Grant Writer’s Blog

Key Takeaways for the GWBC Session as a Seasoned Grant Professional

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Key Takeaways for the GWBC Session as a Seasoned Grant Professional

Recently, I attended MyFedTrainer’s Grant Writing Boot Camp (GWBC) hosted by our team’s founder and President, Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST. Having written many federal grants in the past, I was excited to hear insights from another seasoned grant professional. There was helpful new information provided, as well as important reminders to remember when working on federal grant applications. Some of those takeaways are below:…

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Don’t Let “Perfect” Be the Enemy Of Good Grant Writing

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perfect

Once upon a time, in a cubicle far, far away, I saw an announcement for a senior grant writing position at a national organization. At first glance, it seemed like a dream job. Then, I read further. Under the qualifications heading, it stated that they were looking for a grant writer who never made a mistake—that perfection was the goal for every grant submitted. What…

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Dear Private Funders, Take a Cue from the Feds, Pretty Please

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Dear Private Funders, Take a Cue from the Feds, Pretty Please

I do not claim to have all the answers, but after two decades of grant writing, I know a thing or two about how funders operate. And like most grant professionals, I have thoughts and feelings on how this world of philanthropy can improve.   No matter what you think about the United States government these days, one thing I hope we can all agree…

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High Energy Motivation for Grant Writers

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High Energy Motivation for Grant Writers

Have you ever heard a Jock Jams song (Jock Jams were compilation albums released between 1995 and 1999)?    Maybe a single song like “I Like to Move It?”  Jock Jams – I Like to Move it   Or the very popular Mega Mix? Jock Jams MegaMix   These are songs that are sure to inspire and fire up the players at a sporting event…

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What Can a Grant Professional Do to Further DEI? A lot, actually…

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What Can a Grant Professional Do to Further DEI?

I took the helm as President of the Grant Professionals Association on January 1, 2020. Our membership was climbing. Our annual conference was selling out often. The educational offerings provided by the organization were growing, too, in terms of the number and type of courses as well as the level of content. I was looking forward to an incredible year, ready to build relationships with…

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Educating Up to Streamline the Grant Writing Process

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Educating Up to Streamline the Grant Writing Process

Most people fall into grant writing almost by chance. Maybe someone recognized your writing skills and voila! You were “voluntold.” Perhaps you were coordinating a community program or project for a nonprofit or local government and needed a way to sustain those important efforts. Either way, those writing skills drew you in. It makes sense, given the most common way to describe the process is…

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Re-“View”ing How to Win BIL Grants

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Re-“View”ing How to Win BIL Grants

My Fundraising HayDay podcast co-host and dear friend Amanda Day experienced a new way of looking at things during a recent vacation. While the new ice cream flavors and beautiful seascapes she discovered along the coast of Maine must have been breathtaking, a singular revelation came to her as she squinted at her phone. A friend noticed her discomfort and lent her reading glasses—literally changing…

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What Does True Collaboration Look Like?

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What Does True Collaboration Look Like?

Collaboration is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot, especially in the grant world. We all like to think we collaborate with our fellow nonprofits, local governments, and other neighbors, but do we really?   True collaboration, simply put, is so much more than support. It brings knowledge, money, staff, and resources to bear for the mutual benefit of two or more…

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Summer Reading and Federal RFPs

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Summer Reading and Federal RFPs

One of my favorite things about the summer is the free time. I do not have to cart my kids around to practice, help with homework, or stick to the school year’s schedule. That extra time is spent doing all the things we love: watching the summer blockbuster movies, enjoying laidback days with friends, and experiencing an adventure or two.   For me, summer always…

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The Right Time to Apply for a Grant

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The Right Time to Apply for a Grant

The check-in meeting had already run an hour over. Together, we navigated the choppy seas of registration through login.gov, sam.gov, and grants.gov for the executive director (ED) and the chief development officer.  I was discussing a complex program packaging for a client’s first foray into larger-scale federal funding. After extensive prospect research, we had identified this opportunity and added it to the grants calendar. It…

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