain from past experiences into their life's passion.

Connect with Eric Newman:

• Website

• What Hope Looks Like: Use Your Pain to Fuel Your Purpose by Eric Newman

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing

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

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

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

How Can We Fund Our Nonprofit?

Nonprofits are always on the lookout for more money, especially unrestricted funding. And as a nonprofit strategist, I'm always on the lookout for ways to help them find it. That's where today's guest comes in.

When I heard about Will Black and his team at Sharing the Credit last year, I knew I had to find out more about this and see if it's a good resource to share with you.

Turns out, it's not simply a good resource; it's brilliant.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Will in person and getting to know his team. Y'all, this is completely legit. Nonprofits and businesses everywhere need to know about this!

Unrestricted Funding for Nonprofits; Savings for Businesses

Every time we go to a business, be it a physical store or online, and use our debit or credit card, the business is charged a transaction fee. Everyone knows that. That's the boring part.

What you may not know is that ONE of those fees that is built in by Visa/MasterCard doesn't go to Visa, and it doesn't go to MasterCard; it goes back into the system. It goes to a bank. BUT instead of going to a bank, it can legally go to a 501. A non-profit. Ta-DA!

Sharing the Credit Saves Money and Funds Nonprofits

For example, Will Black and his Sharing the Credit team approached a successful car dealership that did $1 million in revenue each month. The dealership's manager asked if there was any way they could better help their charity.

Enter Sharing the Credit. Will's team reviewed the dealership's statements and discovered they were overpaying by a whopping $30,000 a year in credit card fees. The general manager realized, "Wow! That's a car. That's a WHOLE car."

Will said, "Actually it's a car a YEAR. It's a car EVERY year."

Then Will handed them a copy of the report that outlined exactly how much they were overpaying in fees.

It was a no-brainer. The dealership switched to Sharing the Credit on the spot. Now they save $30,000 a year AND they give over $125,000 every single year to their favorite charity - into perpetuity.

That business has been working with Sharing the Credit for over 11 years…when you do the math, that's pretty incredible. It's a win all around.

A Transformational Way of Nonprofit Fundraising

The best part about these funds is that they're unrestricted. That means the nonprofit can use the money any way it needs to best support their work. The staff can focus on the mission and growing their programs instead of scrambling to make ends meet.

The system also creates community by partnering businesses with nonprofits to work together. The business even displays a cool door sticker showing they're a supporter of the nonprofit.

Will and I also talk about:

• The blessing of having a good budget

• Why grants are not a rescue plan

• The power of collaboration to help nonprofits

• Will's favorite resource for nonprofits (hint: If you're hanging out with me, you're in the right place!)

You might be wondering if this is too good to be true. I can assure you, this is completely legit and it's working. Their track record speaks for itself. Take a few minutes to explore and see for yourself!

Challenge Question: What could your nonprofit do with more unrestricted funding in hand each year? If you want to find out, book a call with Will Black at Sharing the Credit and start the conversation to see if it's a good fit for you.

Meet Will Black:

Will Black is the CEO and Chief Giving Officer at Sharing the Credit. They pair nonprofits with businesses so that your worthy cause receives unrestricted funding on autopilot, into perpetuity.

• They help your business fund or increase funding to your favorite IRS-recognized 501c charity with no expense to you, while saving your business money.

• They help your nonprofit increase unrestricted donations with NO fundraising, grant writing, or soliciting.

Connect with Will Black:

• Email: [email protected]

• Schedule a call: www.teresahuff.com/sharingthecredit

• Website: www.sharingthecredit.com

Connect with Teresa Huff:

Website: www.teresahuff.com

Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing

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

Social:

• LinkedIn Community
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

Today I'm talking with longtime nonprofit expert Laverne Toombs about the art of grant writing. Before even writing a first draft of a grant, we need to do a few things to start off on the right foot. We dive into how doing this background work can really set us up for success.

Lay the Groundwork for the Grantmaker

If you're interested in writing a grant, you don't have to have it all figured out. No one starts something as an expert. Bring your willing heart and begin learning. None of us are perfect, and we all have room to grow.

