Grant Writing Simplified: Recent Episodes
Teresa Huff
The world needs you to step forward as a grant writer and lead with confidence. I’ll teach you how. Welcome to the Grant Writing Simplified podcast where you’ll learn how to scale your income AND impact through grant writing and nonprofit consulting.
I’m Teresa Huff, former special ed teacher turned grant writer and nonprofit strategist. I’m here to mentor freelancers and nonprofit leaders like you who are ready for a fulfilling, flexible career while leveraging your skills, growing your earning potential, AND making a big impact on the world around you. I’ll teach you the strategies I’ve used to help nonprofits triple their funding. Let’s work together to change your world!
In this shorter, experimental format episode of Grant Writing Simplified, Teresa shares insights on the importance of asking different questions to navigate challenges in the nonprofit sector. Drawing from her experiences leading workshops and serving as a sounding board for nonprofit leaders, Teresa encourages listeners to step back from their frustrations and conventional problem-solving approaches. She emphasizes the value of exploring problems more deeply and considering alternatives to the status quo, without necessarily seeking immediate solutions. Teresa challenges you to apply this approach in your team discussions and collaborative efforts, suggesting that asking the right questions can unlock new paths forward. She also references her TEDx talk for further exploration of this topic and teases future interviews and resources aimed at aiding nonprofit strategies and grant writing careers. 00:00 What do you think of this format? 00:21 Preparing for a Nonprofit Workshop: Insights and Challenges 01:01 The Power of Asking Different Questions 02:11 A Challenge to Think Differently 02:40 TEDx Talk and Upcoming Resources 03:17 Encouragement and Closing Thoughts Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: https://teresahuff.com/share-quiz/
Social:
- https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12544635/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/huffteresa/
- https://www.instagram.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://youtube.com/@grantwritingsimplified
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
In this episode, I'm doing something a little different. I was recently invited to be a podcast guest on the Marketer of the Day podcast by Robert Plank and I was happy to do that. It was such a fun conversation. He asked such really good questions that I thought, why not share it here with you as well! We talk about grant writing, nonprofit strategies, and making a lasting impact in communities through grant opportunities. We also address how important it is to build solid relationships with grantmakers to achieve success. I think you're going to love this episode!
On this episode:
Introduction Flipping the Script Diving Deep into Grant Writing The Art of Grant Writing: Making an Impact Success Stories and Strategies in Nonprofit Funding The Process and Strategy Behind Effective Grant Writing Expanding Your Grant Writing Skills and Network Final Thoughts and How to Connect Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: https://teresahuff.com/share-quiz/
Social:
- https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12544635/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/huffteresa/
- https://www.instagram.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://youtube.com/@grantwritingsimplified
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Book a 1:1 strategy call with Teresa Huff: www.teresahuff.com/mentor In this episode of the Grant Writing Simplified Podcast, I have a fascinating conversation with Chris Ekimoff, a forensic accountant specializing in litigation consulting and forensic accounting services. Chris discusses the importance of financial vigilance and proactiveness in nonprofits to prevent fraud and financial mismanagement. He emphasizes that it's not about fostering suspicion but about creating awareness and setting up good systems, checks, and balances. We touch upon various topics, including the value of having financial or legal professionals on nonprofit boards, the necessity of self-awareness and admitting organizational weaknesses, and the idea of 'trust but verify' to maintain a healthy and transparent nonprofit culture. We advocate for collaboration among nonprofits to learn and grow together, emphasizing that it's not a competitive but a collective mission to serve communities better. This conversation is aimed at helping nonprofits understand the significance of good financial practices and how to implement them to ensure their organization's and mission's sustainability. 00:00 Welcome and Workshop Announcement 00:47 Introducing Forensic Accounting with Chris Ekimoff 03:36 Chris Ekimoff's Unique Background and Forensic Accounting Explained 05:01 The Importance of Forensic Accounting in Nonprofits 13:32 Practical Steps for Nonprofits to Prevent Fraud 19:58 The Balance of Trust and Compliance in Nonprofit Culture 27:25 Navigating Your Career with Skiing Wisdom 28:18 Strategic Planning for Nonprofits 31:23 The Power of Collaboration in the Nonprofit Sector 33:57 Elevating Nonprofit Impact: Moving Upstream 37:31 Cultivating a Culture of Openness and Improvement 45:56 Leveraging Professional and Personal Resources 48:20 Connecting and Sharing Resources for Nonprofit Success Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: https://teresahuff.com/share-quiz/
Social:
- https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12544635/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/huffteresa/
- https://www.instagram.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://youtube.com/@grantwritingsimplified
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Book a 1:1 strategy call with Teresa Huff: www.teresahuff.com/mentor
The Crucial Role of Data in Non-profit Grant Funding
In this episode, I'm diving deep into why data collection and tracking are absolute game-changers for non-profit organizations, especially when it comes to snagging those crucial grant funds. I'm all about getting the full picture, which means not just crunching numbers but also capturing those heartwarming stories that truly showcase our impact.
I'll walk you through a handy five-question guide to evaluate your current data practices, because let's face it, we can always level up.
From day one, I'm all about data – using it to back up our relevance, measure our progress, and guide our decisions at every turn. We'll also chat about how to navigate those pesky constraints in data collection and even how to weave stories seamlessly into our data narrative. Plus, we'll explore techniques for tracking trends and spotting behavior change.
Stick around as we cover data-driven goodness from start to finish!
00:00 Introduction and Webinar Recap
00:48 The Importance of Data in Grant Applications
01:41 The Role of Data in Nonprofit Operations
02:01 When and How to Start Collecting Data
02:57 The ROI Framework and Data
04:01 Understanding Internal and External Data
04:26 Quantitative vs Qualitative Data
05:51 Challenges in Data Collection and Creative Solutions
08:24 Using Data to Inform Programs and Engage Stakeholders
08:42 Five Questions to Evaluate Your Data Collection
Challenge Question:
Is your data reflecting a realistic picture of your impact? If not, do you need to adjust?
Read the full show notes: www.teresahuff.com/149
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: https://teresahuff.com/share-quiz/
Social:
- https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12544635/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/huffteresa/
- https://www.instagram.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://www.pinterest.com/grantwritingsimplified/
- https://youtube.com/@grantwritingsimplified
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
As we dive into the hustle of year-end activities, the race to finish strong is on for nonprofit leaders, grant writers, and consultants. In this busy season, we need to recognize that finishing well may mean finishing with rest and recovery.
Let's take a cue from coaches and explore the strategic use of timeouts to navigate the challenges and finish the year on a high note.
Acknowledge the Chaos: Embrace the Timeout
The year-end rush can often feel like a relentless marathon. Acknowledge the chaos, and don't be afraid to embrace a timeout. Recognizing the need for a breather is not a sign of weakness, but rather a strategic move to ensure your team sustains momentum. This is even true if you’re a team of one.
Team Focus: Pay Attention to Needs
Whether you're leading a team or flying solo, pay close attention to the needs of those around you. A timeout isn't just for your benefit; it's an opportunity to assess the collective energy and well-being of your team. Understanding their needs ensures you're all on the same page and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
Timeout Lessons from Coaches
To top off the busy holiday season, many people are involved in sports as well. We can borrow a lesson from coaches and the 5 common reasons they call a timeout during the game:
- Break the Momentum
- Change Your Strategy
- Correct Mistakes
- Rest
- Motivate Your Players
Sometimes, a timeout is more than just a break. It's a chance to regroup, refocus, and deliver a pep talk that motivates your team for the challenges that lie ahead.
Timeout Wisdom: Not Giving Up, but Leveling Up
Calling a timeout isn't the equivalent of throwing in the towel. On the contrary, it's a smart and strategic move.
As the year draws to a close, remember that effective leadership involves knowing when to push forward and when to pause. So, take that timeout, recharge, and set the stage for a successful finish to the year.
To read today's full episode: The Power of Pause: 5 Reasons to Call Timeout in Your Nonprofit
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
Do you need to call a timeout?
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Celebrating Three Years of Grant Writing Simplified
It’s been three years since I launched the Grant Writing Simplified Podcast, and it’s been an amazing journey. The show has over 100,000 downloads from over 140 countries across six continents. I’ve made friends all over the world and we’ve come together as a community. I’m incredibly grateful for my team’s hard work and dedication in making the show possible.
Shifting the Conversations Around Nonprofit Work
In the world of grants, we need to think beyond just the money. If you've listened to my TEDx talk, we need to focus on the Return on Impact (ROI). Funders need to know they will get a return for investing in your nonprofit.
To build a successful ROI, nonprofits need to be Relevant, Optimized, and Interact authentically. Once we lock all three of those in, that's when we can really make progress and we can get results around our impact. It's important that we are helping people understand that. Nonprofits play an important role in educating the world about their mission. Grants aren’t a quick fix; nonprofit work is a long game.
There's an urgency now more than ever to support nonprofits, to shift some things in the sector, to change the conversations around nonprofit work. I can't do it myself. But I can help give you the tools, the ideas, the verbiage and help you become more comfortable with the conversations. I talked to a lot of nonprofit leaders, grant writers, and consultants. There's a need to shift the conversation about how we support nonprofits, how we support funding, how we show up.
I get a lot of questions about grants from nonprofits who have heard, “Oh, you should get grant funding. There are grants out there that'll fix everything.” Ouch! There seems to be this mindset that grants are the easy answer, when in reality that's getting a little bit ahead of themselves if they don't have the other pieces in place. Many nonprofits still have some work to do in this area. I know that's hard to hear a little bit of tough love, but some time invested in the right things can really pay off down the road.
Grants aren't a quick fix; they're not quick money. They're not an overnight way to fund your nonprofit. They're a really small part of a much bigger fundraising plan, and you need those pieces in place. Grants are more of a long-term seed planting and cultivating to build those relationships over time to build out your strategy effectively.
An old proverb says, “Be not afraid of growing slowly; be only afraid of standing still. Growing slowly produces deep roots.” That's true in this context as well. With nonprofit work and with grants, it does take time just like planting seeds. You can't be digging them up and checking them every day to see if the seeds are growing. You have to tend and cultivate and water and let the seeds do their work. Same with grants and nonprofits, We have to cultivate and care for them and provide the right environment and the right conditions.
Booking a Mentor-On-Call Strategy Call
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants, then a Mentor On Call Strategy Call may be a helpful next step. You can book a one on one Zoom call with me to get feedback on any questions you may have and access to an expert. You’ll get clear action steps to keep moving forward and new strategies to level up.
Holiday Zoom Party
To celebrate the holidays, I’m hosting a Holiday Zoom Party! This is a chance to hang out on Zoom, ask mentor questions, share stories about grants, and celebrate the holidays together. Be sure to sign up for my email list or message me on LinkedIn to get an invitation to the Zoom Party.
To read today's full episode: Celebrating Three Years of Grant Writing Simplified
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
What do you need to have in place before you start looking for grants? Join us for the Holiday Zoom Party and let’s chat about it!
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Interested in hopping on a small group call with me? Sign up at www.teresahuff.com/help and I’ll keep you in the loop!
Unlocking Grant Funding: Moving Beyond Ideas and Building Impactful Programs
As summer winds down, I’m seeing renewed energy in the world of fundraising and grants. With this transition, a common question is echoing through conversations—both in my inbox and across online forums. It goes something like this, "I've got an amazing idea. Can I get a grant to fund it?” Or others ask, “Why aren't funders supporting my groundbreaking idea?"
Let’s dig into this topic and shed light on why grantmakers seek more than just brilliant ideas. We’ll explore the art of turning ideas into impactful programs, a journey that requires Relevance, Optimization, and Interaction.
The Power of Moving Beyond Ideas
Remembering my TEDx talk and our recent episodes, you might remember the three pillars of building your ROI: Relevant, Optimize, and Interact. These pillars pave the way for a tangible Return on Impact. Ideas, while important sparks, are only the beginning. The question is: Is your idea Relevant, is it Optimized for action, and are you actively Interacting with others in authentic ways to gather their input?
Ideas: The Starting Point
Ideas are like stars in the sky—plentiful and enchanting. We all have them, and they're often fleeting. Just as you might contemplate getting ice cream after dinner, ideas come and go. But securing grant funding requires more than fleeting notions. It necessitates a solid, active program in motion.
From Ideas to Relevance: The Story of Dooshima
Let's rewind a bit to a strategy call I had with Dooshima. She had an incredible idea—a passion born from personal experience, a desire to transform maternal healthcare in rural communities. However, she faced the challenge of translating that passion into a program that grantmakers could champion. The story resonates because countless people are brimming with such stories of need and possibility.
Listen to the episode to hear Dooshima's question and my advice to her.
Elevating Your Impact with Strategy Calls
Don't stress if you're at the idea stage—that’s an exciting beginning. All good programs start with ideas. If you're seeking direction, strategy calls can be your guiding light. In these sessions we’ll map out a clear roadmap, transforming your ideas into actionable steps. Whether you're starting from scratch or amplifying an existing program, strategy calls provide the momentum you need to make a real difference.
Embrace Change and Spark Transformation
As you navigate the world of grants and funding, remember that your idea is just the start. Embrace the journey of turning that idea into a program that's rooted in Relevance, Optimized for success, and backed by meaningful Interactions. Grant funding isn't just about receiving financial support—it's about igniting change, improving lives, and leaving a lasting impact. So, let's roll up our sleeves, build those impactful programs, and together, let's change the world for the better.
To read today's full episode: From Ideas to Impact: Unveiling the Key to Successful Grant Funding****
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
What’s one idea where you need to take action? Let me know and we’ll brainstorm together!
And if you need extra support, book a call at www.teresahuff.com/mentor.
Resources:
- Episode 96 - Nonprofit Strategy Call: Gaining Clarity for a Nonprofit’s Next Steps
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Interested in hopping on a small group call with me? Sign up at www.teresahuff.com/help and I’ll keep you in the loop!
We Constantly Talk About Learning. But What About Unlearning?
We all know lifelong learning matters. I'm constantly encouraging you to pick up new skills, strategies, and ways of thinking to stay sharp and relevant. But here's the thing—sometimes we need to let go of the old to make room for the new. As crucial as learning is, unlearning may be just as vital to our growth and ability to adapt.
When We're Stuck, It's Often Because We Need to Unlearn
I was thinking about this the other day and realized that when we try implementing new things but just can't move forward, it could be because we need to unlearn outdated habits or mindsets blocking our progress. If we want to reach the next level personally or professionally, we likely need to release our white-knuckled grip on the status quo. Because here's the hard truth: what got you here won't necessarily get you there. And what got you here will also keep you here.
Pursuing Innovation May Require Unlearning
For example, as you learn exciting new tools and strategies (like AI!), approach them with openness to unlearn any preconceived notions or processes that may close you off to new breakthroughs or ways of working. Don't let fear of the unknown prevent you from trying something new.
Signs You May Need to Unlearn Something:
- You complain about being stuck but keep doing the same things
- You resist feedback or suggestions from others
- You feel overwhelmed trying to learn new skills on top of old ones
- You find yourself thinking "I already know this" rather than actively listening
Why Unlearning Matters
The bottom line? Lifelong learning matters—and lifelong unlearning does too. Progress requires releasing comfortable but constraining ways of thinking and doing to create space for the new. Reexamine your assumptions, habits, and beliefs through curiosity, not defensiveness.
Unlearning Propels You Forward
Unlearning isn't easy, but it can propel you forward. By letting go, you make room for progress to grow. I believe in you, my friends!
To read today's full episode: The Art of Letting Go: Why Unlearning is as Important as Learning
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Questions:
- What old habits or mindsets can you let go of to pursue breakthroughs?
- Where might you be clinging to the status quo out of fear?
- How can you become more open to feedback and growth?
I’d love to hear about your work, so shoot me an email and let’s chat!
Resources Mentioned:
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Revisiting the ROI Journey
It's time for a heart-to-heart about a topic that's close to all our missions: authentic interactions in this tech-savvy world. So grab your favorite cup of inspiration, settle in, and let's dive into the final chapter of our ROI journey – the all-important art of Interacting.
Remember when we kicked off this ROI conversation? In nonprofit work, grantmakers are looking for a Return on Impact. We broke down the pillars of my ROI Framework: Relevance, Optimize, and Interact. We chatted about being Relevant in Episode 135, and the importance of Optimizing in Episode 136. Now we’re going to come back to discussInteract, the juiciest slice of the ROI pie.
The Human Touch in the Age of AI
While we’re on the subject of Interacting, let's address the elephant in the digital room – AI. Yes, it's impressive, and it's changing the game. But guess what? It won't replace the magic that happens between humans. Amidst the buzz, never forget that there's a flesh-and-blood person on the other end of every click, every tap, every email.
So, you might wonder, how do we use AI without losing our humanity? Great question! We use it to optimize, to fine-tune our approach, but not to replace the essence of what makes us connect – genuine, heart-to-heart communication. Whether it's a grant application, an email, or a good old-fashioned phone call, we're speaking to people, not bank accounts.
Remember Adam Witty's golden words, "Business moves at the speed of trust." Well, guess what? That's our rhythm too! In the nonprofit world, trust is the currency that fuels our impact. Trust is what propels us forward even before the race begins.
We’ve had some great conversations about this already. In Episode 105, Kevin Fitzpatrick shared how meeting donors face-to-face is more than just dollars and cents – it's about human connection. In Episode 133, Sherry Quam Taylor urged us to be curious, to ask questions that uncover stories and passions. She challenged us to ask questions like, “How did you become so generous?” and then listen.
And then there's Derik Timmerman's challenge from Episode 143 – have coffee with 90 people in 90 days. Can you imagine the support network of relationships we can grow in that time?
Let's talk to those grantmakers, those nonprofits, those potential partners. Let's dive deep, listen closely, and build bridges that carry our impact far beyond ourselves.
Return on Impact isn't just about numbers; it's about the ripples of change we create, the lives we touch, and the legacy we weave.
To read today's full episode: Humanity in the Age of AI: Navigating Authentic Connections for Lasting Impact*
*To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
How will you build your Interactions this week? I’d love to hear about your work, so shoot me an email and let’s chat!
Resources Mentioned:
- Episode 105 - Creating Clarity Around How to Obtain Major Gifts for Your Nonprofit
- Episode 133 - How Design, Creativity and Relationships Intersect With Budget Transparency
- Episode 143 - Formula for Nonprofit Success: Balancing Heart, Grit, and Brains
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
The Truth About Grant Readiness
If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know I’m a big advocate for grant readiness, because the more prepared you are before you start, the better chance you have of winning a grant. But I’m also a big believer in taking action. The truth is, grant readiness is a lot like parenting. You need a certain amount of stability, but you’re never really 100% ready. At some point, you have to just start and then learn as you go.
My friend Derik Timmerman founded Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions to help nonprofits succeed in their fundraising. In this episode of Grant Writing Simplified, Derik tells the story of how Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions started when he realized he had to get a little rowdy, and how you can energize your board members while you get the critical grant readiness pieces in place.
Balancing Heart, Grit, and Brains
Most nonprofits are full of passion for their cause and determination to stick with it, but they struggle with the business mindset in one of two ways. Either they lack the business knowledge needed to run a nonprofit, or they don’t realize the impact they can have when they think outside the box.
It takes more than heart and grit to run a nonprofit. It requires a combination and a balance of heart, grit, and brains to see the mission truly take off. You need all three in tandem.
Derik explains further about the importance of business elements in nonprofits and the core elements of grant readiness. Your nonprofit needs just four elements in place before you can win grants through EasyGrant.
- Why do we exist? Forming your mission.
- What is a win? Creating a vision.
- Who are when when we're winning? Defining values.
- How do we win? Developing a strategy.
If you can’t answer these four questions, Derik can help through a board retreat called BoardSpark. BoardSpark is especially helpful for languishing boards, if the board is in a transition, or if it’s been a long time since the board evaluated the organizational mission, vision, values, and key habits. Derik has seen many struggling nonprofit board members leave re-energized in their work.
While passion and persistence are necessary ingredients for impact in the nonprofit world, we need to mix them with equal parts business acumen and daring creativity. Consider how you can take your next step today.
To read today's full episode: Formula for Nonprofit Success: Balancing Heart, Grit, and Brains
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
When you consider your nonprofit, do you know why you exist, what is a win, who are you when you are winning, and how do you win? I’d love to hear about your organization, so shoot me an email!
Meet Derik Timmerman
Derik Timmerman is the Founder of Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions, a nationwide consulting firm helping nonprofits maximize their world-changing impact. In addition to coaching nonprofit professionals at all levels, Derik is a nationally-recognized speaker and author on a variety of nonprofit subjects including fundraising, grant research/writing, and board development.
Prior to founding Sparrow, Derik was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and a US Army Intelligence Officer with two combat deployments to Iraq. Derik earned a Bachelor's in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, as well as a Masters, PhD, and CFRE certification in fundraising. Derik has a passion for chocolate chip cookies, burning them off on nearby hiking trails with his three boys, and living out his life's core purpose of building factories of hope.
Connect with Derik Timmerman:
- MyEasyGrant.com
Resources Mentioned:
- 40 Laws of Nonprofit Impact
- Monday.com
- Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions: Gala Guide
- Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions: BoardSpark
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Streamlining Systems for Nonprofit Success
Can you believe we’re already nearing the end of summer? As we charge ahead into the second half of 2023, now is a great time to pause and evaluate whether your nonprofit's systems are working optimally for you.
A while back, we talked about my favorite tech tools and the importance of systems for grant strategy. With the development of AI and emerging technology, it’s more important than ever to understand the strategy behind your systems so you can use them most effectively.
Today, let's dive deeper into other critical systems to consider as a nonprofit.
If you feel your organization could use some fine-tuning in these areas, no worries! Reach out anytime to schedule an advisory session - we can shore things up to end the year strong and kick off 2024 organized and ready. For a comprehensive guide to crafting effective systems, be sure to check out my Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program.
Key Systems for Nonprofit Success
Over the years, I’ve used many different systems to streamline my grant writing business. Even though I now focus on coaching and strategy, having robust systems in place remains crucial.
Some key areas for nonprofits to track include:
- Digital and paper file organization
- Password management (I love LastPass!)
- Calendar with recurring task reminders
- Note-taking and action items
- Contact management
- Donor updates
- Budget and finances
- Internal communications
- Strategic planning
- Fundraising and grants
- Program data collection and reporting
- Mapping big goals into daily tasks
Are Your Systems Serving You?
While well-designed systems are invaluable, let's keep it real - we all have off days! The key is not getting stuck in reactionary mode and knowing which systems are truly mission-critical.
Can Automating Help Your Nonprofit Work?
Look for signs like:
- Dropped balls or missed deadlines
- Repetitive administrative tasks
- Re-explaining processes frequently
- Missing key data for grant applications
This indicates it may be time to optimize your systems! Identifying areas to automate can free up time and energy for your most important work.
The time invested now will pay dividends as we progress through 2023 and beyond. Reach out any time to strategize streamlining systems tailored for your nonprofit's needs. Here's to a smooth and successful second half of the year!
To read today's full episode: Streamline Systems for Nonprofit Success*
*To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
What is one system or workflow you can evaluate this month to help streamline your nonprofit's operations? I’d love to hear about your organization, so shoot me an email!
Resources Mentioned:
- LastPass Secure Passwords
- Episode 21: Tips for Successful Grant Writing & Federal Grant Project Management: Interview with Brandi VanAntwerp, CoxHealth Foundation Grants Administrator
- Episode 52: Business Building: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business
- Episode 62: Pro Tips to Step Up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Mid-Year Check-In
It’s hard to believe the summer is half over already! Where did the year go? I don’t know about you, but I’m a goal-setter, so mid-year is a good time to check in on my progress. Like most years, I’ve had a lot of unexpected things come up. It’s a process of learning to roll with the changes and adjust as I go.
As I evaluate how to move forward for the rest of this year, I thought it would be a good time to share a few tips I’ve learned to help you reach your goals.
Make Progress with Micro-Habits
One method of goal-setting is to set up micro-habits. Rather than setting ourselves up for failure with a huge goal we likely won’t reach, where can we create micro-habits to set ourselves up for a nearly 100% win? Those have a surprisingly compounding effect.
Micro-habits are small actions that help lead us towards our goals. They're easy to accomplish consistently and have a compounding effect.
7 Steps for Setting Micro-Habits for Success
- Assess Your Progress:
Look at your goals from the beginning of the year. Are you on track? Have you accomplished what you hoped for by now? Don’t be too hard on yourself if your progress isn't exactly where you expected it to be. Instead, use this time to evaluate, adjust, and adapt. - Be Flexible
Choose to adapt when life throws unexpected things at you. Keep pushing forward and don’t give up. - Be Deliberate
When unexpected opportunities or hurdles come, deliberately decide where these things fit in the bigger picture. Be sure to pace yourself and take a rest when you need to. - Be Intentional
Be intentional when choosing your micro-habit. Consider the larger goal of who or what you want to become and identify a habit that will help you get there. Define and visualize where you want to be in the next month, three months, or by the end of the year. - Be Strategic
Identify areas where consistent action will have a meaningful impact on your larger objectives. Then integrate micro-habits into your existing daily routine by choosing a trigger. A trigger is a specific time or event in your day that serves as a reminder to do the new habit. - Be Accountable
Setting goals, micro-habits, and triggers is only half the battle. We all need accountability to stay on track. If you need an accountability partner, shoot me an email. - Stay Clear on Your Vision
Make sure your bigger purpose is clear. Why are you doing this? What will this move you closer to? That will help you stay motivated and on track.
The key is to set a trigger and stick to it, because it takes about a month for a behavior to become a routine. By setting deliberate micro-habits strategically aligned with our bigger picture, we can actively work towards becoming better versions of ourselves each day. And you don’t have to do it alone; I’m here to support you.
Keep pushing forward; you've got this!
To read today's full episode: Mid-Year Goal Check: Assess Your Progress and Set Micro-Habits for Success*
*To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
What micro-habit will you commit to every day for the next 30 days?
Resources Mentioned:
- Other Grant Writing Simplified podcasts to help you reach your goals:
- Leadership Lessons from a Green Beret: How to Lead for Success
- Master of One: The Role of Excellence in Our Work
- 5 Easy Grant Writing Tips to Build Strategic, Lasting Relationships
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
ROI for Foodies
I enjoy watching some of the Food Network challenges because it’s fun to discover new baking ideas. While watching an episode last week, I noticed another reason the competitions are so much fun to watch.
Grant writers and Food Network competitors go through a similar process in hopes of winning money. To win the prize, we all have to show the judges how they will get a Return on Investment - or in the case of nonprofits, a Return on Impact - by investing in us.
In my TEDx talk, I explain how the key to writing a winning grant is to show the grant funder the Return on Impact (ROI) they’ll get. Funders aren’t looking for a return on investment like a for-profit business. Instead, grantmakers want to give grants to organizations they know will make an impact on the community, just like the judges on the Food Network want to invest in chefs that will contribute to the baking community and represent the Food Network well.
9 Ways Food Network Challenges are Like Grant Writing:
- The judges provide clear instructions and a goal before the competition begins.
- The competitors can be creative, but they still have to stay within defined parameters.
- The competitors have to make a reduction to eliminate any fluff or distractions. (Check out Episode 16 for examples of how to do this in grant writing!)
- The challenge always includes a tight deadline, so competitors have to practice and be prepared to thrive under pressure.
- Competitors must adapt quickly when mistakes and unexpected hurdles occur.
- Judges love a good story, as long as it is relevant and concise.
- Participants must present a complete, finished product.
- Most competitors won’t win the prize, but they don’t give up on their dream.
- Before the participants do anything, they sketch out their vision and devise a strategy to transform that dream to reality.
Many competitors skip the vision and strategy and go straight for writing the grant, but this should actually be the first thing both grant writers and Food Network competitors do. Without a vision and goal, there’s no direction, only chaos and confusion.
Conclusion
Your ROI isn’t just a formula for how to position the grant for funders. It’s also a vision for your organization. It’s your nonprofit’s lighthouse. The return you want to give your funders is the same as the impact you want to have on your community, it’s the reason you do this work every day; it’s what keeps you anchored so you don’t drift from your mission.
To learn more about how the Food Network competitions can help you write better grants and about the amazing resources I’m creating to help you, listen to the full podcast, Episode 140: 9 Ways Food Network Challenges are Like Grant Writing.
To read today's full episode: 9 Ways Food Network Challenges Mirror the Grant Writing Process*
*To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
Which Food Network lesson do you need to implement or improve upon in your work?
Resources Mentioned:
- Grant Writing Simplified Episode 16: How to Write Tight
- Storytelling Series:
- Episode 58: Are You Telling Your Nonprofit Story? How Coffee Mugs Are Like Grant Writing.
- Episode 59: How to Tell Your Nonprofit Story Through Video.
- Episode 60: 5 Questions for a More Compelling Nonprofit Story.
- Episode 64: Using Data to Tell Nonprofit Stories: 6 Tips to Flex Your Grant Writing Muscles.
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
The Link Between Competition and a Scarcity Mindset
Competition is at the heart of every grant application, and a scarcity mindset can come from a position of competition. Many nonprofits work on a very limited budget, so the struggle with a scarcity mindset is common. After all, you wouldn’t be applying for grants if you already had the money, right?
Nonprofits applying for the same grant are likely providing parallel services to a similar demographic, so the unfortunate reality is that organizations fighting for the same cause are competing with one another for funds and therefore, feeding the sector-wide scarcity mindset.
In today’s podcast, retired Army Colonel Dr. Vincent Lindenmeyer helps us think creatively to work collaboratively with otherwise competing organizations so both teams can overcome the scarcity mindset and get more done.
What Collaboration and Grant Funding Look Like Together
During his 26 years in the US Army, Vince specialized in engineering, logistics management, and strategic studies, so he knows what creative collaboration looks like. He now applies his knowledge and experience to the nonprofit sector. As principal of Beacon 4sight Group, Vince helps women, veterans, minorities, persons with disabilities, and the formerly incarcerated start nonprofits and businesses to create economic growth for equality and justice.
Many of Vince’s clients begin with little more than a dream, but he helps them get their nonprofit started in 90 days. He knows the power of creative collaboration to overcome scarcity. Like-minded organizations need to share resources, time, and talent to create in-kind partnerships based on trading complimentary skills and backgrounds.
7 Empowering Benefits of Working Collaboratively
Wonderful things can happen when organizations work together:
- Extra personnel
Everyone gets more done when you have more hands on deck working toward the same goals. - Share tips and tricks
Share knowledge to solve problems and work more efficiently. - Stronger bottom line
Struggling nonprofits become stronger by giving and receiving resources and expertise. - Larger network
Collaboration breeds collaboration, so when you partner with an organization, you will also get to work with their connections. - Stay in your lane
Collaboration means sharing complementary skills to boost each other’s weaknesses so you can focus on your strengths. - Increased visibility and community awareness
When you get more done together, both organizations get a piece of the spotlight to bring awareness to both your cause and your brand. - Celebrate your wins together
Collaboration means having more to celebrate and more people to celebrate with!
If we truly want to make things better and improve our mission, then we have to cooperate. It's not about us. It's not about the scarcity. It's so much more.
We have to work together. We have to ask ourselves how we can give back to the community and improve each other’s mission, whether or not it comes back directly to us.
To read today's full episode: 7 Reasons Working Collaboratively Helps Your Team Get More Done
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
Where do you see a scarcity in your nonprofit? Can you identify another organization with whom to collaborate to turn the scarcity into abundance?
Meet Dr. Vince Lindenmeyer (from https://beacon4today.com/resources/)
Dr. Vince Lindenmeyer, Colonel, US Army (Retired), is a Principal of the Beacon 4sight Group that helps women, veterans, minorities, persons with disabilities, and the formerly incarcerated start nonprofits and businesses to create economic growth for equality and justice. Colonel Lindenmeyer served a 26-year career with overseas tours to Korea, Egypt, Qatar, and Iraq, earning the Bronze Star Medal. As an educator, Dr. Lindenmeyer has taught face-to-face and distance learning over the past 20-years. He earned a BS in Systems Engineering (West Point, United States Military Academy), master’s degrees (three) in Logistics Management, M.Ed., an MA in Strategic Studies, and a Ph.D. in Education.
