Grant Writing & Funding

Hey changemaker! I am so excited about today’s podcast! I know I say that every week, but today is the 100th episode! Can you believe it? Before we even start today I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU for listening and hanging out with me on this journey! You are simply amazing!Today I am paying homage to you and this podcast! You are going to learn about creating content, why it is super important to show your credibility as a nonprofit or consultant, how to effectively tell your story as a nonprofit or creating depth as a consultant, and create a movement for people to be part of!  Of course, moreover the content will help build up donors, funders, clients, and/or customers.Today I will give examples for both nonprofits and consultants and how you can get ahead without overwhelm before 2020 even kicks off.I wanted to pay tribute to this 100th episode with an episode on sharing content and value. This is extremely important to both nonprofits and to freelancers because if we aren’t sharing we don’t build credibility, the story, or an experience or even a movement.We heard from Dan Portnoy last week of Portnoy Media Group that sharing a story is vital for a nonprofit to have an effective fundraiser strategy or to attract long-term donors. This is also important for freelancers to actually share value then also sell, sell, sell.Content. So this word is used a LOT these days. So is the word Value. But what does these words actually mean when used together?The Word Factory gives a great definition of content: “Content is the presentation of information for a purpose to an audience through a channel in a form.”This is pretty cool as it is a way that I want you to think of content. I also want you to think of content as your story, your tribe, and your experience.Let’s look at this from a nonprofit’s point of view. You have fantastic projects where you serve underserved youth in an inner city with free summer soccer camps, soccer practice during the year, and academic tutoring. But you don’t really do much with your Facebook or Instagram page. Once in a while you scramble together a newsletter to send out to your donors, but it’s sporadic at best. You submit annually to foundations for grants but one time you even missed a grant opportunity because the foundation asked for a presentation about your nonprofit and you couldn’t find any pictures or content to share with the board.Yes, you DO plenty! Yes, 100 underserved youth went through your program last year and the youth shared about it on their social media, but pieces of video and pictures and testimonials are scattered and in old computers that don’t work any longer.Now let’s look at this from a consultant’s point of view. You started up a nonprofit consultancy this year – yay You! – but you are still getting your bearings straight. You have a put together website and you post daily on LinkedIn about all the great services you have. That’s all well and good, but what are you sharing to build a community? Do you do more asking rather than giving?So content can be sharing all the cool stuff you are doing through a system, all the amazing things you are learning or wanting to learn, and/or sharing information and resources that help solve people’s problems.To kind of put this in perspective I am going to talk about this podcast. This podcast started out of a semi-dare. I actually had another podcast before this one – Creatives Exposed – where I had long, in-depth conversations with different types of creatives and shared those stories. It was pretty cool, but it didn’t relate to my business, it just related to my interests and my need to meet more creatives on Guam. So, it was awesome. But during a Master Mind meeting a friend – Michelle from Secret Owl Society who is a boss entrepreneur, said, “why don’t you start one for your business?” Having only produced about five podcasts of Creatives Exposed I rolled my eyes and said these are taking me forever to do! At the time we had a $100 monthly challenge where we had to do one thing to drive our business forward each month and if we didn’t meet the goal by the end of we owed $100. Now if you really want to move and shake, I recommend finding some amazing people and doing this! So she said, “make your podcast super short with specific tips each week on grants and funding.” So I took it on as my monthly challenge. Now, more than two years later I am SO glad I did. I wasn’t so sure about it, but I wasn’t about to lose that $100!Why the podcast though? Well, I wanted a way to scale beyond Guam and to build a tribe. Now I talk to you Changemakers every single week and the coolest thing is you talk back to me by sending emails, signing up for coaching and memberships, or joining courses. It is SO cool!On my podcast I share content with you every week. In the beginning I didn’t podcast every week, but before 2019 hit I knew I had to be more consistent as I had people tuning in every week. If I was sporadic with my episodes I knew I would lose the momentum I created.In the past couple of months I have been doing a lot more interviews as I am interested about certain topics so curating experts that can share more in-depth on topics that maybe I can’t. Plus I love meeting and interviewing people as it is so much fun! I’ll still have a mix of solo show (like today) with specific tips to drive your nonprofit or consultancy forward and interviews with other experts in the field.What this podcast has allowed me to do is to build up the grant writing & funding tribe, to see which podcasts are getting the most downloads so I have an idea of what service or product to create or provide, and to actually help other people in advancing their business or organization. I’ve also been able to meet people and have a platform where I can talk with them or share their views with all of you.Of course, having this content also helps build up customers. That is important. For you, the content will help build up donors, funders, clients, and/or customers.Ideas for ContentE-Content includes blogging, writing articles, videos, and podcasts.Hard content includes brochures, power points, in-person meetups, etc.It really can depend on what you do and who your audience is. If you work at that soccer nonprofit then you might realize that your audience is youth and since you have dynamic active projects, you may want to collect mini-videos of the different projects you, testimonials of the youth, and share soccer related information. Then think of the main medium. Video, youth, and YouTube go hand-in-hand, so you start a YouTube channel with the full videos. But then you think, how can I repurpose this content for my Instagram page? So you take clips of these videos and share on social media. At some point you may even consider putting together all your videos into a documentary. Believe me, your chances of getting a grant to fund the documentary will be competitive if you can show some of your clips and statistics on your view/likes/comments rather than having none! In any case, you may have a funding source come to you because they came across one of your videos. These might be fun things to send to potential funding sources rather than just a brochure. However, if you just are not digging the E-world, then creating a brochure could be just as impactful. You could include the same content but just in a different format.Can you see the difference your nonprofit can make when having a ...