The first step to writing a grant is laying out the prep work. This includes establishing a relationship and being familiar with the funder, understanding that foundation's criteria, and making sure your mission aligns with theirs.

When reaching out to a grantmaker, we have to get to know the heart behind their foundation's mission, get to know the people involved, and learn the ins and outs of what's important to them. We must also make sure that we are not shifting our mission to match theirs simply because they're a possible donor; people can see right through that.

Preparing the Nonprofit to Apply for a Grant

When it comes to preparing a grant, we need to also make sure the organization/nonprofit we're helping is ready for grants. Some of the questions to ask are:

• Do you have an organizational budget?
• How many grants do you have the capacity to manage?
• What other sources of funding do you have in place?

As grant writers, we want the nonprofit's mission to succeed. We can set them up for success by helping them put a plan in place.

Challenge Question:

What is the first thing you need to do to set a nonprofit's grant application up for success?

Meet LaVerne Toombs:

LaVerne Toombs is the vice president of development for the American Heart Association, an organization that fights heart disease and stroke and, in turn, helps families and communities thrive. As a leader on the development team, LaVerne uses her magnanimous and infectious personality to help manage the fundraising team to provide them with the necessary tools to achieve those goals. She does this all while building upon volunteer and fundraising opportunities partnering with influential corporate and community voices.

Resources:

• Federal Registry

Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?

If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I'd like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:

If you're ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, "Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?" People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn't as far as they thought. Let's figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.

If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.

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

Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:

www.teresahuff.com/vip

Tackling Important Issues with Excellence

Today I'm excited to introduce you to my good friend and brilliant colleague, Dr. Dan Young. He has years of experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, and nonprofit leadership. He drops so many nuggets of wisdom in this episode! I know you'll find it inspiring.

Dr. Dan and I chat about:

• Integrating giving into our everyday life and setting an example for others.
• Creating an attitude of giving that transitions from generation to generation.
• The disconnect between technology and human connection, and how we can bridge the gap.
• How to tap into the human spirit to ignite passion for important causes and needs.
• The importance of thinking bigger long term.

Solving Nonprofit Problems with Proper Support

As Dr. Dan says, "It's about leadership. It's about entrepreneurial principles. It's about networking, it's about technology. Let's take a look at what we're doing in all these areas. And just because we got a 25% increase in funding or donations, that's not the point. The point is, the problem is still here. So let's focus on that. And if we do that, everything else gets a little bit more efficient and more effective."

When it comes to nonprofit leaders, Dr. Dan emphasizes, "That type of person should have the most comprehensive leadership training in the world. Because it's unbelievably difficult. And the stakes are unbelievably high. So that's a part of the work that we do, is to put those people in the best possible position for the world's most important job."

Challenge Question:

How will you start to adopt 4-generation thinking rather than 4-quarter thinking?

Meet Dr. Dan Young

Dr. Dan Young is the Founding Director of the Wharton-AltFinance Institute at the Wharton School and is the curator of TEDxWilmington, which is in the top 1% of all TEDx franchises in the country with over 550 speakers and 42 million views on YouTube.

As an "educationpreneur", he is also responsible for creating the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Program at Goldey-Beacom College. the first online DBA class for Wilmington University, the first study abroad program for the Horn Program of Entrepreneurship and the first international internship program for study abroad at the University of Delaware.

Dan received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Marketing from the University of Delaware's Honors Program and his Ph.D. in Marketing from Temple University. He has done entrepreneurship and executive leadership programs with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford.

He has been an instructor at GBC, Temple University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware, Neumann University and Wilmington University.

Dan has served on the Boards of many nonprofit organizations and currently serves as the President of Theatre N at Nemours, President of the Board of Safe Haven Healing, Membership Chairman of the Board of Governors for the University and Whist Club, and an advisory Board Member for the Fresh Start program.

He was in the 2011 class of Leadership Delaware and served as the first Vice-President of the Leadership Delaware Alumni Association.

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Team/Work by Natalie Dawson
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?

If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I'd like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:

If you're ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, "Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?" People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn't as far as they thought. Let's figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.

If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.