Connect with Vince
- Beacon4Today.com
- Email: vince@beacon4today.com
Resources Mentioned:
- Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets, written by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney
- "Iron" Mike Steadman - Ironbound Thrive Initiative - Free Business Coaching for Young Urban Entrepreneurs
- A Course in Miracles, written by Foundation For Inner Peace
- The Basics of a Course in Miracles Audible, written and narrated by Marianne Williamson, published by Better Listen
- Northeast Louisiana Arts Council
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Ask Not What the Funder Can Do for You…
In our last episode, we talked about how your nonprofit can stay relevant to funders, in the community, and as a grant writer. Today we’re going to talk about how to write stronger grant proposals and build relationships with funders by aligning the relevance of your program to their mission.
I talked about relevance in my TEDx Talk, “The Real ROI of Grant Writing.” Funders need to know they will get a Return on Impact for investing in your nonprofit. This means you need to convince the funder that your nonprofit is Relevant, Optimized, and Interacting in meaningful ways. If you haven’t already, you can watch my TEDx talk on YouTube.
How Strategic Positioning Can Help Build Your ROI
Grant writers look for grants that will help the nonprofit reach their organizational goals. Of course funders have goals too, but their goals are not necessarily related to the success of your organization.
A funder’s mission is to serve the community in a specific way. For a nonprofit, strategic positioning is about writing a grant proposal from the funder’s priorities. The funder wants to know how investing in your nonprofit will help them accomplish their goals, not yours.
To convince the funder they will get the most return on impact by investing in your nonprofit, show them how your organization is relevant to their goals. They need to see how your program will help the external community, even if it's building your internal capacity.
You can do that by strategically positioning the grant to show how your nonprofit aligns with their goals.
5 Tips to Align Your Program with a Funder’s Goals
Oswald Chambers wrote, “Life serves back in the coin you pay.” Let’s keep that in mind in the context of our grant writing work. Look at the bigger picture, the overall context in which your organization has an impact, and consider how you are serving and giving to the community. Then write the grant from a position of service.
Five ways to show how your organization serves the funder’s mission:
- Present your value exchange as a gift
- Offer something that is meaningful to them
- Ensure your goals align
- Explain how your program will help them accomplish their goals
- Help them envision the end results
To read today's full episode: 5 Easy Grant Writing Tips to Build Strategic, Lasting Relationships
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
How will you position your grant proposal from an attitude of service?
ResourcesMentioned:
- Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions.
- Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip Welcome, Up-and-Coming World Changers! Are you thinking about a career in grant writing, but don’t know where to start?
I have a passion to train and equip grant writers with the skills they need to be successful because I had an amazing mentor who helped me get started. In today’s episode of Grant Writing Simplified, I had a blast talking shop with my friend and fellow grant writing mentor, Holly Rustic. After nearly twenty years as a grant writing consultant, Holly has dedicated herself to teaching a tribe of grant writers to drive positive change for nonprofits while having an abundant lifestyle.
In this episode, we talk about the top questions we hear from new grant writers. You’ll benefit from our combined forty years of grant writing experience and get answers to your top freelance grant writing questions.
Top Questions from New Grant Writers Grab a pen and notepad because you’re about to get loads of actionable guidance and practical advice as Holly and I share everything we wish we had known when we started grant writing, such as:
- Where do I start?
- What kind of experience do I need?
- Should I write for free?
- How do I negotiate prices and rate increases?
- How can I avoid misunderstandings with clients?
- How do I present my value as a grant writer to potential clients?
- What is a Master Grant Template and how will it help you make the world a better place?
…And much more!
To read today's full episode: Expert Answers to Your Top Questions on How to Become a Grant Writer
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question: What skills can you learn, develop, or adapt to grant writing? Make a list, choose one skill, and decide what you will do to move forward.
Meet Holly Rustick: Holly has nearly two decades of experience helping nonprofit organizations and grant writers (and volunteers, board members, and everyday people!) get funding. She has learned a lot over the years and has dedicated herself to teaching a tribe of grant writers to drive positive change for nonprofits while having an abundant lifestyle.
Connect with Holly: * GrantWritingandFunding.com * YouTube * Facebook * LinkedIn * Instagram
Resources Mentioned: * Nonprofit Consulting Conference Online * The Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing: Tips, Tools, & Templates to Write Winning Grants
Other Resources: * Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions. * Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip The ROI of Grant Writing In my recent TEDx Talk, I talked about the Real ROI of Grant Writing. In the business world, ROI means Return on Investment, but it’s a different mindset in the world of grants. We’re talking about a Return on Impact. In today’s podcast episode, I’ll tell you more about the R in the ROI of grant writing and how knowing this can save you frustration and time so you can write more proposals.
What is the ROI Framework? Funders need to know they will get a Return on Impact for investing in your nonprofit. This means you need to convince the funder that your nonprofit is Relevant, Optimized, and Interacting in meaningful ways.
ROI of Grant Writing:
- Relevant
- Optimized
- Interacting
5 Steps to Evaluate Relevance One question I wish more nonprofits would consider is, “How do I know if my organization is relevant?” I recommend the following five steps to determine if and how your organization is relevant to the community, the funders, and the grants you are applying for:
-
Determine if organization is truly relevant in the community. Take a critical look at your mission and goals to evaluate if you are serving a real need in the community. Make sure you have the statistics and testimonials to back up your mission statement. If necessary, go back and define your goals more closely.
-
Analyze if your organization is relevant to the funder’s mission and goals. Make sure you are applying to funders whose mission and goals align with yours. There are consequences to both your organization and the funder if you just chase the money.
Now that you’ve determined your organization is relevant in the community, and your mission is relevant to the funders, the next step is to find relevant grants.
- Avoid irrelevant research. Research can be fun, but there are millions of grants and many ways to search. Don't get lost in the never-ending grant search rabbit trail. You don’t need ALL the grants; you just need to find the good-fit grants.
To read today's full episode: Nonprofit ROI: 5 Tips to Stay Relevant to Funders and Win More Grants
To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.
Challenge Question:
Do you need to narrow your focus? Are you clear on what that is?
Resources Mentioned: * Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions. * Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
As a grant writer for about two decades and winning over $7M for my clients, I’ve learned that grant writing isn’t magic, but there is a formula to increase your chances of winning grant. Today I’m sharing my secret sauce with you in my TEDx Talk! You can read the abbreviated version below or watch the full presentation (complete with pictures!) on YouTube.
Where NOT to Start with Grant Writing
Imagine you're at work when your boss walks by and says, "Hey, I need a favor. I’m supposed to help at the youth shelter fundraiser on Saturday and I can't make it. Can you step in for me?"
As a team player and fan of the youth program, you say, "You bet! Happy to."
Relieved, he says, “Thanks, you’re the best!” On the way out, he adds, "Oh, by the way, it's a marathon. Just get some good running shoes and you'll be fine."
Wait - what? A marathon?
I don’t know about you, but I’m sure not ready for a marathon on Saturday.
…Yet I hear the equivalent of this all the time in the nonprofit world.
People hear someone wants to start a nonprofit and say, "Oh, you should just get a grant for that!"
Or, "You need a new building? I've heard there's grant funding out there.”
Grants aren’t that simple. You don’t “just” get a grant. Like training for a marathon, grants require preparation, strategy, and hard work. Successful grant writing takes consistent effort, uncovering misconceptions, and willingness to approach strategy through a new lens. We must look at grants as part of a much bigger process.
Start with ROI In business, we know investors are looking for a Return on Investment, or ROI. We put money in and calculate, "How much profit will I get back?"
In the nonprofit world, ROI is more about creating a Return On Impact. You won’t get your investment of time, money, or resources back when you donate to a nonprofit. In the same way, grantmakers are looking forward. They want to know, "How much impact can we make through this work? How much of a ripple effect can we create by partnering together?"
Even better, by giving forward and investing in others, we do get a return back - by way of meaning, relationships, and fulfillment. That's why it's so important for us to band together to help nonprofits build this kind of ROI. A Return on Impact.
ROI Framework How do we go about showing Return on Impact? We do this through what I call the ROI Framework: Relevant, Optimize, and Interact. That’s how we get the results that lead to impact.
Rather than simply writing more grants, let’s move upstream to look at the bigger picture and see how each grant opportunity fits in as part of the whole puzzle. When we put grants into their proper context, that’s when we can effectively build the nonprofit’s ROI.
Relevant
Relevance is twofold in the context of building our ROI Framework:
- Establish the relevance of our work to society.
- Ensure our work’s relevance to the grantmaker’s mission.
First, we need contextual research to ensure the community need for this project:
- What statistics and data support this mission?
- Why is this work so critical?
Then we should consider the relevance to the grantmaker:
-
Whose funding priorities best align with the nonprofit's mission?
-
What community gaps does the nonprofit fill?
- How can they partner to meet those needs?
When thinking through this Relevance, we should consider the logical proof of ROI.
To read today's full epsiode: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Challenge Question: What can you do to increase your nonprofit’s ROI?
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes ot be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
The collective values and priorities of a society change with each generation. We express our values with our time and money, so those values then drive the economy through the demand for relevant products and services. With each economic shift, the value proposition and marketing methods adapt to the current priorities to provide the most perceived value.
As a nonprofit, you want to be on the peak of the value curve. During our discussion, Mark provided a journey of economic shifts through the history of America to help us understand where we are today and how nonprofits can take advantage of the current transformational economy to engage supporters.
Join us for a journey through history to discover how you can help your nonprofit grow using assets you already have on hand.
What is the Transformational Economy?
Civilizations start as tribes in the subsistence economy, where we get enough to meet our needs and live. The goal is to say, “I'm alive.”
As tribes settle, we move to the commodity economy where we harvest commodities such as crops, wood, and mining to buy and trade. The goal is to say, “I'm productive.”
As the value of commodities increases, people move into the product economy where we buy labor savings. So instead of making your own products, we buy products someone else made. The goal is to say, “I’m efficient.” In the United States, we shifted to the product economy during the Industrial Revolution.
As the need for products is met, we shift to the service economy where we free up time by paying for services we previously did on our own.
Then we moved to the experience economy, where people wanted more than a service—they wanted a memorable service.
Now, we are living in a transformational economy, where people want more than interesting memories. They want authentic, meaningful experiences to make things better, whether it’s improving themselves, their workplace, their family, their community, or the world.
This is what people are craving and paying for today, so rapidly growing companies are providing an opportunity for their customers to be better people through their products and services.
How the Transformational Economy Can Help a Nonprofit
The marketing efforts of nonprofits have operated on a service economy mindset, where we focus our recruitment messaging on the services we provide. But since we are in the business of transformation, it should feel natural to embrace the shift and showcase how a contributor makes the world a better place by supporting our cause.
However, amid this shift, nonprofit organizations face a larger struggle to be heard through the noise with minimal marketing dollars. So how does a nonprofit get and sustain supporters’ attention long enough to appeal to their sense of purpose?
The Power of Story to Embrace the Transformational Economy
The most powerful and entertaining way to showcase transformation is through storytelling. Mark explained, “You can't sell transformation with features, advantages, and benefits. A person will not understand until they have been through the experience. How we do that is by telling a story of somebody who has been through the transformation. You have to tell it as a hero's journey.”
To read today's full episode: What is a Transformational Economy, and How Can it Help a Nonprofit?
Challenge Question: What is a recent initiative you can search for stories of transformation?
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip How to Shake Up the Status Quo and Raise Funds for Your Nonprofit I talk with a lot of nonprofits each week, and of course they all have one thing in common they need: more funding! That’s why I like to bring in experts in other types of fundraising too. We need to understand the bigger picture of how the strategies fit together.
Today I’m talking with another nonprofit expert who is fantastic at what she does. Sherry Quam Taylor is good at shaking up the status quo and challenging people to think bigger, better, and with excellence to raise funds to serve your nonprofit fully.
Listen as Sherry and I do some myth-busting about fundraising. We also discuss advice on scaling nonprofits.
Transparency and the Gift of Asking, "Why?" Sherry and I discuss the importance of bringing creativity to work. Design and creativity not only help us take care of ourselves, but they also help our organizations grow and build. This can insulate us from becoming stagnant.
The experience Sherry brought from the for-profit world to the nonprofit world helped her tremendously, and that transition helped her learn a lot by simply asking, “Why?” “Why can’t we say that?” Why can’t we spend that?” These questions challenged Sherry and the teams she worked with to look at “why” they were doing things a certain way, and build toward securing donors' best gifts.
Giving the Gift of Time in Nonprofit Relationship Building Relationships take time. Rushing relationships does not build strong foundations. As board members, development teams, or even grant writers, relationships are at our heart.
Sherry also shares tools we can use to build those relationships, specifically with investment-level donors. First of all, we need to ask questions and listen with interest. Sherry suggests this gem, “How did you become so generous?”
As I share in my TEDx Talk, building relationships means being conversational and getting to know the person, not just the dollar. Slowing down and being relational with donors can lead them to their best gift. That process can take 12-24 months or more, and that's okay.
To read today's full episode: How Design, Creativity and Relationships Intersect With Budget Transparency
Challenge Question:
What five people can you start building relationships with now? Make that list today.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip How Human Resources Systems and Accounting Enable Nonprofit Growth Today we’re continuing the conversation from my TEDx Talk by discussing strategies for grant writing and nonprofits. You might recognize Sean Hale from the Nonprofit Mythbusters Roundtable. Sean is a nonprofit accounting and HR expert.
As part of these nonprofit strategy conversations, we need to include nonprofit accounting and HR systems. However, I didn’t want you to snooze during the episode! That’s why I invited Sean, because he understands accounting and reporting without focusing solely on spreadsheets and numbers. He knows how to use the data to tell your nonprofit’s full story.
We talk about questions like:
- How do accounting best practices apply to nonprofits?
- How can we track our books better?
- How can we have sound systems to support our work better?
Sean has fascinating experience and stories about nonprofit work and the systems supporting nonprofits. He’s worked in nonprofits for over 20 years and loves helping get smooth-running administration so the organization shines, allowing them to focus on the work they do best.
Sean helps organizations reduce waste, produce more revenue, and boost morale and productivity while growing transparency and stability.
How Back Office Systems Help Prevent Burnout and Fraud Did you know that 93% of American adults have math anxiety? That’s 13 out of 14 people! And that’s why we need good systems that can translate math into easily readable graphs and data. This is even more important for nonprofits trying to convey the importance of their work.
Sean shares how a good graphic can spark the organization to have critical conversations around money and solvency.
We also discuss how Form 990s can be used for good and bad data points. We even discuss whether external audits are an effective fraud prevention and what steps can be taken to add additional fraud protection on top of audits.
Often when we have these financial discussions, it can feel personal. But if organizations are set up with the proper checks and balances from the beginning, the system works to protect everyone. No one gets singled out or picked on. While back office and systems conversations can be difficult, these small measures and systems help set our team up for stability and growth.
Challenge Question: What systems can be a benefit to your nonprofit or grant-writing business? What two steps will you take today to start those conversations?
Meet Sean Hale I've served nonprofits for more than twenty years. I love getting the administrative side running smoothly so the organization can truly focus and shine. Over my career, I have made improvements that reduced waste, generated new revenue, boosted staff productivity and morale, grew financial transparency, and shrank risk. I've also helped boards and management to navigate complex situations and consistently left the organizations stronger and ready for their next stage of growth. Today I get to lead a team of outstanding nonprofit accounting and finance professionals. Together, we provide temporary and ongoing services to small and mid-sized nonprofits so they can have the back office support they need for the whole organization to flourish.
Connect with Sean Hale: * Sean Hale Consulting * Philanthroforce * Connect with Sean on LinkedIn
Recommended Reading from Sean’s blog: * 7% Board Engagement is Not Enough * Data Visualization for Financial Reports Engages Leadership * Be Frugal, Not Cheap, With Nonprofit Administration * Southwest Airlines: A Cautionary Tale About Being Cheap with Administration * Nonprofit Administrator Burnout: Warning Signs and Alternatives * Audits Won't Protect Your Nonprofit From Fraud * Loom video explaining how to document your processes
Other Resources Mentioned: * TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing * Nonprofit Mythbusters #1: The Overhead Myth - Expert Roundtable Discussion * Episode 62: Pro Tips to Step Up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems * Episode: 63: Systems for Hire: Ways to Help Your Nonprofit Thrive
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofit Spotlight: Catching Human Traffickers I enjoy hosting a variety of topics relating to nonprofits and the issues surrounding them. Occasionally, we’ll have a nonprofit spotlight episode. The issue of this episode is one I have wanted to highlight for a while, but the topic is a challenging one.
Today's nonprofit spotlight is DeliverFund and their efforts to stop human trafficking. Due to the subject matter, you may want to grab earbuds or headphones if you have little ones around.
Human Trafficking Myths, Politics, Technology, and Budgets. Get Involved Several years ago, a U.S. soldier on duty overseas was distraught when he saw the effects of human trafficking. He asked a superior what they could do to stop the selling of women and children. The response was, “Nothing. We don't have the budget.”
He decided to do something about it himself. Since that veteran, Nic McKinley, founded DeliverFund, this nonprofit has been developing technology and training law enforcement to attack trafficking networks to put an end to traffickers.
The founder realized his unique skills could be used to fill a significant need, and that vision is growing and restoring victims of this industry.
Learn the Benefits of Using Technology to Grow Your Nonprofit Today I’m talking with DeliverFund’s Director of Development, Christi Nabors. She has experience in the for-profit world and has brought that experience to her work in nonprofit spaces. All of that experience has helped her view technology as a helpful tool.
Christi helped build training programs and digital online products in the for-profit world. I loved discussing the learning curve of nonprofit language vs. for-profit work.
We discuss fears that can stall nonprofits' growth and the work of weaving nonprofit speak together to tell the compelling story of nonprofits.
Christi also takes the time to bust myths about human trafficking. I hope you find value in this conversation.
To learn more about how to support this nonprofit or get involved, visit deliverfund.org
Challenge Question: 1. Did any of the human trafficking myths surprise you? 2. What is one way can you be a part of the solution to human trafficking today?
Meet Christi Nabors: Christi Nabors has been serving DeliverFund as Director of Development since January 2022. Her for-profit executive leadership and non-profit Executive and CEO experiences have set the foundation for her to be credited with three non-profit turnarounds. First, she increased programmatic impact and expansion; introduced program delivery into new ecosystems; and created new revenue-generating and sustainability pipelines.
Connect with DeliverFund: * Linkedin * DeliverFund Website * Youtube
Recommended Reading: * Learn the signs of Human Trafficking
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Successful Strategy: Next Steps For Grant Writers & NonProfits
Today I’m excited to talk about grant writing strategy with you. I love helping grant writers and nonprofits think through their first steps and simplify the process. If you haven’t watched my TEDx talk, I recommend it as additional context for the conversation in this episode.
Today's guest Silvia reached out with interest in grant writing. She has international volunteer experience and sees firsthand some of the dire needs in our world. I love what she is wanting to do through the power of grant writing. On this grant writer strategy call episode, Silvia asks some great questions and we talk about several ideas for how she can get started.
As grant writers and nonprofits, it's important to ask hard questions and not wear rose colored glasses as we approach requests for grant funding.
Silvia and I talk about questions like:
- How do I start?
- How do I know if I am grant ready?
- How do I get past the fear of writing the first application?
- How to discuss helping nonprofits resolve needs?
- How important is it for nonprofits to have an online presence?
I get it! New things are scary. I never thought I would do a TEDx Talk. Yet doing new things is how we continue to improve. Pushing ourselves is a way to help us learn to serve better. By learning and taking action, we help others fulfill their missions.
Whatever you're working through, I hope today’s episode gives you ideas and inspiration of how to move forward.
How Grants Build Generosity And Empower Volunteers
Whether you are a grant writer or a nonprofit, building relationships is the foundation. This builds the confidence of everyone within the area of impact.
Grant writers have a lot of influence. We’re able to connect the generosity of those unable to travel or volunteer with those who are on the ground physically serving. We also connect these causes and missions with the funding they need to fulfill those missions. It becomes a powerful force for good.
Challenge Question:
What 2-3 action steps you can take this week to help you connect and build relationships with organizations around you?
Meet Silvia Bonvini
Silvia is the mother of two young boys and wife to an American family doctor who is completing his Global Health Fellowship this year. His work has brought the family to Ethiopia, Kenya where they are now, and soon to Uganda.
The family plans on working in Africa long-term at a Catholic mission hospital starting next year. Silvia hopes that she will be able to help hospitals and NGOs there through grant writing, while also exploring her interests in regenerative agriculture as it relates to nutrition, livelihoods, environmental protection, and women's empowerment.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
A lot of people ask me how they should start the grant writing process. In this episode I talk with my friend Kent Sanders, a ghostwriter, about the connections between ghostwriting and grant writing. He reminds us of some foundational things we should prioritize in our journeys.
First Lesson:
Be okay with imperfection. Nothing is going to be perfect. Give grace to yourself and to your writing. Care about and be proud of what you do; don’t nitpick everything about it.
Parallels Between Ghostwriting and Grant Writing
- Be up for the challenge. Just like the client, writer, editor, and publisher may all want something different out of a book, everyone involved in the grant process will want a little something different out of it. You as the writer want one thing, the receiver may want another thing, and the people benefiting may want another. Be ready to tackle that challenge! And be prepared to listen.
- Have a good relationship with your client. Camaraderie can make a huge difference when it comes to the efficiency and stress levels involved in any task.
- Be easy to work with. Show respect, provide clear communication, and be on top of your responsibilities.
- Be on time with the project. Or better yet, early.
- Be a stress reliever to those around you. You’re here to make things better, not worse.
So Where Do You Start?
Begin by listening to the people you’re writing for, be empathetic, learn their stories, and then tackle every task each step of the way!
You’ve got this!
Challenge Question:
How can you apply one of the above parallels to your grant writing process?
Meet Kent Sanders:
Kent Sanders is the founder of Inkwell Ghostwriting, which helps leaders grow their business through books and other content. He is also the author and co-author of numerous books, including 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most and co-author of The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell with Billy Stanley, Elvis Presley’s stepbrother.
In addition to writing books for himself and his clients, Kent loves to help other writers. He is the host of the Daily Writer podcast and the founder of the Daily Writer Club, a membership community that helps writers build a business with their skills. He lives just outside of St. Louis and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and teenage son.
Connect with Kent Sanders:
- The Daily Writer Podcast
- Daily Writer Club
- Daily Writer Website
- Kent's Website
Resources:
- Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin
- Anything You Want: 40 Lessons For a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek Sivers
- Any resource from Ryan Holiday
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Almost all of us know at least one person who has been affected by cancer. Our guest on today’s podcast episode, Eric Newman, was just a child when he was diagnosed with cancer.
When he later asked his mother what she remembered about that day, she said that she remembered his dad having to leave her to go pack an overnight bag. She felt alone and afraid at the hospital trying to navigate the devastating news. From this, a mission to eradicate that moment from the lives of others was born. The Roc Solid Foundation created Ready Bags to give families when their children are diagnosed with cancer. These bags provide help in a time of need so families can stay together in a time of pain.
In addition, Roc Solid Foundation partners with businesses to build playsets for children going through cancer. The kids often have to remain secluded due to a compromised immune system, which means they can’t go to a typical playdate or public park. Roc Solid steps in and rounds up a team and supplies to build a brand new playset in the family’s back yard.
In this episode we talk with Eric Newman, founder of Roc Solid Foundation, about how his experience has developed into an incredible mission. He wants to bring joy and play to children dealing with cancer. Eric also shares some of the foundational pieces required to run a nonprofit, including how volunteers can help in more ways than you may think.
Things To Know About Making A Difference
- Marry your mission, not your model. Be committed to your passion/goal, but allow adjustments along the way. When you’re clear on your mission you can pivot your model to best tackle whatever’s in front of you.
- You don’t need to be fancy. Focus on your mission; don’t worry about being flashy.
- Focus on the people; the money will come. When you’re people- and mission-focused, your staff is happier, you see more results, and donations tend to come. When you focus on the money, people start to leave, you make less of an impact, and the money flow dwindles.
Taking Care of Volunteers
Provide a little something for your volunteers when the day is over. Eric’s advice is to give them a drink, pizza, and t-shirt. Now it doesn’t have to be exactly that, but this gives you a valuable opportunity to talk with those who came out to help. Listen to their stories and what motivated them to help. Ask them what their favorite part was. You can learn if you’re hitting your mark or if you need to adjust.
Don’t always seek to be understood, but seek to understand. Be a constant learner and seek to understand why that volunteer came, or why they come back more than once. That’s the type of information you need in order to understand where the money is going to come from. This gives you valuable insight. Seek wisdom above anything else.
Lastly, always remember to always say thank you. Don’t underestimate the power in being an organization that shows gratitude and feels welcoming.
Challenge Question:
How can you be relentless, but not reckless, when it comes to pursuing your mission?
Meet Eric Newman:
Eric Newman is a passionate entrepreneur, speaker and visionary leader. A childhood cancer survivor, he founded Roc Solid Foundation in 2009, a non-profit that builds hope for kids fighting the same battle throughout the U.S.
Roc Solid partners with over 100 children’s hospitals to gift Ready Bags to families just after diagnosis, and they’ve provided thousands of playsets for children throughout the country who need a safe place to play and a reason to smile. As a best-selling author and guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Eric’s story continues to inspire people who are looking for ways to turn their pain from past experiences into their life’s passion.
Connect with Eric Newman:
- Website
- What Hope Looks Like: Use Your Pain to Fuel Your Purpose by Eric Newman
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
How Can We Fund Our Nonprofit?
Nonprofits are always on the lookout for more money, especially unrestricted funding. And as a nonprofit strategist, I’m always on the lookout for ways to help them find it. That’s where today’s guest comes in.
When I heard about Will Black and his team at Sharing the Credit last year, I knew I had to find out more about this and see if it’s a good resource to share with you.
Turns out, it’s not simply a good resource; it’s brilliant.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Will in person and getting to know his team. Y’all, this is completely legit. Nonprofits and businesses everywhere need to know about this!
Unrestricted Funding for Nonprofits; Savings for Businesses
Every time we go to a business, be it a physical store or online, and use our debit or credit card, the business is charged a transaction fee. Everyone knows that. That’s the boring part.
What you may not know is that ONE of those fees that is built in by Visa/MasterCard doesn’t go to Visa, and it doesn’t go to MasterCard; it goes back into the system. It goes to a bank. BUT instead of going to a bank, it can legally go to a 501. A non-profit. Ta-DA!
Sharing the Credit Saves Money and Funds Nonprofits
For example, Will Black and his Sharing the Credit team approached a successful car dealership that did $1 million in revenue each month. The dealership’s manager asked if there was any way they could better help their charity.
Enter Sharing the Credit. Will’s team reviewed the dealership’s statements and discovered they were overpaying by a whopping $30,000 a year in credit card fees. The general manager realized, “Wow! That’s a car. That’s a WHOLE car.”
Will said, “Actually it’s a car a YEAR. It’s a car EVERY year.”
Then Will handed them a copy of the report that outlined exactly how much they were overpaying in fees.
It was a no-brainer. The dealership switched to Sharing the Credit on the spot. Now they save $30,000 a year AND they give over $125,000 every single year to their favorite charity - into perpetuity.
That business has been working with Sharing the Credit for over 11 years…when you do the math, that’s pretty incredible. It’s a win all around.
A Transformational Way of Nonprofit Fundraising
The best part about these funds is that they’re unrestricted. That means the nonprofit can use the money any way it needs to best support their work. The staff can focus on the mission and growing their programs instead of scrambling to make ends meet.
The system also creates community by partnering businesses with nonprofits to work together. The business even displays a cool door sticker showing they’re a supporter of the nonprofit.
Will and I also talk about:
- The blessing of having a good budget
- Why grants are not a rescue plan
- The power of collaboration to help nonprofits
- Will’s favorite resource for nonprofits (hint: If you're hanging out with me, you’re in the right place!)
You might be wondering if this is too good to be true. I can assure you, this is completely legit and it’s working. Their track record speaks for itself. Take a few minutes to explore and see for yourself!
Challenge Question: What could your nonprofit do with more unrestricted funding in hand each year? If you want to find out, book a call with Will Black at Sharing the Credit and start the conversation to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Meet Will Black:
Will Black is the CEO and Chief Giving Officer at Sharing the Credit. They pair nonprofits with businesses so that your worthy cause receives unrestricted funding on autopilot, into perpetuity.
- They help your business fund or increase funding to your favorite IRS-recognized 501c charity with no expense to you, while saving your business money.
- They help your nonprofit increase unrestricted donations with NO fundraising, grant writing, or soliciting.
Connect with Will Black:
- Email: Will@SharingTheCredit.com
- Schedule a call: www.teresahuff.com/sharingthecredit
- Website: www.sharingthecredit.com
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
- YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Today I’m talking with longtime nonprofit expert Laverne Toombs about the art of grant writing. Before even writing a first draft of a grant, we need to do a few things to start off on the right foot. We dive into how doing this background work can really set us up for success.
Lay the Groundwork for the Grantmaker
If you’re interested in writing a grant, you don’t have to have it all figured out. No one starts something as an expert. Bring your willing heart and begin learning. None of us are perfect, and we all have room to grow.
The first step to writing a grant is laying out the prep work. This includes establishing a relationship and being familiar with the funder, understanding that foundation's criteria, and making sure your mission aligns with theirs.
When reaching out to a grantmaker, we have to get to know the heart behind their foundation's mission, get to know the people involved, and learn the ins and outs of what’s important to them. We must also make sure that we are not shifting our mission to match theirs simply because they’re a possible donor; people can see right through that.
Preparing the Nonprofit to Apply for a Grant
When it comes to preparing a grant, we need to also make sure the organization/nonprofit we’re helping is ready for grants. Some of the questions to ask are:
- Do you have an organizational budget?
- How many grants do you have the capacity to manage?
- What other sources of funding do you have in place?
As grant writers, we want the nonprofit’s mission to succeed. We can set them up for success by helping them put a plan in place.
Challenge Question:
What is the first thing you need to do to set a nonprofit’s grant application up for success?
Meet LaVerne Toombs:
LaVerne Toombs is the vice president of development for the American Heart Association, an organization that fights heart disease and stroke and, in turn, helps families and communities thrive. As a leader on the development team, LaVerne uses her magnanimous and infectious personality to help manage the fundraising team to provide them with the necessary tools to achieve those goals. She does this all while building upon volunteer and fundraising opportunities partnering with influential corporate and community voices.
Resources:
- Federal Registry
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?
If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Tackling Important Issues with Excellence
Today I’m excited to introduce you to my good friend and brilliant colleague, Dr. Dan Young. He has years of experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, and nonprofit leadership. He drops so many nuggets of wisdom in this episode! I know you’ll find it inspiring.
Dr. Dan and I chat about:
- Integrating giving into our everyday life and setting an example for others.
- Creating an attitude of giving that transitions from generation to generation.
- The disconnect between technology and human connection, and how we can bridge the gap.
- How to tap into the human spirit to ignite passion for important causes and needs.
- The importance of thinking bigger long term.
Solving Nonprofit Problems with Proper Support
As Dr. Dan says, “It's about leadership. It's about entrepreneurial principles. It's about networking, it's about technology. Let's take a look at what we're doing in all these areas. And just because we got a 25% increase in funding or donations, that's not the point. The point is, the problem is still here. So let's focus on that. And if we do that, everything else gets a little bit more efficient and more effective.”
When it comes to nonprofit leaders, Dr. Dan emphasizes, “That type of person should have the most comprehensive leadership training in the world. Because it's unbelievably difficult. And the stakes are unbelievably high. So that's a part of the work that we do, is to put those people in the best possible position for the world's most important job.”
Challenge Question:
How will you start to adopt 4-generation thinking rather than 4-quarter thinking?
Meet Dr. Dan Young
Dr. Dan Young is the Founding Director of the Wharton-AltFinance Institute at the Wharton School and is the curator of TEDxWilmington, which is in the top 1% of all TEDx franchises in the country with over 550 speakers and 42 million views on YouTube.