Dan Portnoy joins us to share how nonprofits can increase funding through the power of storytelling—just in time for Giving Tuesday. With decades of experience working with organizations and Fortune 500 companies, Dan explains how simplifying your message can create deeper connections with donors, how to assess your nonprofit’s story both internally and externally, and how strong narratives can break down barriers between donor cultivation and acquisition to drive real results.ABOUT OUR GUESTDan Portnoy is the founder of Portnoy Media Group and the author of The Non-Profit Narrative: How Telling Stories Can Change the World. With over two decades of experience, Dan has worked with Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits to help them refine their messaging, strengthen their storytelling, and achieve measurable growth. He is a sought-after expert known for helping teams clarify their ideas, navigate the digital landscape, and build compelling narratives that connect with audiences and inspire action.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTWebsites: Portnoy Media Group | Dan PortnoyOTHER 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.

Zac Woonsam joins us to share the real, behind-the-scenes journey of building and running a nonprofit, while Holly provides powerful, practical tips to help increase funding and secure more grants. Zac opens up about the inspiration behind Youth Inspiration Nation and how he teaches and empowers middle school students through aviation, including the logistics of teaching kids how to fly. We also dive into the realities of nonprofit work, funding challenges, and the downsides of offering free services, along with strategies to grow support—from building connections and writing press releases for visibility to transitioning from foundation grants to federal funding. Plus, Holly shares actionable advice on pursuing federal grants and what to do if you can’t yet afford a grant writer.ABOUT OUR GUESTZac Woonsam is the Executive Director of Youth Inspiration Nation Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to providing motivation, inspiration, and education through aviation—teaching kids how to fly. He founded the organization in 2017, and describes the journey as both incredibly challenging and deeply rewarding. Zac is passionate about inspiring the next generation and lives by his favorite saying: “If it was easy, it wouldn’t be any fun!”CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTWebsite: https://inspirekids.us/ Instagram & Facebook: @AviationEducation4KidsOTHER 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.

Matt Hugg’s passion is education, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to the nonprofit sector. In this episode, we explore how his platform, Nonprofit.Courses, provides access to over 300 free courses designed to help nonprofit professionals grow their skills and expand their impact.Matt shares how he got started with Nonprofit.Courses, his background in teaching and fundraising, and why nonprofit professionals must look beyond the “mission bubble” to build skills in areas like marketing, HR, and finance. We also dive into the fundamentals of successful fundraising, including the core elements every organization must have in place, common challenges nonprofits face, and how a simple, strategic formula can guide more effective fundraising efforts.ABOUT OUR GUESTMatt Hugg is the president and founder of Nonprofit.Courses, an on-demand, online educational platform for nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, and volunteers. He is also the author of The Guide to Nonprofit Consulting and teaches nonprofit management at universities and organizations around the world, including in the United States, Africa, Asia, and Europe.Matt has extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising and holds a BS from Juniata College and an MA in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTEmail: matthugg@nonprofitedu.comWebsite & Social: Nonprofit.CoursesBooks: Available on AmazonOTHER 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.

