Grant Writing & Funding

Mary Gladstone-Highland, joins us to discuss how nonprofits can share powerful stories of impact while still honoring the dignity of the communities they serve. We explore the fine line between compelling storytelling and unintentionally exploiting beneficiaries for emotional appeal, and how “clickbait-style” narratives can do more harm than good. Mary shares how nonprofits can shift their messaging to be both effective and ethical—ensuring stories empower rather than disempower—while still driving engagement and funding for their mission.ABOUT OUR GUESTMary Gladstone-Highland is the CEO of Spark Group Consulting, where she helps nonprofits communicate their mission with clarity, integrity, and impact. She specializes in ethical storytelling, guiding organizations to move beyond deficit-based narratives and instead highlight the strength and dignity of the communities they serve. Through her work, Mary supports nonprofits in aligning their messaging with their values while still achieving strong fundraising and engagement results.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTWebsite: https://www.sparkgroupconsulting.comOTHER 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.

Getting a nonprofit client is amazing when you are a nonprofit consultant. Until it isn’t amazing.I’ve seen many nonprofit consultants pull their hair out (including me!) when they get the wrong type of client. The one that keeps negotiating your price down.The one that asks for continued revisions of grants outside of the scope of the contract.The one that doesn’t respect your boundaries.So how do you figure out who and what your ideal nonprofit client is?Well, that’s what Mandy Pearce from Funding from Good and Mazarine Treyz from Wild Woman Fundraising share today!What We Discuss:Introduction to Nonprofit Consulting How to Get Nonprofit ClientsIdentify Your Ideal ClientWhy You Should Charge People to Pick Your Brain Questions to Determine Your Ideal ClientWhy You Should Interview the NonprofitWhy a Discovery Call Might Not Give You LeadsQualifying LeadsContract NuggetsAbout Mazarine TreyzMazarine Treyz is a nonprofit leadership coach, speaker and best-selling author of “The Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising”, serving people in over 70 different countries.Mazarine specializes in helping nonprofit leaders with fundraising goals through authentic relationships both online and offline.  As a result, clients have doubled monthly donors, taken their schools from 10K to 170K in recurring revenue, and created their own global nonprofits. Treyz has co-founded a nonprofit and has over a decade of experience as a nonprofit fundraiser in small shops. Today, Mazarine Treyz leads the nonprofit workplace justice movement to create a better nonprofit work culture through her writing, training, podcast and keynote speeches.Connect with Mazarine Treyz:Work with MazarineNeed a speaker? Chat with MazarineAbout Mandy PearceIn 2009, visionary, Mandy Pearce, founded her flagship company, Funding for Good, to equip organizations with all of the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable.She continues to enjoy evolving this company to meet the changing demands of the nonprofit world. For over two decades, Mandy and her team of experts have shared their proficiency in fundraising through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars and specialized consulting programs.Mandy’s dynamic teaching style has brought thousands of people to her presentations at conventions, training workshops and online platforms. Mandy established Funding for Good, Inc. upon the core values of honesty, efficiency, direct communication and bringing sustainable dollars to local communities.Ways to Connect with Mandy:Website: Funding for GoodLinkedIn: Connect with MandyRelated Links:Episode 200: How to Identify What Rates to Charge as a Grant WriterEpisode 201:  Why the Nonprofit World Has a Bias Against Women and How to Break the BiasEpisode 219: How Much Time to Spend Working In vs. On Your BusinessEpisode 225: Why Becoming a Nonprofit Consultant is a Good Career Move Episode 226: Where to Find and Manage Grants for NonprofitsEpisode 227: How to Prevent Losing Your Nonprofit’s Tax-Exempt StatusNonprofit Consulting ConferenceOTHER 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.