As an “educationpreneur”, he is also responsible for creating the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Program at Goldey-Beacom College. the first online DBA class for Wilmington University, the first study abroad program for the Horn Program of Entrepreneurship and the first international internship program for study abroad at the University of Delaware.
Dan received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Marketing from the University of Delaware’s Honors Program and his Ph.D. in Marketing from Temple University. He has done entrepreneurship and executive leadership programs with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford.
He has been an instructor at GBC, Temple University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware, Neumann University and Wilmington University.
Dan has served on the Boards of many nonprofit organizations and currently serves as the President of Theatre N at Nemours, President of the Board of Safe Haven Healing, Membership Chairman of the Board of Governors for the University and Whist Club, and an advisory Board Member for the Fresh Start program.
He was in the 2011 class of Leadership Delaware and served as the first Vice-President of the Leadership Delaware Alumni Association.
Other Resources Mentioned:
- Team/Work by Natalie Dawson
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?
If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Several months ago I was at a large nonprofit conference in Nashville. While wandering up and down the booths, one caught my eye. They were giving away macaroons…delicious, colorful, many-flavored, handmade macaroons. Sigh.
The macaroons worked their magic and I quickly became friends with the two coworkers running the booth. Turns out one of them, Dave Raley, was at another conference just the month before in Milwaukee - and so was I! We were both presenters at that conference, but somehow our paths hadn’t crossed there.
At any rate I’m glad we finally met because, aside from the delightful macaroons, Dave and I have kept in touch and he’s a wonderful person. That’s why I wanted you to meet him too.
Today you get to meet Dave Raley, a consultant who helps organizations take care of their economic engine through innovation, growth, and scaling. Dave points out we should pay attention to important trends in the amount of giving, type of giving, and who does the giving.
Trends
To best make the type of impact you are working towards it is important to review your current situation. First, look inward and review the things you do to produce revenue. Secondly, look outward and pay attention to trends.
Trends are like waves. Just like when you’re trying to catch a wave surfing, you can miss waves by paddling too early or too late. You need to match the speed and be on top of it to be able to ride the wave.
An example of a trend that we’re currently in the middle of is the Subscription Economy.
How to Best Use the Subscription Economy
We’re currently living in a Subscription Economy. Not long ago, a person’s typical monthly payments included the necessities of life like mortgages, car payments, and water bills. Now we subscribe to much more every day. Things like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, softwares, gyms, food - all these point to the subscription economy we live in.
This has transformed the way donors and customers think about recurring transactions. It has normalized the concept of monthly giving and encouraged it through the ease of it all. Consumers and donors see monthly payments as a normal part of life and as a good and doable thing. This helps create predictability for organizations, including nonprofits, since they can have an idea of their monthly incoming revenue.
Say a nonprofit wants to ramp up subscription giving:
- Take stock of what you’ve got. Look at your recurring donors and the long term value. You need to know where you are so you know where you can go.
- Prioritize your monthly giving program. Make it easy to see and use on your website or another type of functional giving platform.
Tips for the Subscription Economy:
- Donors like convenience. Automated giving can help your revenue.
- Don’t limit your goal and therefore limit your plan. Aim high.
- Look at your giving program and how to better use your resources.
Challenge Question:
How can you rethink and maximize the subscription economy we are living in?
Meet Dave Raley:
Consultant, speaker, and writer Dave Raley is the founder of Imago Consulting, a firm that helps faith-informed organizations generate profitable growth by developing sustainable innovation. He’s also the co-founder and host of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, a show about the surprising ideas at the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands.
Connect with Dave Raley:
- Imago Consulting - Website
- Purpose & Profit Podcast
Resources:
- Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin
- Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Dan and Chip Heath
- The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick M Lencioni
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?
If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? Social: • LinkedIn Community • LinkedIn • Instagram • Pinterest Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Whether you think of yourself as a leader or not, you are. You impact and influence others whether you realize it or not.
We all feel the heat sometimes in this hectic world. Let’s glean some wisdom from someone who’s been in the trenches - literally. Today’s interview is with a former Green Beret, Otis McGregor, and it’s an honor to have him share his leadership and life lessons with us.
Otis shares about learning how to grow as a leader, eliminating stress in your life, gaining positive structure for your day, and sharing the three aspects of trust that can make a huge difference in your success.
Lessons for Leaders from a Green Beret:
- Be clear in communicating to others what needs to be done. Clearly express how to do it, why it’s important, and how it fits into the bigger picture.
- When seeking out wisdom about how to grow as a leader, don’t pigeonhole yourself into only learning from people within your line of work. Great leadership skills and techniques can be learned from people in all different fields, implementing their tips and tricks into your wheelhouse.
- Accountability partners help keep you on track.
- When trying to make a large change, implement smaller increments of change at a time. This makes it easier to achieve the smaller goals. For example, say you want to start getting up early to exercise. When you get up at 6am normally, instead of jumping right to setting that alarm for 4am, start with 5:45am for a week, then 5:30am, and so on. Take smaller steps to make a long lasting, larger change.
Tips to Eliminate Stress and Handle Hard Situations:
First things first, stop and assess the situation. When you realize you’re overwhelmed, slow down, take a breath, and write down all the things that you need to get done. Once you have this list, use the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to help you categorize and prioritize.
Another tip to help eliminate stress is to shut off your electronics to avoid distractions, and just write down everything that’s been on your mind. Not with a goal to solve a problem or to create anything, but just to get everything out of your head. This can help us clear our minds and be more relaxed.
Break Your Day Up Into 3 Categories:
- Focus: This is a time in your day that is set apart to work on a specific thing or two that you want to handle and you do not allow people or things to sidetrack you. Do whatever you need to do to be unavailable to distractions.
- Flex: This is where a lot of us spend most of our time. This is where you’re working on different things for the day and you’re able to bounce around a bit more, allowing for interruptions or breaks.
- Personal: This is the category a lot of us let be pushed under the rug when we’re stressed, but taking care of ourselves must be a priority. Have you ever heard the common phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup?” We can’t be our best selves when we’re drained. Take a walk, read a book, take a nap, spend time with friends, play an instrument, etc…whatever it is that helps you unwind and feel refreshed.
The Trust Triad
As a leader it’s important to learn the power of the Trust Triad. The Trust Triad consists of three legs of trust:
- Trust yourself: Believe that the decisions you make, with the time available to you and the information at your disposal, are the best decisions that you can make.
- Trust your team: Believe they are capable of doing what they are here to do.
- The team must be able to trust you: They must believe that your decisions have the best interest of the organization in mind. Not yourself, not a specific person, not the money in your pocket, but the organization's success.
Strive to create strength in whatever area is lacking in the Trust Triad within your organization and see how much stronger you become.
Challenge Question:
What lesson will you begin to implement right now to grow as a leader?
Meet Otis McGregor:
Leadership Expert, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, Project Management Trainer, Rugby Coach, LTC, Special Forces, US Army, Retired. My passion lies in helping people succeed. I’ve used this passion through years in the Army Special Operations, coaching rugby and business. It now drives me to create better leaders. I believe that better leaders create better organizations, better organizations create better communities, and better communities will create a better world.
I worked as a Business Development Manager, Director, and Chief Strategy Officer for several companies. In 2009, I founded LTO Enterprises, LLC to help businesses win government contracts. In 2021, I rebranded LTO to become Tribe + Purpose, aligning with how we operate and our business purpose. We focus on creating better leaders to lead high-performing teams. I am a certified business performance coach and certified project director and trainer through The Institute of Project Management.
I retired from the US Army in 2009 as a Green Beret Lieutenant Colonel following 25 years of service. While in the Army, I had a broad range of experience from being a private driving tanks five years older than me; to an engineer in the Arctic, running heavy equipment in the most extreme arctic conditions; to leading Green Berets on complex and dangerous missions around the world. I also had the unique experience of being part of new organizations and creating these new units into cohesive, effective organizations. This experience ranged from Arctic conditions in Alaska to counter-terrorism units in Iraq and Afghanistan to NATO Special Operations Headquarters.
Being part of these organizations from the ground up has given me immense experience in creating successful organizations. I've used those skills and experiences to build successful teams, business units, and companies in the business world. I’ve led capture efforts and proposal development for large and small firms. These efforts have ranged from small task orders to multiple large entity Joint Ventures. In addition to my business development efforts, I ran multi-million-dollar programs for the government spread across the US and overseas.
I possess a BS-Engineering Technology, from Texas A&M University; MA-International Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School; Certified Professional Coach, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC); COR.E Leadership & Performance Dynamics Specialist, IPEC; Certified Project Director and Certified Project Trainer, Institute of Project Management (IPM); USA Rugby Level 300 Coach. I create better leaders, host a podcast, build high-performance teams and wrote the book Enable Your Team's Success. I live in Colorado with my wife, Suzanne. We have three grown children living in the USA.
Connect with Otis:
- Otis' TEDx Talk
- Website
- YouTube: The Cam & Otis Show
Resources Mentioned:
- Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by Stanley McChrystal
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot by James B Stockdale
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?
If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? Social: • LinkedIn Community • LinkedIn • Instagram • Pinterest Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join the Roundtable With Four Experts As We Discuss the Nonprofit Overhead Myth
A few weeks ago, someone shared an article on LinkedIn about the long-debated Overhead Myth. Is nonprofit overhead bad? Is there a magic percentage for overhead? How can we educate people about the importance of funding operational costs?
That’s why I rounded up five nonprofit thought leaders to discuss this. We’re passionate about busting this myth and look forward to sharing some nuggets of wisdom with you!
Our goal for this conversation was to be clear and to provide practical takeaways and verbiage you can use throughout your nonprofit journey. And we accomplished just that!
One of the best ways to bust myths in the lives of those around you and your donors is to learn how to shift the conversations to help people better understand your nonprofit’s situation. Join us as we pick the brains of these experts in the field surrounding this topic.
I’m currently planning more ways to support you as my listeners and would love some feedback! What would you like to see more of? Share your ideas for podcast topics, resources, course ideas, or other ways I can support you in the new year!
SPEAKERS Teresa Huff, Sherry Quam Taylor, Sean Hale, Michael Thatcher, Kiersten Hill
Read the full transcript: www.teresahuff.com/116
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit?
If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? Social: * LinkedIn Community * LinkedIn * Instagram * Pinterest * YouTube
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
We each have a unique combination of things that light us up. From art to spreadsheets, engines to baking cookies (guilty!), we all have our things we enjoy.
Those things we’re passionate about typically spread across a wide range of interests. Along with that, we also have a lot of things we wish we could change in the world. This combination of many passions and wanting to make an impact within these areas is what led Michael Thatcher to where he is today as CEO of Charity Navigator.
Charity Navigator is a nonprofit that serves other nonprofits. Their system helps donors identify nonprofits that have a mission that they want to support, as well as provides an opportunity to give to a wide range of causes when they don’t want to pick just one. It also helps nonprofits gain credibility and discoverability, making it an incredible resource for both donors and nonprofits.
In this episode Michael and I talk about how Charity Navigator is a tool that amplifies impactful giving as well as other benefits of establishing a nonprofit presence on their platform.
Impactful Giving Through Charity Navigator All nonprofits have a mission to make something better, and funds are a vital part of taking steps in the right direction. So how can we make impactful giving easier for everyone? Through the use of Charity Navigator.
Oftentimes people use overhead, information about where money is being spent, as a way to determine a nonprofit’s impact, but this doesn’t provide the whole picture. Charity Navigator takes the nonprofit’s data, looks at what the money is achieving, and shows its true influence.
Nonprofits are encouraged to get their data out there, not only on their own website, but also on others. This allows your mission to be discoverable by more like minded people who may be looking for a charity just like yours to donate to.
Due to Charity Navigator’s positive reputation, ease of use, and up to date information, nonprofits can keep putting their best foot forward
Benefits of Establishing with Charity Navigator Charity Navigator relaunched a new website in 2022 with added features and improvements. They’re working hard to continuously iterate and provide better, more accurate data to drive impactful giving. This offers many benefits to both nonprofits and donors:
- Third party credibility
- They’ll run algorithms on your data and give you feedback
- Branding Kit
- It increases your discoverability by being on another platform
- It’s 100% free
Challenge Question: What day this week can you prioritize getting involved with Charity Navigator?
Meet Michael Thatcher: Michael leads Charity Navigator in its efforts to make impactful philanthropy easier for all by increasing the breadth and depth of evaluation methodologies to facilitate ratings coverage of substantially larger numbers of charities, and expand how the information engages new and existing audiences.
Prior to joining Charity Navigator, Michael spent more than fifteen years with Microsoft, the last ten of which, as their Public Sector Chief Technology Officer responsible for technology policy initiatives and engagements with government and academic leaders in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Michael's eclectic background includes years at sea conducting oceanographic research with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, composing music and dancing internationally as the co-founder and co-director of Dance Music Light. He has held various board positions within the nonprofit and tech sectors, holds several patents in enterprise systems management, and has a degree in Music from Columbia University in New York. His guiding mantra: Follow your heart - Use your head - Make a difference.
Connect with Michael: * Charity Navigator Website * Charity Navigator Portal * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * LinkedIn
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join the Nonprofit Mythbusters: www.nonprofitmythbusters.com
Getting Over the Nonprofit Overhead Myth
In 2013 Dan Pallotta released his TED Talk that called out what is now known as The Overhead Myth. The nonprofit sector was hopeful that things might turn around.
Now, almost a decade later, has anything changed? Have we stopped judging organizational effectiveness based solely on how much (or how little) a nonprofit organization spends on operational costs?
I've rounded up some nonprofit colleagues and thought leaders to join me in a roundtable conversation about this important topic, and you are invited to listen.
It's not enough to say something's wrong with the way things are done. We need to educate and provide better tools to truly shift the status quo.
Reframing the Nonprofit Narrative While interviewing Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator, the topic of overhead came up. Today I'm sharing a transcript of the conversation with you:
Michael Thatcher: So one of the things I think that's important with the new platform is, and what we're trying to do with the ratings, is to re-articulate the nonprofit narrative. So that there's not this tremendous focus on overhead, and how much gets spent on programs, but actually shift donor perceptions away from that towards what's the impact? And what are the results that the organization is making? What are the other attributes that actually make me want to invest in this organization?
Ultimately, when we're looking at overhead, we're looking at where money's being spent. We're not looking at what money's actually achieving. The only way we can tell that story is this kind of brings it back to the individual nonprofits. Give us that data. Give us your performance data so we can actually tell a better story. Because overhead’s easy; we pull that from the from the IRS tax forms, and that is what donors are using as a proxy for impact. It doesn't tell you a thing about impact. And it's actually can be really harmful.
If you under-spend on actually taking care of your people, you will actually damage your organization. You'll have staff, you'll have attrition rates, that you can't manage because at a certain point people have families; they've got to support their families, and if you're under paying your staff, then they're not going to stay with you because they actually have to make a living. So we should be paying. We should be paying appropriate rent wages for non-profit staff. We should be telling the story of the impact we're making in the world.
Charity Navigator is really trying to make that front and center. If you look back historically, we were part of, you know, we've been part of different letters that had been sent to donors, to the nonprofits, on the overhead myth. But this is such an important moment right now, where we have so many issues in our world that need to be addressed. And they talk about the difference we're making in the world. So that's one thing is like, tell the story of the impact you're making. Use platforms like Charity Navigator to actually amplify that message. And stop talking about overhead.
Teresa Huff: I just want to hug you right now! I am cheering and clapping on the inside. Because I see that so much. And it's such a struggle, and a frustration, especially for small nonprofits. And I hear it I see the churn that you're talking about the burnout, the overhead and the the turnover. In people. It's like a puzzle shifting around, somebody moves and the dominoes fall, and it's like, okay, they're gonna shift around in the community somewhere else. And it happens so much. And that inconsistency hurts the organization too. Because then their programs, people build up rapport, and then somebody's gone the next week. It's tough all around, and nonprofit leaders are wearing so many hats, and they're often exhausted and don't know where to focus. I think these conversations and these supports need to shift and what you're saying, we need to shift the the way we are approaching it and the perception around overhead. Spot on; I'm right there with you.
Michael Thatcher: So one thing I was saying, you said, nonprofit leaders wear many hats. We do. And the smaller the nonprofit, the more hats you have to wear. Yeah, that means you are not overhead. Right? You are probably doing a lot of program work. And so one of the errors that I see a lot, particularly from smaller nonprofits is that they'll put the executive in as a management or administrative expense entirely. That's rarely the case. You know what, you know how much program work you're doing, you know how much administrative work you're doing and how much fundraising you're doing. Do those allocations appropriately. It's not a one size fits all approach. And so be careful how you actually report. You do have to report on this, right? In other words, the IRS rules are the IRS rules. And also state rules are state rules. You've got to follow those. But know how you're spending, track your time, and then figure it out. And then just put that in your annual reporting.
Teresa Huff: Yes, thank you for saying that. And for clarifying that, because I've tried explaining that. And sometimes people get it, and sometimes they don't. And it can be a tricky struggle to try and convey. And I think the more we educate the public, and our potential donors and supporters, sometimes they just don't know. And we need to take responsibility for educating them in doing a better job of helping them understand what it really takes to run the nonprofit and then paying people to do their job is not a bad thing. It's an investment in the program and in the community and in the impact.
Michael Thatcher: 100%.
Attend the Nonprofit Mythbusters roundtable conversation: www.nonprofitmythbusters.com Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip.
Homelessness is one of the big issues in society today and it knows no geographical boundaries.
A nonprofit called New Story is tackling this issue, and their ultimate goal is to end global homelessness. And get this - they do it by printing 3D homes.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of hindrances while tackling such a large issue.
I’m talking with Kristen Harrington, Senior Manager of Partnerships for New Story. We discuss two things about how to tackle large problems that we face while working in a nonprofit:
- How we navigate our goals and outcomes is important
- The importance of mentorship
Ways to Navigate How You Run Your Nonprofit * Think bold/think bigger * Take obstacles and find the positive in it * Have a creative and hardworking team * Be transparent in the ups and the downs
Know the Power of Mentorship Why is having a mentor a good idea within a nonprofit?
- Someone to bounce ideas off of
- Someone to ask questions to
- They are an ally in the nonprofit world
- You can share partnership prospects
- They can provide helpful feedback
Challenge Question: Who can be a mentor to come alongside you while you’re attempting to tackle a large problem?
Meet Kristen Harrington: Kristen Harrington is passionate about people and purpose. As the Senior Manager of Partnerships at New Story, she leads a team to maximize global impact by cultivating new relationships with the world's most generous companies. Prior to joining New Story, Kristen helped lead the fundraising efforts of multi-million dollar campaigns for national organizations and even spent some time outside of the nonprofit sector at ESPN. She spends her free time with her husband, daughter, and two chocolate labs, looking for Atlanta’s best tacos and the next great adventure.
Connect with Kristen: LinkedIn
kristen@newstorycharity.org
New Story's Website
Other Episodes Mentioned: Mentoring Podcast Series * The Value of Unexpected Mentors and 5 Ways to Find Them [Episode 26] * Keys to Success as a Nonprofit Leader: Interview with Dr. Johnathan Kraus, Love Never Fails International [Episode 027] * 6 Ways to Learn Grant Writing Skills When You’re a Nonprofit Volunteer [Episode 28] * How to Start as a Grant Writer: Mindset and Strategy of Nonprofit Grant Writing [Episode 029] * Why I Became a Nonprofit Grant Writer: Creating a Ripple Effect [Episode 030] * Tips for Stepping Up Your Freelancing Success with Katherine Bright [Episode 031]
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Last winter I presented a grant writing workshop at a conference in Milwaukee. One of the hosts was The Nonprofit Alliance. You may recognize that name from my past guest Shannon McCracken in Episode 70.
I didn’t know another soul going into the conference. However, you’d be proud of this introvert. I had a great time and talked to a lot of new people!
One of those happened to sit down next to me at lunch. After hearing his story, his passion for building strong teams, and his unique take on leadership, I knew my new friend was a great person for you to meet too.
In this episode I’m talking with Tim Ditloff, an avid sailor, about what leadership looks like. With a lot of in depth and fun analogies, he relates sailing to strong leadership. I recommend following Tim on LinkedIn for a lot of thoughtful, inspirational posts on life, leadership, and sailing!
Things to Remember As a Leader Tim has a lot of thoughtful wisdom to share with us:
- Your path might not always be straight. Adjust to the zigs and zags.
- Celebrate small victories. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
- Each person's seemingly small task is very important in the ultimate journey.
How Can Nonprofits Live Out Strong Leadership? Tim has worked with his share of nonprofits over the years. He recommends that we focus on these things:
- Remember why you exist
- Remember what you are good at/your strengths
- Reflect on your progress
- Map out your course, set up milestones, and celebrate along the way
- Make sure your team is on the same page
Lessons From Sailing on Leadership Tim relates each of the following leadership characteristics to sailing and teaches us how to think about them from a new perspective. Listen in to get all of the thoughtful analogies he gives us on these powerful points:
- Steward leadership: Take care of each other. You’re not on the boat alone.
- You can’t take care of others without taking care of yourself too.
- Take the time to step back and observe how things are going among your team to make the most impact.
- Clear communication. Communication is vital for life or death on the sea; communication can be the line between success and failure in a nonprofit.
Challenge Question: What sailing lesson from this episode can you compare to your nonprofit journey? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me a message.
Meet Tim Dittloff: Tim has received world-class training in business, speaking, and sailing – and he puts all of his knowledge to good use, helping companies like yours with leadership development.
Time provides coaching and seminars to company leaders and their teams so they can transform both personally and professionally. His credentials include a Master of Science in Education. He is also a Certified Franklin Covey Trainer, Licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain, Certified John Maxwell Facilitator, and Certified ASA Sailing Instructor.
Connect with Tim Dittloff: * www.fullsailleadership.com * www.catalystbuilds.com * Tim’s LinkedIn profile
Resources Mentioned: * Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family - Bob Chapman, Steven Menasche, et al * Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude - Raymond M Kethledge and Michael S Erwin * Episode 70: Nonprofit Giving Trends From the Last Two Years and 2022 Forecasting - Interview with Shannon McCracken, The Nonprofit Alliance
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing My TEDx Talk is live!! You can watch and share here:
The Real ROI of Grant Writing
I've been a longtime fan of learning from TEDx speakers, and am thrilled to have the opportunity to give a talk of my own! I share about nonprofits and how having the right ROI framework in place can open new doors.
When most people hear ROI, they think ‘Return on Investment,’ but when it comes to grant writing the ROI framework is different. We're looking for a Return on Impact. Nonprofits have to work on being relevant, optimizing your operations, and interacting authentically and meaningfully with others.
- Relevant
- Optimize Operations
- Interact authentically and meaningfully
Return on Impact When a skilled chef is cooking, their secret ingredient can make the meal ten times better.
For grant writing, the secret sauce to a higher return on impact doesn’t have to be a secret. It’s not hidden or profound: It’s to build true relationships with people. And it is important to build those relationships through each part of the ROI framework - your relevance, optimization, and interactions.
Don’t Skip Steps How have I helped dozens of nonprofits over the last two decades? By building relationships, and advising others to do the same.
It didn’t start out easy or winning every time. I made a LOT of mistakes, especially at first. I didn’t know any better. But that was part of the process.
We HAVE to fail to get to success.
That’s the part people try to skip. They skip the small failures because they’re afraid. And in doing so, they set themselves up for bigger failure.
“Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.” - Sara Blakely.
Challenge Question: What part of the ROI framework do you need to focus on?
Find the TEDx Talk Here: * TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing by Teresa Huff
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a Bad Grant Writer If I Don’t Win the Grant?
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
New Friends Make the World a Better Place As a little girl, I remember when I first heard of the Harlem Globetrotters. I got to see them in person a time or two and thought they were THE coolest thing ever. Still do.
Even though I’m not much of a coordinated basketball player myself, I can appreciate the skill and conditioning it takes to play the sport. Throw in some fancy moves, entertainment, and personality like the Harlem Globetrotters, and you’ve got yourself a court full of magic.
That’s why I was super excited to meet a new friend who is a former Globetrotter. Not only that, but he’s made it his life’s work to spread a message we all need to hear - Kindness Is Free!
Take Your Experiences and Make an Impact with Kindness I’d like to introduce you to Herbert “Flight Time” Lang. Herb is the founder of a nonprofit called the Kindness is Free Foundation. He spreads joy and kindness wherever he goes.
Herb and I chat about the importance of mentorship, community, and choosing kindness first. As a newer nonprofit, Herb addresses the importance of identifying practical steps to meet your overall big goals, and as a former athlete, Herb advises us to apply the discipline of being consistent to whatever we do.
Mentorship and Community Mentorship and community is important in our lives. Herb has a mentor to this day who started as his basketball coach when he was 12 years old. The impact his coach had on him has been incredible; you never know who you are impacting around you.
Sometimes it takes time to see the fruit of your impact in others lives, but start planting seeds in the people around you and one day you will see the harvest. Remind people that they have value and prioritize your community.
Choose Kindness First Choose to be kind in all you do and use kindness as your default, not as an exception nor as a tactic to get what you want. In this episode we learn how kindness has radically impacted Herb’s life and how that has provided him with incredible experiences and the ability to make large contributions to better his communities.
This conversation is a great reminder for all of us to:
- Care about all people that you encounter, independent of what they can do for you.
- Do the right thing, because it’s the right thing.
- Choose to focus on the good things in life.
- Pick your perspective. Surround yourself with these types of people because you become like those around you.
Challenge Question: This week’s challenge question is simple: How can you choose kindness today?
Meet Herbert Lang: Herbert “Flight Time” Lang was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters for 18 wonderful years and traveled to almost 100 different countries. After leaving, he created a Facebook group for past members of the Harlem Globetrotters to maintain community and support one another as they transitioned into new parts of their lives. Herb has been on The Amazing Race and Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
Currently Herb is a motivational speaker and runs the Kindness is Free Foundation. Herb is also a TEDx speaker and works with a Hollywood production company to build television show concepts. Husband to Elena and father of three (Antonio, Nicholas, and Reya), Herb lives his life based on the mantra of treating people with kindness. He regularly uses the hashtag #kindnessisfree in online correspondence, and emphasizes that one's success is determined by how many people we impact, and not how much money we make.
Connect with Herbert Lang: * Herb's Website * Kindness is Free Podcast * LinkedIn * Twitter * Instagram * TEDx Talk
Resources: * Projects Popes and Presidents: An Inspirational Journey That Shows How You Can Overcome Life's Obstacles and Achieve Your Dreams - Herbert Lang * Cracking the Rich Code, Volume 4 - Jim Britt and Kevin Harrington
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer and kickstart your grant writing career today: www.teresahuff.com/vip
The Quest for the Perfect Water Bottle A couple of years ago I needed a new water bottle. But not just any water bottle.
You see, even though it’s a small thing, it’s also a big thing. I drink a lot of water all day, every day. I feel all weird and shrively if I don’t.
Because it’s such an everyday thing for me, a water bottle is an important decision.
It had to be just right. We’re talking…Color. Size. Shape. Lid. Spout. Straw. Handle. Price. Lightweight. Fits in my hand. Fits in my car cup holder. Keeps it cold in a hot car for days. The brand didn’t matter as long as it fit ALL the other requirements.
Not asking for much, right?
I finally stumbled across what looked like the perfect water bottle combination, so I added it to my Christmas list. I’d never heard of the brand before, but decided to give it a chance. My husband was happy to have the recommendation and checked it off his list.
Best water bottle decision ever.
Simple Modern is now my go-to water bottle brand. Lest you think this is a commercial, though, turns out there’s a whole lot more to the story than just a good water bottle.
After reading more about Simple Modern, I connected with the CEO. Pretty soon it was obvious that you needed to talk with him too, so - here we are.
Today I’m chatting with Mike Beckham, the CEO of Simple Modern. He’s full of wisdom on leadership, nonprofits, and entrepreneurship. Mike gives us guidance on how skills in both the for-profit world and the nonprofit world translate to support one another, how we can develop a quality of life and corporate culture, and what factors help create a successful organization.
Listen in for some tips of gold!
Challenge Question: How can you best steward your resources right now by transferring skills you already have into the nonprofit world?
Meet Mike Beckham: Mike’s career began by working for the nonprofit Christian ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ, also known as CRU. He then transitioned into founding many e-commerce businesses, and is most recently the CEO of Simple Modern. Simple Modern’s mission statement is, “We exist to give generously,” and Mike is passionate about sharing his experiences with others. Mike is also the entrepreneur-in-residence for the Tom Love Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Oklahoma.
Connect with Mike: * Simple Modern * Simple Modern Amazon Store * LinkedIn * Twitter * Blog
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
The Variety of Nonprofit Fundraising Lately we’ve been covering some awesome fundraising and leadership topics - major gifts, corporate sponsors, lean startups, and more. Even though the last few episodes aren’t directly about grant writing, they’ll sure help you with grants in the long run!
A well-rounded approach to your nonprofit’s fundraising plan is a big key to success. Grants are only one piece of the pie; it’s important to have other pieces in place too.
In this episode I’m talking with the executive director of Nonprofit Hub, Katie Appold. We discuss making sure we are prepared for meetings with donors, myths that surround the nonprofit world, and the importance of sharing your financial information publicly.
Challenge Question: In what way can you make your administrative, fundraising, and overhead costs available to your donors?
Meet Katie Appold: Katie Appold is executive director of Nonprofit Hub, the nonprofit behind the nationally recognized programs Cause Network and Cause Camp. She has spent over twenty years in the nonprofit sector serving in leadership roles at foundations, publishers, and community-based causes. Katie is also the host of the Good to Growth Podcast, a member of several nonprofit professional organizations, and an active volunteer.
Connect with Katie: * Nonprofit Hub's Website * Katie Appold's LinkedIn * Good to Growth Podcast
Resources: * Cause Camp * Board Source
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Happy Birthday to Grant Writing Simplified! This month I’m celebrating TWO YEARS of the Grant Writing Simplified Podcast! How crazy is that!!
I was scared to death to start the podcast two years ago, but here we are over 100 episodes later and it’s been a blast.
I’ve met some of the most incredible people all over the world because of it, and some amazing grant writers have gone through the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program.
It's been quite a ride. Whether you’re new or you’ve been around a while, THANK YOU for being a part of the journey!!!
The Growth and Challenge of Nonprofit Work and Grant Writing Grant writing - and all of nonprofit work, really, is full of highs and lows.
The highs are awesome, like winning your first grant. Or the hundredth!
The lows can be pretty discouraging and isolating sometimes.
But the thing is, we can’t base our value or success on those extremes. See, there’s not really a finish line. At every level we’re going to have challenges that will stretch and push us.
We all started with that first grant. I kept going, kept practicing, and kept improving. Then different projects came along and those presented new challenges.
Then last week I stepped into an ENTIRELY new challenge and gave a TEDx Talk! That was a completely foreign experience for me, but I had a blast and am so grateful for the opportunity. (And I can’t wait to share the video with you when it’s live!)
All these accomplishments are cause for celebration, and the lows are a great education. Strangely enough, though, we may not ever feel like we’ve “arrived.” Once we reach one level, we’re working toward the next. And I’ve realized that’s an important part of the journey.
Challenge Question: What is your next step? It can be big or small, but take the step! Send me a message and let me know. I'd love to cheer you on!
If you need help, book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Resources Mentioned: * TEDx Talk - Coming soon!
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Today I'm talking to Linda Lysakowski about corporate fundraising. She’s a brilliant resource and draws on decades of experience. If you’re wondering how to get more help from businesses in your community, this is the perfect episode for you!
Brainstorm Your Network Your board members, staff, fundraising committee, and volunteers know people. You never know the personal connections you have to people or corporations that are untapped within your circle until you dig into it.
It’s important to remember that you don’t have to only reach out to the big corporations because that’s who you think is capable of donating to your cause. Think about the smaller or “average” businesses like a painting company or car washes. Smaller organizations often give to help others because they understand what that can do for someone else.