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

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

Several months ago I was at a large nonprofit conference in Nashville. While wandering up and down the booths, one caught my eye. They were giving away macaroons…delicious, colorful, many-flavored, handmade macaroons. *Sigh.*

The macaroons worked their magic and I quickly became friends with the two coworkers running the booth. Turns out one of them, Dave Raley, was at another conference just the month before in Milwaukee - and so was I! We were both presenters at that conference, but somehow our paths hadn't crossed there.

At any rate I'm glad we finally met because, aside from the delightful macaroons, Dave and I have kept in touch and he's a wonderful person. That's why I wanted you to meet him too.

Today you get to meet Dave Raley, a consultant who helps organizations take care of their economic engine through innovation, growth, and scaling. Dave points out we should pay attention to important trends in the amount of giving, type of giving, and who does the giving.

Trends

To best make the type of impact you are working towards it is important to review your current situation. First, look inward and review the things you do to produce revenue. Secondly, look outward and pay attention to trends.

Trends are like waves. Just like when you're trying to catch a wave surfing, you can miss waves by paddling too early or too late. You need to match the speed and be on top of it to be able to ride the wave.

An example of a trend that we're currently in the middle of is the Subscription Economy.

How to Best Use the Subscription Economy

We're currently living in a Subscription Economy. Not long ago, a person's typical monthly payments included the necessities of life like mortgages, car payments, and water bills. Now we subscribe to much more every day. Things like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, softwares, gyms, food - all these point to the subscription economy we live in.

This has transformed the way donors and customers think about recurring transactions. It has normalized the concept of monthly giving and encouraged it through the ease of it all. Consumers and donors see monthly payments as a normal part of life and as a good and doable thing. This helps create predictability for organizations, including nonprofits, since they can have an idea of their monthly incoming revenue.

Say a nonprofit wants to ramp up subscription giving:

1. Take stock of what you've got. Look at your recurring donors and the long term value. You need to know where you are so you know where you can go.
2. Prioritize your monthly giving program. Make it easy to see and use on your website or another type of functional giving platform.

Tips for the Subscription Economy:

• Donors like convenience. Automated giving can help your revenue.
• Don't limit your goal and therefore limit your plan. Aim high.
• Look at your giving program and how to better use your resources.

Challenge Question:

How can you rethink and maximize the subscription economy we are living in?

Meet Dave Raley:

Consultant, speaker, and writer Dave Raley is the founder of Imago Consulting, a firm that helps faith-informed organizations generate profitable growth by developing sustainable innovation. He's also the co-founder and host of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, a show about the surprising ideas at the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands.

Connect with Dave Raley:

• Imago Consulting - Website
• Purpose & Profit Podcast

Resources:

• Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin
• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Dan and Chip Heath
• The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick M Lencioni

Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?

If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I'd like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:

If you're ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, "Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?" People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn't as far as they thought. Let's figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.

If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.

Connect with Teresa Huff:

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

Whether you think of yourself as a leader or not, you are. You impact and influence others whether you realize it or not.

We all feel the heat sometimes in this hectic world. Let's glean some wisdom from someone who's been in the trenches - literally. Today's interview is with a former Green Beret, Otis McGregor, and it's an honor to have him share his leadership and life lessons with us.

Otis shares about learning how to grow as a leader, eliminating stress in your life, gaining positive structure for your day, and sharing the three aspects of trust that can make a huge difference in your success.

Lessons for Leaders from a Green Beret:

1. Be clear in communicating to others what needs to be done. Clearly express how to do it, why it's important, and how it fits into the bigger picture.
2. When seeking out wisdom about how to grow as a leader, don't pigeonhole yourself into only learning from people within your line of work. Great leadership skills and techniques can be learned from people in all different fields, implementing their tips and tricks into your wheelhouse.
3. Accountability partners help keep you on track.
4. When trying to make a large change, implement smaller increments of change at a time. This makes it easier to achieve the smaller goals. For example, say you want to start getting up early to exercise. When you get up at 6am normally, instead of jumping right to setting that alarm for 4am, start with 5:45am for a week, then 5:30am, and so on. Take smaller steps to make a long lasting, larger change.

