The "Of Course" Factor is a comprehensive guide to meaningful grant writing for practitioners and organizations who want to do more than secure funding. They want to expand impact. Written by Alison Welch, a grant writer, grant reviewer, social worker, and college professor with over two decades of field experience, this is the advanced guide that takes you from the history of philanthropy to the final attachment in a submitted proposal, and everything in between.

*Note* This episode is longer than our typical ten minutes. 

Even nonprofits that never receive federal grants are feeling the effects of federal funding reductions. Organizations losing government support are turning to foundations and individual donors, increasing competition throughout the funding ecosystem. CEP specifically documented this downstream effect in its 2026 research.

Organizations often respond to financial pressure by adding more grants to the pipeline without considering who will develop, implement, manage, and report on them. This episode explores what happens when grant ambitions exceed organizational capacity.

The 2026 State of Nonprofits report found that 57% of nonprofit CEOs say securing foundation grants has become harder since January 2025, 44% have experienced reduced foundation funding, and 66% are concerned about their organization’s financial stability. The share of nonprofits operating at a deficit also rose from 22% in 2022 to 39% in 2025. Those findings confirm what grant professionals are seeing every day: more organizations are competing for fewer dollars.

A longer list of possible grants doesn't always produce better results. This conversation explores why organizations should focus on building the right grant portfolio instead of pursuing every opportunity that comes along.

Grant guidelines don't always say everything they're trying to communicate. Learn how experienced grant professionals look beyond eligibility requirements to understand what funders are really looking for.

Organizations often focus on landing the biggest grant possible. But the strongest grant programs are usually built one relationship, one outcome, and one successful project at a time. This episode explores why starting smaller can lead to bigger opportunities.

Not every corporate opportunity comes as a check. This episode explores how nonprofits can evaluate corporate volunteerism, in-kind support, employee engagement, sponsorships, and skills-based partnerships without mistaking every offer for useful support.

AI can help grant professionals work faster, but it can also create generic, inaccurate, or funder-misaligned proposals when used poorly. This episode explores how to use AI responsibly without losing strategy, authenticity, accuracy, or human judgment.

In this episode of McGrants: Drive-Through Moments, Keri and Valerie discuss what consultants should focus on during the first 30 days with a new grant client. From understanding the organization’s programs, funding history, internal capacity, and grant readiness to setting expectations and identifying early priorities, this conversation explores how a strong onboarding process can create a better foundation for grant strategy, proposal development, and long-term client success.