How To Begin Corporate Fundraising The best thing to do is to get involved and build relationships first. After your team has brainstormed your connections, really interact with individuals in those corporations, whether it’s a friend or relative, long-time business partner, or acquaintance at a networking event, and make sure they don’t feel like a means to an end. They need to know you care about them as individuals and not just as a check.
Ask for advice from them regarding the best interests of your nonprofit. It shows respect and can help your nonprofit grow by learning new perspectives.
Your corporate connections can help you in more ways than just financially, but when you do ask for a donation, address how your nonprofit can serve that corporation specifically and help them see the mutual benefit.
Challenge Question: Which strategy Linda shared are you going to begin implementing?
Meet Linda Lysakowski: Linda is one of just over 100 professionals worldwide to hold the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive designation. In her thirty-plus years in the development field, she has managed capital campaigns, helped dozens of nonprofit organizations achieve their development goals, and has trained more than 50,000 professionals in Mexico, Canada, Egypt, Bermuda, and most of the fifty United States.
Linda is a graduate of Alvernia College in Reading, PA with majors in Banking and Finance; Communications; and Theology/Philosophy and is a candidate for a master’s degree in Theological Studies at the University of San Diego.
Linda has received the Outstanding Fundraising Executive award from the Eastern PA, Las Vegas, and Sierra (NV) chapters of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals). She has a full list of over 40 published books to her name. Learn more at www.lindalysakowski.com.
Connect with Linda: * Linda's Website * Email: Linda@LindaLysakowski.com * Available Courses
Resources: * If you would like Lynda’s Brainstorming Form, email her at Linda@LindaLysakowski.com * Mentoring Series - Grant Writing Simplified Podcast Episodes 26-31 by Teresa Huff
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? If you need support in your journey to excellence as a grant writer, I’d like to invite you to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and start learning today.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you’re ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Meet me in...Delaware! Grab your tickets for my TEDx Talk on October 13, 2022!
Do Major Gifts Seem Initimidating? A lot of people are super intimidated by fundraising, yet it’s a big part of nonprofit work. You’ve heard me talk a lot about needing multiple sources of funding for your nonprofit. Grants alone won’t do the trick. That’s why I’ve brought in another expert for you.
In this episode I’m talking with Kevin Fitzpatrick from the One Visit Away Podcast about Major Gifts.
What action is going to help you learn that donor's major gift potential? Having one on one in-person conversations with them!
Kevin explains to us why the key to obtaining major gifts is to set times to meet in person with your donors.
Challenge Question: Which donor of yours can you reach out to this week to set up a time to meet up with personally?
I'd love to hear how it goes! Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Meet Kevin Fitzpatrick Kevin is the founder of One Visit Away where he teaches others how to use interpersonal relationships to obtain larger monetary donations for nonprofits. He is also the host of the One Visit Away podcast which is the #1 rated Major Gift Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
Connect with Kevin:
- One Visit Away - Podcast
- One Visit Away - Website
- Kevin Fitzpatrick - LinkedIn
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Resources Mentioned: * Book:Born to Raise: What Makes a Great Fundraiser Great by Jerold Panas * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Meet me in...Delaware! Grab your tickets for my TEDx Talk in October!
Remember Your Mission and Put In the Work In this episode we talk with Katherine Kreuchauf about Lean Nonprofit Startups. What does that mean exactly? We learn that a successful nonprofit requires not only a heart for a cause, but thoughtful action, quick adjustments, and valuable investments. Katherine shares so many wonderful pieces of advice for how to focus on your mission and be successful in making a lasting impact. We cover:
- Should you start a nonprofit?
- The value of pivoting
- What it looks like to be a lean nonprofit
- Picking the right board members
- 5 skills a nonprofit needs
Challenge Question: What’s one tip from Kathy that you can begin implementing in your nonprofit this week? I'd love to hear it! Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Meet Katherine Kreuchauf An award winning professional in philanthropy, Katherine Kreuchauf focuses on supporting nonprofit and foundation leaders and continues her commitment to strengthening nonprofit boards, fundraising, and effective programming. Before forming OnPoint Philanthropic Consulting, she led The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation for 12 years. Prior to that she headed a local United Way for 11 years as well as a health-related nonprofit organization.
Connect with Katherine:
www.onpointphilanthropy.com - Check out the webinar on her Resources page
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Resources Mentioned: * Book: *Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability by Jeanne Bell*
- BoardSource
- Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Big Announcement for Q4! In the last episode, I hinted that I’ve got some awesome things coming up this fall in Q4. 2022 is far from over, and I’m committing to some big steps this year!
I’m heading to Wilmington, Delaware, to give a TEDx talk in October! AND you’re invited to join me live! Grab your tickets here and send me a message that you’re coming. I’d love to have some friends in the seats.
How a Nonprofit Can Become Grant Ready I often talk about the importance of grant readiness and how nonprofits need to have specific things in place before they apply for grants. You can learn more about this way back in Episode 6 where I walk you through some foundational pieces. This is so important that I created a free Grant Readiness Audit for you at teresahuff.com/grantready.
One of the big pieces of becoming grant ready is making sure you have several sources of funding in place. You can’t live from grant to grant - that’s not a sustainable funding strategy.
In Episode 34 I talked through a TON of different fundraising ideas - over 60! - to help trigger some creative thinking. Now this list is not intended to overwhelm you and your team! The last thing you want to do is go out and try to tackle all of them at once! Pick one, master it, reevaluate, and go from there.
Advice from the Experts Because grants can’t be the only answer to nonprofit funding, I’ve rounded up some experts to help you.
You’ll want to bring your pen and notebook over the next few episodes!
I wanted to pop in today to give you a heads up about what’s coming up the next few weeks. This would be a great time to go back and listen to the other episodes I mentioned, Episode 6 and 34, so you can come into the next couple of conversations with a bit of background. It’s also a great time to be thinking through your upcoming fundraising strategy as we head into Q4 and start planning for next year.
Challenge Question: What big steps are you commiting to so you can end 2022 strong?
If you need help, book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Resources Mentioned: * **Come to my live TEDx Talk in Wilmington, Delaware! Tickets are here**
- Episode 6: Grant Readiness: How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing
- Episode 34: 60+ Fundraising Ideas and 9 Questions to Help You Choose
- Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Recognize How To Use Your Skillset To Start A Grant Writing Business This week is an on-air strategy call, one of my favorite ways to coach grant writers! I'm chatting with Lori Smith, a former special education teacher like me. We have a lot in common and I understand the types of work she's been doing already.
In this episode we're talking about how Lori's skillset as a special ed teacher can transfer to grant writing. I encourage her to think about:
- What skills do you currently have that transfer to grant writing?
- Recognize the constraints in grant writing and nonprofit organizations
- Constraints are a good challenge to allow you to think more creatively and to help contain and define the work in grant writing
- How to maximize your impact as a grant writer
- Strengths beneficial in grant writing and nonprofits: writing, problem-solving, scheduling, flexibility and adaptability, positivity, compassion, patience
- Generate ideas easily and brainstorm
How Can You Get Started as a Grant Writer? Lori and I cover several proactive steps she can do to make the transition into grant writing, such as:
- Recognize what you already know and what resources are available to you.
- Consider your network, both online and offline.
- Leverage your connections in your community.
- The best source of clients is word of mouth.
- Your experience will draw clients in.
Listen in to hear more about Lori's story and see how you can apply the strategies to your grant writing career! Challenge Question: What skillset do you have that would be helpful in grant writing or in a nonprofit? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Resources Mentioned: * NIO Summit: www.niosummit.com - Use the code ICTH22 to get $400 off your 2022 ticket! * Episodes 43-36: FAST Focus Power Series * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Two Grant Writing Pros Talk Shop Today I'm excited to host my podcasting friend and grant writing coach Holly Rustick. Holly brings a wealth of experience from her longtime career in grant writing and consulting.
Holly and I talk about common mistakes we've seen over the years, struggles we've experienced, and several ways nonprofits can position themselves more competitively for grant funding.
Tips for Building Your Successful Grant Writing Business In addition, we both understand the challenge of pricing your services and setting up your consulting business. We talk about:
- How to think through pricing your services as a grant writing consultant
- Factoring in expenses and profit margin
- Taking your experience into account
- Building confidence in your pricing
- Setting boundaries, saying yes, and saying no
Holly also has some great encouragement for new grant writers who are wondering if there's room at the table for you. Short answer: YES! Yes, there is plenty of room. She urges collaboration with others while finding your own unique approach.
Challenge Question: What surprised you about this conversation? How will you incorporate our tips into your grant writing? I'd love to hear it! Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Meet Holly Rustick World-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author Holly Rustick loves to coach others to enhance their grant writing and business skills. She coaches thousands of people every week through her top-ranking podcast, Grant Writing & Funding, books on grant writing, and via the Hub Haven on how to take actionable bite-sized steps in grant writing and entrepreneurship.
While teaching in Kuwait and then earning a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy in Belgium, Holly saw the light of setting up a virtual-based business in grant writing back in the mid-2000s. Having secured millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations around the world throughout the past 16+ years, Holly has a mission to train other grant writers to create a multiplier effect in raising an exponential amount of money for nonprofits all over the world.
As an unapologetic feminist, Holly believes her work - whether it is securing funding to advance the mission of nonprofits, coaching a female entrepreneur to understand value-based pricing, or writing a rom-com novel that stars the heroine as a renegade – inspires women to radiate in their full potential.
To amplify this work, she is past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce and currently sits on the Guam Business Advisory Task Force as an advisor to the first female governor of Guam. Holly lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.
If you are interested in advancing your grant writing skills or transitioning into freelance grant writing, be sure to check out Holly’s articles, books, and podcasts at www.grantwritingandfunding.com.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Resources Mentioned: * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Celebrate 100 Episodes with Me! Today I'm thrilled to hit a big podcasting milestone - 100 episodes! Will you help me celebrate by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts? Together we can help others find the resources they need to change the world!
Want to Meet Up in Kansas City? Join me at the NIO Summit on September 20-23, 2022, and use the code ICTH22 to get a whopping $400 off your ticket!! Sign up here and I'll see you there!
Top 10 Random Questions About My Grant Writing Career
A few weeks ago, I sat down and brainstormed a list of 10 random questions I thought you might enjoy hearing about. Then I promptly forgot about the list, so this episode gives you my off-the-cuff, unrehearsed answers!
I'll share things like:
- Weirdest grant application I've written
- Strangest client situation
- Most random grant request
- Biggest grant loss
- The office supply I can't live without
- What I like most about grant writing
- The biggest plot twist in my grant writing journey
- My favorite ways to unwind on an average day
- A couple of things I despise most
- Biggest lesson I've learned along the way
Challenge Question: What's been the most valuable lesson so far in your career? I'd love to hear it! Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer and let's get you moving!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Resources Mentioned: * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to **teresahuff.com/instrumentl**and use the code **GWSPOD** for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip.
How Can You Improve Your Grant Writing? Sometimes the best answer to that question is to ask the obvious.
Oftentimes we think we're perfectly clear, but are we really?
The past few episodes we've been talking about the importance of clarity - in our work, our messaging, our communications, and especially our grant writing. That then becomes the catalyst for becoming more effective.
With a grant application, for example, ask yourself, "Is this clear enough that my mom could understand it?" If not, you might need to revisit how you're presenting the information.
Be Brave Enough to Ask Better Questions If we ask ourselves better questions, we get better answers. Today I want to challenge you with 5 questions to dig down and help uncover important insights:
- What are we doing well?
- What’s clear?
- What’s unclear?
- What can be improved?
- What are we afraid to ask/afraid to find out?
Then give yourself space to listen and look for connections.
Challenge Question: What obvious questions do you need to ask?
If you need help asking the questions, book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Resources Mentioned: * Episode 95: 5 Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Clarity * Episode 96: Strategy Call: Gaining Clarity for a Nonprofit's Next Steps * Episode 97: Master of One: The Role of Excellence in Our Work * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Uncover Your Secret Strengths With at least half of the population being introverts, either you are an introvert, or you’ll interact with someone who is. No matter what, others won’t be quite like us in how we think, feel, or communicate. And that’s a good thing!
This topic has been a game changer for me in leaning into my grant writing career. That’s why I’m excited to finally have the chance to talk about it with today’s guest. The better we understand ourselves and how we work, relate, and rest effectively, the more we can build much more impactful and influential relationships with those around us.
Great strengths come from both introverts and extroverts. To maximize those, it’s helpful to understand the unique needs. Each style is most effective when we can draw out those special attributes.
Since we don’t always recognize when an ability is considered a gift, these conversations are important. That’s why I invited David Hall on the show! He’s full of insights and practical advice for leaning into our strengths.
David Hall, host of the podcast The Quiet and the Strong, Especially for Introverts, explores the world through the eyes of a fellow introvert. He discusses his journey to figuring out that he is an introvert and understanding introversion. By embracing these gifts and understanding them, we can learn to be good in our own skin.
Challenge Question: Are you an introvert or an extrovert? How can you better lean into your natural strengths?
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Meet David Hall David Hall, M.Ed., is the creator of QuietandStrong.com. He is an author, blogger, podcaster and speaker on a mission to help introverts discover their strengths and honor their needs.
David has also spent 20+ years working in higher education, and has given many workshops, trainings, and presentations on personality, strengths, and introversion/extroversion. His book, Minding Your Time: Time Management, Productivity, and Success, Especially for Introverts, helps readers understand themselves and their introversion to be more successful in managing their time and productivity.
Listen to the full episode for a fascinating conversation about the needs, strengths, and thoughts of introverts. “We do come with natural gifts and abilities, and sometimes it’s so natural…we don’t recognize what a gift it is.”
Connect with David:
- www.quietandstrong.com
- Instagram: @quiet_and_strong
- www.twitter.com/quietandstrong
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Resources Mentioned: * David Hall's book, Minding Your Time: Time Management, Productivity, and Success, Especially for Introverts * Clifton Strengthsfinder * Myers-Briggs Test * Love and Work by Marcus Buckingham * Introvert Power by Laurie Helgoe * Episode 95: 5 Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Clarity * Episode 96: Strategy Call: Gaining Clarity for a Nonprofit's Next Steps * Episode 97: Master of One: The Role of Excellence in Our Work * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Clarity Is the Key to Unlock Mastery The last couple of weeks we've been talking about the importance of clarity. Before we can be effective in our work, we must a) be clear ourselves, and then b) be able to clearly convey that to others.
Today's guest is on a journey to gain clarity so he can serve with excellence. You’ve heard me mention him several times on the show and I’ve often recommended his book Master of One. I’m honored to talk with Jordan Raynor, author, entrepreneur, and podcaster. He is passionate about the idea that our work matters for eternity, and he’s on a journey to help others discover how they can best serve with purpose.
Jordan shares so much wisdom for doing our work with excellence, setting clear goals, and growing a team. He shares a wealth of experiences in the interview.
You’ll find this interview inspiring and challenging to keep pursuing your path to mastery.
Pursuing Excellence Jordan shares some incredible nuggets. We cover: * Mastering one thing well instead of spreading too thin across many things * The importance of clarity * When to pivot vs. when to persevere * Setting goals and collecting data to help make decisions * OKR = Objectives and Key Results goal-setting framework * Challenges of growing a team * Getting the right people in the right seats and the importance of having A+ talent on your team * Advice for those looking for clarity and purpose in their work
I appreciate Jordan’s encouragement and down to earth advice for finding clarity and focusing in on the right things. Challenge Question: Jordan and I talked about several key areas in order to master our one thing well. Which one do you need to focus on the most right now?
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book a 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Meet Jordan Raynor Jordan Raynor helps Christians respond to the radical, biblical truth that their work matters for eternity. He does this through his bestselling books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create), podcast (Mere Christians), and weekly devotional (The Word Before Work)—content that has served millions of Christ-followers in every country on earth.
In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own. Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush.
A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. The Raynors are proud members of The Church at Odessa.
Connect with Jordan:
- Jordanraynor.com
- The Word Before Work - www.jordanraynor.com/twbw
- Instagram: @jordanraynor
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Resources Mentioned: * Jordan Raynor's books: The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create * No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer * The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday * Quote: “The people on this planet who end up doing nothing are those who never realized they couldn't do everything.” - Kevin DeYoung * New Story Charity with Brett Hagler * Episode 95: 5 Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Clarity * Episode 96: Strategy Call: Gaining Clarity for a Nonprofit's Next Steps * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Importance of Clarity People won’t support what they don’t understand. We must have clarity in order to make an impact.
In this week's on-air nonprofit coaching call, I'm working with the lovely Dooshima David-Jang, a nonprofit leader from Nigeria. Inspired by her father’s legacy, she started a nonprofit when she saw a disconnect in her community.
First we had to dig into what that really meant. Then we could design a short-term action plan so she can gather more information from the community while serving them at the same time.
Finally, she asks if I have any insights about why her grant for a much-needed idea wasn’t funded.
For all three points, it all boils down to clarity and impact.
Let’s dive in!
Clarity Is the Key to Making an Impact I hope you're starting to see the power of clarity and strategic thinking. In Dooshima’s case: * She first needed to get clear on the impact she wants to make with her nonprofit. * Then she needed an action plan to find the shortest distance from Point A to Point B. That way she can build momentum, develop community partnerships, and iterate her programs. * That will give her more powerful leverage in the future when she’s ready to start applying for grant funding.
Challenge Question: Is there an area you’re holding back because of a lack of clarity? If so, we need to dig in and polish it up!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can book your own 1:1 strategy session with me at teresahuff.com/mentor. The world needs you out there making a difference!
Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 95: 5 Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Clarity * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
How Clear Is Your Writing? Last week we talked about the importance of using positive action words in your writing. Words that inspire. Words that cast a vision.
This week we're talking about another important element: clarity.
Implement More Clarity in Your Grant Writing Gaining clarity is at the core of what we do because everything else hinges on it. We need clarity ourselves before we can expect to clearly convey our work to others. Whether you’re offering services, applying for grants, explaining your nonprofit’s mission, outlining a program, you must have clarity. People won’t support what they don’t understand. If it’s unclear, they can’t understand it and they sure won't support it. Help them make an informed decision by clearly conveying the work you're doing. 5 Tips to Convey Your Nonprofit Message with Clarity: 1. Decide what’s your #1 goal for this piece of writing? 2. Outline the key points in a logical framework. 3. Fill in the important details. 4. Cut out the fluff! Don't argue. There’s always fluff. 5. Take imperfect action.
Listen to the full episode for a deeper dive. Challenge Question: Where do you need to refine your work or writing for more clarity? How will you take action on it this week? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll brainstorm with you. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip: How to Write Tight * Episode 88: Are Your Nonprofit Blind Spots Getting the Best of You? Interview with Likky Lavji, Blind Spot Navigator * Episode 94: Pro Tip to Improve Your Grant Writing Immediately * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
What Kind of Message Are You Sending in Your Grant Writing? If you step back and look at your grant writing objectively, you might be surprised at what you find.
And it might not be quite as pretty as you thought.
Before you give up in despair, though, I've got you covered. Today's grant writing pro tip will help you improve overnight once you crack the code.
Does Your Grant Writing Sound Like This? When we're writing, we often tend to be polite and soften the blow: * "Would you be able to help me on Saturday?" * "If you had a minute, I'd love it if you could help with this."
That's sweet and nice when we're asking a friend for a favor. Not so in grant writing. It makes us sound unsure and wishy washy: * "If we had these funds, we could help so many kids." * "If we were to get this grant, we would be able to build a playground."
Ick. Now let's be clear - I'm not knocking the mission at all. But sadly, the mission is getting lost in the ambiguity. Let's try that again with a positive approach: * "With these funds, we will impact over 100 students." * "We will use these funds to build a playground."
Boom. See the difference? It's immediately a different impact. Grant Writing Words to Avoid When you're writing a grant, watch out for past tense words that are talking about things in the future - "If we had these funds, we could..." Also avoid passive words and phrases like these: * Would * Could * If we were * Might be able to
Instead, aim for positive, confident phrasing. Cast the vision for the funder. Your writing will transform. Listen to the full episode for a deeper dive. Challenge Question: Find a paragraph or two you've written recently. Look it over - do you use positive action words? How can you rewrite it to be more inspiring? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll brainstorm with you. And if you need more support, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer already and let's get you moving!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip: How to Write Tight * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
I have been busy lately adding some exciting new features to the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program! If you’re wanting to get into grant writing, this is the perfect time to jump in. I’ll share more details in the coming weeks.
You can join us right now and start learning grant writing with me in this 90-day interactive mentoring program. Sign up at www.teresahuff.com/vip.
Successful Nonprofit Leadership Isn't a Straight Path I’ve been hearing from several of you lately who are either needing clarity or encouragement around your nonprofit work, and today’s interview has just that. I’m pulling this episode out of the show archives because it’s just that good. I think you’ll find his story inspiring.
Meet Dr. Johnathan Kraus Dr. Johnathan Kraus is no stranger to challenges. He began using drugs as a teenager which led him to drop out of school at 14, in jail at 15, and shot at 3 times by 16. At age 19, though, God radically saved him and by age 20 he was involved in children's ministry at his Church. Fast forward a few years; Dr. Kraus is a Rutgers University grad who then went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree, a Doctor of Ministry, and a Ph.D in Counseling.
After a career as a grade school teacher and college professor, Dr. Kraus left the comforts of his life in the US and took a leap of faith to start a nonprofit, Love Never Fails International. Today the organization serves children from coast to coast in India to help them overcome poverty by meeting their needs physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
He shares all kinds of wisdom in this interview. Learn more about his work:
- Website: www.loveneverfailsindia.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/loveneverfailsindia
- Instagram: @loveneverfailsinternational
Challenge Question: What is your next step to develop your own successful nonprofit leadership journey? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll brainstorm with you.
Listen to the episode for inspiration and practical advice.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
What Do Grants and Gardening Have in Common? As it turns out, quite a lot.
I've been helping my husband plant the garden this spring. He has quite the green thumb of the family. Sadly, I do not.
However, it's given me the chance to reflect on how much grant writing and gardening have in common.
7 Ways Grants Are Like Gardening: 1. Both take time, hard work, and patience to tend. 2. We can’t control the outcome, so we need to be prepared and follow through consistently. 3. Artificial opportunities may look good at first, but they won’t produce the results we need. 4. Grants and gardens take nurturing and tending to build relationships and reputation. 5. We must learn to understand the needs and provide for those. 6. Plant before you need it so you can build your pipeline of harvest for the future. 7. Prepare for the seasonality.
Listen to the full episode for a deeper dive into each. Challenge Question: How can you shift your approach to cultivate a healthier grant garden? **Connect with me over on LinkedIn** or **send me a message** and I'll brainstorm with you.
Listen to the episode for inspiration and practical advice. Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 68: How You Can Prepare for the Seasonality of Grants * Episode 80: 7 Things Grants Are NOT: What You Need to Know About Grant Funding * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
The Nonprofit Go-Giver Ripple Effect Lately we’ve been talking about being a go-giver and how this mindset shift can change not only your own life, but also those around you.
Today we're taking that a step further. I'm talking with the loveliest couple, John David Mann and Ana Gabriel Mann, about their new book The Go-Giver Marriage.
Our personal and professional lives are so intertwined; we need to take care of both. Whether you're married or not, this episode is full of golden tips for strengthening relationships both personally and within a nonprofit.
John and Ana share:
- How creativity affects our work
- The importance of using music, arts, and other skills throughout our lives
- How learning structure informs everything we do
- Interesting comparison of grant writing and book publishing
- Both grant funders and book publishers: “They’d rather say no than yes because no is a lot safer.” - John David Mann
- “Own your own material. Then there’s room for everybody to grow, and there’s room for compassion.” - Ana Gabriel Mann
- Don't be afraid to get feedback, whether to refine our grant writing or our marriage
This is full of encouragement and practical wisdom!
Meet John David Mann & Ana Gabriel Mann John David Mann is coauthor of more than thirty books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers, including The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg), which has sold over 1 million copies and won the 2017 Living Now Book Awards Evergreen Medal for its “contributions to positive global change.” He is married to Ana Gabriel Mann and considers himself the luckiest mann in the world. Ana Gabriel Mann, MA, holds a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and dance-movement therapy from Antioch New England, where she specialized in working with adults and family therapy. In addition to her work in family therapy and 5 Secrets marriage coaching, she has been clinical director for a program for people with Alzheimer’s disease, co-founded New England’s first college of Chinese medicine, and worked as a corporate consultant, speaker, trainer, and coach.
John and Ana have been dreaming about writing The Go-Giver Marriage together for nearly two decades. The book was released in March 2022.
Connect with John & Ana: John * www.johndavidmann.com * instagram.com/johndavidmann * facebook.com/johndavidmann * twitter.com/johndavidmann * linkedin.com/in/johndavidmann
Ana * www.gogivermarriage.com * instagram.com/anagabrielmann * facebook.com/anagabrielmann * twitter.com/anagabrielmann1
Challenge Question: What patterns do you need to shift? What small action steps will you commit to take? **Connect with me over on LinkedIn** or **send me a message** and I'll brainstorm with you.
Listen to the episode for inspiration and practical advice.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Other Resources Mentioned: * **The Go Giver** by Bob Burg and John David Mann
- Episode 89: How to Create a Ripple Effect by Becoming a Go-Giver: Bob Burg
- Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
What Is Your Premise? I often tell you that action brings clarity, and that’s so true. Every now and then, though, we need to take a step back and check our premise. A premise is what forms the basis of a theory or plan. For example, when writing a book, you need to have a clear premise so you know what the book is about. However, sometimes our premise fades or gets lost in the shuffle. This can happen due to: * Overwhelm - which clouds our decisions * Blind spots - which skew our decisions
Last week we talked about having a go-giver mindset. That way of thinking will challenge you to shift your premise in a good way! Check Your Premise This week I want to challenge you to make sure you're crystal clear on your premise from multiple angles: * Personally - before you get into nonprofit work or grant writing, or as you keep moving forward as a grant writer * Nonprofits - as an organization, get clear on your premise before you keep working in so many directions (or get off track) * Grant writers - before you write the grant, ask yourself: Does this align with your nonprofit mission and the funder’s mission?
Challenge Question: What’s your premise, both personally and as a nonprofit? **Connect with me over on LinkedIn** or **send me a message** and I'll brainstorm with you.
Listen to the episode for inspiration and practical advice on how to check your premise.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann * Episode 88: Are Your Nonprofit Blind Spots Getting the Best of You? Interview with Likky Lavji, Blind Spot Navigator * Episode 89: How to Create a Ripple Effect by Becoming a Go-Giver: Bob Burg * Episode 86: A Step by Step Exercise to Address Overwhelm at Work * Episode 6: Grant Readiness: How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing * Episode 66: Why "Just Get Grants" Syndrome Doesn't Work - and a Better Alternative * Episode 80: 7 Things Grants Are NOT: What You Need to Know About Grant Funding * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
How Do You Create a Ripple Effect? A lot of things are outside our control, especially in business and nonprofit work. Instead of lamenting those obstacles, let's take a look at what we CAN control - such as our attitudes, reactions, mindset toward challenges, and how we treat others. If it's true that we become like the 5 people we're around the most, I have a few questions for you to ponder: * Who are you hanging around? * Who is hanging around you? * Are you someone others want to become like?
You can influence change in your circles, and today we're going to discuss how. Becoming a Nonprofit Go-Giver In this episode I'm talking with bestselling author and speaker Bob Burg about what it means to become a go-giver, especially in the context of nonprofit work. Bob is every bit as genuine and kind in person as he sounds in the interview. He shares tremendous wisdom and encouragement for nonprofit leaders. Bob understands that nonprofit work can feel like an uphill journey sometimes, which is why he shared,“Things that get built big typically don’t happen fast. They happen with consistent, persistent work.” Bob also compares nonprofit fundraising to the sales process. However, he breaks it down into a non-intimidating way of building relationships. He urges us to care about the other person and take a genuine interest in their lives, saying “The person who is the donor isn’t doing it because you need the donations to keep your doors open. They’re doing it because they have their own unique reason for donating.” We need to dig deep and get to know the person for who they are, not what they might give. This episode is full of go-giving gold, so I strongly recommend you give it a listen! Challenge Question: How can you reframe your thinking to become a go-giver who gives value and inspires others? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll brainstorm with you.
Meet Bob Burg, Author and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker For over 30 years Bob Burg has been successfully showing entrepreneurs, leaders, and sales professionals how to communicate their value and accelerate their referral business. Although for years he was best known for his sales classic Endless Referrals, it’s his business parable, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann, that has created a worldwide movement. While part of a four-book series, The Go-Giver itself has sold more than one million copies and been translated into 30 languages. It was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of The Most Motivational Books Ever Written, and was on HubSpot’s 20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time. Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic and served on the Board of Directors of Furry Friends Adoption & Clinic in his town of Jupiter, Florida. Listen to the episode for inspiration and practical advice on how you, too, can become a go-giver.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the **Fast Track to Grant Writer**. The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann * Endless Referrals by Bob Burg * Go for No!: Yes Is the Destination, No Is How You Get There by Richard Fenton * The Go-Giver Community: www.thegogivercommunity.com or www.burg.com * Other books in the Go-Giver series: The Go-Giver Influencer, The Go-Giver Leader, Go-Givers Sell More, The Go-Giver Marriage * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
How Do You Spot Your Blind Spots? Blind spots...this is something I’ve been pondering for quite some time: * How can we find them? * And how can we work on them when we don't know what they are in the first place?
Blind spots are elusive. First, because we don’t know what we don’t know. Secondly, with a lot of grant writers I coach, they also don’t know what they DO know. We can ask others about our own blind spots, and that might reveal a few clues. But not always. Blind spots are tricky because they can change in different seasons and as we grow. That’s a part of the process. Rather than being afraid of what we’ll find, we need to lean into the process and have a willingness to uncover them. If we’re open to growth, this is a healthy step. Navigating Blind Spots As I've dug into this idea more, I uncovered an incredibly useful resource to pinpoint our blind spots. In this episode I'm talking with Likky Lavji, known as the "Blind Spot Navigator." When I first heard Likky interviewed on Bob Burg's podcast, I had to reach out and learn more. Likky shares that 95% of people think we’re self-aware, but in reality, only 15% of us are self-aware. “Whatever your style is, if you all understand what those are, then you can communicate by meeting in between, in the middle, and then getting an incredible board happening, an incredible organization occurring.” -Likky Lavji Listen to the full episode for a fascinating, encouraging conversation. As Likky says, “Don’t be scared of committing to the process. It’s an incredible journey.”
Challenge Question: What next step will you take to uncover your blind spots, both personally and as an organization? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll brainstorm with you.
Meet Likky Lavji, Blind Spot Navigator A sought-after keynote speaker and author of Amazon’s #1 Bestseller List, Death by BS, Likky teaches audiences on how to break barriers to unleash human potential. With over 25 years as a CEO of a top IT company, Likky’s extensive experience in executive leadership has given him a unique perspective that remains unchartered by leaders and organizations in understanding the layers beneath human behavior and how it impacts growth and productivity. He has been acknowledged by prominent organizations, including Telus Corporation, Lenovo Canada, and Royal Bank of Canada for his ability to create a mindset shift when it comes to commitment and powerful performance to achieve results. Bob Burg, National Bestselling Author of The Go Giver, refers to Likky as a transformational keynote speaker, “teaching audiences a fresh new perspective on how to create your brand, customer loyalty and profitable business.” Get ready to be moved and inspired with insights on how to achieve greater outcomes by navigating through your blind spots.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz.
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann * Death by BS by Likky Lavji * Take the Blind Spot Assessment * Blind Spots Global * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Address the Grant Writing Red Flags Part of my role as I work with grant writers and nonprofits is to play devil's advocate. The key is that they know I'm on their side. I might be asking tough questions or bringing up some difficult issues, yet it's much better to hear it from me so we can talk it through and brainstorm good solutions. Otherwise, if you try to hide the red flags under the rug, a grant funder will sniff them out a mile away and drop your application like a hot potato. When we address potential red flags up front, we'll see much better long term results and sustainability. Listen to the full episode for examples and deeper discussion.