Hey, it’s my birthday!And in celebration of my 46th (woot-woot), I am giving you 46 grant writing tips!Grab this download of all the 46 tips when you join the FREE Grant Writing & Funding Hub Haven! Grant Writing Tip #1: Be Concise in Your WritingNo long, fluffy sentences in your grant writing! Be succinct. Be concise.Grant Writing Tip #2: Explain the Problem with SimplicityWhat is the problem? How will you solve it? When you get that across with clarity it goes a long ways!Grant Writing Tip #3: Complete Your Budget Before You Write the Entire NarrativeIf you work on your entire narrative and then do the budget last a few calamities could happen.You realize you don’t have enough money to fulfill all your objectivesYou have to rewrite your narrative because the budget doesn’t make sense any longer. That full-time program director you wanted to hire? Oops, now it’s down no program director. Here goes redoing the org chart and tossing out that job description that took you 20 hours to complete.Grant Writing Tip #4: Have SMART ObjectivesYour grant writing objectives need to be SMART. No, they do not need a PhD, but they do need be:SpecificMeasurableAchievableRelevantTime-boundClick here for more information and examples about how to write SMART objectives.Grant Writing Tip #5: Your Goal Should Change a Behavior or SituationYour goal can be much more audacious than your objective. But it still needs to improve, increase, or change something! There needs to be a larger impact out there that will change some type of situation or behavior for good!Click here for more examples on how to write goals.Grant Writing Tip #6: Write to the Criteria of the Funding Source Grant ApplicationThere is usually a criteria (directions) of what the funding source is wanting you to answer. Make sure you clearly and succinctly answer these questions!I see a lot of grant writers NOT answer all of the criteria in a grant application. For example, some criteria may have several questions listed in one section and the grant writer only answers the first question. Don’t do that! Answer all the questions!Grant Writing Tip #7: Make Sure You Have SkittlesYep, sugar helps your brain. That’s scientific ;)Grant Writing Tip #8: Make Sure the Grant is Money Your Nonprofit Wants & Can HandleToo often people in nonprofits get stars in their eyes when seeing dollar signs. But sometimes money (or the amount) isn’t necessarily a place that your nonprofit is set up. One of the smartest executive directors I ever worked with was on a grant winning streak, but instead pulled back a minute and said, “Let’s first ensure that we have the capacity to handle more grants.”Grant Writing Tip #9: Make Sure the Funding Source is Dating MaterialWhat if the foundation also supports other organizations that conflict with your nonprofit’s values? Or what if they have a bad reputation in reimbursing organizations or paying out? Or what if they ask for just WAY too many reports?Remember, getting a grant creates a relationship. Make sure it’s one you want to be in and isn’t taking advantage of you.Grant Writing Tip #10: Ask for Feedback Before You Submit the GrantSave yourself a ton of time by first contacting the program office at the funding source. Let them know about the project that you will be submitting the grant proposal for and find out if it’s a good fit. Do this before you spend tons of time, money, and opportunity costs by writing the grant.On paper I have seen a lot of ‘great fit’ funding opportunities, but after talking to the program officer with the funding source I have gotten the most valuable information. Sometimes it is clear that the program isn’t a good fit and they give advice to tweak it so that it’s a perfect fit and other times I find out that even though they are accepting applications they probably won’t be funding new programs. This is gold.Grant Writing Tip #11: Showcase Your Needs with DataOftentimes I see emotional language in grants and absolutely no statistics, reports, or data. This is a HUGE no-no. Writing the need section in grants is not about how many heartstrings you can pull, it’s about how you can demonstrate the need with facts.Personally, showing facts and statistics actually makes me more emotionally than prose!Grant Writing Tip #12: Don’t Chase the Money!I know that those dollar signs can sway many a person into mission drifting! Don’t do it! Just because you might have a great chance at getting $3 million dollars doesn’t mean that you should apply for the grant. If you have to create a program that is entirely outside of your mission and vision, then you are probably mission drifting.Remember: Most grants do not have unrestricted funding (unfortunately).Grant Writing Tip #13: Make Sure the Grant is a High Enough Time InvestmentWhat this means is that if the grant is making you jump through hoops and it will take you a 100 hours to apply for $5,000, it might not be the best use of your time!Remember, time = money.Grant Writing Tip #14: Make Sure Your Beneficiaries Want the ProgramIf you have beneficiaries receiving support, make sure that they will use, implement, or be active in the program! You might think of (what you think is) the greatest idea, and then to find out that the nonprofit’s beneficiaries don’t even want the program!What can help with this is by doing a Needs & Strengths Assessment! By doing this Assessment, you can also include the results of the data into your grant application!Grant Writing Tip #15: Make Sure the Program Aligns with Your Mission StatementThis aligns with tip #12, but it’s important. Before you develop a program make sure that you chant your mission statement ;) It all needs to align otherwise you will be mission drifting!Grant Writing Tip #16: Make Sure You Keep to Word and Page LimitationsTrying to write more pages then required won’t get you brownie points. In fact, it may get you disqualified at worst or pages redacted at best. Don’t do this.Grant Writing Tip #17: Don’t Use Ambiguous LanguageAmbiguous words and phrases can detour your grant points real quick. These include: “Lack Of,” “Rarely,” “Very High,” “Very Low,” “Not Enough,” etc. What all these phrases have in common are that they are not specific.For more information about words ...

