Grant Writing & 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?<...

**Get your Free Checklist Downloadable https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/90 Do you feel like earning revenue for your nonprofit or the nonprofit you work with is REALLY difficult? Do you feel like there is NO money left? Are you tired of only going after grants for revenue or approaching the same darn corporate sponsors as every other nonprofit? These may be signs that your nonprofit, or the one you are working with, may not be healthy when it comes to funding. But the fact is that most nonprofit executive directors, and many boards of directors, don’t have MBAs or know how to operate a business. Different Types of Revenue Streams for Nonprofits 1. Fees for Services or Goods (Products) 2.Grants 3. Fundraising 4. Corporate Solicitations 5. Individual Charitable Contributions 6. Crowdfunding Campaigns 7. Emerging Social Capital 8. Influencers 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

Alexis Cook, Co-Founder and Co-President of Unlocked, joins us to share the inspiring story behind her ethical jewelry brand that empowers women transitioning out of homelessness. She walks us through how Unlocked was built from the ground up while she was still a student at Vanderbilt, how market research shaped their business model, and how they partner with nonprofits to create meaningful employment opportunities. We also explore why they chose a for-profit structure, how they’ve scaled and gained national recognition, their approach to product design and pricing for inclusivity, and how nonprofits and for-profits can collaborate to create lasting social impact.ABOUT OUR GUESTAlexis Cook is the Co-Founder and Co-President of Unlocked, an ethical jewelry brand based in Nashville, Tennessee, that employs and empowers women transitioning out of homelessness. She was an Ingram Scholar at Vanderbilt University, where she studied Human and Organizational Development and Economics. Alexis co-founded Unlocked during her undergraduate years and transitioned into running the company full-time after graduating in 2018. Since then, Unlocked has grown rapidly and has been featured in publications such as the Social Enterprise Alliance and News Channel 5.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.

The final step in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula is "S," Strategic budget. I am going to show you how to create a strategic budget that you can use for every single grant that you write. By the end of the episode, you will have the tools to create an amazing budget. Having a simple and unified budget format could save you hundreds of hours of frustration. Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'll get Holly's proven, step-by-step system that has helped her secured millions of dollars for nonprofits over the last 15 years, as well as eliminate wasted hours as a consultant. Create extraordinary grants while minimizing your time writing grants! 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

The fifth step in the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula is "T," Timetable your Activities. Activities describe what you are going to do, but a timetable will show a clear delineation of each activity, who is responsible for ensuring that it happens when it will happen, and how each activity will be measured. The actual table also helps to break up all the WORDS in your application. You must include the following in your table: Description of the activity, Lead person who will be responsible for the activity, Start date of the activity, End date of the activity, and Measurement of success. Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'll get Holly's proven, step-by-step system that has helped her secured millions of dollars for nonprofits over the last 15 years, as well as eliminate wasted hours as a consultant. Create extraordinary grants while minimizing your time writing grants! 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

The fourth step for setting up a winning grant structure is "N," Narrowing Your Objectives. In just 5 easy steps, we can take your objective from a wish to a plan! Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'll get Holly's proven, step-by-step system that has helped her secured millions of dollars for nonprofits over the last 15 years, as well as eliminate wasted hours as a consultant. Create extraordinary grants while minimizing your time writing grants! 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

The third step for setting up a winning grant structure is "A," Articulate Goals. I'll show you step by step how to write a goal that aligns with the priorities of the funding source. Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'll get Holly's proven, step-by-step system that has helped her secured millions of dollars for nonprofits over the last 15 years, as well as eliminate wasted hours as a consultant. Create extraordinary grants while minimizing your time writing grants! 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

The second step for setting up a winning grant structure is "R," Research Needs. I'll teach you exactly how to use research to explain specifically WHY your project is needed. Want a free downloadable CHEAT SHEET and mini, video-series (five day mini video course!)? Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and get it NOW. You'll get Holly's proven, step-by-step system that has helped her secured millions of dollars for nonprofits over the last 15 years, as well as eliminate wasted hours as a consultant. Create extraordinary grants while minimizing your time writing grants! 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

Introducing the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula – Your Key to Writing Efficient GrantsAre you ready to revolutionize your grant writing process?Look no further than the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula, a proven framework designed to enhance your grant writing skills and create a competitive grant structure. Developed to address the challenges faced by grant writers, this formula will guide you from a blank page to a well-structured grant proposal in no time.Let’s dive into the details of the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula, starting with the “G” – Get the FOA or RFP and Use it as a Template.A Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), or Request for Proposal (RFP), provides essential information on how funding agencies want grant applications to be written. Each FOA or RFP is unique, with its own set of requirements and guidelines.By thoroughly reading and understanding the FOA or RFP, you can use its criteria as headers in your grant application, ensuring alignment with the funding agency’s expectations.This will get you over the ‘blank staring at a screen’ that many beginner grant writers find themselves.During this initial step, you’ll familiarize yourself with the mission, eligibility criteria, deadlines, technical requirements, and sections to be addressed in the grant application. Additionally, you’ll have access to scoring criteria and contact information for any clarifications.I’ve received many emails from people saying that they’re struggling with the learning process of writing grants and gaining experience with grant writing. This formula will help you achieve exactly that! It will also help you go from staring at a blank page and being overwhelmed, to having a draft developed in no time at all!Let’s get into some of those tricks with our “G” from the G.R.A.N.T.S. Formula.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 RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox.  https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship 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.

Learn about the process of submitting an IRB application with special guest Dr. Deborah Ellen. Dr. Ellen is Assistant Professor of Education at Guam Community College and active member of the Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association and co-chair of newly formed non-profit - Talaya Micronesia. 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