Challenge Question: What is a red flag in your organization or grant writing work? How can you map out a plan to address it? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll brainstorm with you.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the **Fast Track to Grant Writer.** The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call * Episode 76: Using Constraints as Containers for Creative Progress Instead of Roadblocks * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
How Do You Address Overwhelm at Work? I talk to so many nonprofit leaders who are overwhelmed and feel like they’re wearing ALL The hats. I also talk to grant writers who are overwhelmed because they’re juggling so many plates with all the different projects going on. The question that relates to both is: How do you move forward? We need to start by identifying and addressing the overwhelm. Last week we talked about naming the thing - the decision, the project, the reason, the problem. Then you know what you’re working with. Now we need to clarify your priorities. Today we’re going to walk through a practical exercise to help you with this. A Step by Step Exercise to Reduce Overwhelm 1. Start with big paper, pen, and highlighters or markers. Find a distraction-free space where you can be alone and spread out. 2. Brain dump ALL your work responsibilities on the paper. Seriously, everything you can think of. 3. Now step back and answer this question: If you only had two hours a day to work, what would you focus on? 4. Highlight or circle the items you identified in Step 3. 5. Which things came to the top? Look for patterns or surprises.
Here’s the thing. We have to account for the mental weight we carry about our work, even when we’re not working. How can you shed some of that weight? In other words, what can you: 1. Eliminate 2. Simplify 3. Postpone 4. Delegate
The goal is to make the most impact on your mission - without burning out your people. To do that, you need to be intentional. This is part of what I work with grant writers and nonprofits on, helping them gain clarity, prioritize, and focus. Listen to the full episode for examples and deeper discussion of each.
Challenge Question: If you only had 2 hours a day to work, what would you focus on? Give it some thought, and then use what you find to go change your world! Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll share more resources with you.
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 63: Systems for Hire: Ways to Help Your Nonprofit Thrive * Episode 76: Using Constraints as Containers for Creative Progress Instead of Roadblocks * Episode 84: Encouragement for the Overwhelmed Nonprofit Leader: 9 Ways to Recharge * Episode 85: How to Start As a Grant Writer When You’re Overwhelmed * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
What Questions Do You Have About Grant Writing? Lately we've been going back to the basics of grant writing! I'm answering some of the most common questions I hear about grants.
We learn how to level up your skills in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so you can approach your grant writing career with a more successful strategy. The end goal is to help you increase your income and your impact through grant writing.
How Do I Start as a Grant Writer? That's the most common question I hear...“Where do I start as a grant writer?” Here's the thing. We tend to build things up in our heads and make them way harder than they need to be. The problem is, when there are a lot of unknowns, that also spills over into our decisionmaking and clouds our judgment. Emily P. Freeman says in her book, “Without a name, we can’t be specific…There is power in naming the unnamed things.” If you’re dealing with a general feeling of overwhelm and can’t seem to move forward with making decisions, start with naming. Then you know what you have to work with. That can go a long way in helping you determine your next right step. Finding a Balance with Long-Term Perspective We need to find a balance between addressing the immediate, urgent demands while keeping a long-term, visionary perspective in sight. This starts with a few simple steps:
Keep things running, but think in the context of a visionary perspective
- Dig into the overwhelming thing and name it.
-
Find your core clarity:
-
- Personal why
- Vision, mission, and core values
Those become a filter for decisionmaking. We've named and defined what we have to work with, so then it's not an ambiguous, overwhelming problem. We have a core framework for moving forward.
Listen to the full episode for examples and deeper discussion of each.
Challenge Question: What is one area that has you feeling stumped right now, and how can you name it to help you move forward? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll share more resources with you.
Keep at it, my friend! Have a great week, and keep changing your world!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the **Fast Track to Grant Writer**. The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 24: How to Prevent Nonprofit Decision Fatigue * FAST Focus Power Series: Episodes 43-46 * Episode 62: Pro Tips to Step Up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems * Episode 63: Systems for Hire: Ways to Help Your Nonprofit Thrive * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip.
When You're Wearing All The Nonprofit Hats Already in the first quarter of 2022 I’ve had the privilege of attending several conferences and workshops, both in-person and virtual. I’ve met some incredible people who are working hard on the front lines to carry out their missions. Because of that, I’ve been able to keep an ear to the ground about what’s going on in the space. People are so passionate about their mission and you can tell they care deeply about the cause they’re working for. It’s inspiring hanging around these types of leaders. However, there’s also a clear, common theme among these executive directors and other leaders: they’re overwhelmed and worn out. They feel like they’re wearing all the hats. I don’t say that to be discouraging, but to let you know that you are not alone! Yet the mission is so important and the work has to get done. They keep going back day after day because these are caring, compassionate people. What’s an overwhelmed nonprofit leader to do? We’re caring by nature, but running around trying to wear all the hats can wear us out if we’re not careful. 9 Ways Overwhelmed Nonprofit Leaders Can Recharge: 1. Take care of you. 2. Recognize what things YOU need to recharge. 3. Minimize distractions. 4. Measure backwards. 5. Aim forward. 6. Step away for creative think time. 7. Reach out for support. 8. Keep learning, exploring, and experimenting. 9. Start rethinking your obstacles as creative challenges.
Listen to the full episode for examples and deeper discussion of each.
Challenge Questions: On a scale of 1-10, how overwhelmed are you feeling right now? Which of these 9 tips are you going to implement first? Connect with me over on LinkedIn or send me a message and I'll share more resources with you.
Keep at it, my friend! The world needs you - but since you’re here right now, I think you already know that. Have a great week, and keep changing your world!
Free Audit: How Grant-Ready Is Your Nonprofit? Are you feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your nonprofit apply for grants? Go through the free audit and I'll help you sort out the next steps for your organization.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz:
If you’re ready to explore a career in grant writing, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 76: Using Constraints as Containers for Creative Progress Instead of Roadblocks * Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool. Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
What Questions Do You Have About Grant Writing? Lately we've been going back to the basics of grant writing! I'm answering some of the most common questions I hear about grants.
We learn how to level up your skills in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so you can approach your grant writing career with a more successful strategy. The end goal is to help you increase your income and your impact through grant writing.
Are You Stuck in the Numbers Game? Numbers can be intimidating, especially if it seems like our work doesn't measure up to others around us. However, numbers aren't everything. We need to also take the quality and impact into account.
Listen to the full episode for encouragement and challenge questions to think through with your team.
Challenge: How can your nonprofit look at your numbers differently? Connect with me over on LinkedIn and let’s continue the conversation.
Keep up the good work, my friends! You’re making a bigger difference than you’ll ever know.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a bad grant writer if I don’t win the grant?
- Episode 76: Using Constraints as Containers for Creative Progress Instead of Roadblocks
Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool.
Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
learn how to level up your skills in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so you can approach your grant writing career with a more successful strategy. The end goal is to help you increase your income and your impact through grant writing.
Are You Struggling to Win Grants? Grants are a long game, and they're not easy money. If you've been struggling with grant proposal rejections, today I want to offer you encouragement. You're not alone, it's normal, and you can improve!
Ways to Improve Your Grant Proposals If you aren’t winning very many grants, know that:
- You’re not the only one!
- What external factors are coming into play?
- Look at your writing, or better yet, have someone else look at it.
- Are you clearly conveying the need, the project, and how you’ll measure the impact?
- Gauge the level of risk you’re taking with each application. Look at the different elements so you can make an educated, calculated decision instead of blind risk.
- Make sure you’re ready for grants first. Play the long game and do the hard work of preparing. If you’re a nonprofit, check out my free nonprofit audit.
- Build a relationship with the grantmaker. Ask for their input and feedback.
Challenge: How can your nonprofit improve your grant proposals? Connect with me over on LinkedIn and let’s continue the conversation.
Keep up the good work, my friends! You’re making a bigger difference than you’ll ever know.
How grant-ready is your nonprofit? Take the free audit: teresahuff.com/grantready
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 9: What a Grant Funder REALLY Wants: Interview with Mindy Honey, Skaggs Foundation * Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a bad grant writer if I don’t win the grant? * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip: How to Write Tight * Episode 20: How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Grant: Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Success * Episode 51: 6 Meaningful Ways Your Nonprofit Can Build Relationships with Grant Funders
Join Me in the Free Webinar: Go from Rejected to Accepted - 9 Reasons Grants Get Rejected (and How to Fix Them) Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool.
Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Take the Nonprofit Grant-Ready Audit: www.teresahuff.com/grantready Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? Take the quiz: www.teresahuff.com/quiz
What Questions Do You Have About Grant Writing? This month we're going back to the basics of grant writing! I'm answering some of the most common questions I hear about grants.
We learn how to level up your skills in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so you can approach your grant writing career with a more successful strategy. The end goal is to help you increase your income and your impact through grant writing.
To Hire a Professional or DIY? When you’re considering a home improvement project, sometimes you can handle it yourself just fine. Other times, though, you’re better off bringing in an expert. The decision depends on several factors - for starters, your level of skill, budget, scope of the project.
Grant writing is the same way. While there’s no standard right or wrong answer, you need to consider a few aspects of the situation before making your decision. Today I’ll walk you through 5 areas to think through with your team before making the call. We’ll also look at a hybrid alternative that might work well for some of your projects.
Challenge: What’s the status of your nonprofit with regards to hiring a grant writer? Go through the audit, and then connect with me over on LinkedIn and let’s continue the conversation.
Keep up the good work, my friends! You’re making a bigger difference than you’ll ever know.
Connect with me over on LinkedIn and let’s continue the conversation.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call
- Episode 77: Conquer the Blank Screen of Death: How to Start Writing a Grant
- Episode 78: Grant Writing Basics: What Does a Grant Look Like?
- Episode 79: Grant Writing Basics: Where Do You Find Grants?
Try Out Instrumentl Grant Search Software Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool.
Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
What Questions Do You Have About Grant Writing? This month we're going back to the basics of grant writing! I'm answering some of the most common questions I hear about grants.
Lose the Misconceptions So many misconceptions are floating around about grants and how they work. Today we're going to address what grants are NOT so you can focus your efforts on what they ARE. This will help you be more successful in the long run!
We learn how to avoid these in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so you can approach your grant writing career with a more successful strategy. The end goal is to help you increase your income and your impact through grant writing, but we have to dispel some of these common misconceptions first.
Even if you as the grant writer know these points, you may have a board member now and then who might not understand. This will give them an outside perspective to help educate them.
7 Things Grants Are NOT Let's be sure we're on the same page before you start applying for grant funding. Grants are NOT:
- Quick fix
- Easy money
- Bailout
- Starter plan
- Solo funding plan
- Free for all
- Magic cure
Listen to the episode for an explanation of each, and what you can do instead. Challenge: Today we’ve talked about 7 things grants are NOT. Did any of these surprise you? Connect with me over on LinkedIn and let’s continue the conversation.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 67: 9 Steps for Getting a New Nonprofit off the Ground: Interview with Alesha Mathis, Nonprofit Founder's Club * Episode 77: Conquer the Blank Screen of Death: How to Start Writing a Grant * Episode 78: Grant Writing Basics: What Does a Grant Look Like? * Episode 79: Grant Writing Basics: Where Do You Find Grants?
Try Out Instrumentl Grant Search Software Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool.
Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip What Questions Do You Have About Grant Writing? This month we're going back to the basics of grant writing! I'm answering some of the most common questions I hear about grants.
Where Do I Find Grants? Just like anything in life, you can always do a Google search. However, that might send you down a never-ending rabbit trail with nothing to show for it!
Several grant search tools are available for nonprofits, such as:
- Instrumentl
- Grant Station
- GrantScape
- Foundation Directory Online
- Grant Forward
- Grant Select
- Grant Watch
- Grant Gopher
In addition, I recommend starting local. See what's in your own community and build relationships with those foundations. Check with your local library, the Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses.
6 Tips Before You Start Your Grant Search: 1. Be sure your nonprofit is ready for grants! 2. Be sure your mission and priorities are clear and externally focused 3. Know your program priorities so you can find a good match with grant funders 4. Weed out quickly. Look for geographical and program fit first. 5. Start local, especially if you're newer to grants 6. Organize your search
Challenge: Listen in today as we go back to the basics of grant writing. If you have a similar question, send me a message. Chances are others are wondering too! Maybe I'll even answer it on a future podcast episode!
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 2: What Is a Grant? (and What It’s Not)
- Episodes 6: Grant Readiness: How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing
- Episode 33: How to Find First-Time Donors for Your Nonprofit
- Episode 77: Conquer the Blank Screen of Death: How to Start Writing a Grant
- Episode 78: Grant Writing Basics: What Does a Grant Look Like?
Try Out Instrumentl Grant Search Software Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool.
Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month!
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
What Questions Do You Have About Grant Writing? When I first started grant writing and working with my mentor, I asked a lot of questions.
Let me rephrase that.
I asked a BOATLOAD of questions.
I bombarded her with so many queries that I apologized for the onslaught. I'll never forget her gracious response, "I'd rather you ask than wonder."
Now that I'm mentoring grant writers myself, I feel the same way. No question is too big or too small!
What Does a Grant Even Look Like? I was recently a guest presenter about grant readiness in a college class. After the class, a student came up to me and said, "I feel silly asking this, but...what does a grant look like? I've tried googling it, but the answers are so confusing!"
I am SO glad she asked!
Funny thing is, I wondered the EXACT same thing before I met my mentor and started grant writing. Except...Google wasn't a thing yet, so I didn't have anyone to ask!
Today I'm going to explain what a grant application might look like depending on the type of grant you're writing, what things are usually included in a grant proposal, and the different ways of submitting a grant. And, most importantly, I explain how you can know exactly how to fill out a grant application!
Challenge: Listen in today as we go back to the basics of grant writing. If you have a similar question, send me a message. Chances are others are wondering too! Maybe I'll even answer it on a future podcast episode!
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer? Take the Quiz: If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s figure out how you can use your skills to help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 2: What Is a Grant? (and What It’s Not)
- Episodes 6: Grant Readiness: How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing
- Episode 77: Conquer the Blank Screen of Death: How to Start Writing a Grant
Try Out Instrumentl Grant Search Software Wondering how to find grants and keep up with all the applications? Check out Instrumentl! It's a robust grant search, tracking, and project management tool.
Go to teresahuff.com/instrumentland use the code GWSPOD for a free two-week trial AND $50 off your first month!
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip How Do You Start Writing a Grant? You’ve found a grant that sounds like a great match. You’ve collected the ideas and are ready to begin. You open up a fresh Word document and sit down to write.
You stare at the page and your mind feels equally blank. Shudder.
Now what?
I've got good news for you: I never start writing a grant with a blank page, and you don’t have to either.
Getting Past the Blank Screen to Start Writing a Grant Ever feel like you just hit a brick wall? Starting with a blank page when you know you must wax poetic for 50 more pages can be pretty intimidating. Especially when funding rides on it.
Writing a grant doesn’t have to be the equivalent of mountain climbing, though. These tricks help me get past the blank page hurdle.
Episode 77 Recap - Starting a Grant Application Step by Step:
- First, I look at the elements required in the RFP (Request for Proposal).
- Next I put them into a Word or Google document, numbered, along with the point value of each section.
- Then I read through each question and type quick notes of things I want to remember to add later – important research points, a good quote from a client, a website link I want to use as a reference.
- Now I have a framework instead of a blank page. I can go through and plug in project information from my notes with the client. Goals and objectives take shape. I can make a list of items I need to ask the client.
I am no longer wrestling with a blank page. See how easy that was?
Challenge Question: What's the hardest part for you about getting started with grant writing? Send me a message and let's chat!
If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s help you figure out how you can use your constraints to your advantage so you can help change your world.
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you. Related Episodes: * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip - How to Write Tight
- Episodes 43-46: FAST Focus Power Series - How to become a freelance grant writer
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Are You Ready for the FAST Track? Are you ready to unleash your skills to make a massive impact? Let's get you on the FAST Track. Let’s Fast Track your income and your impact in 2022. You can start learning today at teresahuff.com/vip.
The Challenges of Growth The last couple of weeks we’ve been talking about challenge questions to ask yourself and also some things to consider before you set any goals.
A recent Fast Company article by Simone Ahuja got me to thinking about these challenges. The article is called, “Rethinking constraints as a catalyst for innovation: Constraints force us to get crystal clear about the problem we’re solving.”
Making Creative Progress Instead of Roadblocks Constraints can be frustrating, especially in the nonprofit world. They're all around us; we're often short on time, money, staff, and other resources. Grant writers run into a lack of information, communication barriers, and word limits galore!
However, constraints require us to adapt more quickly when we have to, as the last couple of years have shown us. Those confines force us to look for creative solutions.
Constraints bring us to a crossroads, a sort of crisis of decision. We can give up and walk away, give in to the status quo, or step up imperfectly and find a creative way to a better solution.
Listen in as I share 3 tips to reframe your constraints.
f you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s help you figure out how you can use your constraints to your advantage so you can help change your world.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip: How to Write Tight * Episode 63: Systems for Hire: Ways to Help Your Nonprofit Thrive * Episode 73: 6 Challenge Questions to Help Plan Your Next Steps * Episode 74: 3 Things You Must Ask Before You Set Another Goal
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: teresahuff.com/vip
How Can You Optimize Your Fundraising? What drives people to give? And what stops people from giving?
That's what Tim Kachuriak and his team at NextAfter have made their mission to discover.
They've put a nonprofit spin on behavioral science by turning the nonprofit donation landscape into their research lab, and it's fascinating.
Since fundraising is one of the biggest efforts in nonprofit work, I sat down with Tim to find out his top tips to help you optimize your fundraising.
Key Takeaways: * How Tim learned to leverage his network and get comfortable talking to people
- Invite people to be a part of the cause
- How they run experiments, conduct mystery donor studies, and map the journey from the donor's perspective
- What motivates people to give
- Tactical and strategic tips for emails and creating your unique value proposition
- 4-part framework: Appeal, Exclusivity, Credibility, Clarity
- Speak the donor's language, not your organization-speak
Two Types of Research: 1. Forensic research - The team collects large amounts of data to look for patterns 2. Applied research - The live samples are treated as a lab to figure out what works
Related Resources: * Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization Summit * The Brainy Business Podcast with Melina Palmer * Book: Neuro Web Design: What Makes them Click?
Meet Tim Kachuriak: Tim Kachuriak is the founder and Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer for NextAfter, a fundraising research lab and consulting firm that works with businesses, nonprofits, and NGOs to help them grow their resource capacity. A nonprofit thought leader, Kachuriak is the author of the book Optimize Your Fundraising, lead researcher and co-author of the Online Fundraising Scorecard, Why Should I Give to You? (The Nonprofit Value Proposition Index Study), and The Midlevel Donor Crisis. Kachuriak has trained organizations in fundraising optimization around the world and is a frequent speaker at international nonprofit conferences. Connect with Tim: * Website: NextAfter * Twitter: twitter.com/NextAfter
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
3 Things You Must Consider Before You Set a Goal Happy New Year! This is the time of year when everyone is pushing for new goals, resolutions, a word of the year, or whatever version is your cup of tea.
I'm calling timeout.
Before you set another goal, you must step back and consider these three areas first. Lean into this part of the process; your goals (and your progress) will be much better for it!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a bad grant writer if I don’t win the grant?
- Episode 43: Grant Writer FAST Focus Power Series - Part 1: Do I Have What It Takes?
- Episode 73: 6 Challenge Questions to Help Plan Your Next Steps
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Ready to unleash your skills to make a massive impact? Let's get you on the F.A.S.T. Track.
F.A.S.T. Track to Grant Writer is a VIP small group coaching experience where you'll learn how to be the go-to grant writer in your community. This is everything the books won’t tell you. It’s like Miracle Gro for grant writers. Fast Track your income and your impact. Join me today to start learning AND taking action at teresahuff.com/vip.
We Need Learning AND Action The last couple of weeks we’ve been talking about the importance of both learning AND action. They really go hand in hand. I challenged you to do this in Episode 71, and last week in Episode 72 Courtney Vrablik of The Store was a great example of this.
At the end of the year I like to take some time to reflect and plan, although with people around the house, for me it often spills over into January. In Episode 18 I gave you 6 questions to help you reflect on your year and look at your priorities for the new year. You can also download that worksheet in my Freebie Vault at teresahuff.com/free.
6 Questions to Reflect & Plan Go back and listen to Episode 18 after you’re done here, but to quickly recap, those 6 questions were:
- What went well this year?
- What didn’t go so well?
- What was draining?
- What was energizing?
- What do I want to do (or be) less of?
- What do I want to do (or be) more of?
6 Challenge Questions to Get You Thinking Today, in addition to those 6 questions, I want to issue some challenge questions. These will give you some food for thought as you consider your next steps.
- Was this a failure, or is it an opportunity to redirect my attention?
- What’s not being said? In other words, where do I need to step back and read between the lines?
- What am I ignoring or overlooking?
- Am I overthinking in proportion to the importance of this situation?
- Is it time to learn, take action, or both?
- Where do I need to challenge myself?
Take some time to sit with these and reflect. Maybe even journal some notes and ideas as you think through the questions. Your year will be better for it!
Grab the free worksheet: teresahuff.com/free
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 18: Questions to Reflect & Plan + Free Download * Episode 71: Success Leaves Clues: 2021 Nonprofit Book Roundup * Episode 72: How The Store Is Changing the World with Love at the Core - Interview with Courtney Vrablik, Executive Director
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofit Spotlight: The Store, Nashville, TN It’s been a while since we had a nonprofit spotlight on the show, so I’ve been saving this interview up for you to air during the holidays. And let me tell you, there is GOLD in here today, friends. Pure gold.
I first mentioned The Store back in Episode 51 when we talked about ways to build meaningful relationships in the community. The Store's social media presence is a great example of showering appreciation on supporters and partners.
Last week in Episode 71 we talked about how it's important to always be learning, but also taking ACTION.
Today’s guest is a perfect example of that combination.
Courtney Vrablik is the Executive Director of The Store in Nashville, TN. A few years ago, Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley (yes, that’s the country singer and the actress) volunteered with their kids at Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara, California. That sparked their dream to address food insecurity in their own hometown of Nashville.
Courtney became the Executive Director just before the pandemic of 2020 hit, and what a time to step into a new role! She's such an incredible combination of tenacity, confidence, and humility.
Key Takeaways
This conversation is full of so many inspiring insights. Courtney shares about: * Staying on top of her game and the ability to make decisions quickly * Relying on her supportive board to advise and guide * Importance of having a community of peers to build each other up, share resources, learn from each other’s strengths * Pooling resources with other organizations in the community * Nashville’s unique culture that contributes to the generosity * Being open to areas where we need to grow, and also learning to trust our gut * Courtney gets raw and real about her personal journey and how it’s helped her better serve the community now * The importance of going back to your mission when making decisions and determining your services * Creative ways to share your nonprofit’s story while maintaining dignity and privacy for clients * Finding fun ways to lift the heaviness and still talk about the needs * Being good stewards and building trust with donors * Determining what success looks like for each client
“There are so many moving parts to our work that my go-to should never be to put the burden of proof and the burden of why we exist on the customer who’s experiencing the greatest amount of need.” This is one inspirational interview you won't want to miss!
Meet Courtney Vrablik: Courtney Vrablik is the Executive Director of The Store in Nashville, TN. The Store is the result of a dream Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley had to address food insecurity in their hometown after their experiences volunteering at Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara. With a mission that focuses on dignity, The Store provides free groceries to qualifying families and individuals who are seeking self-sufficiency and opportunities to break cycles of poverty. As a single mother who has navigated SNAP and WIC programs in the past, Courtney has a deep desire to assist others through such difficult times in a way that makes them feel seen and respected. Connect with Courtney and The Store: * www.thestore.org * Instagram: @TheStoreNashville * Facebook: The Store Nashville
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Mentoring Series: Episodes 26 - 31 * Episode 51: Six Meaningful Ways Your Nonprofit Can Build Relationships with Grant Funders * Nonprofit Storytelling Series: Episodes 58 - 60 * Episode 71: Success Leaves Clues: 2021 Nonprofit Book Roundup
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Always Be Learning “Success leaves clues.” The first time I heard that statement was from Dr. Johnathan Kraus in Episode 27. Then David Jasse made the same point in Episode 59. I thought I'd better sit up and pay attention. Learning Is Vital, But We Can't Stay There We can’t get stuck in learning mode alone. We also need to take ACTION. This is a big part of the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program. Sure, we have plenty of supportive community and accountability, but the lessons are strategically designed for those who are ready to take serious action. After going through the first few modules, the Fast Track to Grant Writer students are taking action - having conversations with prospective clients, setting up meetings, and figuring out their services. They already have a solid understanding of what types of services they can offer nonprofits - plus a group to support them and share ideas. They've learned the importance of both learning AND action.
2021 Nonprofit Book Roundup I enjoy learning from others too; that's why I always ask my guests to share a resource that's been especially helpful to them. Here we go - the latest book roundup for 2021: 1. Asking: A 59-Minute Guide to Everything Board Members, Volunteers, and Staff Must Know to Secure the Gift - Jerold Panas Dr. Jonathan Kraus (Ep 27) 2. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself - Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert Rodney Olsen (Ep 48) 3. The Ambassador’s Journey: A Parable about Nonprofit Board Leadership - by Brian Brandt and Ashley Kutach Brian Brandt (Ep 57) 4. The Go-Giver - by John David Mann & Bob Burg Alesha Mathis (Ep 67) 5. I HAVE MY 501(C)3! NOW WHAT?!?: Your Blueprint to Starting Your Nonprofit Without Being the Sole Funder by Alesha Mathis 6. The Givers - by David Callahan Shannon McCracken (Ep 70) 7. Willpower Doesn’t Work - by Benjamin Hardy 8. Master of One: Find and Focus on the Work You Were Created to Do - by Jordan Raynor 9. A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live - by Emily P. Freeman
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 32: What It Means to Change the World + Celebrating 6 Months of Podcasting * Episode 27: Keys to Success as a Nonprofit Leader: Interview with Dr. Johnathan Kraus, Love Never Fails International * Episode 48: Riding Coast to Coast for a Cause: Rodney Olsen, Compassion Australia * Episode 57: From Board Members to Ambassadors: Nurturing Nonprofit Leadership * Episode 67: 9 Steps for Getting a New Nonprofit off the Ground: Interview with Alesha Mathis, Nonprofit Founder's Club * Episode 70: Nonprofit Giving Trends From the Last Two Years and 2022 Forecasting: Interview with Shannon McCracken, The Nonprofit Alliance
If you're ready to step up your nonprofit game in 2022, join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. The world needs you.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
What's Happening in Nonprofit Giving Trends? The last couple of years have been full of unexpected circumstances. Are you wondering what's going to happen with fundraising as we wrap up 2021? That's what we're discussing today, along with some challenge questions to consider as we head into 2022. Why the Conversation Is Important I invited Shannon McCracken, CEO and Founder of The Nonprofit Alliance, to join me in this episode. Shannon has a good pulse on the latest trends, fundraising best practices, and key elements of nonprofit work that we can't ignore. If you're involved with nonprofit fundraising in any capacity, you need to listen in as we discuss: * Giving trends over the past 2 years (2020-2021) * What that means going into 2022 * Acknowledging the importance of mental health and reducing the stress on development team members * How teams can collaborate to support each other during hectic seasons of unknowns * Paying attention to donor FAQs and noticing where you can set up better systems * Staying connected and feeding off of each other’s energy * The impact of fiscal year vs. calendar year * Making diversity conversations a normal part of decisionmaking * Challenge questions to consider
I invite you to listen as Shannon and I analyze the state of nonprofit trends and how that will inform decisionmaking moving forward.
Meet Shannon McCracken Shannon McCracken is CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA), a membership association that launched in 2018 with unprecedented support and momentum to promote, protect, and strengthen the nonprofit sector. Prior to her role with TNPA, Shannon spent two years as Charity Navigator’s Chief Development Officer, facilitating communication with nonprofit organizations and dramatically increasing resources to ensure successful implementation of a new strategic plan. She now serves on Charity Navigator’s board of directors. Previously Shannon spent 17 years with Special Olympics International, most recently as Vice President of Donor Development, building and managing a collaborative individual fundraising program on behalf of the global HQ and North American chapters. Shannon served as the DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair and Chair of the Ethics Committee. Shannon is a Certified Association Executive and holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit and Association Management. Connect with Shannon McCracken and The Nonprofit Alliance: * LinkedIn: Shannon McCracken * LinkedIn: The Nonprofit Alliance * The Nonprofit Alliance upcoming events
Related Resources: * Episode 24 - How to Prevent Nonprofit Decision Fatigue * Episode 62 - Pro Tips to Step Up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems: Interview with Gauri Manglik, CEO of Instrumentl * Episode 63 - Systems for Hire: Ways to Help Your Nonprofit Thrive * Book: The Givers: Money, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age by David Callahan * Book: Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership: Because the World Is Counting on You by Joan Garry * The Nonprofit Alliance Resources tab - Job board, 2022 conference, and holiday calendar * 2022 Faith and Fundraising Conference in Milwaukee, WI
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Back by Popular Demand: Grant Writer Strategy Call Today's episode is another grant writer strategy call. This one is unique because I'm chatting with Diego Reeb, one of the VIP Fast Track to Grant Writer Alumni! We first met Diego back in Episode 30 when he was finishing up the program. He completed the Fast Track to Grant Writer in early 2021. At the time, he was working part time for a nonprofit and needed support with taking his grant writing skills to the next level. Now as he's nearing the end of his Master's program and looking at graduation in 2022, he's ready to start mapping out a plan for how to be a grant writing consultant. That's what our conversation today is focused on. Discussion on How to Be a Grant Writing Consultant: * How to position yourself to convey your value and experience * Getting specific about the type of clients you want to work with * How to frame your services and requests for better word of mouth referrals * Ways to showcase your expertise when you’re good at writing - even without a website * Where to focus your efforts when there’s so much you COULD be doing
Meet Diego Reeb Diego Reeb is a Social Impact Consultant for Future Focus Global and a Grant Manager for Community Access Naperville. He collaborates with clients to create the transformation they want to manifest in the world. He helps with grant research, proposal drafting, strategic planning, process and workflow analysis, and program development. Diego will complete his Master's Degree in Social Work in the spring of 2022.
How Do We Start? As you can hear from working with Diego, this is exactly what I help my clients with every day. I want you to be a good steward of your money, and I want to help you create a solid future to carry out your nonprofit vision. Let’s develop a smart, strategic approach to your nonprofit or freelance grant writing.
If you know you’re ready to take your nonprofit or grant writing career to the next level in a way that helps you carry out your mission without burning out, I want to invite you to work with me. Nonprofits can go to teresahuff.com/apply where you can fill out my application form and see if we’re a good fit to work together. Grant writers can sign up at teresahuff.com/vip and start on the Fast Track to Grant Writer right away.
Let me know - what challenges do you have with sorting out your next steps? What takeaways did you find in this episode? Connect with me over in the Grant Writing Simplified Linkedin community and let’s continue the conversation.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 30 - Why I Became a Nonprofit Grant Writer: Creating a Ripple Effect * Episode 40 - Questions to Consider Before Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant * Episode 53 - Business Building: Tips for Grant Writer Consulting Contracts * Episode 54 - Business Building: LinkedIn Profile Tips for Success
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Special Holiday Note: Support a Ministry-Based Business AND a Nonprofit Back in Episode 41, I introduced you to the talented Kari Bartkus of Love Does That. She shared her thought process behind starting a ministry-based business instead of a nonprofit. This Thanksgiving, instead of running a Black Friday sale, Kari is hosting more of a Black Friday giveback. She's donating a portion of all November sales to a local nonprofit in her community. Check out her beautiful encouraging resources at lovedoesthat.org.
What Is the Seasonality of Grants? Most new grant writers and nonprofits don't realize that grants are typically seasonal. I sure didn't know that until I got into it! Fortunately my mentor explained this to me early on.
Grant application deadlines tend to be especially busy early in the year throughout the spring season. This is particularly true for federal grants, although foundations can be the same way.
