Good writing within any organization should not reflect any one individual’s personality, even though some days we want to add a little flair just for fun. All your organization’s writing needs a united identity, a…
Browsing CategoryGrant Writing Tips and Best Practices
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…
Why Strategic Plans Are the Secret Weapon in Successful Grant Writing
Guest post by By Jodi Omear and Margaret Chapman, JaM Strategies Grant writing isn’t just about compelling narratives or clean budgets. It’s about proof. Funders want evidence that your organization knows where it’s going, how…
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…
Thankuary: The beauty (and necessity) of pure thanking
Our awesome colleagues at The Better Fundraising Co. created “Thankuary” approximately seven years ago. As a grant recipient, you might already know of it and even practice its wise tenets annually. (No, it’s not…
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…
How to Inspire Grant Reviewers the Way a Filmmaker Inspires Audiences
We were thrilled to be a part of the 2025 Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in San Diego this November! Not only did our President, Diane Leonard, present—but also, inspiration was wildly abundant. Lots of folks who…