How can you prevent your nonprofit from losing its tax-exempt status? And if you’re a nonprofit consultant, are you setting aside enough money for taxes? These are critical questions that can have major financial and legal implications.In this episode, Noura Almasri joins us to break down the red flags that could put your nonprofit at risk and what you need to know to stay compliant. With decades of experience in accounting and nonprofit finance, Noura shares practical insights to help both nonprofits and consultants stay on track.ABOUT OUR GUESTNoura Almasri is an Enrolled Agent and the founder of Noura’s Books, a tax and accounting firm. She holds a master’s degree in Business Information Technology from DePaul University and brings over 22 years of accounting experience and 15 years of nonprofit experience.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.

Knowing where to find grant funding sources is essential to winning grants—but simply Googling “grant funding” can send you down an endless rabbit hole (and waste a lot of time).In this episode, we dive into smarter, more strategic ways to find and manage grant opportunities with the help of Foundant Technologies.We explore Tammy’s journey working with nonprofit organizations, the learning curve of using online tools for grant research, and how Foundant supports philanthropy through effective grant management systems. We also cover best practices in grant software, key features that make grant tracking easier, how foundations manage scholarships, and how nonprofits can streamline accounting and financial reporting for grants.ABOUT OUR GUESTTammy Tilzey works with Foundant Technologies, supporting nonprofit organizations and foundations in optimizing their grant management systems. With experience in philanthropy and nonprofit operations, she helps organizations leverage technology to improve efficiency, transparency, and impact.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.

Nonprofit Consultant Series #2If you are considering a job transition, then becoming a nonprofit consultant could be your best bet.Why?Well, in mid-2022 the job market is prime. Plus, nonprofit organizations are looking for talent right now.In fact, studies have shown that the nonprofit sector is regaining some of its pre-pandemic growth, where it was the largest growing sector since 2009. Plus, what the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted is the need for technical skills in the nonprofit sector. About Mandy PearceIn 2009, visionary, Mandy Pearce, founded her flagship company, Funding for Good, to equip organizations with all of the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable.She continues to enjoy evolving this company to meet the changing demands of the nonprofit world. For over two decades, Mandy and her team of experts have shared their proficiency in fundraising through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars and specialized consulting programs.Mandy’s dynamic teaching style has brought thousands of people to her presentations at conventions, training workshops and online platforms. Mandy established Funding for Good, Inc. upon the core values of honesty, efficiency, direct communication and bringing sustainable dollars to local communities.Ways to Connect with Mandy:Website: Funding for GoodLinkedIn: Connect with MandyAbout Mazarine TreyzMazarine Treyz is a nonprofit leadership coach, speaker and best-selling author of “The Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising”, serving people in over 70 different countries.Mazarine specializes in helping nonprofit leaders with fundraising goals through authentic relationships both online and offline.  As a result, clients have doubled monthly donors, taken their schools from 10K to 170K in recurring revenue, and created their own global nonprofits. Treyz has co-founded a nonprofit and has over a decade of experience as a nonprofit fundraiser in small shops. Today, Mazarine Treyz leads the nonprofit workplace justice movement to create a better nonprofit work culture through her writing, training, podcast and keynote speeches.Connect with Mazarine Treyz:Work with MazarineNeed a speaker? Chat with MazarineRelated Episodes:How to Identify What Rates to Charge as a Grant WriterWhy the Nonprofit World Has a Bias Against Women and How to Break the BiasNonprofit Consulting Series Part 1: How Much Time to Spend Working In vs. On Your BusinessOTHER 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.