Because of that, "grant season" (as it's known in professional circles) can get pretty hectic. If you aren't prepared and learn to pace yourself, you can end up exhausted and burned out.
How Do I Prepare for Grant Season? The fall and winter seasons are the perfect time of year to be learning, planning, and offering other types of services to bring in a consistent income. As you're thinking through your ideal situation, consider:
- What is your ideal workload?
- What can you be learning and planning this time of year? (HINT: It's a perfect time to learn grant writing and map out your plan for next year!)
- How can you work ahead and prepare for grant season?
How Do We Start? This is exactly what I help my clients with every day. I want you to be a good steward of your money, and I want to help you create a solid future to carry out your nonprofit vision. Let’s develop a smart, strategic approach to your nonprofit or freelance grant writing.
If you know you’re ready to take your nonprofit or grant writing career to the next level in a way that helps you carry out your mission without burning out, I want to invite you to work with me. Nonprofits can go to teresahuff.com/apply where you can fill out my application form and see if we’re a good fit to work together. Grant writers can sign up at teresahuff.com/vip and start on the Fast Track to Grant Writer right away.
Let me know - have you faced the challenges of getting a new nonprofit (or your new grant writing business) off the ground? Connect with me over in the Grant Writing Simplified Linkedin community and let’s continue the conversation.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 41: Serving Others Through a Ministry-Based Business * Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip. What's a New Nonprofit to Do? A couple of weeks ago we talked about the 3 things you must have in order to get started as a freelance grant writer. Today we're going to look at the other side of the equation - how to get started as a new nonprofit. 9 Steps to Starting a New Nonprofit Fundraising expert Alesha Mathis and I sat down to dive deep into the steps a new nonprofit needs to take in order to build a solid, lasting framework. We discuss great tips for: * Mapping out your overall plan, * Growing your board, * Developing a budget, * Getting your internal framework in order, and * Fundraising step by step.
Whether you’re a new nonprofit or a grant writer, you’ll want to take notes because these key steps will help you understand the core foundations of building a sustainable nonprofit.
Meet Alesha Mathis Alesha helps passionate Founders build a nonprofit where they aren't the sole funder through her Build a Nonprofit Framework.
She also teaches people who want to learn fundraising how to professionally and ethically raise millions through her Fundraising Framework.
Alesha has been in nonprofit work as an employee, contractor, teacher, and mentor for almost 15 years. She fell in love with fundraising working for a larger nonprofit several years ago.
Alesha believes people passionate about nonprofit work feel a calling to their work and cause. She is no different. Nonprofit work connects us and gives us a deep purpose in ways that no other work can.
Connect with Alesha:
- Website: www.mathisnps.com
- Nonprofit Founder's Club Facebook Group
- Mathis Nonprofit Services Facebook Page
- Nonprofit Founder's Club: A place to find free information and implement what you need through Nonprofit Founder's Society
- Podcast: Nonprofit Founder's Club
How Do We Start? If this is resonating with you, this is exactly what I help my clients with every day. I want you to be a good steward of your money, and I want to help you create a solid future to carry out your nonprofit vision. Let’s move beyond "Just Get Grants" Syndrome and help you have a smart, strategic approach to your nonprofit or freelance grant writing.
If you know you’re ready to take your nonprofit or grant writing career to the next level in a way that helps you carry out your mission without burning out, I want to invite you to work with me. Nonprofits can go to teresahuff.com/apply where you can fill out my application form and see if we’re a good fit to work together. Grant writers can sign up at teresahuff.com/vip and start on the Fast Track to Grant Writer right away.
Let me know - have you faced the challenges of getting a new nonprofit (or your new grant writing business) off the ground? Connect with me over in the Grant Writing Simplified Linkedin community and let’s continue the conversation.
Other Helpful Resources * Episode 6: How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing * Episode 22: Preparation for Grant Writing: 6 Things Your Nonprofit Should Have on Hand * Episode 33: How to Find First-Time Donors for Your Nonprofit * Book: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Join the Fast Track to Grant Writer today: www.teresahuff.com/vip.
The "Just Get Grants" Syndrome Today we’re going to talk about a common phenomenon I like to call “Just Get Grants” Syndrome. It’s this common idea that we can “just get grants” to fix ___ (fill in the blank with whatever struggle, money woes, or new venture you’re considering). I’m here to give you some tough love today and tell you that "Just Get Grants" Syndrome doesn’t work. But I’m not going to leave you hanging on my soapbox. We’re going to discuss a much better approach You Don't Know What You Don't Know (and That's Okay) If you’re hanging out here with me today, it’s probably because you’ve reached a point in your nonprofit or your freelance grant writing career where you don’t know what you don’t know. You probably feel this pressure to get grant funding, and the FOMO (fear of missing out) is kicking in hard. We’re going to talk through those unspoken expectations so that you can shake off that feeling of never quite doing enough, and instead we can focus on the actions you CAN take to move your nonprofit forward.
After nearly 20 years of writing grants and winning several million dollars in funding for schools and nonprofits, I realized grant writing is so much more effective when you take the time to step back and build out your bigger picture strategy first.
Listen to the full episode for stories of the impact this has made on my clients. And here’s the thing - after it was all said and done, they realized it wasn’t a risk at all. It was a game-changer.
How Do We Start? If this is resonating with you, this is exactly what I help my clients with every day. I want you to be a good steward of your money, and I want to help you create a solid future to carry out your nonprofit vision. Let’s move beyond "Just Get Grants" Syndrome and help you have a smart, strategic approach to your nonprofit or freelance grant writing.
If you know you’re ready to take your nonprofit or grant writing career to the next level in a way that helps you carry out your mission without burning out, I want to invite you to work with me. Nonprofits can go to teresahuff.com/apply where you can fill out my application form and see if we’re a good fit to work together. Grant writers can sign up at teresahuff.com/vip and start on the Fast Track to Grant Writer right away.
Let me know - have you ever faced “Just Get Grants” Syndrome, and how do you handle it? Connect with me over in the Grant Writing Simplified Linkedin community and let’s continue the conversation.
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
The Future of Freelance Grant Writing Is there room for more freelance grant writers in this strange, unpredictable economy? I humbly submit to you today that yes, yes there most certainly is, and there’s never been a better time for it. But freelance grant writing will only work if you’re smart about it and position yourself as a strategic resource. The ones who are able to make it work long-term will be those who are committed, clear, and consistent. Buckle up because we’re going deep today, my friends! Should you be an employee or a freelancer? We discuss this in depth in the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program. There’s no perfect solution - the short answer is it depends on your situation and goals. But today I want to specifically hash out the latest and greatest in the world of freelancing and how it relates to grant writing.
I’d love to hear from you. Come find me in the **Grant Writing Simplified Linkedin community** and let’s continue the conversation over there.
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Free Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? * FAST Focus Power Series: Episodes 43-46 * Book: Master of One by Jordan Raynor
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Join My Free Webinar: Step Up Your Systems For Success - 5 Easy Steps to Look Like a Grant Writing Pro.
How Is Your Grant Writing Data Game? This month we've been talking about grant writing systems, and last month we talked about telling stories in your grant writing. Today we're combining the two and talking about how to tell better stories using data in grant writing. How to Use Data In Grant Writing to Tell Stories Data can be one of those tricky areas in grant writing, because grant applications request the data, but they don't always tell you what data. How's a grant writer supposed to know?
Today I'm sharing 6 tips for better data-driven storytelling in your grant writing.
Do You Struggle with Using Data in Grant Writing? This is exactly how I help nonprofits. We work on helping you build a solid, adaptable framework for your grant applications. You’ve got to have a good foundation if you want to build long-term, sustainable funding.
We also go through specific examples of this in the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program. I show you different ways to use the data to make the most impact, and then we have homework exercises to practice doing that with different types of data.
I’d love to support you so you can scale your nonprofit or grant writing career much faster. Let’s create a ripple effect!
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip: How to Write Tight * Episode 58: Are You Telling Your Nonprofit Story? How Coffee Mugs Are Like Grant Writing * Episode 59: How to Tell Your Nonprofit Story Through Video * Episode 60: 5 Questions for a More Compelling Nonprofit Story * Episode 62: Pro Tips to Step Up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems * Episode 63: Systems for Hire: Ways to Help Your Nonprofit Thrive
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today: www.teresahuff.com/vip.
Are Your Systems Working for You, Against You, or Not at All? Back in Episode 52, I shared some of my favorite tech tools I use nearly every day. Then last week we talked about the importance of systems when it comes to your grant strategy and how much that can impact your success. Today I want to share some other systems you need to consider. And not to worry if you don’t have these yet! If you’re a nonprofit, set up an advisory session and we can help you shore up some of these areas so you can end the year strong and kick off 2022 with your house in order. In the Fast Track to Grant Writer, we get into a LOT of this and I set you up with my templates and tracking. Can you offload some of your work to a system? If you find yourself:
- dropping the ball a lot,
- doing a lot of repetitive tasks,
- having to explain things over and over to different people on your team,
- or you’re not collecting the kind of data you need for your grant applications,
...then that's a good sign it’s time to take a look at your systems. You'll be glad you did!
Ready to Gear Up For Grants? Private Nonprofit Workshop I've been cooking up some resources just for you nonprofits out there!
A powerful, focused strategy map is the key to helping you gain traction and make a bigger impact in your nonprofit. This FREE 4-part audio workshop and workbook will help you start to lay the foundation for future grant success in your nonprofit. You'll learn to leverage your nonprofit’s resources more strategically so you can make a bigger impact.
Get the details and Gear Up For Grants here!
Want to Be a Grant Writer? Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer If you’re wanting to become a grant writer to help nonprofits tell their story to make a bigger impact, then get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today at teresahuff.com/vip.
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Other Resources Mentioned: * LastPass Secure Passwords * Episode 21: Tips for Successful Grant Writing & Federal Grant Project Management: Interview with Brandi VanAntwerp, CoxHealth Foundation Grants Administrator * Episode 52: Business Building: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business * Episode 62: Pro Tips to Step Up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Grant writers, get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Nonprofits, it's time to Gear Up For Grants.
Do You Have a Grant Search and Tracking System in Place? Have you ever gone down the rabbit hole of grant funding and felt overwhelmed by all the potential options out there? Yet somehow you're still struggling to track all the different opportunities, deadlines, and requirements. A spreadsheet just doesn't cut it anymore. How to Step up Your Nonprofit Grant Strategy with Systems Systems are a big deal if you're ever going to scale your organization. However, we don't want to create complex systems just for the sake of having a system. They need to work for us to make our lives easier and help us delegate the work among our team. That's why I've invited Gauri Manglik, CEO of Instrumentl, on the show today. She's truly a systems expert. Gauri and her team made it their mission to study the way both nonprofits and grant funders operate, and she's a wealth of knowledge on streamlining systems. We talk about all kinds of strategy tips that nonprofits should pay attention to. Listen as Gauri and I discuss the different aspects to consider as you're growing your nonprofit grant strategy with systems. Then let me know - what were your biggest takeaways and how can I support you? Come join us in the Grant Writing Simplified LinkedIn Group and let’s continue the conversation! I highly recommend you give Instrumentl a test drive! Head over to teresahuff.com/Instrumentl for 2 weeks free, and then grab $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Meet Gauri Manglik, Instrumentl CEO & Co-Founder Gauri Manglik is the CEO and co-founder of Instrumentl, the institutional fundraising platform. Under her leadership, Instrumentl has grown to serve over 1,400 nonprofits, quickly becoming a favorite tool among grant seekers for bringing grant prospecting, tracking, and management to one place. Gauri has dedicated her career to building intuitive and delightful user experiences. Seeing the opportunity to force multiply the nonprofit sector’s ability to create impact through software led her to her work at Instrumentl. Before Instrumentl, Gauri was CEO and co-founder of Fondu, an online community for sharing bite-sized restaurant reviews. After Fondu was acquired by Airbnb, Gauri led their mobile and special projects teams. Gauri holds a BA in Computer Science from NYU.
Ready to Gear Up For Grants? Private Nonprofit Workshop I've been cooking up some resources just for you nonprofits out there!
A powerful, focused strategy map is the key to helping you gain traction and make a bigger impact in your nonprofit. This FREE 4-part audio workshop and workbook will help you start to lay the foundation for future grant success in your nonprofit. You'll learn to leverage your nonprofit’s resources more strategically so you can make a bigger impact.
Get the details and Gear Up For Grants here!
Want to Be a Grant Writer? Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer If you’re wanting to become a grant writer to help nonprofits tell their story to make a bigger impact, then get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today at teresahuff.com/vip.
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
What's YOUR why? Send me a message - I'd love to hear it!
Other Resources Mentioned: * Episode 22: Preparation for Grant Writing: 6 Things Your Nonprofit Should Have on Hand * Instrumentl Free Webinars
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofits, Gear Up For Grants with this free audio workshop:
www.teresahuff.com/gearup
Gear Up For Grants at teresahuff.com/gearup.
Happy Birthday to the Grant Writing Simplified Podcast! When I started the podcast one year ago, I never dreamed it would be downloaded in 72 countries across 6 continents! Today I want to thank YOU, my amazing listeners, for all your encouragement and support through this journey over the past year! Last Friday I had the honor of presenting a grant writing session at the Drury University Nonprofit Leadership Annual Conference. The irony was that it had been exactly one year since the official podcast start date. It was amazing being back in person again and meeting some incredible humans doing amazing work in the nonprofit world. What a way to celebrate!! Top 10 Things I Want You to Know About Grant Writing To celebrate the 1 year birthday, I thought a good ol' Top 10 list would be fun! You've heard me say some of these in multiple episodes, and that's because these are important!
Ready to Gear Up For Grants? New Private Nonprofit Workshop I've been cooking up some resources just for you nonprofits out there!
A powerful, focused strategy map is the key to helping you gain traction and make a bigger impact in your nonprofit. This FREE 4-part audio workshop and workbook will help you start to lay the foundation for future grant success in your nonprofit. You'll learn to leverage your nonprofit’s resources more strategically so you can make a bigger impact.
Get the details and Gear Up For Grants here!
Want to Be a Grant Writer? Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer If you’re wanting to become a grant writer to help nonprofits tell their story to make a bigger impact, then get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today at teresahuff.com/vip.
And a shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
What's YOUR why? Send me a message - I'd love to hear it!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 4: Lessons Learned from 15 Years of Grant Writing * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip: How to Write Tight * Episode 24: How to Prevent Nonprofit Decision Fatigue * Episode 30: Why I Became a Nonprofit Grant Writer: Creating a Ripple Effect * Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call * Episodes 43 - 46: FAST Focus Power Series * Episode 59: How to Tell Your Nonprofit Story Through Video
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Nonprofit Storytelling Is an Art AND a Science This month we’ve been talking about nonprofit storytelling and some different ways you can do that. Now we’re going a little deeper into how to craft your nonprofit story, and I’m going to share 5 tips that will help you figure out how to tell your story. Grant writing is both an art and a science... It's a science because you have to understand the process, use the research, and follow the funder guidelines to a T. It's an art because you need to decide how much to tell, which data and stories to use, and how to present it the most effectively. Listen in as I share 5 Questions to Ask When Crafting Your Nonprofit Story.
Let's Work Together to Tell Your Nonprofit's Story Sometimes you need help sorting out your nonprofit story and figuring out how to tell it. You know it’s vital, yet it’s hard when you’re in the thick of things and you can’t see the forest for the trees. If that’s you, then send me a message on LinkedIn or reach out on my website contact page and let’s discuss what that could look like for your nonprofit.
If you’re wanting to become a grant writer to help nonprofits tell their story to make a bigger impact, then get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today at teresahuff.com/vip.
And a quick shoutout to our friends at Instrumentl for sponsoring today’s show. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD.
Your story is important, and the way you tell it is important. How will you share your story this week?
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 4: Lessons Learned from 15 Years of Grant Writing * Episode 20: How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Grant: Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Success * Episode 58: Are You Telling Your Nonprofit Story? How Coffee Mugs Are Like Grant Writing * Episode 59: How to Tell Your Nonprofit Story Through Video
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer at teresahuff.com/vip.
The Art of Nonprofit Storytelling Today’s guest is David Jasse from DMJ Studios. We first connected on LinkedIn. After following him for a while, I could tell that he really gets nonprofits. He knows how to pull out a compelling story and showcase it through video. David has worked for some big-name TV networks, and since starting his own production company, his nonprofit films have helped raise over $20M for nonprofits. There are so many great takeaways in this episode! If you’re a nonprofit, be ready to take notes on how you can better tell your story. And if you’re a grant writer, this might give you some ideas on how you can better help tell your nonprofit’s story. Telling Nonprofit Stories Through Video A few of the high points we discuss: * The importance of telling your story in a high quality way * How limiting beliefs hurt your nonprofit * Using video storytelling to raise funding * Applying smart business principles to running your nonprofit * 80% of communication is nonverbal * Asking the right questions to dig deeper * Drawing out the emotional side of stories
Meet David Jasse David M. Jasse opened DMJ Studios in 1992 after garnering network experience at CNN, MTV, CBS & FOX. Among his company’s most recent achievements is editing & designing graphics for Emmy Award winning “Born to Explore with Richard Weise” as seen on ABC.
Previously, DMJ headed up the editorial team for “Cafe Digital”, 52 half hour shows on The Discovery Channel. David’s specialty is directing video that engages audiences and touches hearts.
Mr. Jasse’s nonprofit films have helped raise over 20 million dollars. In the last year since the pandemic, DMJ has successfully pivoted to producing virtual events for the nonprofit community.
- www.dmjstudios.net
- Connect with David Jasse on LinkedIn
- David says: Send your email to jasse@dmjstudios.net with "10 reasons" in the subject line and I'll send you my article on "Ten Reasons Why Most Videos Fail."
Are You Telling Your Nonprofit Story? If we don’t tell the stories, people won’t know there’s a need. And if they don’t know there’s a need, they can’t help meet that need. So tell your stories. Remember, if you need a hand with your grant searches and ongoing tracking, go check out Instrumentl’s free trial at teresahuff.com/Instrumentl and get $50 off your first month with the code GWSPOD. If you’re a nonprofit or a grant writer and you need help figuring out your next right step, I’d love to help you do just that in the Fast Track to Grant Writer program. Seriously, it’s like Miracle Gro for grant writers. You can sign up and start learning today at teresahuff.com/vip.
Resources Mentioned: * Join me at the 2021 Drury Nonprofit Leadership Conference * Episode 58: Are You Telling Your Nonprofit Story? How Coffee Mugs Are Like Grant Writing * Book: Likeable Social Media by Dave Kerpen
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Coffee Mugs, Grant Writing, and Storytelling What do coffee mugs have to do with grant writing? (Besides drinking lots of coffee to stay awake and finish the grant!) A few days ago I was getting a mug for my early morning coffee, and it got me to thinking that grant writing is a little bit like those coffee mugs. Today I'll explain. Nonprofit Storytelling If you’re a nonprofit and need support telling your story, I invite you to apply to work with me at teresahuff.com/nonprofits. And if you’re a grant writer wanting to help nonprofits tell their story, let’s get you on the Fast Track to Grant Writer today.
Grant Search Tool Instrumentl's grant prospecting, tracking, and management system helps grant writers and nonprofits collect the data on auto-pilot so we can focus more on telling our stories. I highly recommend giving them a try because we have enough on our nonprofit plates already; this is one aspect of our work that they’ve made really easy to offload. Go to www.teresahuff.com/instrumentl and use the discount code GWSPOD to get a two-week trial and then $50 off your first month. Other Episodes Mentioned: * 6 Meaningful Ways Your Nonprofit Can Build Relationships with Grant Funders
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip Developing Nonprofit Board Members Developing a healthy nonprofit board can be a challenge. Often board members agree to serve without understanding their role or how they can best help the nonprofit. Board training and communication can alleviate some of this dysfunction. Board members can then step into their leadership roles and use their skills more effectively. Brian Brandt, CEO of Core Insights, shares words of wisdom for nonprofit board members. We chat about: * The role of nonprofit board members * Where to start when onboarding new members * The importance of market research when starting a nonprofit * How to encourage board members to get involved * Fostering connection and vision among nonprofit boards * Better equipping board members to serve * Developing ambassadors, not just board members * Approaching difficult board conversations with grace
Listen in for some great advice from Brian's years of working with nonprofits. Meet Brian Brandt: Brian Brandt is the CEO of Core Insights, a Texas-based company providing training and facilitation for nonprofits and businesses. With three decades of leadership experience, he has devoted his life to developing stronger leaders and organizations. His expertise revolves around board training, leadership, and communication. Brian frequently speaks at conferences on board development and engagement, human resources issues, leadership, change management, and strategic planning. He co-authored The Ambassador’s Journey: A Parable About Nonprofit Board Leadership and Blind Spots: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You. Brian holds a Master’s in Global Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Accounting. * LinkedIn: Brian K. Brandt, Core Insights * Email: brian@coreinsightsleadership.com
Nonprofit Work Is a Journey If you’re a nonprofit and not sure how to move forward with your mission, go to teresahuff.com/nonprofits and let’s chat about the next best steps for you. If you’re a grant writer wanting to make a career out of this, join me in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so we can map out specific action steps for your income. Now is a great time to jump in so you can level up your grant writing career. What is ONE SMALL thing you’ll do today to make the world around you a better place? Now go do it!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 26: The Value of Unexpected Mentors and 5 Ways to Find Them [Mentoring Series #1]
* Keys to Success as a Nonprofit Leader: Interview with Dr. Johnathan Kraus, Love Never Fails International [Episode 027]
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Building Your Grant Writing Career This Grant Writer Business Building Series has been so much fun! We've had some great conversations around building your grant writing career. Today I've got a juicy topic for you! If you’re tired of trying to figure it out on your own and you need support to connect the dots, sign up for the Fast Track to Grant Writer at teresahuff.com/vip. The students in there have a clear plan and even more importantly, they’re taking incredible action! Questions from Grant Writers and Nonprofits I hear a lot of questions from both grant writers and nonprofits. Nonprofits are trying to figure out what's a fair way to pay the grant writer, and grant writers are trying to price their services fairly.
Grant writers are asking me:
- Should I work for free?
- How much do I charge?
Grant writing requires a highly specialized skill set. Believe it or not, though, you probably have a lot to work with already, even if you’re new to grant writing.
Let’s make that gap as small as possible so you can feel good about what you have to offer. If that’s where you are, then join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer at teresahuff.com/vip.
Nonprofits often ask me:
- Do you know of any volunteer grant writers?
- Do you work on commission? Or performance-based grant writing?
- How much should we expect to pay a grant writer?
If this is where you are in your nonprofit, then fill out the application and we’ll map out a plan for you at teresahuff.com/nonprofits.
Should a Grant Writer Work on Percentage Fees? Listen in for my recommendations along with questions to consider before determining how much to pay a grant writer.
If you’re a nonprofit and not sure how to move forward with grants, go to teresahuff.com/nonprofits and let’s chat about the next best steps for you. If you’re a grant writer wanting to make a career out of this, join me in the Fast Track to Grant Writer so we can map out specific action steps for your income. Now is a great time to jump in so you can level up your grant writing career. What is ONE SMALL thing you’ll do today to make the world around you a better place? Now go do it!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a bad grant writer if I don’t win the grant? * Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business * Episode 53: Business Building: Tips for Grant Writer Consulting Contracts with Danielle Liss * Episode 54: LinkedIn Profile Tips for Success * Episode 55: Grant Writer Strategy Call - How to Start Freelance Grant Writing
More Grant Writer Strategy Calls: * Is Grant Writing for Me? with Lisa Ortman * Do I Have What It Takes? How Do I Get Started in Grant Writing? * Starting a Grant Writing Business from Scratch
Click Here to Download the Free Guide for the LinkedIn Checklist Join me over in the Grant Writing Simplified LinkedIn community. Let’s make LinkedIn the place where the cool kids hang out!
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Ready to Be a Grant Writer? This Business Building Series has been so much fun! A lot of you are asking the same questions about becoming a grant writer, so I wanted to address some of those this month. If you’re tired of trying to figure it out on your own and you need support to connect the dots, sign up for the Fast Track to Grant Writer at teresahuff.com/vip. The students in there have a clear plan and even more importantly, they’re taking action! How Can I Become a Freelance Grant Writer? Today I'm talking with Julie Nyhus, a nurse practitioner-turned-grant writer. She's just beginning her grant writing career after 20 years in the nursing field. She’s asking:
- I’m good at writing, but how do I find clients?
- How can I leverage my 20 years of experience as a nurse?
- Am I supposed to advertise my services?
We Talk About My Tips for Starting a Grant Writing Career: * Look for ways to specialize * Tap into your network * Start with the opportunities around you, and then specialize over time * How to research potential nonprofits that you’d like to work with * The importance of understanding how nonprofits operate * Reaching out to prospective clients to start the conversation
Listen in for a great conversation on how to become a freelance grant writer! We dig deep into this in Fast Track to Grant Writer, the VIP program where we’ll spend 90 days getting your grant writing career up and running. If this is the kind of support you need too, message me and let’s chat about how I can help you.
Meet Julie Nyhus Julie Nyhus is a nurse practitioner and freelance health & medical writer. Her first love is writing flash fiction and short stories, but when she’s not crafting words behind the keyboard, she’s busy biking, boxing, knitting, or playing saxophone with the band.
Julie is a momma to two daughters and bonus-momma to two daughters and one son. She lives in Indiana, a five minute walk from Lake Michigan, with her husband and Bernese Mountain dog.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business * Episode 53: Business Building: Tips for Grant Writer Consulting Contracts with Danielle Liss
More Grant Writer Strategy Calls: * Episode 5: Is Grant Writing for Me? with Lisa Ortman * Episode 12: Do I Have What It Takes? How Do I Get Started in Grant Writing? * Episode 49: Starting a Grant Writing Business from Scratch
Click Here to Download the Free Guide for the LinkedIn Checklist Join me over in the Grant Writing Simplified LinkedIn community. Let’s make LinkedIn the place where the cool kids hang out!
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Download the Free Guide: www.teresahuff.com/linkedin Let's Talk LinkedIn Why am I sharing LinkedIn profile tips today, you ask? 1. Open up a browser in private mode on your computer. 2. Google your name. 3. What comes up in the first 3 results? Lemme guess...
Your LinkedIn profile. Maybe it was even first. Amiright? In this series, we're going through tips for building your grant writing career. These episodes give you a sneak peek into the VIP Fast Track to Grant Writer program where, among lots of other game-changing strategies, we go through your LinkedIn profile in detail and you can get feedback from the group. We talk about which strategies are best for your career goals to help you become the go-to grant writer in your community. What's So Special About a LinkedIn Profile? I'm going to let you in on one of LinkedIn's best-kept secrets: your LinkedIn profile is not a cut and paste of your resume. This is a space where you can be professional yet show some personality.
Your LinkedIn profile and activity essentially become a brochure for your business and career, so steward them wisely and you'll soon see momentum.
4 Phases of Polishing Your LinkedIn Profile I recommend that you start with the basics and build your muscles from there. We'll talk about this in 4 phases:
- Phase 1: Polish your Profile
- Phase 2: Find and Follow
- Phase 3: Comment and Connect
- Phase 4: Master your Messaging
Click Here to Download the Free Guide for the Full Checklist Join me over in the Grant Writing Simplified LinkedIn community. Let’s make LinkedIn the place where the cool kids hang out!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business * Episode 53: Business Building: Tips for Grant Writer Consulting Contracts with Danielle Liss
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Protecting Your Grant Writing Consulting Business Today we're covering an important topic: How do you design a contract for your consulting work? In this series, we're going through tips for building your grant writing career. These episodes give you a sneak peek into the Fast Track to Grant Writer program where I walk you through these in detail. We talk about which strategies are best for your career goals to help you become the go-to grant writer in your community. As we go through the series this month, I want to answer your questions. What’s your biggest challenge or frustration when it comes to grant writing? Email info@teresahuff.com or message me on LinkedIn.
What Should a Grant Writing Consulting Contract Include? If you decide to be a grant writing consultant or do any type of freelance work, you'll need a good contract. But what should that have? Where do you start with making sure you're protected?
Lawyer and contract expert Danielle Liss, Esq., of Liss Legal and Businessese, shares great tips for designing your grant writing contracts to work for you, not the other way around.
About Danielle Liss, Esq. Danielle is passionate about simplifying legal for small business owners. She is the owner of Businessese, which offers DIY legal templates. She also has a law firm, LISS Legal, where she focuses her practice on online business owners, bloggers & influencers, and wellness professionals.
Danielle has previously served as Chief Marketing Officer and General Counsel of an influencer network, as well as general counsel and vice president of affiliate programs for an 8-figure digital health and wellness company.
- Websites: Businessese, Liss Legal
Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified community over on LinkedIn and let's keep the conversation going!
Resources Mentioned: * Episode 52: The Tech Tools I Use Most in My Grant Writing Business
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:
www.teresahuff.com/vip
Building Your Grant Writing Consulting Business I'm excited about some great new grant writing resources coming up in August! We'll be going through a series on building your grant writing career. This series is a sneak peek into the Fast Track to Grant Writer program where I walk you through these in detail. We talk about which ones would be best for you based on your situation and budget and then map out a custom plan for you. What's Your Biggest Grant Writing Challenge? As we go through the series this month, I want to answer your questions. What’s your biggest challenge or frustration when it comes to grant writing? Email info@teresahuff.com or message me on LinkedIn.
Let me know so I can make this series content useful for you!
How Do I Start as a Grant Writer? One of the questions I hear most is, "Where do I start?" I advise my Fast Track to Grant Writer students to find the shortest distance from Point A to Point B. Take inventory of your skills, start with what you know, and make the gap as small as possible.
My Favorite Tech Tools in My Grant Writing Business Today I’m going to share some of my favorite tech tools that I use every single day to run my business. As an added bonus, I have referral links for a few of these so you can get extras like a discount or free trial. It’s a great chance to give these a test drive.
Website:
- Wordpress
- A2 Hosting - use this link for a great deal on hosting
Storage:
- Google Docs
- Dropbox
Email:
- Gmail
- Boomerang for Gmail
Bookmarks Bar
Payments:
- Freshbooks - get a 30 day free trial
Documents:
- Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Publisher
- Google Suite - Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides
Contracts:
- HelloSign
- DocuSign
Passwords:
- LastPass
Grant searches & tracker:
- Instrumentl - $50 off your first month with my code GWS50
What's Your Favorite Grant Writing Tool? Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified community over on LinkedIn and share your favorite grant writing tool with us!
Resources Mentioned: * Episode 40: Questions to Consider Before Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant * Fast Focus Power Series - Episodes 43-46. Download the free workbook to dig into the homework.
We Are More Than Grant Writers I've had several conversations lately with students in the Fast Track to Grant Writer program and with my nonprofit strategy clients about all the different roles we fill. Our job is so much more than just writing grants. Often it’s about building relationships, supporting a nonprofit in other fundraising or development projects, and evaluating programs to provide accurate reports.
Listen to the full podcast episode as I share examples of each area.
6 Ways to Build Positive Relationships with Donors and Grant Funders: 1. They are the expert in their grant programs, so be respectful of their feedback. 2. Do your homework so you can ask intelligent questions. 3. Send them photos and friendly updates to show the impact you’re making. 4. Show your appreciation by tagging them on social media and mention them when you’re sharing about your programs. If you want an amazing example, check out thestore.org's social profiles. 5. Turn in your applications and reports in on time, and proactively communicate any issues along the way. 6. Become a good storyteller. Remember the 3 Cs: Clear, Concise, Compelling.
There is a person on the other side of everything you write, so write for that person.
The same goes for building relationships with grant funders or donors. There is a person on the other side of everything. You’re not talking to a stack of money. Talk to the person. Put in the time and effort to cultivate sincere, meaningful relationships. Remember your bigger mission and let that shine through everything you do. I am here to support you in this, friend! Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified community on LinkedIn for more support. If you are ready to scale your grant writing career, the Fast Track to Grant Writer is open. Sign up at teresahuff.com/vip.