Tips to Eliminate Stress and Handle Hard Situations:

First things first, stop and assess the situation. When you realize you're overwhelmed, slow down, take a breath, and write down all the things that you need to get done. Once you have this list, use the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to help you categorize and prioritize.

Another tip to help eliminate stress is to shut off your electronics to avoid distractions, and just write down everything that's been on your mind. Not with a goal to solve a problem or to create anything, but just to get everything out of your head. This can help us clear our minds and be more relaxed.

Break Your Day Up Into 3 Categories:

1. Focus: This is a time in your day that is set apart to work on a specific thing or two that you want to handle and you do not allow people or things to sidetrack you. Do whatever you need to do to be unavailable to distractions.
2. Flex: This is where a lot of us spend most of our time. This is where you're working on different things for the day and you're able to bounce around a bit more, allowing for interruptions or breaks.
3. Personal: This is the category a lot of us let be pushed under the rug when we're stressed, but taking care of ourselves must be a priority. Have you ever heard the common phrase, "You can't pour from an empty cup?" We can't be our best selves when we're drained. Take a walk, read a book, take a nap, spend time with friends, play an instrument, etc…whatever it is that helps you unwind and feel refreshed.

The Trust Triad

As a leader it's important to learn the power of the Trust Triad. The Trust Triad consists of three legs of trust:

• Trust yourself: Believe that the decisions you make, with the time available to you and the information at your disposal, are the best decisions that you can make.
• Trust your team: Believe they are capable of doing what they are here to do.
• The team must be able to trust you: They must believe that your decisions have the best interest of the organization in mind. Not yourself, not a specific person, not the money in your pocket, but the organization's success.

Strive to create strength in whatever area is lacking in the Trust Triad within your organization and see how much stronger you become.

Challenge Question:

What lesson will you begin to implement right now to grow as a leader?

Meet Otis McGregor:

Leadership Expert, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, Project Management Trainer, Rugby Coach, LTC, Special Forces, US Army, Retired. My passion lies in helping people succeed. I've used this passion through years in the Army Special Operations, coaching rugby and business. It now drives me to create better leaders. I believe that better leaders create better organizations, better organizations create better communities, and better communities will create a better world.

I worked as a Business Development Manager, Director, and Chief Strategy Officer for several companies. In 2009, I founded LTO Enterprises, LLC to help businesses win government contracts. In 2021, I rebranded LTO to become Tribe + Purpose, aligning with how we operate and our business purpose. We focus on creating better leaders to lead high-performing teams. I am a certified business performance coach and certified project director and trainer through The Institute of Project Management.

I retired from the US Army in 2009 as a Green Beret Lieutenant Colonel following 25 years of service. While in the Army, I had a broad range of experience from being a private driving tanks five years older than me; to an engineer in the Arctic, running heavy equipment in the most extreme arctic conditions; to leading Green Berets on complex and dangerous missions around the world. I also had the unique experience of being part of new organizations and creating these new units into cohesive, effective organizations. This experience ranged from Arctic conditions in Alaska to counter-terrorism units in Iraq and Afghanistan to NATO Special Operations Headquarters.

Being part of these organizations from the ground up has given me immense experience in creating successful organizations. I've used those skills and experiences to build successful teams, business units, and companies in the business world. I've led capture efforts and proposal development for large and small firms. These efforts have ranged from small task orders to multiple large entity Joint Ventures. In addition to my business development efforts, I ran multi-million-dollar programs for the government spread across the US and overseas.

I possess a BS-Engineering Technology, from Texas A&M University; MA-International Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School; Certified Professional Coach, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC); COR.E Leadership & Performance Dynamics Specialist, IPEC; Certified Project Director and Certified Project Trainer, Institute of Project Management (IPM); USA Rugby Level 300 Coach. I create better leaders, host a podcast, build high-performance teams and wrote the book Enable Your Team's Success. I live in Colorado with my wife, Suzanne. We have three grown children living in the USA.

Connect with Otis:

• Otis' TEDx Talk
• Website
• LinkedIn
• YouTube: The Cam & Otis Show

Resources Mentioned:

• Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by Stanley McChrystal
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot by James B Stockdale

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