In this episode, Holly Rustick breaks down the evolving landscape of grant writing in 2026, sharing powerful insights from January’s funding data and what it signals for the nonprofit sector and freelance grant writers.

With $6 million in grants secured in January alone — 84% from family foundations — Holly unpacks what this means for funding trends, strategic positioning, and revenue growth opportunities.

You’ll hear why relationship building with foundations is now the differentiator, how nonprofits are increasingly investing in freelance grant writers and consultants, and why strategic pricing beats hourly rates in today’s maturing grant writing ecosystem.

If you want to better understand where funding is moving, how to align your nonprofit for larger grant awards, and how to grow a sustainable consulting business in the nonprofit sector, this episode is for you.

TAKEAWAYS

$6 million in grants secured in January alone.
84% of those grants came from family foundations.
Private philanthropy is the most responsive funding channel.
Alignment is the differentiator for nonprofits.
Nonprofits are investing in freelancers and consultants.
The era of the freelancers is here.
Foundations give massive grant awards.
Strategic pricing beats hourly rates.
Grant writing is no longer transactional; it's strategic.
Understanding funding movement is strategy.

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

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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.

474) CUs and banks, your problem is strategy, not technology