Do Not Use These Words In Your Grant Proposals There are certain words and things that you should NOT include in your grant proposals! I often teach about what to DO in your grant writing (such as in the Grant Writer Master Course), but I haven’t really said, “Don’t do this!” Therefore, this episode is dedicated to what NOT to do in your grant writing. #1 Don’t Use Ambiguous Language #2: Don’t Use the Word Very or Rarely #3 Don’t Use Emotional Language #4 Don’t Use Poetic Language #5 Don’t Use Academic Language #6 Don’t Use Too Much Scientific Language There you have it! Those are some tips on what NOT to do when writing grant proposals! For more information: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/224 ------------------------------------------------------ ✨💌 Visit https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ for the Hub Haven Grant Writing Resources 🤩 Want to Join the 2-Day Nonprofit Consulting Conference happening August 25th and 26th, 2022? Click here: https://nonprofitconsultingconference.com/ 👉💰🖥️ Grant Writing Master Course: Get sample grants, logic models, videos, and more. Start to write winning grants! https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-writing-master-course/ ——————————————————————————— Favor, 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! If you have any questions, feel free to email holly@grantwritingandfunding.com I’d love to connect with you! Thanks for listening! Holly Rustick Expert Grant Writer & Bestselling Author https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/ ✨✨ Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com to get the proven G.R.A.N.T.S. formula to write winning grants ✨✨

Strong communication is the foundation of any successful relationship—and that’s especially true when it comes to grant writers and nonprofit clients.In this episode, Steve Boland, founder of Next in Nonprofits, shares decades of experience on how consultants and nonprofit teams can collaborate more effectively. We explore how clear communication and defined roles can ensure grants are completed on time, why grant writers are not program managers (and where that line should be drawn), and how different types of nonprofit clients require different approaches.We also dive into how grant writers can support nonprofits beyond writing, why they are sometimes asked to help develop new projects, and how to manage expectations on both sides of the relationship. Plus, we discuss why consistent check-ins—like weekly meetings—are critical for keeping projects on track and how a skilled grant writer consultant can be a valuable partner to nonprofit leadership.If you want smoother workflows, stronger partnerships, and better grant outcomes, this episode is a must-listen.ABOUT OUR GUESTSteve Boland is the founder of Next in Nonprofits, where he helps nonprofit professionals grow their careers and strengthen their organizations. With decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, communication, and training, Steve is known for his practical insights on how nonprofits and consultants can work together more effectively.He is a speaker, trainer, and podcast host who focuses on helping nonprofit leaders improve collaboration, strategy, and operational success.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 is a fully loaded question.The thing is that freelance grant writers can make as much money as they want to make.No, I am not trying to be cheeky. It’s true.So, really the question underneath this one is:“How much money can I make as a freelance grant writer?”  Which brings us to another layer of a question…“How much can I charge as a freelance grant writer?”You can see that these questions are all related, right?The thing is the answers to these questions are not cookie-cutter or set in stone.It depends.Here are some things to consider when wanting to know how much you can make as a freelance grant writer.Grant Writing ExperienceIf you have been a grant writer for several years and are comfortable with grant writing, you will be able to charge more than someone starting from scratch. That is true for anything.When you have more experience, you can showcase:testimonials,grants secured,grants reviewed, andnumber of years writing grantsThis is huge!But even if you have taken one grant writing course and are just getting experience, you can also charge for your services too. You just won’t be charging as much until you develop more of a portfolio (like anything else!).Ways to overcome the newbie grant writing position is to partner with more seasoned grant writers to review your work and give you feedback.In that case, feel free to charge more as you will get those seasoned eyes on your grant awards. This is a great opportunity to have a mentor and develop your grant writing skills while also increasing your grant writing credibility.GeographyIf you are working with local nonprofit organizations, then it is important to know what market rates are for consultants. You can usually find out this information by checking out local department of labor wages or reaching out to other consultants and asking them what their rates are.Some consultants may want to keep their pricing private, but it’s worth developing relationships with other consultants (not just grant writers, but service-industry consultants) and find out what the going rates are. These are also just great relationships to develop.But many of you work online and have national and international clients so you can also see what other folks are charging online.The problem with just googling other grant writer rates is that you will see prices all over the map.I’m talking anywhere from $25 per hour to $150+ per hour. This does give you a baseline, but pricing is more nuanced then just pointing out a number.Types of Services You DeliverWriting foundation grants and federal grants are two different ball games.A foundation grant of two-pages will not be the same price as writing a 50-page federal grant application.Therefore, it is important to know what type of grant writing you will be doing.You can still make the same amount of money, but you will have a different number of clients.For example, if you charge $2,000 to write a 2-page foundation application and $12,000 to write a federal grant application, then you would need to write six foundation grants to make the same as writing one federal grant.You can also combine both types of grant writing!So that is something to take into consideration. Your specific tailored services should vary in pricing based on the level of expertise, time, and capacity it takes for each service.Value Issues around PricingHere is my favorite one. We all have different emotions and values around money and especially around making money.Research shows that women compared to men struggle with charging what they are worth.This comes down to a slew of different reasons with most based on being born into a patriarchal system. This manifests itself with the following:Not feeling confident enough to price what we are worth (will people really pay it?)Giving way too many discounts (yes, I was there once too)Giving away the kitchen sink of all the deliverables you will do (it’s like we are convincing ourselves we are good enough before we even show our price!)The other thing is that a lot of times you will see grant writing prices up to $150 per hour. As if that is the holy grail of pricing.That does NOT need to be your glass ceiling. Raise your rates appropriately.Expenses (overhead)Here’s the thing. To know what your rates are, you also need to understand what your goals are.Do you want this to be a side-hustle or full-time job?It’s not always about working harder to make more money, but if you are a service-based consultant (versus having products and passive income – more on that later), then having more of the right clients does improve your overall bottom line.If you are doing this as a full-time business, then additional expenses will come into play that include:  Taxes  Retirement  Health Insurance  All your personal bills! i.e., salary for YOU!  Profit  Office space (even in your home)  Internet, phone, communications  Gas mileage, travel, etc.  Online software and apps (this is where you might spend a large percentage)  Computer, printer, office supplies  Training and association fees  Consultants, virtual assistants, or employees  Bookkeeper, professional services  And anything else for business successYour old hourly rate from a J-O-B just will not be the same as your consultancy hourly rate. There is so much more that goes into this.So how much can you make as a Freelance Grant Writer?Well, it really depends on:  What goals do you have?  Are you geographical based?  What type of grant writing experience do you have (or can leverage)?  What types grant writing services you offer?  How much confidence do you have in pricing your rates?  How much do you want to work (and then associated expenses to integrate into your pricing)?...