Resources Mentioned: * Episode 20: How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Grant: Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Success * Upcoming Episodes: Stay tuned for a series on building your nonprofit consulting business coming up in August * Grant Writing Simplified community on LinkedIn
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Think Grant Writing Is Boring? Think Again! Grant writing might sound a little dry, and maybe it can be at times, but it can also be quite creative and innovative. There may be days when we feel stuck or can't think through a problem. We've stared at the screen so long, when we close our eyes we still see the screen in front of us. That's a good sign it's time for a break!
These are a few tips to get you started; listen to Episode 50 for the full explanation of each.
What is ONE thing you’ll do this week to encourage creativity? Who knows, that might just be the catalyst that will change your world.
What are some ways you enjoy being creative? Join me in the Grant Writing Simplified group on LinkedIn and tell us! If you are ready to scale your grant writing career, the Fast Track to Grant Writer is open. Sign up at teresahuff.com/vip.
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 24: How to Prevent Nonprofit Decision Fatigue * Episode 22: Preparation for Grant Writing: 6 Things Your Nonprofit Should Have on Hand * Episode 20: How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Grant: Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing Success * Episode 43: Grant Writer FAST Focus Power Series - Part 1: Do I Have What It Takes? * Episode 21: Tips for Successful Grant Writing & Federal Grant Project Management: Interview with Brandi VanAntwerp, CoxHealth Foundation Grants Administrator
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
How Do I Start a Grant Writing Business from Scratch? Have you ever wondered... * Where do I start as a grant writer? * Do I have the skills to help nonprofits? * Where do I find clients? * How do I price my services?
If so, then you're in good company! Over the last few months of podcasting, the grant writer strategy calls have been some of my most popular episodes. That's why it's time for another!
Today I'm talking with Jacqueline White who is ready to step into freelance grant writing. I shared some hints about her story in Episode 44. She has an incredible background that you'll want to hear about.
Grant Writer Strategy Call We cover all kinds of good grant writing topics like:
- How Jackie’s background in Olympic training, research, business, and nonprofit work has prepared her for grant writing
- What I wished I’d known starting out as a new grant writer
- How to think through pricing her services as a new grant writing consultant
- My favorite invoicing software
- Tips on building recognition for yourself
- The importance of systems in grant writing
- My 4 recommended next steps for Jackie so she can position herself for success as a consultant
This will also give you a taste of what we do in the Fast Track to Grant Writer. Some amazing people are in there who are leveling up their nonprofit grant writing careers.
About Jacqueline White: From athlete to advocate, Jacqueline is a former elite athlete and personal trainer who has taken up the pen to support non-profits on a mission to do good in the world. Leveraging a diverse business background and years of experience with non-profits, she has set out to help organizations improve their funding, expand their impact and positively influence their communities. Over the years Jacqueline’s life experience has varied from Olympic caliber athlete training at the Olympic Training Center to content acquisition/COO for a small publishing company, to zoning and compliance officer for local government to operations manager for a gym franchise. The opportunity to lead fundraising efforts for various non-profits along the way was all preparation to open the door to grant writing. As the daughter of a military officer, Jacqueline has lived in numerous places and currently resides in the Atlanta area. While interested in helping as many non-profits as she can, she has a particular interest in non-profit organizations that work with veterans, involve cultural arts and organizations that are focused on youth and youth sports.
Other Episodes and Resources Mentioned:
- Freshbooks Invoicing and Bookkeeping Software
- Episode 5: Grant Writer Strategy Call with Lisa Ortman
- Episode 12: Grant Writer Strategy Call with Alexandra Enns
- Episode 44: Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer FAST Focus - Who am I to be a grant writer?
- Episode 47: Our Role as Grant Writers
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the F.A.S.T. Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Riding Coast to Coast: Innovative Ideas to Make an Impact It's time for another nonprofit spotlight, and this is one interesting ride! I'm talking with Rodney Olsen with Compassion Australia.
He's gearing up to lead a huge mission in September 2021 - riding coast to coast across Australia! The team is raising awareness and funding to help children in poverty.
Listen in as Rodney shares: * His story of how he learned about Compassion Australia’s impact. * How much the need for help has grown over the years. * The ways they’re tapping into volunteers and resources in local communities. * Their structure for training and preparing volunteers for the work. * The importance of keeping your why top of mind for the whole team. * How you can use the things you love to make an impact for good.
About Rodney Olsen: Rodney Olsen spent much of his working life as a professional communicator working in radio, but these days he is a Relationship Manager with Compassion Australia.
After visiting Haiti and Dominican Republic in 2008, Rodney’s burden to serve those living in extreme poverty began to grow. He began working for Compassion Australia in 2013. He’s passionate about children being released from poverty in Jesus’ name.
He has travelled to a number of nations where Compassion is working and has seen firsthand how children’s lives are being transformed.
Rodney is a keen cyclist who has crossed Australia 6 times by bike as well as cycling in Canada and India. Rodney begins his seventh crossing of Australia in September 2021 as part of Ride for Compassion Coast to Coast.
Connect with Rodney & Compassion Australia: * www.rideforcompassion.com * Facebook Group: Ride for Compassion Coast to Coast 2021 * rideforcompassion.raisely.com/rodneyolsen * www.compassion.com.au * www.compassion.com * Rodney's Podcast: Bleeding Daylight
Other Episodes and Resources Mentioned:
- Book: When Helping Hurts
- Episode 32: What It Means to Change the World
- Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46 (Download the free workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus)
- Episode 13: Nonprofit Spotlight: The Global Orphan Project - On a Mission to Change a Generation
- Episode 23: Nonprofit Spotlight: Changing Lives Through Service Dogs - Interview with Joel & Danea Key, Saber Life Foundation
- Episode 27: Keys to Success as a Nonprofit Leader: Interview with Dr. Johnathan Kraus, Love Never Fails International
- Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call, Ashley McMichael, Innovative Academy of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Episode 039: How a Real Estate Company Makes a Nonprofit Impact, Gregg Cohen, JWB Real Estate Capital
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Grant Writer Mid-Year Checkup
It's hard to believe we're halfway through 2021 already! Have you taken time to reflect on your progress and celebrate your wins so far this year?
I'm celebrating 10,000 podcast downloads! Thank you all for your support and encouragement along the way.
Grant Writing Seasons
Grant cycles tend to be seasonal, so I hope you're getting in some down time this summer. If you are, it might just be the perfect time to join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer!
Asking the Hard Questions
Sometimes as grant writers, we have to ask the hard questions. We have to dig deeper and play devil's advocate even when it's easier to just go with the flow.
However, that's not good in the long run. We need to be proactive and look for the potential problems so we can address those up front. Listen in as I share several examples of tough questions we may need to ask when preparing a grant project or program design.
Looking Ahead
What's next for you in your grant writing journey? I've got some great episodes coming up on the podcast this summer, so come hang out with me every Tuesday!
In the meantime, go change your world. :)
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 22: Preparation for Grant Writing: 6 Things Your Nonprofit Should Have on Hand * Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
- LinkedIn Community
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Download the Grant Writer FAST Focus Workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus.
Grant Writer FAST Focus Welcome back to this special Podcast Power Series, Grant Writer FAST Focus. This week I'm going to help you develop the confidence and clarity you need to start your grant writing career. So far in this series, we've talked about:
- Part 1 - Move away from “Do I have what it takes?” and instead ask, “How can I get there?”
- Part 2 - Take inventory of your skills
- Part 3 - Learn the F.A.S.T. steps - FOCUS on your goals, ASPIRE to learn, SHAPE your online presence, and TRACK your progress
Now in Part 4 we're going to tie up the loose ends and bring it all together so you can develop a plan for your grant writing career.
How Can I Start as a Grant Writer? We’ve gone through all those steps, so today we’re going to talk about the #1 question I hear from grant writers. That is, “Where do I start?”
Today I'll share some of the struggles and mistakes I've made along the way, and how I've learned from those. Turns out those valuable lessons are now helping other grant writers in a big way! You don’t need to be nervous, struggling, or not sure where to start. You most likely have a lot more skills than you realize already, Take that inventory and then figure out the shortest distance from point A to point B to become a grant writer. Make sure you’ve listened to all the episodes in this FAST Focus series and DO the homework. If you still need help, then get on the Fast Track so I can help you dig deep and get really clear on this.
F.A.S.T. Track to Grant Writer:
How do you know if this is for you? 1. You have a heart to SERVE. You need to be passionate about helping nonprofits.
2. You love to LEARN. You need to be willing to put in the time to learn in the program. Show up for the group calls and watch the videos.
3. You’re ready to IMPLEMENT. You need to be committed to doing the work in the program. This isn’t for people who want to consume more content and then send it to the digital graveyard. It’s for go-getters who are ready to take serious action.
4. You’re ALL IN. You’re ready to take the next steps in your career. You’re not going to hide behind fear or “what ifs” anymore. You’re ready to go all in on this new adventure.
This is the most cost-effective way to work with me. You’re getting high level, intensive advice customized to your situation.
We work on both the technical grant writing skills and the business/career building.
Start with what you know and go from there. Figure out the shortest distance from Point A to Point B. But to do that, you need to do 4 things F.A.S.T. (and by the way, these are the 4 phases we cover in Fast Track to Grant Writer):
- FOCUS: Get clear on your career goals and what is realistic for you in your current season. Develop your career roadmap - either for starting your consulting business or working for a nonprofit as an employee.
- ASPIRE: Learn pro grant writing strategies. In grant writing, you’re going to need to understand much more about nonprofits than just how to write a grant.
- SHAPE: Build a professional online presence and LinkedIn profile that reflects your career goals.
- TRACK: Execute your action plan so you can build your grant writing career around YOUR ideal life with confidence. You need a plan and goals.
Those are the steps most new grant writers miss. And it’s the support I wish I’d had as a new grant writer.
Challenge for Grant Writers I want to leave you with some important challenge questions today:
- What do YOU have that makes you memorable?
- What do you have to start with? We all have something, no matter where you are in your journey. I’ve worked with brand new grant writers, experienced grant writers, business owners, retirees, college students, a nurse, a digital marketer, an artist, and so many others. You’re not too old, you’re not too young. Stop making excuses for yourself and let’s explore what’s possible.
- What do you need to learn? Do you already know business? Nonprofits? Grant writing? Figure out what you know and where you need to fill in the gaps to learn more.
“Are you going to do the work of hiding or are you willing to show up and do the work of art?” - Emily P. Freeman, A Million Little Ways
Are You Ready to Move F.A.S.T.? The Fast Track to Grant Writer group program is OPEN! I would be honored to serve you when you're ready to step up your grant writing career.
Listen in to the full episode for today's lesson and homework assignment.
Then download the free workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus and let's get you moving forward!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 32: What It Means to Change the World * Episode 40: Questions to Consider Before Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant * Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Download the Grant Writer FAST Focus Workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus.
Can I Really Be a Grant Writer? Welcome back to this special Podcast Power Series, Grant Writer FAST Focus. This week I'm going to help you develop the confidence and clarity you need to start your grant writing career. F.A.S.T. Track to Grant Writing: Start with what you know and go from there. Figure out the shortest distance from Point A to Point B.
Listen in as I give you the F.A.S.T. steps to follow so you can learn how to become a grant writer.
You've got this, my friend!
Are You Ready to Move F.A.S.T.? The Fast Track to Grant Writer group program is OPEN! I would be honored to serve you over there if you're ready to step up your grant writing career.
Listen in to the full episode for today's lesson and homework assignment.
Then download the free workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus and let's get you moving forward!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46 * Episode 32: What It Means to Change the World + Book Recommendations * Episode 40: Questions to Consider Before Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Download the Grant Writer FAST Focus Workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus.
Who Am I to Be a Grant Writer? Welcome back to this special Podcast Power Series, Grant Writer FAST Focus. This week I'm going to help you develop the confidence and clarity you need to start your grant writing career. Should You Try Grant Writing? Many new grant writers are paralyzed by the question, “Where do I start?” Even if they have some nonprofit experience, they still battle imposter syndrome.
However, I talk to so many talented people with great experience who are passionate about their nonprofit work. /some have even written grants before – and they still don’t think they have what it takes to be a grant writer.
They think, “Who would want to work with me? Should I just work for free to get some experience? What do I have to offer a nonprofit?”
Let's Change the Script I want to challenge you to shift your mindset around this.
You probably already have a lot of valuable skills that can really help your community. You have some God-given abilities that make you unique. You need to show up with those. But until you realize that and get out of your own way, you won’t be able to use them effectively. Let’s change that. The world needs you out there making a difference.
The Fast Track to Grant Writer group program and my 1:1 coaching go deep into this, and this is exactly what I help my clients with. I created this free power series for you on the podcast to help you get started and, more than anything, believe that it IS possible for you and to see how you can start to put those pieces together.
Hang with me this week, because over the next 4 days we’re going to talk about the mindset shifts AND practical strategies you need to believe that you can be a good grant writer.
How Is This Different? Lots of programs tell you how to write a grant.
Lots of programs tell you how to set up a business.
That’s where people get stuck, because most programs don’t teach you how to write the grant AND set up your grant writing career for success. That’s how it’s different when we work together, and that’s exactly what we do inside the Fast Track to Grant Writer.
Fast Track Alum Lisa said, "I appreciate the ways you are showing us we can help non-profits. There are many nuggets we can incorporate into consulting that I hadn't previously considered."
My Challenge to You If you’re struggling with the question of, "Who am I to be a grant writer?" I want you to flip the script and instead ask, “Who am I NOT to be a grant writer?”
Todd Henry, host of The Accidental Creative Podcast, said, “The key is to push forward, not allow yourself to get stuck, so your body of work reflects your best attributes, not your biggest fears.”
Grant Writer Power Series Be on the lookout this week, because every day for 4 days in a row a new episode in this power series is going to drop. These episodes are short because I don’t want you to get caught up in the weeds of self-doubt. I’m calling it a power series for a reason - instead of overwhelming you with a bunch of information, I want you to focus on one powerful action step each day.
Listen in to the full episode for today's lesson and homework assignment.
Then download the workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus and let's get you moving forward!
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Download the Grant Writer FAST Focus Workbook at www.teresahuff.com/fastfocus. Could I Be a Grant Writer? I’m excited to welcome you to this special Podcast Power Series, Grant Writer FAST Focus. This week I'm going to help you develop the confidence and clarity you need to start your grant writing career. Why Are We Talking About Grant Writer Mindset? I see so many people paralyzed by doubt and holding back, when deep down they really want to make a difference in their community. I'm going to talk through some things that I keep hearing over and over from prospective grant writers and from such competent people.
It's worth taking a minute to stop and talk this through together.
People are asking me, “Do I even have what it takes? Could I be a grant writer? I don't know if I have the skills that I need.” I'm going to challenge that. And I want you to stop and think.
The Fast Track to Grant Writer group program and my 1:1 coaching go deep into this, and this is exactly what I help my clients with. I created this free power series for you on the podcast to help you get started and, more than anything, believe that it IS possible for you and to see how you can start to put those pieces together.
Hang with me this week, because over the next 4 days we’re going to talk about the mindset shifts AND practical strategies you need to believe that you can be a good grant writer.
Grant Writer Power Series Be on the lookout this week, because every day for the rest of the week a new episode in this power series is going to drop. These episodes are short because I don’t want you to get caught up in the weeds of self-doubt. I’m calling it a power series for a reason - instead of overwhelming you with a bunch of information, I want you to focus on one powerful action step each day.
Listen in to the full episode for today's lesson and homework assignment.
Then download the workbook and let's get you moving forward! Other Episodes Mentioned: * Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Sign up for Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip Do I Need a Lot of Detail in a Grant Application? Today I want to share a great question I received recently from a new grant writer: How do you know what is sufficient detail in a grant application? There could always be more to write about your program.
Glad you asked! In this episode I'll talk through three things you need to consider when adding detail to your grant application:
- Is there a limit in the application (word count, character count, page limit)? If so, you're forced to write tight!
- Focus on the application guidelines and the goal of what you're asking for.
- Remember there's a person at the other end of everything you write. Make it clear, concise, and compelling.
What questions do YOU have about grant writing? Send me a message, and maybe I'll answer it in a future episode! Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 16: Pro Grant Writing Tip: How to Write Tight * Podcast Power Series: Grant Writer Fast Focus - Episodes 43-46 (starting June 22!)
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Sign up for Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip ----- Starting a Business or a Nonprofit Today I'm talking with my good friend and fellow entrepreneur Kari Bartkus of Love Does That. She has a unique ministry-based business and such a heart for serving and encouraging others. After weighing the options of whether to start a business or a nonprofit, Kari decided that a ministry-based business was the right path for her.
Kari's Journey to a Ministry-Based Business Kari and I talk about several aspects of her ministry-based business journey:
- Deciding whether to start a business or a nonprofit
- Small steps towards starting her ministry-based business
- Rediscovering her love for art and incorporating it into her work
- Using her business to give back to the local community and spotlight urgent needs in the area
- The reason behind her products and services
- How she is able to minister to others through the products, workshops, and Bible studies she creates.
Listen and be blessed!
Connect with Kari Bartkus and Love Does That: Seeing far too many people go through hardship alone, Kari Bartkus became determined to show up and be present when those around her were hurting. Through her work at Love Does That, she equips others to do the same, providing practical tips and prayerfully-made gifts that serve as tangible expressions of care.
Knowing that encouragement has to come from a place of abiding with Jesus, she also offers creative Bible studies and workshops that invite women to stay close to Him so they can be prepared to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around them.
Follow Kari and Learn More: * Website and Shop: www.lovedoesthat.org * Instagram: love_does_that * LinkedIn * Proofreading and Editing Services * Podcast: Let’s Encourage One Another
Comparing a Business and Nonprofit Podcast Series: * Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call * Episode 38: Should You Start a Non-Profit or For-Profit? * Episode 39: How a Real Estate Company Makes Nonprofit Impact * Episode 40: Questions to Consider Before Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Should you make the move to be a grant writing consultant? Sign up for Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip Join me today as I talk through seven questions to consider before becoming a grant writing consultant.
Related Episodes: * Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call * Episode 38: Should Your Business Be Nonprofit or For-Profit? * Episode 39: How a Real Estate Company Makes Nonprofit Impact
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Ready to grow your nonprofit career so you can change the world? The Fast Track to Grant Writer is opening again. Get on the list at www.teresahuff.com/vip. Making a Difference in Business AND Nonprofit Work
Gregg Cohen, Co-Founder of JWB Real Estate Capital in Jacksonville, FL, shares how his team runs a successful real estate investment business AND an incredible nonprofit.
Since Gregg was a writing client of mine, I've had the privilege of seeing behind the scenes into their JWB Cares nonprofit work. That's why I knew he would be an amazing person to interview for the show. His team's energy for making a difference in their community is contagious. They've done some incredible work in Jacksonville.
The JWB Cares' biggest projects so far include building and giving away three homes to U.S. military veterans! They've joined forces with many other community partners to pull it off. Their own JWB team of 80+ employees also rolled up their sleeves to get their hands dirty - literally - to help with the homes.
Listen in to hear how this team is creating a powerful company culture and making a big impact. You'll walk away with inspiration for your own work.
About Gregg Cohen and JWB Real Estate:
As a founding partner of JWB Real Estate Companies, Gregg Cohen has seen the company grow from humble beginnings to serving over 1,200 clients worldwide with total assets under management of over $450 million.
JWB helps clients diversify out of the stock market by building a fully managed rental property portfolio for the client. Cohen and his team have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, The Jacksonville Business Journal, and The Florida Times-Union.
If you’d like to learn more about JWB’s investment strategy and how to deliver better returns for your rental property portfolio, please visit www.jwbrealestate.com or call their office at (904) 677-6777.
Download the free JWB Passive Income Guide to learn how you can invest in real estate as easily as buying and managing your stock portfolio.
Connect with Gregg:
- Youtube
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Need help with your next steps in grant writing or nonprofit work? www.teresahuff.com/nonprofits In this episode, we're comparing the differences between a business and a nonprofit. There's no perfect answer, but I'll give you some considerations to help you decide which is the best route for your situation.
I also share a conversation with Jon Saunders, one of my Fast Track to Grant Writer students. We chat about some challenges and differences surrounding both business and nonprofit work. He has experience in both too, so we compare notes on things we've seen. Jon is the founder of Future Focus Global, a social impact organization.
Resources Mentioned:
- Should Your Business Be Nonprofit or For-Profit?
- Episode 2: What Is a Grant? (and What It's Not)
- Episode 37: How Do We Show Nonprofit Sustainability? On-Air Strategy Call
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Book your own strategy call for grant writers and nonprofits at www.teresahuff.com/nonprofits. Nonprofit Strategy Call
I'm excited to share this on-air strategy call with you today! I'm working with the talented Ashley McMichael and coaching her through a grant application she's working on for her nonprofit. One of the questions asked about organizational sustainability. We talk through several ways she can demonstrate a solid sustainability plan for her nonprofit.
Ashley also shares why she started a nonprofit, how she relates to clients, and the ways she's stepping up to lead by example.
About Ashley McMichael:
Ashley McMichael, B.S, M.S, Founder and Executive Director. The Innovative Academy of Liberal Arts & Sciences (IALAS) is a non-profit organization that opens the doors of opportunity for students and families that have been historically neglected. IALAS provides 2-generation STEAM (science, technology, entrepreneurship, arts, and mental health) and economic empowerment education initiative to address the ongoing disparity between Ward 7 and its surrounding wards. Find out more about our organization at www.theialas.org.
Other Episodes Mentioned:
- Episode 5 - Grant Writer Strategy Session: Is Grant Writing for Me?
- Episode 12 - Grant Writer Strategy Session: Do I Have What It Takes? How Do I Get Started in Grant Writing?
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Need help with your nonprofit or grant writing strategy? www.teresahuff.com/nonprofits Welcome to Part 4 in our nonprofit fundraising series!
Back in Episode 34, I gave you over 60 fundraising ideas and 9 questions you should be asking. Those were some great ideas. But if it left you scratching your head and wondering, “Where do we start?” then this list will help you take it a few steps further.
You can’t possibly do ALL the fundraisers at once, nor should you try. That’s why it’s so important to first look at the bigger picture and then determine how you should move forward.
Listen in for 10 steps you need to develop to have a stronger nonprofit fundraising plan. This is important knowledge for both nonprofits and aspiring grant writers to have in your toolbelt!
Other Episodes Mentioned:
- Episode 6: Grant Readiness - How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing
- Episode 33: How to Find First-Time Donors for Your Nonprofit
- Episode 34: 60+ Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas and 9 Questions to Help You Choose
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Need help getting started? Book your strategy session: www.teresahuff.com/strategy. Good news: Grant writers and nonprofits CAN thrive in a pandemic economy! In Part 3 of this Nonprofit Fundraising Series, grant expert Margit Brazda Poirier and I chat about:
- Reflecting on the challenges of 2020,
- How grant trends have shifted throughout the pandemic,
- Creative ways nonprofits have adapted, and
- Best practices for how nonprofits can not only survive, but thrive in the changing economy.
Margit's 3 C’s for Helping Nonprofits Thrive in a Pandemic: 1. Contact 2. Consistency 3. Congruency
Listen in as we share ways you can help nonprofits through the ups and downs of the post-2020 economy.
In this episode, Margit and I talk about how we became grant writers (and how you can too!), the nonprofit trends we’ve seen since 2020, and several best practices for nonprofits. She has several tips for new grant writers looking to get started.
Connect with Margit Brazda Porier: Margit Brazda Poirier, GPC, M.S., Owner and Founder of Grants4Good LLC® (grants4good.com), created the company in 2009 to help nonprofit organizations and businesses find and get grant funding. She is one of only 350 nationally-certified Grant Professionals and 1 of only 20 Approved Trainers in the U.S. on this topic.
Margit and her team have written and received millions in grants for nonprofits and businesses – and she has the unique perspective of understanding both grant seeking and grant making, given her experience leading a prominent New York foundation.
Her passion is being outdoors as much as possible and teaching others to secure grant funding through her online course, allaboutgrantwriting.com.
Margit's Links: * FREE Guide, 7 Steps to Grant Success * All About Grant Writing self-paced online course * Blog: The 3 C's to Thriving in a Pandemic Economy
Other Episodes Mentioned: * Episode 20: How to Increase your Chances of Winning a Grant * Episode 19: Effective Strategies for Virtual Training: Interview with Heather Burright * Episode 33:How to Find First-Time Donors for Your Nonprofit: Interview with Jason Adkins, GPC * Episode 34:50+ Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas and 9 Questions to Help You Start
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Need help? Book your strategy session: www.teresahuff.com/strategy. I hear so many nonprofits, especially new ones, trying to figure out how to raise funds. They think they can get grants, but then realize that won’t work for them until they’re a little more established.
So what's a nonprofit to do? I've got you covered with this list of over 50 fundraising ideas. Hang on a minute though - before you jump in, there are 9 questions to consider first.
Download the full list at www.teresahuff.com/34.
If you aren't sure where to start, or you need help sorting out how to move forward, book a strategy call today at www.teresahuff.com/strategy.
Other Episodes Mentioned:
- Episode 6: Grant Readiness - How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing
- Episode 25: Nonprofit Donor Relations & Marketing Tips: Interview with Jenni Hargrove
- Episode 33: How to Find First-Time Donors for Your Nonprofit
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Need help? Here you go: www.teresahuff.com/strategy Getting first-time donor support is critical for new and small nonprofits. A lot of fundraising webinars and articles talk about donor retention, but how do you find donors in the first place?
Today Jason Adkins, GPC shares advice on finding first-time donors on a tight budget. We cover some great tips such as:
- Why you should become a nonprofit mystery shopper
- How to analyze nonprofit giving and build a prospective donor list
- Look for donor connections under your nose
- Use some detective work to find donors
- Tips for approaching the donors
- Advice for direct mail campaigns
and much more! You'll want to take notes on all the great tips in this episode.
Resources Mentioned:
- Get Jason's First-Time Donors Checklist: https://funding-finders.com/
- Book: Asking about Asking by Kent Stroman
- Episode 25:Nonprofit Donor Relations and Marketing Tips: Interview with Jenni Hargrove
About Jason Adkins, GPC:
Since 2008, Jason Adkins has raised over $120 million in grants and donations. His work has benefited nonprofits in the arts, education, and human services sectors. He earned the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential in 2017 and is a frequent trainer of grant writers and fundraisers. Jason created Funding Finders, a website of resources for nonprofit pros on a quest to raise money.
Connect with Jason:
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website:www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz:Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer:www.teresahuff.com/vip
Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? Take the quiz: www.teresahuff.com/quiz This week I'm celebrating 6 months of podcasting and 6,000 downloads in over 40 countries! Thank you all for your encouragement along this journey. I've met some incredible people from all over the world and I'm so thankful for you!
You often hear me challenge you to change the world, but what does that mean really? Today I'm going through several ways we can change the world - and it starts right where we are.
I'm also doing a 6 month book roundup of books mentioned so far on the show:
- Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
- Seeing Through a Donor’s Eyes: How to Make a Persuasive Case for Everything from Your Annual Drive to Your Planned Giving Program to Your Capital Campaign by Tom Ahern
- Operation World
- How to Become a Virtual Assistant: Start Your Own Business from Home by Laura Briggs
- The Six-Figure Freelancer: Your Roadmap to Success in the Gig Economy by Laura Briggs
- Asking about Asking: Mastering the Art of Conversational Fundraising by Kent Stroman
- Deep Work (Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World) by Cal Newport
- The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
Other Episodes Mentioned:
- 007: Google Ad Grant: The Nonprofit World's Best-Kept Secret [Interview with Grant Hensel, CEO of Nonprofit Megaphone and Google Ad Grant Expert]
- 015: Grant Writing for International Nonprofits + Building a Case for Support: Interview with Grant Writer Kathy Hoeck, KLH Grant Services
- 024: How to Offset Decision Fatigue in Nonprofit Leaders: 5 Ways to Serve Well
- 031: Tips for Stepping Up Your Freelancing Success: Interview with Katherine Bright, Resume Writer and Career Coach [Mentoring Series #6]
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip Learn tips for freelancing success as I interview resume writer and career coach Katherine Bright. We talk about both the professional and personal side of freelancing:
- Being good stewards of our homes
- How to stand out on competitive platforms like Upwork
- Trying different approaches to use our skills in new ways
- Learning from our mistakes
- Challenges of a consultant
- Turning work down for a client's own good
- The elusive work-life "balance"
This fun episode has all kinds of great tips for building your freelancing career!
If you're ready to step up your grant writing career and fast, then check out Fast Track to Grant Writer.
Resources mentioned in this episode: * Should you become a freelance grant writer? Interview with Teresa Huff and Laura Briggs * How to Become a Virtual Assistant: Start Your Own Business from Home by Laura Briggs * The Six-Figure Freelancer: Your Roadmap to Success in the Gig Economy by Laura Briggs
About Katherine Bright: Katherine Bright is a certified resume writer, career coach, and freelance content creator. She helps individuals in their job search through writing effective resumes as well as refining their searching strategy. Katherine also coaches newbie freelancers looking to break into digital self-employment. Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip I’ve had the honor of coaching several amazing nonprofit professionals in the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program. It's been SO much fun helping them:
- figure out their career goals,
- realize the skills they’ve got hiding right under their noses,
- and develop a solid toolbox of grant writing techniques to seriously up their game.
This 8 weeks can change the trajectory of your career. If you want to jump in, the Spring cohort closes THIS WEEK on March 25. Go to teresahuff.com/vip to sign up TODAY. If you’re listening to this after that, you can get on the waitlist for the next round.
In this episode I'm sharing 3 reasons I became a grant writer in the first place:
- Practical
- Purpose
- Personal
Those reasons have evolved and grown over time as I've learned and gained more experience. I'll share more about those and how I've been able to have an amazing career working from home. It suits my personality and has allowed me to be at home with my kids while making an impact for good through nonprofit consulting.
Today I’d also like you to meet another Fast Track to Grant Writer Alumni. Diego was already working part time as a grant writer for a small nonprofit. He’s also a graduate student and has been instrumental in helping his nonprofit set up an internship program. He’s getting some great experience, but he just wasn’t feeling very confident with his grant writing. We worked on that in the Fast Track program and talked about some really cool services he could offer to nonprofits based on his skill set and experience. It’s been so much fun having him in the Fast Track program.
Everyone has brought such a unique perspective to the group, and it’s been great watching them interact and support each other. Listen in as Diego and I chat about how far he’s come over the past few weeks.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Join the Fast Track to Grant Writer today: www.teresahuff.com/vip. This is the 4th episode in our Grant Writer Mentoring Series. We've shared so many good resources! Today we're talking about:
- How to get started as a grant writer
- Mapping out a plan to move your career forward
- How to get past the mindset of, "What if I don't win the grant?"
- Interviews with two VIP students and takeaways from their experience in the Fast Track to Grant Writer program.
Other Episodes Mentioned:
- Episode 5: Grant Writer Strategy Session: Is Grant Writing for Me?
- Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a Bad Grant Writer If I Don't Win the Grant?
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Ready for the Fast Track to Grant Writer? www.teresahuff.com/vip Someone the other day asked how to get started with his grant writing career. He's volunteering at a nonprofit already and wants to step up into paid consulting work.
I share 6 ways he can learn valuable grant writing skills in his nonprofit volunteer role. This topic is a sneak peek into my mentoring program Fast Track to Grant Writer.
We learn plenty of the pro grant writing tips. As one VIP Fast Track student said, "Understanding the writing PRO tips was so good. Grant writing is nuanced and it helps to get some insider tips to help craft our writing.”
We also go over exactly how to use those tips. Another Fast Track student said, “I appreciate all the ways you are showing us how we can help non-profits. There are many nuggets we can incorporate into consulting that I hadn't previously considered.
Even if they've read the books and taken the courses, new grant writers STILL ask me questions like:
- How do I find clients and market myself?
- How much do I charge? Should I work for free?
- How do I find a job working for a nonprofit without any experience?
We cover ALL this and so much more in Fast Track to Grant Writer. Here’s the thing, friends - I'm not going to dump a bunch of cookie cutter grant writing lessons on you and say, “Now go write your grant!” Grants aren’t that way, and I don’t believe mentoring should be either.
