Don't Let Grants Stress You Out
How many of you knew by age 12 that you wanted to be a grant professional when you grew up? I’m guessing no one, because who even knew this was a profession when we were in middle school? Maybe your kids know now, but if they are anything like mine, they think it is the most boring profession in the world. My two have no…
Dear Experienced Grant Writer: I want to be a grant writer but only have 1 year of experience. How would you suggest gaining more experience? Dear year old grant writer, I would recommend reaching out to a local/regional nonprofit that you are passionate about the mission for, explain that you are new in your grant writing career, and ask if you can assist in…
We know that many grant professionals read a wide range of genres for both pleasure, but also for inspiration related to their professional work. So I suppose I shouldn’t have been as surprised by the large number of responses my request for book recommendations in our recent newsletter garnered in responses. I didn’t want to keep them all to myself, therefore, I present you…
You know the exact feeling I am talking about. You just got the email from a funder announcing the next round of grant applications, including an accompanying workshop. Even if it’s not mandatory, you feel obligated to attend. Even though you have written this grant every year for the past five years. Even though you get awarded every year. Even though the workshop has been…
Atlanta traffic is a stone-cold fact. Explosive population growth, aging roads over capacity, and an insufficient public transit system united to spawn snarls of bumper-to-bumper traffic that has spilled over from traditional rush hours. Getting mad at traffic between 2 and 6:30 p.m. is like getting angry at the heat and humidity here in the summertime. Go ahead and feel all your feels, but it…
Anytime I lead a grant writing workshop, I always ask the attendees to share their grant experience – whether they’ve been a grant professional for years and are looking for a refresher or if they’ve been voluntold that grants are now under their preview. Many workshop attendees admit that two days ago their boss told them to start looking for and writing grants because they…
Maybe it’s human nature. Maybe it’s cultural. Maybe it’s Maybelline. But seriously, why have I wasted so much time thinking in strict dichotomies? Either/or thinking has stopped or slowed some major career choices such as employee vs. consultant, grants vs. fundraising, grant writing vs. coaching or training. The best experiences in my personal and professional life have come from navigating the gray spaces that often…
SPOILER ALERT: More grant funding is not the answer. Listen. I get it. I have been funding projects and programs with grants for the last 21 years, and I despise the sustainability question. If I were brutally honest, my answer to that question would sound like this: Look, dear funder, I appreciate that you are thinking ahead. It’s smart. But right now, I’m in…
Did you play a sport growing up? Participate in the high school musical? Play in the school band? Belong to a school club? These are all great examples of how it takes a team to achieve a goal. Fast forward to your work as a grant professional. Have you been asked “if you can’t just write it?” in regards to an application?…
In September 2020 I penned an article entitled Battling Burnout as a Grant Professional where I shared several resources to help overcome the struggle. My number one suggestion was communication and transparency with your supervisor, because if you are not open and honest with your struggles, how can they be expected to improve the situation? A good boss can ease the burden, help determine the…