If you’re looking for fresh, creative fundraising ideas that actually work—you’re going to love this episode.Beaudy Camacho brings incredible energy and expertise as she shares how fundraising events can (and should!) be safe, fun, and profitable.In this conversation, we explore how Beaudy got started in fundraising and built her business, along with a wide variety of fundraising strategies your nonprofit can start using right away. From events and sponsorships to crowdfunding, contests, giveaways, and even loyalty programs, she breaks down different types of fundraisers and how to choose the right one for your organization.We also dive into practical tips for planning successful fundraising events, how to save time by leveraging expert strategies, and how to create memorable experiences that keep donors engaged. Plus, Beaudy shares ideas for seasonal fundraising (including what to focus on in November) and how to build a cohesive fundraising plan that supports your goals.If you’re ready to think outside the box and turn your passion into a paycheck, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable ideas.ABOUT OUR GUESTBeaudy Camacho is the founder of Fundforte, an events agency specializing in fundraising, special events, and custom parties. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the Small Business Administration’s 2018 Home-based Business Champion for the Island of Guam.Beaudy is passionate about helping organizations and individuals create impactful, memorable events while supporting meaningful causes. Through Fundforte, she also aims to give back to the community through educational resources, digital products, and programs that support underserved populations. Her future plans include offering online courses and coaching to help event planners, fundraiser coordinators, and creatives elevate their skills and impact.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTWebsite: www.fundforte.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.

In this episode, Holly Rustick dives into the importance of self-care—not as a luxury, but as a necessity for sustainable success. She shares practical strategies to help you take control of your time, reduce overwhelm, and stay productive without burning out. Holly breaks down how planning your week in advance can transform lingering, stressful to-do lists into clear, manageable action steps. She also discusses the power of saying no, setting boundaries, and protecting your time so you can focus on what truly matters. Finally, Holly emphasizes the importance of listening to your body, recognizing when you need rest, and allowing yourself to recharge so you can show up at your best. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or stretched too thin, this episode will give you simple, actionable ways to create balance and move forward with intention.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.

This is your chance to hear from someone who is 6 months into their grant writing business. Where could you be 6 months from now?Derrick and I discuss:Motto – “Resolve to have an impact on your community.”Derrick’s military experience His “why” for getting into grant writing and how he got startedBusiness started as a side hustle and is now full-time“Writing a grant is like writing a research paper and a business plan together.”How to use your experiences to develop a nicheOffering free services or volunteering to build relationshipsMoving from free services to getting paidOvercoming the difficult conversations associated with getting paidChallenges of owning a grant writing businessHiring freelancers or interns to help you with your businessBeing prepared for upcoming grantsDifferent pitches you can use to make connections and build even more relationshipsAdditional services you can offer in your businessDerrick’s Bio:Derrick Clark, M.A. Human Services Leadership, owner of DC Resolve Consulting and Proposal Writing. He is an Army Veteran who served 8 years as a combat medic with the 101st Airborne Division, current spouse of an Army Environmental Science Officer. He transitioned from active duty service nearly 5 years ago, completed undergraduate and graduate degrees to begin working with veteran service organizations ranging from homeless veteran and substance abuse case manager to managing regional veteran benefits programs.Derrick recently moved to Honolulu, HI and started a business that provides consulting and proposal/grant writing services to nonprofit organizations.  Currently, he works with San Antonio veteran nonprofits writing state grants, local foundation proposals, social media marketing and creating event flyers. Also, he recently began building a relationship with the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force to find out what needs they have. Connect with DerrickWebsite www.dcresolve.comEmail at dclark@dcresolve.comFacebook @DCResolveConsultingOTHER 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.

If you have a grant writing business, or you want to become a grant writer, then this interview is gold for you!Rodney and I discuss:Rodney’s background and how he got started with grantsFirst grant that he got fundedAt what point do grant writers get paidHow do you typically charge clients?Decide on your ideal clientHow do you provide value to clients?2 big things every business and organization has to doChallenges and solutions in his businessChanging your mindset – How failure became his best friendHow he got his very first grant writing clientBranding your business vs branding yourself (which should you do?)Is there enough room in the market for new grant writing businesses?Investing time in yourself vs investing time in your businessThe most valuable investment that you can make in yourself and your businessImproving your mindset to overcome the fear and doubtUsing a vision board to reinforce positive messagesRodney’s Top Quotes:“Be brave. Be bold. Be brilliant.”“The best way to get to success is through failure, and really, embracing failure”Rodney’s Bio:Rodney Walker is the President of Grant Central USA and is a highly sought-after, Grant Development Systems™ expert that helps thousands of organizations nationwide to get funded! With over 14,000 members in his online discussion group, he influences and inspires people to do a better job of telling their organizational stories to become more attractive to funders.He has helped his clients raise over $357 million in grants and conducts The Ultimate Grant Writing That Gets Funded training workshops nationwide to empower nonprofits, governmental agencies, and individuals on the best ways to secure grant money. They also host the Education Grants Conference that trains schools and districts on today’s best practices in winning educational grants at EducationGrantsConference.comA few of his clients have included United Way, Habitat for Humanity, The Magic Johnson Foundation, the Bush Foundation, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and numerous school districts and city governments. Other celebrity clients have included, Danny Glover and Ben Guillory.Rodney has appeared on ABC, NBC, and CBS News for his work in education and in hundreds of grant training videos and produces numerous award-winning resources at GrantCentralUSA.comHe is also the executive producer of Education Today, a channel dedicated to advancing, reporting and sharing education best practices and trends nationally to inspire school administrators, parents, and communities to excellence at K12EducationToday.comRodney has spoken and taught at several prestigious institutions including, Regis University, Oklahoma University, the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, California Polytechnic State University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Hawaii.He earned a Master of Business Administration and has a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin and has a leadership certificate from the University of Southern California. His works with schools and communities have garnered him awards and congressional recognition.During his free-time, Rodney enjoys traveling, listening to live music, salsa dancing, and going for adventure rides with his rooftop down throughout the greater Los Angeles area where he resides in Pasadena, California.Connect with Rodney:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneywalker180/Website: https://www.grantcentralusa.com/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.

