Grant Writing & Funding

Have you ever thought about transitioning from working inside a nonprofit to becoming a freelance grant writer?Or wondered what it really looks like to build a flexible, work-from-home business—especially as a parent?In this episode, Holly Rustick dives into the realities of freelance grant writing and the opportunities it creates for both freedom and financial growth. We explore the differences often seen between male and female grant writers in the industry, and how freelance work can offer unique advantages—particularly for mothers looking to balance career and family life.Holly also breaks down how to successfully transition from a nonprofit role into freelance grant writing, including how to increase your income and position your services effectively.Plus, we discuss the importance of developing strong business acumen skills so you’re not just writing grants—but running a successful, sustainable business.If you’re ready to create more flexibility, increase your earning potential, and take ownership of your career, this episode will show you what’s possible.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant 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 RUSTICKWebsite: 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/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

Payton Murphy is a grants professional with experience in grant writing, research, management, and budget development. Payton explains how to articulate the value of your grant writing services, the benefits of looking at your job as if they are a client, and the sales strategies grant writers can use with nonprofits. She also talks about the business fundamentals behind grant writing, how to set up systems and processes to save you time when writing grants, and the difference between doing sales with non-profits and for-profit businesses. About Payton MurphyPayton Murphy is a grant writing consultant passionate about working with purpose-driven organizations to expand their impact and grow and manage their grant portfolios.Payton has helped organizations secure over $12 million in foundation and government funding and worked on 80 awarded grant proposals. She has experience with grant writing, research, management, budget and template development, and more.Payton works with organizations striving to empower, uplift, and build capacity in their communities. She has worked with organizations in various focus areas, including mental health, youth development, criminal justice/reentry, early childhood education, housing and homelessness, substance use/recovery, and community development.Payton is a member of the Grants Professional Association and holds an M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology.Connect with Payton:LinkedInResources mentioned in this episode:Freelance Grant Writer AcademyEverything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One SaleFinding a Community of Grant WritersHow Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the AcademyOTHER 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 RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

This episode, Grace Pankin explains her experience in the grant writing academy, how she created a part-time income while raising young children, and the challenges involved with starting a new grant writing business.Grace Pankin has been writing grants for Southern Nevada nonprofits for over 5 years, and within the last three of those years, she’s helped to raise over 5 million dollars.Grace explains how she was able to book out her grant writing business in two months by using the Unique Industry Concept and Pricing Reviews inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy. She also talks about how inside the Academy, she increased her contracted hours with a current client, the different ways she improved her deliverables and customer service, and the value she got from having a new perspective on the grants she was writing.What you’ll learn in this episode:Using grant writing to create a side income while raising young children.The challenges of starting a new grant writing business.How to price your grant writing services.How using a master grant application template can improve your client delivery process.The best way grant writers can network with nonprofit clients.How to increase your contracted hours with a grant writing client.Different ways to improve your deliverables and customer service.The power of getting a new perspective on grants you’re writing.How to manage your time as a grant writer.About Grace PankinGrace Pankin has been writing grants for Southern Nevada nonprofits for over 5 years, and within the last three of those years, she’s helped to raise over 5 million dollars.She started with a grant writing class in college and after graduating with a BA in Sociology (with an emphasis in social research), interned with the Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. There she found her passion for working with nonprofits, promoting change in Nevada, and making it a better place for the people living here. Since 2015, she has worked at The Las Vegas Natural History Museum as the Education Administrator and managed the funding of the field trip program for low-income students, as well as at Rebuilding Together of Southern Nevada as a Grant Writer and Development Coordinator. It was at Rebuilding Together that she maintained the fundraising for a $2 million budget, and in her first two years of working for them, of the grants awarded, over 20% of funding was from new partners. Grace then founded Grants With Grace Consulting to continue growing her work with nonprofits, and to provide prospect research, grant writing, and grants management services and quality, honest grant writing and consulting services to nonprofit organizations.Grace also teaches and gives nonprofits the resources to help them through the grant-writing process.Connect with Grace:LinkedInWebsiteQuotables:“It gave me more confidence because I’m good at grant writing but I’m not that good of a salesperson, and the academy made up a lot of what I lacked in that area.”“It’s much easier to bump up your hours with a current client when you renew than to go out and get a new client.”“At least two people should look at every grant because you’re going to miss something when you spend so much time looking at something.”Resources mentioned in this episode:Freelance Grant Writer AcademyGrants With Grace ConsultingNonprofit Consulting ConferenceEverything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One SaleFinding a Community of Grant WritersHow Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the AcademyOTHER 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 RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

In this episode, Holly breaks down the essential skills grant writers need to transition into successful business owners. She shares how to strategically design your service offerings, why nonprofits invest in having their team members join The Freelance Grant Writer Academy, and what business acumen skills are critical for long-term success.Holly also dives into the value of using a master grant writing template to streamline your work and improve consistency, as well as how grant reviews can strengthen both grant writers’ skills and the success rates of the nonprofits they support.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant 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 RUSTICKWebsite: 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/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

