“When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.” – Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection I have high standards and expectations. They absolutely apply to myself and…
Posts Published byDiane Leonard, GPC, RST
Set Boundaries
“Boundaries are basically about providing structure, and structure is essential in building anything that thrives.” – Henry Cloud I’ll be the first to admit that setting and keeping boundaries are two distinct skills that…
Are You Wearing the Burnout Badge?
There is only one type of badge I like to wear for work – a conference badge. Yes, the kind on a lanyard with the option to add pins to the lanyard and ribbons to…
Is It Fun?
I joined the Rotary Club of Clayton this past summer. But before I formally joined, I attended numerous meetings as a guest to learn about the work of our local club and to see if…
The State of AI in Grantmaking: Adoption, Ambiguity, and the Urgent Need for Policy*
The conversation around Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the philanthropic sector has shifted from “if” to “how.” A recent survey the DH Leonard Consulting team conducted exploring the use of AI among grantmakers and grantseekers, reveals…
2026 Word of the Year for Grants
What do you think the “Grants Word of the Year” is for 2026? You thought I was going to say “AI,” didn’t you? Well, technically that would have been two words, but regardless, nope….
20 Things I Have Learned in Running a Grant Writing Business
20 years. DH Leonard Consulting has been focused on taking the stress out of grants for nonprofit organizations for more than two decades. It is hard to believe. I guess time does fly when you’re…
Feedback – What Matters Most? Funder’s Feedback AFTER or Fresh Eyes from Colleagues BEFORE?
Everyone wants funder feedback…. We do too. BUT if you wait for funder feedback after a decision has been made about your proposal, it is too late. Nearly always, when grant professionals request…
3,500 reasons to give…
I had you there, right? You were wondering if it was a well-intentioned Giving Tuesday blog posted a few days late… I promise, it’s not! Rather, it is the opening to a story of a…
Gaining a Different Perspective about Storytelling in Fundraising
When I speak at the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference, I am usually the only speaker talking about grants and storytelling (with the exception of the awesome Frank Velasquez), as the other speakers like Steven Screen, Tammy…