**Get your Free Checklist Downloadable www.grantwritingandfunding.com/90 Are you looking for ways to increase money for your nonprofit, or nonprofits that you work with, that doesn’t include funding from grants? Diversifying streams of income for nonprofits is vital. Many clients, especially start-up nonprofits, may think that grants are the only type of funding that they can get. Today, you are going to learn many ways of creating products for your nonprofit. These ideas may help your nonprofit bring in extra revenue that is for operational funds. Why Nonprofit Products Sell You might say, “Ugh. Not another t-shirt for sale! We are competing with millions of others. Why would anyone buy our product?” The truth is that consumers are spending their money more and more these days, on items that make a difference. Consumers are realizing the power and voice in how they spend their dollars. We’ve seen a huge shift in the #shoppingforgood movement where consumers are comparing brands and shopping for items that are actually impacting the world in good ways. We see the reflection of how consumers are shopping with this conscious shopping in mind, especially among millennials. A really cool online platform is called The Good Shop, where you can shop online for thousands of brands and then choose where you want a portion of the profits to go. These nonprofit causes are vetted and show transparency. It is pretty cool! What Products Sell: Ideas for Goods/Products Backpacks / fanny packs Business Card Holders Coffee mugs / Flasks Cookies / Baked Goods Sweatshirts and sweaters Food Truck! (What, yeah!) Hats and caps Jewelry Luggage Tags Notebooks Phone covers Purses Stuffed animals / plushies Tote bags T-shirts Wallets How Products Sell Start Small You’ll want to start small and test the market. Instead of investing thousands into a food truck or converting a kitchen into a commercial kitchen, maybe you test your cookies on a small scale first. Test out what types of cookies sell and unique recipes. Do a survey Put together some product ideas and ask your followers or community what they like and would purchase! This can easily be some mock-ups of different items and price points. If they won’t buy, make sure you ask them why not without badgering them. The feedback will help with your business design! Get Start-Up Capital There are 5 different ways to get capital to help you with developing the products: Pre-Ordering, Corporate investment, Small Business Administration, Grants, and Crowdfunding campaigns. Now is a great time to create products for your nonprofit. Consumers want to engage with your branding and to shop for good reasons. They need clothes, so why not advertise their ethics on their clothing? This will also raise the reach of your branding as often clothes with a great message or interesting logo can start conversations which lead to sharing the nonprofit’s mission. Please share your different product ideas by tagging us @grantwriting_funding on Instagram! I’m SUPER excited about next week’s post! I interviewed Mr. Rodney Walker, President of Grant Central USA. He is absolutely amazing and has helped secure well over $300 million for nonprofits. He also has a super active community on LinkedIn and is one of the most positive individuals I have ever met! Don’t forget to grab the FREE downloadable from last week’s episode! Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @grantwriting_funding