Kari is a Philadelphia-based grant writer specializing in small and start-up nonprofits, who has worked in the non-profit field for over a decade. Kari explains the business side of being a grant writing consultant, how to be properly valued as a grant writer, and how to effectively price your grant writing services. They also talk about the different deliverables grant writers should offer, the business and sales lessons they learned in the academy, and the value of being a part of a community of grant writers. About Kari CollinsKari is a Philadelphia-based grant writer specializing in small and start-up nonprofits. They have worked in the non-profit field since 2010, including running a community center out of a historic church building for 6 years. As a non-binary person, Kari’s career path has been anything but straightforward. They graduated seminary with an MDiv in 2013, but quickly became disillusioned with the difficulty of forging a faith-based career as an openly LGBTQ+ person. They moved back into nonprofit work with a focus on creating community spaces for activists and visionaries.Kari launched their consulting business in 2023 to expand their impact and avoid the glass ceiling faced by people who don’t match the typical image of non-profit leadership. They’ve since raised over $2 million for their clients, and helped multiple volunteer and part-time founders become full-time executive directors!Connect with Kari:LinkedInWebsiteBooking LinkResources mentioned in this episode:Freelance Grant Writer AcademyEverything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One SaleFinding a Community of Grant WritersHow Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the AcademyOTHER 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 RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

In this solo episode, Holly Rustick breaks down the importance of clearly defining your grant writing services and pricing so you can confidently position yourself in the market. She shares how to follow an ethical sales system, set the right expectations when working with nonprofits, and effectively present a business plan that aligns with their funding goals. Holly also explains why freelance grant writers are often more desirable than in-house staff and the key skills you need to step into the role of a grant strategist and build a successful 5–6 figure business.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant 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, and 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 RUSTICKWebsite: 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/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

What if the missing piece in your grant writing business isn’t your skill—but your systems?In this episode, Academy student Mapi Garcia shares how she transformed her freelance grant writing business after two and a half years of inconsistent clients and revenue.After joining the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, everything shifted.Within just four months, Mapi generated $62,775 in her business and secured her first-ever retainer client—creating consistent, predictable income.We dive into what changed for her, including how implementing systems and reframing how she set expectations with nonprofit clients became a total gamechanger. Mapi shares how clarity in communication, pricing, and service delivery allowed her to attract better-fit clients and build a more sustainable business.If you’ve been stuck in inconsistent income or wondering how to create stability in your grant writing business, this episode will show you what’s possible with the right structure and mindset.Be sure to give it a listen!BOUT OUR GUESTMapi Garcia is a freelance grant writer who successfully transformed her business by implementing strategic systems and client management practices. After working in the field for over two years, she joined the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and quickly scaled her business to generate over $62,000 in just four months.Mapi specializes in helping nonprofits secure funding while building long-term client relationships through retainer-based services, creating both impact and consistent revenue.OTHER 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/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

This episode, Isatou Bittaye-Jobe is a Grant Consultant specializing in gender justice, youth development, and human rights. Isatou explains why having a specific niche is so important, how to increase the conversion rate of your sales calls, and what you need to transition from employee to business owner. She also talks about how The Freelance Grant Writer Academy can support grant writers, the benefits of having a community of grant writers, and the type of goals you should have when entering the academy. About Isatou Bittaye-JobeIsatou Bittaye-Jobe is a Grant Consultant specializing in gender justice, youth development, and human rights. Isatou’s passion for social justice and the need to address the systemic inequities in the funding landscape inspired her to found AmiKha Consulting to provide grant writing services, and program design and strategic planning for U.S-based nonprofits and NGOs in the Global South to skyrocket their funding potential.She has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has successfully supported nonprofits to secure grant awards totaling $10 million throughout her career. Most recently, she was the Director of Institutional Giving at UltraViolet, where she oversaw and managed the organization’s institutional funding strategy and plan for raising the $5 million annual operating budget. Originally from The Gambia, Isatou served as a Senior Program Officer at the National Council for Civic Education, securing six-figure level grants and promoting civically engaged citizenry among Gambians. She was also a founding member and Communications Manager of The Girls’ Agenda. Since immigrating to the United States, Isatou has served in various roles with the Population Council, Women Deliver, and the National Network for Safe Communities. Connect with Isatou:LinkedInWebsiteCalendlyResources mentioned in this episode:Freelance Grant Writer AcademyEverything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One SaleFinding a Community of Grant WritersHow Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the AcademyOTHER 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 RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