Let’s be real. Being a nonprofit executive director isn’t always a walk in the park. There are definitely challenges that one faces with wearing the following hats:Leader and visionaryFundraiserBeing the face of the organizationMarketerManager…and so much more.It’s a good thing that Dolph Goldenburg, founder of Successful Nonprofits, comes on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to discuss his lessons learned as an executive director and as a nonprofit consultant.Dolph goes in deep, starting off the discussion with sharing his experience being completely burned out as nonprofit executive director. At the time, he resigned and took a year off as a sabbatical to reflect. This led to his current position as a nonprofit consultant. The lessons he has learned along the way include:Taking time to recognize red flags of old habitsNegotiating with funding sourcesWriting grants for enough money instead of settlingBeing values-basedAnd so much moreWhat We Discuss:Grant Reviewer CourseOvercoming BurnoutHow to Know if a Job isn’t a Good FitLooking Inward into Nonprofit Pain PointsHow to Look for Signs of Nonprofit BurnoutHow Being Values-Based Helps to Attract the Right PeopleWhy Paying Your Nonprofit Staff a Living Wage is Vital to Nonprofit HealthWhy Nonprofit Attrition Rates Can Be the Funder’s FaultWhy You Need to Not Underbid on a Grant ApplicationHow to Renegotiate with a Funding SourceWhy Talking to Funders is so ImportantAbout Dolph GoldenburgDolph is recognized as a leader within the nonprofit sector who has a track record of guiding organizations through leadership transitions, strategic planning and board development. He started Successful Nonprofits in 2014 to provide consulting, podcasting and publishing services that strengthen the nonprofit sector. Goldenburg’s consulting focuses on strategic planning, executive transitions, board development and coaching. His clients have included large nonprofits like Sheltering Arms and HOPE Atlanta and also small but mighty nonprofits like the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and Zebra Coalition.Prior to starting his consulting practice, Goldenburg was a successful nonprofit CEO for about a dozen years with a demonstrated history of leading organizations to financial stability and growth.  As a CEO, Goldenburg helped organizations transform deficits into healthy surpluses, increase fund balances, dramatically expand services, and increase revenue.  In addition to extensive CEO experience, Goldenburg also has more than a decade of fundraising experience, which includes soliciting six -figure gifts and writing millions of dollars in funded grant proposals. Goldenburg holds a masters degree in public administration from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelors degree in social work from Georgia State University. Dolph lives in Lawrenceville, GA with his husband, has traveled to five of the seven continents, and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.Connect with Dolph:www.successfulnonprofits.comwww.linkedin.com/in/dolphgCheck out his podcast! Want to see Holly on Dolph’s Podcast? Click here to listen to “Connecting Money to Mission”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/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.