Is your nonprofit ready to earn income?“What?? But we’re a nonprofit. We can’t earn income!”Oh, yes you can! Just because you are a nonprofit organization does not mean that you cannot earn income. Nonprofit doesn’t mean ‘no’ profit. It simply means you take the profit and put it back into the organization.However, you do have to make sure that anything you do to earn income directly relates to the mission of your nonprofit. For example, if your nonprofit is an animal shelter and you start raising revenue by providing human resource services for solo entrepreneurs, it may not be a good fit. Offering pet rentals for connecting with senior citizens may be a better way of raising revenue.Of course, if you do find something that is a great income generator and isn’t related to your mission, your nonprofit may still be able to do it, but it might not be ‘tax-exempt’ income; i.e. you may have to pay taxes on it.Before we get into earned income, if you would like more information about other types of revenue for nonprofits be sure to check out episode 90! There is an amazing FREE downloadable included! www.grantwritingandfunding.com/90.As with anyone wanting to get income for offering services or products, first the nonprofit needs to develop a business plan! Eek! Even a nonprofit needs a business plan?Yes! Actually, you should’ve developed one before you became incorporated, but it might not have happened or maybe your nonprofit has changed a lot since that amazing day!So what do you need to know?Well, what your nonprofit can provide and what the market will pay for. This is the basic supply/demand model.We aren’t going to go into a crazy business plan, but I am going to give you some examples so you can get some ideas for your nonprofit!  Try to keep in mind the idea of supply and demand as you read through these.I might share something that sounds amazing and you think would work for your nonprofit, but first test it on a small-scale before you invest crazy time and money into it!General ServicesAccording to MissionBox, a fee-for-service approach for nonprofits is defined as “nonprofit uses its earnings to support its mission and prioritizes benefit to the community over profits. Your organization can grow financial sustainability with a fee-for-service model.”Case Study: YMCAThey are a hybrid as they offer Membership programs (see below) for their services. These services include workout classes, community classes, a gym, etc.Examples:Classes on gardening (or other specialized skill! Painting, etc)ConsultingCounselingManagementMarketingHuman resourcesIT skillsMembershipsI see a lot of 501(c)6 nonprofits utilizing the basic membership service approach. For example, a Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, etc. may charge individuals, nonprofits, and corporations a fee to enjoy the membership of the organization.I typically see fees for membership at a flat rate. Other times, there is a sliding fee based on how much revenue your business has, or how many individuals in your business or nonprofit will benefit from the membership. Advantages of individuals, nonprofits, and businesses signing up for memberships could be specialized training, networking, advertising, and other opportunities.Case Study: Guam Women’s Chamber of CommerceI serve on the board at the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce and our operations are mainly funded through membership dues. This provides funding for the executive director and other types of administrative costs.Examples:Other types of incentives for membership fees include the members getting:A monthly magazineWeekly newsletterDiscounts to fundraisers or affiliates organizationsMember-only eventsThink of art museums, nature societies, or other nonprofits that offer these types of memberships. Maybe you have an animal shelter and include a membership where members get monthly pictures of the animals, free admission to the annual doggy 5K race, or other exclusive or informational opportunities.Tuition FeesThis is commonly associated with universities, but you could also think of this if your nonprofit is (or can!) offer any knowledge sessions.Nonprofit colleges and schools do charge tuition fees! Just because it is a nonprofit college doesn’t mean it is dirt cheap tuition fees, either!Case Study: Many USA UniversitiesExamples:University of Southern CaliforniaGeorgetown UniversityBoston UniversityUniversity of BostonTo name a few. Check out more!Speaking Engagements / AppearancesYour executive director, people who serve on your board of directors, or even some of your volunteers probably have amazing stories!Of course, all won’t necessarily be offered a financial contribution to be speakers, but some might be.  Building up to speak at national or international conferences can include a nice side income. But even speaking at local trade associations or chambers can produce some money.Case Study: Bethany HamiltonBethany is a surfer from Hawaii who lost her arm during a shark attack while surfing. I actually remember this day as I lived on O’ahu at the time and the word traveled very quickly (even though she was on a different Hawaiian island). Even though she lost her arm, she returned to surfing and has won many competitions.She also started a group, “Friends of Bethany” where they have speaking engagements and conferences. They charge fees for some of these events/speaking engagements to fund their efforts of helping other amputees and shark attack survivors.Examples:Get paid to speak at the following:National Conferences (in your field)Rotary ClubsChamber EventsUniversity EventsCity College EventsHere’s a Directory of AssociationsRenting out SpaceDoes your nonprofit have a building or physical space? Are you utilizing the space at all times? Well even if you’re not, your are paying for rent 24/7!If you aren’t utilizing the space at all times, you may consider renting out some of that unused space! You could rent out to other nonprofits or individuals to run workshops, AA groups, training, or even baby showers!Maybe your office is closed on the weekends, but a smaller house church would love to rent out your conference room on Sundays? Or maybe you have a beautiful garden area outside (or real quick want to create one!) and you can rent it out for weddings or photoshoots?<...