This episode, Olive Idehen explains the mindset you need as a business owner, how to identify your ideal clients, and the different strategies she’s used to grow her business.Olive Idehen is the founder and owner of Callive, LLC an independent organizational development consulting firm for small and medium sized social change and nonprofit organizations.Olive explains how to decide which nonprofits to work with, the strategic planning systems that can be created for onboarding clients, and the ways having a master grant template can help with prospecting.She also talks about the importance of pricing your grant writing services correctly, how she positioned herself as a more credible grant writer, and the ways that the Freelance Grant Writer Academy has supported her.What you’ll learn in this episode:The importance of pricing your grant writing services correctly.The mindset you need as a business owner.How to decide which nonprofits to work with.How the Freelance Grant Writer Academy can support you.The strategic planning systems that can be created for onboarding clients.How to identify who your ideal clients are.The ways having a master grant template helps with prospecting. How to make yourself a more credible grant writer.Different strategies to grow a grant writing business.The type of networking you should do before starting your own business.About Olive IdehenAs the founding Executive Director, Coalition for Nonprofit Housing Development in Washington, DC, Olive was immersed in affordable housing issues in partnership with a sixty plus membership of nonprofit and for-profit developers, activists, and funders. To better understand how philanthropy could be leveraged in community, she had a tenure as Senior Director, Housing and Community Development at the Fannie Mae Foundation. Here she funded and provided technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and capital campaigns for programs and physical expansion in Washington, DC.Then she wanted to understand the flow of both private and public sector capital in community development and served as Bank of America’s Vice President, Community Relations Manager where she implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative within the Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs line of business. She supported the Market President, charitable foundation and community outreach activities and initiatives that addressed critical needs in the low-and moderate-income communities in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. This resulted in an “outstanding” regulatory rating for three consecutive years.In 2019, Olive wanted to explore new ways of working with nonprofits and became the founder and owner of Callive, LLC an independent organizational development consulting firm for small and medium sized social change and nonprofit organizations. Callive’s services include strategic planning, grant writing, board training and development, and succession planning and leadership continuity. Olive presently serves on the Board of Directors of three nonprofit organizations including, Manna (affordable housing), Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (housing and economic development) and Life Asset (community development financial institution).Connect with Olive:LinkedInWebsiteCalendlyEmailQuotables:“Being able to be clear with my services has helped me with marketing, it’s helped me become a expert, and it’s helped with my credibility.”“The academy has helped to build my confidence because it’s one thing to work for somebody else and it’s another thing to work for yourself and go out and get the business.”“Do lots of networking before you leave a nonprofit so that when you do leave you still have that one client.”Resources mentioned in this episode.Freelance Grant Writer AcademyEverything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One SaleFinding a Community of Grant WritersHow Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the AcademyOTHER 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 RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.

This episode, Gwen Valentino explains how the freelance grant writing academy has helped her business, the value she gets from unlimited grant reviews, and why having a community of grant writers is so impactful.Gwen Valentino is a grant administrator at NM Grant Writers, where she empowers local governments and nonprofit organizations by unlocking the full potential of grant funding.Gwen explains how she’s streamlined her grant writing process through using the checklists and systems available in the freelance grant writing academy.She also talks about how to get returning customers as a grant writer, the different types of organizations grant writers can work with, and the impact having a website has had on her grant writing business.What you’ll learn in this episode:The different types of organizations grant writers work with.How to get returning customers as a grant writer.The challenges of working with a 501(c)(12) and how to overcome them.The checklists you can use when writing grants for a nonprofit.Different systems you can follow to write grants.The value of getting a grant review.How having a website can help a freelance grant writer.Why having a community of grant writers is so impactful.The impact the freelance grant writing academy has had on Gwen’s business.About Gwen ValentinoAt NM Grant Writers, we believe in the transformative power of grants to propel local governments and nonprofit organizations toward their full potential. With a deep commitment to demystifying the grant application process, we offer expert guidance and personalized support at every step of the journey. We aim to turn visionary projects into impactful, funded realities, fostering community growth and innovation.Our services range from preparing organizations to apply for grants with our Starter Package to enhancing grant efforts with the Essential Package and providing ongoing support with our Growth Package. With professionalism as our cornerstone, we navigate each grant journey with expertise, precision, and integrity.In 2023 alone, our specialized experience in securing over $4 million in state, federal, and foundation grants speaks to our ability to bring knowledge to every project. Let NM Grant Writers transform your grant aspirations into funded successes.Connect with Gwen:LinkedInWebsiteCalendlyQuotables:“Follow up with previous clients, they’re your best resource for returning customers.”“With systems in place you save the client more money because you can do things so much quicker. That’s why I love the academy so much because you set up so many systems that we can follow. I don’t have to think of anything at all I just follow the system and go.”“I tell my family I’m writing grants but they don’t really understand at all, but in the community you know they feel it. They know exactly what you’re going through, they know how hard writing a grant can be, and how invested you are in the outcome.”Resources mentioned in this episode:Freelance Grant Writer AcademyEverything Inside the FGW Academy, Who It’s For, & How to Get Your Investment Back with One SaleFinding a Community of Grant WritersHow Jen Made Her Investment Back within 3 Months, booked out clients, and won her first grant Inside the AcademyOTHER 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 RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading 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.