Sign up for the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program at teresahuff.com/vip. We are having SO much fun! The doors are open until March 25 for the Spring 2021 cohort! Spots are limited though, so the sooner you sign up, the better.
My friend, the world needs you out there making a difference. It’s time to get you on the Fast Track.
Other Episodes Mentioned:
- Episode 21: Tips for Federal Grant Writing and Project Management - Interview with Brandi VanAntwerp, CoxHealth Foundation
- Episode 26: The Value of Unexpected Mentors and 5 Ways to Find them
- Episode 27: Keys to Success as a Nonprofit Leader: Interview with Dr. Johnathan Kraus, Love Never Fails International
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Fast Track to Grant Writer spring enrollment is open. Sign up at www.teresahuff.com/vip. The next couple of episodes are on the importance of mentoring. I can’t tell you how many emails and messages I get from people wanting to learn grant writing - some who have even read the books and maybe even taken a course or two - and they’re still saying, “But where do I start?”
I’m really excited to announce that the doors are officially open for the spring cohort of my VIP program, Fast Track to Grant Writer. This teaches you EXACTLY where to start and helps you polish up your online presence so you’re ready to roll. It’s challenging, it’s fast, and it’s fun.
I keep these groups small so you can get lots of feedback from me throughout the program. Snag your spot for the spring cohort at teresahuff.com/vip.
Speaking of mentors, I’ve also had some who helped me along the way of this podcasting journey. To quote one of those, who happens to be longtime pro podcaster Denise Griffitts, she says, “My podcast guests are my mentors.” I’ve found this to be true too, and especially with today’s guest just in our short interview together.
About Dr. Johnathan Kraus, Love Never Fails International
Johnathan is no stranger to challenges and did not get off to the best start in life. God was preparing him to live and work in the slums of India long before he had a clue. He began using drugs as a teenager which led him to drop out of school at 14, incarcerated at 15, and shot at 3 times by 16. At age 19 God radically saved him and by age 20 he was involved in children's ministry at his Church.
Founder and President Dr. Johnathan Kraus is a Rutgers University graduate. He went on to earn his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry at Trinity Seminary. He also earned his Ph.D in Counseling from Northwestern Seminary.
ANSWERING THE CALL TO INDIA
A former college professor and grade school teacher in the USA, Johnathan left the comfort of his life to answer the call of God in 2010. Through much prayer and wise counsel, God challenged Johnathan to start this organization, Love Never Fails International.
When God called Johnathan to work with the children of the slums and streets of Mumbai, he knew this was God’s purpose in his life. He counted the cost and stepped out in faith not doubting God would provide.
By our founder's little step of obedience trusting in God, LNFI is serving children from coast to coast today in India meeting children's needs physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The vision of this non profit is to empower children in India to overcome poverty.
Learn More About Sponsoring a Child:
https://loveneverfailsindia.com/
Connect with Dr. Johnathan Kraus:
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social:
Other Episodes Mentioned:
Episode 24 - How to Prevent Nonprofit Decision Fatigue
Episode 26 - The Value of Unexpected Mentors
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Need a grant writing mentor? Here you go. www.teresahuff.com/mentor
Have you ever had a mentor in your life? Someone who has inspired you, and encouraged you, and really given you solid advice for that point in your journey?
I’ve wrestled with this episode a bit because I can’t do it justice to explain how much my mentors have helped me along the way, whether they knew it or not. My hope is that it inspires you to look for wisdom and encouragement in unexpected places.
Mentors & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- How to Prevent Nonprofit Decision Fatigue (Episode 24)
- Grant Writer Mentoring: teresahuff.com/mentor
- Fast Track to Grant Writer Coaching Program: teresahuff.com/vip
- Ed Gandia, High Income Business Writing: b2blauncher.com
- Natalie Eckdahl, The Biz Chix Podcast: bizchix.com
- Esther Littlefield, The Christian Woman Business Podcast: estherlittlefield.com
- Emily P. Freeman, The Next Right Thing Podcast: emilypfreeman.com
- Lori Cable, The Institute for Evaluation & Research (TIER): tierinstitute.com
If you’re a grant writer or nonprofit leader needing a mentor, book a mentoring session at teresahuff.com/mentor and let's help you figure out your next right steps. We'll get you moving forward.
If you know a nonprofit leader or a fellow grant writer who could benefit from this podcast, would you please forward it to them? That helps spread the word, and helps more grant writers and nonprofit leaders out there who are looking for guidance. We’re in this together, my friends!
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Book an advisory session with Teresa at www.teresahuff.com/strategy I’m so excited to share today’s guest with you, friends! I’m introducing you to my new nonprofit friend and fellow podcaster Jenni Hargrove.
Jenni is a Charitable Marketing Coach and host of the podcast the "Nonprofit Jenni Show." Jenni supports nonprofit leaders looking to define a cohesive Marketing and Development Strategy.
When it comes to nonprofit marketing best practices, she knows her stuff! We get into so many good topics like how to stay in touch with donors when you can’t meet in person, how to make social media less overwhelming, what content should be on your nonprofit website, and so much more.
Get Jenni's free Social Media Cheat Sheet for Nonprofits at tinyurl.com/nonprofitjenni.
Check out Jenni's podcast at nonprofitjenni.com/podcast or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Connect with Nonprofit Jenni:
Website: nonprofitjenni.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nonprofitjenni
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Book an advisory session at www.teresahuff.com/strategy Did you know that on an average day, we make about 35,000 decisions? That doesn't even account for the big circumstances!
Nonprofit leaders and grant writers wear so many hats on any given day. If we're not careful, this can lead to decision fatigue, exhaustion, and burnout. Today I'm sharing 5 ways to help take care of yourself.
Resources Mentioned:
- The Brainy Business Podcast by Melina Palmer, Episode 132: Decision Fatigue, a Behavioral Economics Foundations Episode
- The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman & her podcast
- LastPass - secure password storage
- Grant Writing Simplified by Teresa Huff, Episode 22: Preparation for Grant Writing: 6 Things Your Nonprofit Should Have on Hand
- Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
- "If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success." -Ecclesiastes 10:10, NKJV
- Advisory sessions for grant writers & nonprofits: www.teresahuff.com/strategy
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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One thing I've enjoyed most about podcasting is getting to know more nonprofit leaders. I love seeing the work you’re doing in your communities and how you're making a difference. Today I’d like to introduce you to a unique nonprofit that is making such a difference in people's lives, and they're on a mission to educate others.
I'm talking wtih Joel and Danea Key of Saber Life Foundation. They connect service dogs and people with disabilities, and they've partnered with a top-notch dog trainer to meet a huge need.
The nonprofit stemmed from a long health journey with their own daughter. Getting her a service dog was the catalyst for starting Saber Life Foundation. Now they’re helping connect families and service dogs through the foundation.
Listen and be blessed by their story! And then head over to www.saberlifefoundation.org and pick up a few dog treats for your furry friends.
About Saber Life Foundation
Saber Life Foundation is helping to provide a “Service Dog” to approved and accepted individuals with the Saber Life Foundation Project. Service Dogs training costs a MINIMUM of $18,500. Saber Life Foundation is helping to provide to all that are accepted into the Saber Life Foundation Project a trained Service Dog for $12,500.00.
With everything we have learned in past and present from our own personal experiences, one fact has become clear above all else — The bond is all that matters. From that bond comes the willingness to work for success (though it feels like play) and the ability to handle any difficulties that might arise.
Our long-term goal at Saber Life Foundation is to be able to not only help those in our home state of Missouri, but to expand our mission and organization nationwide. We aim to keep creating more and more positive life changing stories to share.
Connect with Saber Life Foundation:
data-sheets-hyperlink="http://www.saberlifefoundation.org">www.saberlifefoundation.org
data-sheets-hyperlink="http://www.saberlifefoundation.org">https://www.facebook.com/Saberlifefoundation
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Download today's checklist at teresahuff.com/prep. The #1 question I’m asked, by grant writers and nonprofits alike, is, “Where do I start?” Grant writing is a big process that takes a while to learn and develop. However, today I’m going to tell you one simple place you can start no matter where you are in the process - even if you’ve never written a grant before. This is true for both nonprofits and grant writers.
Most grants will ask for some of the same basic information - your mission, contact info, maybe even a list of your board members. By compiling all of this into an organized system, you’ll save yourself a lot of time running around collecting it. Your time can then be better spent on the application itself.
Resources Mentioned:
- A2 Hosting: Recommended website hosting
- LastPass: Secure password and login tool
- Download the printable Grant Prep Checklist: www.teresahuff.com/prep
My friends, today’s episode is jam-packed with all kinds of grant writing goods. I’m chatting with the talented Brandi VanAntwerp, Grant Administrator of CoxHealth Foundation in Springfield, Missouri. Brandi provides grant writing and management for 6 hospitals, 83+ clinics, and Cox College. We cover all kinds of grant writing advice, including:
- The value of mentors in growing your grant writing and fundraising skills
- Brandi applied for jobs she wasn’t fully qualified for, but she went for it anyway
- Imposter syndrome - it’s a big thing!
- The importance of addressing issues head on
- What to do when grant projects don’t go according to plan
- How she tracks and manages big federal grant projects with many people and lots of moving parts
- Delegating with grace
- Proactive approaches to set her team up for success
- Advice for improving your federal grant writing - you won’t want to miss this one!
- Onboarding team members to new grant project awards
Even if you’ve been writing grants for a while, there are likely several gems here. And if you’re new to this grant writing world, hop over to www.teresahuff.com/quiz to see if you have what it takes to be a grant writer.
Other Episode mentioned:
Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a Bad Grant Writer If I Don't Win the Grant?
Connect with Brandi VanAntwerp on LinkedIn
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Welcome to Episode 20! I talk with a lot of new grant writers and nonprofits that are really nervous about starting out with grants. Even if you’re new, you can do this. We ALL have to start somewhere!
There are so many factors that go into a grant decision. Today I'll talk through those and then share one specific way you can increase your chances of winning the grant.
Grant Funder Call Script Template: www.teresahuff.com/call
Other Episodes Mentioned:
- Episode 9: What a Grant Funder REALLY Wants: Interview with a Grant Funder
- Episode 14: Grant Writer Success Rates: Am I a Bad Grant Writer If I Don't Win the Grant?
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Everything seems to be moving online these days, including nonprofit meetings, training, and events. That's why I've invited Heather Burright of Skill Masters Market on the show. She's an expert on all things training, onboarding, and people strategies - the "fun side of HR," as she calls it. Listen in for some awesome tips to maximize your virtual training and get the best results for your organization.
Click to download Heather's list for virtual engagement and reduce the awkward silence in your next meeting.
About Heather Burright:
Heather Burright, founder and CEO of Skill Masters Market, specializes in creating dynamic, people-centric solutions that drive business goals. Heather believes people excel when they know what is expected of them and they can show up authentically at work.
To achieve this, Heather is dedicated to identifying the core competencies that are needed to see real results and to creating the learning strategies and solutions needed to develop those competencies.
Leveraging 15 years of experience, Heather is a strong collaborator and ideal partner. She puts in the work to identify your needs, facilitates focus groups and/or interviews to understand the audience, and designs effective solutions whether in-person, virtual, or blended.
Most recently, Heather managed a proprietary competency model for a national non-profit. Her role was to keep the model relevant, up-to-date, and easy-to-use, and she spent countless hours educating and influencing HR leaders across the United States so they knew how and why to implement the model throughout their talent life cycle, ultimately seeing a 94% adoption rate. In addition, Heather used the identified competencies to create staff development resources, ranging from assessments to stretch assignments and from coaching to formal training.
Prior to the national non-profit, Heather led the way in innovative training design in industries, such as for-profit higher education and government agencies. Grounded in the belief that people are worthy of investment and that investing in your people makes them feel valued and gives them new skills and a new passion for their work, Heather looks at each project with the hard-won lessons of experience and the fresh eyes of the future.
Heather believes that organizations are better when they empower their people to operate from their strongest capabilities, and she won’t stop until she’s helped people see, feel, and achieve their potential.
Heather brings her expertise in instructional design, change management principles, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to each project, ensuring all voices are heard and valued, common language is established, and progress is made and sustained through learning and ongoing support.
In her free time, Heather volunteers on the member development committee of a national sorority and serves as the co-chair of the parent teacher league at her oldest daughter’s school. She resides in Chicago with her husband, two daughters, and beloved dog.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Hi friends! As we're nearing the end of 2020, I want to take a few minutes to reflect on the past year and look ahead to next year. Whether you're a grant writer or a nonprofit leader, it's good to take some time away from technology to think through these. You can print out the quick download in the Freebie Vault at www.teresahuff.com/free.
Questions to Reflect and Plan
First, we're talking about six questions to help you think about where you've been and where you want to be:
- What went well this year?
- What didn't go so well?
- What was draining?
- What was energizing?
- What do I want to do (or be) less of?
- What do I want to do (or be) more of?
Second, start tracking your wins. The free download has a grid with 12 boxes. Each month, write down a win. Even if the month was rough, find something to write down. This will help you build your momentum and see your progress.
Fast Track to Grant Writer
Finally, some of you have asked great questions about the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program:
- What if I want to be a consultant instead of finding a grant writing job?
- What if I want to find a job at a nonprofit instead of freelancing?
Fast Track to Grant Writer will help you either way. We'll learn strategies and advanced grant writing techniques that will help you in either role. Then in the career-based module, we'll look at your skill set, personality, and goals to help you map out a plan for whichever direction best fits you. Your action steps will be tailored to your situation.
Enrollment for the pilot program closes December 31 at midnight Central time, so grab your spot today. We're going to have a blast. Let's get you on the fast track!
Connect with Teresa
Website: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Hi friends! The last few weeks we’ve talked about a lot of grant writing skills and nonprofit strategies. Today I want to shift gears a little bit and address more of the business and personal side of things. And, along those lines, If you are ready to invest in your future - and ultimately, leave a legacy for the community around you - then don’t wait to sign up for the pilot program, Fast Track to Grant Writer. We’ll cover in-depth grant writing strategies, work through business building decisions, and you’ll learn how to be the go-to grant writer in your community.
The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be on your way to grant writing success. Sign up at teresahuff.com/vip. There are only a few days left - Enrollment closes New Year’s Eve at midnight Central time. Let’s get you on the fast track.
As I’m recording this, we’re in the middle of the 2020 holiday season, and Christmas is right around the corner. That probably looks a little different for some of you this year; I know it does for my family. Even so, there’s so much to be thankful for.
I’ve met some amazing people this year from all over the world. One of those is Lindsey Johnson, host of the Legacy Entrepreneur podcast. The first time I heard about her podcast, the idea of building a legacy in business really struck a chord with me. Grant writing is a way to make a bigger impact and change our world for the better, so the legacy idea really drives that home.
At the same time, we’re not just grant writers. We have lives and people outside of our work, and we need to deliberately nurture those too. That’s why I invited Lindsey on the show. Listen in and be encouraged, my friend! You can do this!
About Lindsey Johnson
Lindsey Johnson is a wordsmith, encourager, Lake Superior girl, and wife and momma of 4.
Female business owners hire Lindsey to help them form their foundational marketing messages, amplify their brand voice, and write compelling copy that clearly communicates who they are and who they serve so they can be confident that their messaging will do the legwork of attracting and converting their audience into clients for them. She’s also the host of the Legacy Entrepreneur podcast.
Connect with Teresa Huff
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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One Practical Step to Improve Your Writing Hey friends! I’ve heard from a lot of you lately at different stages of your grant writing journey. The one thing I keep hearing over and over is, “Where do I start?” There are lots of places you COULD start, and that’s where we often get paralyzed.
This podcast is called Grant Writing Simplified for a reason. We're looking at various aspects of grant writing and breaking it down into doable baby steps.
Today I’m going to give you one simple way to improve your writing, whether it’s grant writing, reports, emails, or whatever. We all have to write something in life, so might as well make it as good as possible. This will also give you a taste of what’s in my VIP Program, Fast Track to Grant Writer. If you're ready to move through a lot of baby steps like this one in a short time, then the Fast Track is for you.
In this super practical episode, the skill I’m talking about today is learning to write tight.
To read the full examples given in the episode, head to www.teresahuff.com/write-tight.
Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer
If you are ready to invest in your future - and ultimately, in the community around you, then sign up for Fast Track to Grant Writer. The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be on your way to grant writing success. This is a pilot program so it’s your ONLY chance to grab it for this price. Sign up at teresahuff.com/vip.
December 15, 2020, is the LAST day to get the bonus 1:1 strategy session. Someone told me just yesterday on a strategy call, “WOW, this was so helpful! I never would’ve even thought of doing that. Now I know exactly where to focus next.”
Enrollment for the pilot program closes December 31, 2020 - that’s New Year’s Eve at midnight central time. And yes, that signup deadline is intentional. Let’s kick 2020 out the door so we can start 2021 on the fast track.
Connect with Teresa
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
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Today I’m interviewing my friend and fellow grant writer Kathy Hoeck who has written grants for over a decade. I invited Kathy on the show because she works with several international nonprofits, but as you’ll see, we also get into a LOT of great strategy and tips as we talk shop today. Grab a pen and notebook because there are so many good takeaways in today’s episode! Kathy owns KLH Grant Services and is a consultant with National Christian Foundation Heartland. She works with faith-based nonprofit foundation research and grant writing. You can read her full (and impressive) bio below. As you listen, I think you’ll appreciate her drive and ambition, as well as her heart to serve communities locally and around the world.
Resources Mentioned:
Book: Seeing Through a Donor's Eyes: How to Make a Persuasive Case for Everything from Your Annual Drive to Your Planned Giving Program to Your Capital Campaign
Book: Operation World
Episode 6: Grant Readiness: How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing
Episode 9: What a Grant Funder Really Wants
Fast Track to Grant Writer
Hey my friend! Are you ready to learn grant writing, but you have no idea where to start? …and you’re frustrated because you don’t have anyone to ask?
You’re wondering...
- How do I find clients and how much do I charge? Should I work for free?
- How do I market myself as a new grant writer?
- How do I make my grant applications stand out to funders?
You feel like everyone else just “knows” this stuff, so why can’t you seem to figure it out?
What if you could start your career as a confident, knowledgeable grant writer? Imagine sounding professional when approaching a client or grant funder. Imagine having a big impact on the world around you.
Fast Track to Grant Writer is an 8-week LIVE small group coaching and mentoring experience. This is everything the books won’t tell you. You’ll get hands-on guidance, feedback, and accountability that will literally fast track your grant writing career.
This program can open doors for you like never before so you can make an impact like you never imagined.
Sign up by December 15th to get a bonus 1:1 strategy session with me. Go to teresahuff.com/vip and enroll. Let’s get your career on the fast track.
About Kathy Hoeck, KLH Grant Services:
Kathy launched KLH Grant Services, LLC in 2015 and serves as a consultant with National Christian Foundation Heartland assisting in areas of faith-based nonprofit foundation research and grant writing.
Kathy’s first experience in grant writing began in 2009 while working with a faith-based health care clinic where her passion for research and writing assisted the clinic in the development of a successful grant-seeking plan. Along with foundation research and proposal writing, Kathy works with clients defining their mission and finalizing their Case Statement leveraging her clients for a successful grants program.
Kathy is the past secretary and a current member of the Southwest Missouri Grant Writers Association and a member of the American Grant Writers Association.
KLH focuses on Christian nonprofit ministries assisting in the development of award-winning proposals that address the educational, medical, spiritual, and financial disparities plaguing local communities and communities around the world.
Kathy is passionate about her family, adoption, bringing hope to the hurting, being outside, and the written word. She and her husband are proud parents of four grown children and grandparents to seven amazing little people.
Connect with Teresa Huff:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Social: LinkedIn
The #1 question I hear from new grant writers is, “But how do I start?” Funny thing is, they’re still asking this even after they’ve learned some of the basics of grant writing. They aren’t sure if they have what it takes. They don’t know how to approach prospective clients. They don’t know what services to offer.
I’ve even had grant writers say to me, “Nonprofits want a grant writer with experience, but how are you supposed to get experience when you’re new?” It’s kind of a catch-22.
It always comes back down to, “How do I start?”
My friends, I’ve got the answer to that question. It’s called Fast Track to Grant Writer. This is a live small group VIP Program. It starts January 2021 and it’s full of stuff the books won’t tell you. You’ll get all kinds of pro grant writing advice, 1:1 attention, and feedback to be sure you know exactly how to start your grant writing career by the end of the 8 weeks.
We’ll cover the mindset and strategy behind successful grant writing, advanced grant writing skills, and how to set up your consulting business or job search. It’s going to be an intense 8 weeks that will transform your career.
I’m looking for grant writers who are ready to go all in and invest in themselves and their future...those of you who are ready to be a part of a ripple effect to change the world through grant writing.
Spots are limited and this is a rare chance to get hands-on feedback from me. If you enroll by December 15th, you get a bonus 1:1 strategy session with me. Learn more and save your spot today at teresahuff.com/vip.
Other Episode Mentioned:
Episode 6 - Grant Readiness: How to Build the Foundation for Successful Grant Writing
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
Wow, you guys, today’s episode is a nonprofit spotlight and their work is SO impactful. Not only that, but you’ll hear some innovative ways they’re funding the nonprofit by creating fair trade, living wage jobs. Join the VIP Pilot Program: Fast Track to Grant Writer
Before we dive in, I want to let you know about a new opportunity for those of you ready to get serious about your grant writing career in 2021. I’m opening up a limited number of spots for a VIP Program called Fast Track to Grant Writer. This is an 8-week LIVE small group coaching experience where you’ll learn how to be the go-to grant writer in your community.
Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program is full of stuff the books won’t tell you. It’s like Miracle Gro for grant writers. If you’re ready to invest in your future - and your community - then sign up today. Enrollment for this round closes December 31, 2020, and it will not be offered again at this price. Plus, if you join by December 15th, you get a bonus 1:1 coaching call with me. Get the details and sign up at teresahuff.com/vip.
Nonprofit Spotlight: The Global Orphan Project - Trace Thurlby
Today I’m talking with Trace Thurlby of The Global Orphan Project. I saw an article featuring this nonprofit in the newspaper and knew I had to learn more. Trace is the President of The Global Orphan Project.
For more than 25 years, Trace Thurlby has served in the military, the business world, and in ministry. Despite the different challenges, missions, structures, and stakeholders, Trace’s focus has remained the same – helping organizations and individuals succeed.
He currently serves on the leadership team at The Global Orphan Project, where he has the privilege of living out his passion to serve at-risk children and families. Learn more about God's heart for his children at www.goproject.org. Trace and his bride Kristin have been married 26 years and live in the Kansas City area with their four children.
Be sure to check out the links below to learn how you can be a part of this amazing work. I hope you are as blessed by this interview as I was.
Learn More and Support The Global Orphan Project:
www.goproject.org
www.careportal.org
Shop at www.goex.org and get 10% off your first order.
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Join the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program: www.teresahuff.com/vip
Social: LinkedIn
I hope you came ready to learn today because we have another grant writer strategy session, and this is packed full of good stuff. If you are thinking about grant writing, or if you are a grant writer and you just don't know how to move forward, this is the episode for you. Pay attention and be ready to take notes because we cover so much in this - everything from imposter syndrome to how to find resources for board members and where to connect with networking groups and other grant writers. Resources Mentioned:
- Free Downloads: Go to teresahuff.com/learn and look for the Freebie Vault
- Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
- Episode 005: Grant Writer Strategy Session: Is Grant Writing for Me?
- Episode 006: Grant Readiness: How to Build the Fundation for Successful Grant Writing
- Step by Step Guide to Calling Grant Funders - Script and Template
About Alexandra Enns:
Alexandra Enns holds a Master of Public Administration degree and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric, Writing and Communications in 2015. She currently works as a Policy Analyst in the Economic Development sector, and is a volunteer grants, policies and procedures officer for an upcoming nonprofit that will provide addictions recovery services. Alexandra finds joy in motivating others to embrace their unique stories, and crafting effective messages to help non-profits achieve their missions. Since 2014, she’s been involved in mental health advocacy, including the creation of mental health promotion campaigns for universities, and facilitating engaging mental health education workshops for hundreds of youth. In her spare time, she loves writing poetry, watching films, taking her dog April for walks, and tutoring students at Wayfinders, an after-school program for youth.
Alex provides editing and copywriting services for non-profits and individuals at a sliding scale that works for each person’s income. She is a strong, dynamic writer who has written and edited social media copy, academic papers, briefing notes, blog posts, book reviews, summaries, speaking notes, operational manuals, annual reports, communication plans, press releases, correspondence, policy, research and program evaluation papers, and has developed and facilitated workshop presentations.
Connect with Alex Enns:
Instagram: @alexandraloreleii
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Grant Writing Courses: www.teresahuff.com/learn
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
People often ask me about grant writing, but they aren't sure if they would be any good at it. You can take the quiz to help you figure out, but today I want to talk through some of the important characteristics that are ideal for a grant writer. These grant writing skills fall into three main categories:
- Hard skills - like research and writing
- Interpersonal skills - like communication and playing nice with others
- Internal qualities - such as your love for a good cause, being organized, and able to follow complex directions.
Each of those aspects of grant writing can be learned and developed. It takes lots of practice. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll improve!
Resources Mentioned:
Episode 9: What a Grant Funder REALLY Wants: Interview with Mindy Honey, Skaggs Foundation
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Social: LinkedIn
Now and then I like to do a quick Q&A episode with questions I often hear about grant writing. Today's question: How long does it take to actually get the grant funding after you submit the application? The short answer is that it'll probably take much longer than you'd like. Truth: Sometimes waiting is the hardest part!
Listen in as I explain funder timelines, the range of time you can expect, and other aspects you probably hadn't thought of.
Other episodes mentioned:
Episode 3: Grant Writing Q&A - How much time does it take to write a grant?
Episode 9: What a Grant Funder REALLY Wants: Interview with Mindy Honey, Skaggs Foundation
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Email: podcast@teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
You know how I’m always throwing out grant writing advice like, “Follow the guidelines!” or “Don’t miss a deadline!” Well, today you don’t just have to take my word for it. I’m interviewing a grant maker so you can hear from someone on the other side of the desk what grant funders really want. I’m talking with Mindy Honey from the Skaggs Foundation in Branson, MO. As Director of Community Relations for the Foundation, Mindy's duties include grant administration for Skaggs Legacy Endowment as well as grant writing for Skaggs Foundation. Skaggs Legacy Endowment was established in 2013 and since that time, more than $5.9 million has been awarded to organizations improving health and wellness in Stone and Taney counties in Missouri.
There are lots of great takeaways in this episode! So many, in fact, that I decided to throw them all in a downloadable list that you can grab at www.teresahuff.com/funder.
Listen in to the interview and learn from a grantmaker herself!
Connect with Mindy:
Website: www.skaggsfoundation.org
Facebook: Skaggs Foundation
Email: mindy.honey@skaggs.net
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Download the list of today's tips: www.teresahuff.com/funder
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
Today I’m doing a quick Q&A episode for you on grant application guidelines. Next week’s episode is such a good interview with a grant funder, so be sure to come back for Episode 9 to catch that. In preparation for that episode, I want to address a question I often hear:
Why do grant funder guidelines vary so much from one foundation to the next?
Short answer: Because it’s their money so they get to make the rules, that’s why.
I preach over and over how important it is to follow the guidelines when you’re applying for a grant. First, what do I mean by that?
Grant guidelines are:
- The list of application instructions a grantmaker provides
- Includes things like the deadline, format, how to send it, questions they want you to answer, proposed budget, etc.
Why are they so different?
Each funder’s purpose and platform for offering grant funds is different. Their work in the community and their goals differ from one foundation to the next. They’re looking for an ROI (Return on Investment, or Impact), and what is going to give the greatest return. They develop their grant guidelines accordingly.
Some applications require all kinds of extra documentation - letters of support, signatures, forms, maps, price quotes, etc. Others want heavy research and statistics. Then there’s the whole range from a general request to the most detailed project design, complete with logic models and tables. Once in awhile, you’ll come across one that really doesn’t give you much guidance at all. You’re left shooting in the dark and hoping to hit the mark. That’s where a phone call or email comes in handy when possible.
Now before you go all deer in the headlights on me at the thought of talking to a grantmaker, I’ve got you covered here. You can grab my Grant Funder Call Script where I map out how to prepare for the call, a step by step script so you’ll know what kinds of questions to ask, and a template that you can customize for each funder. Go to teresahuff.com/script and start calling with confidence.
Our job is to present each individualized request in a way that clearly paints a picture for that funder of your organization’s need. You've got this!
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
If you work in the nonprofit world in any capacity, you need to know about this resource. This could benefit so many nonprofits, but most don’t even know it exists. I’m talking about the Google Ad Grant. This gives registered nonprofits a $10,000/month advertising credit to use for Google ads. I’ve brought in an expert today to share the ins and outs of this resource. Grant Hensel is the CEO of Nonprofit Megaphone, an agency focused 100% on Google Grant Management for nonprofits. Nonprofit Megaphone is honored to manage the Google Grant for 370+ leading nonprofits worldwide and to be an inaugural member of the Google Ad Grant Certified Professionals community.
Grant explains what the Google Ad Grant is designed for, shares some great tips, and tells us how you can position your nonprofit to make the most out of this free advertising.
Resources we mention in this episode:
- Nonprofit Megaphone’s Google Grant Website Rubric
- Apply for the Google Ad Grant
- Traction by Gino Wickman
- Nonprofit Megaphone’s Overview of the Google Ad Grant
- The Google Grant Visualized: What $10k in $1 Bills Really Looks Like
Connect with Grant Hensel, Nonprofit Megaphone:
Website: nonprofitmegaphone.com
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Grant Writing Courses: www.teresahuff.com/learn
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
Are you a nonprofit or freelance grant writer and need support figuring out your next steps? Book a strategy starter call at www.teresahuff.com/strategy and let’s get you moving forward.
Today's episode is going to lay the groundwork for preparing a non-profit for grants. Many people want to jump right into grant writing. They think, "Just send the money ‘cause we need it now!"
Let me challenge you to a different approach.
We’re going to take a few steps back and talk about preparation. Is the nonprofit ready for grants? If not, you won’t get very far and your efforts won’t be nearly as effective.
Let’s talk about how to prepare for grants in the first place so you’ll be ready to actually write the grant and have a better chance of success.
Grab the quick Grant Readiness Checkup at www.teresahuff.com/checkup.
If you are a non-profit or a freelance writer and aren't sure where to start, book a strategy session and let's get things in order. We’ll map it out so you can finish 2020 strong and hit the ground running in 2021.
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Grant Writing Courses: www.teresahuff.com/learn
Book a Strategy Session: www.teresahuff.com/strategy
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
I'm excited to share this grant writing strategy call with Lisa Ortman. Her background is so unique! (Hint: Her undergrad degree is in forestry.) Lisa reached out to me wondering if grant writing might be her next right step, so we met for a strategy session and worked out an action plan. I think she even surprised herself with how relevant her skills and education are to grant writing!
We discuss several aspects of grant writing strategy on the call:
- Her background, education, and work experience
- The opportunities in her community and potential partners
- The areas of need she's particularly passionate about
- How her skills so far are good preparation for grant writing
- Her next steps and a clear plan to move forward
Listen in and see if it sparks some ideas for your next right step. If it does, head to www.teresahuff.com/strategy and book your own session. Let's get you out there and change the world.
In a grant writing strategy call like this, we can map out topics like:
- How do I get started in grant writing?
- Where do I find clients?
- How do I tell people I'm looking for grant writing work?
- Should I be an independent consultant or look for a grant writing job?
And lots more. Hit me up if grant writing is one of those ideas that keeps pulling on you and I'll help you sort it out. We need you to help make an impact!
About Lisa:
Lisa Ortman is an educational equity advocate, family engagement specialist, and mom to 3 boys. She has a Bachelor's in forestry and a Master's in education. After 10 years in the wine industry, she decided it was time to find work where she can give back to the community. That's when she started working in education and the ESL population.
As someone who actually enjoyed writing her Master's thesis, I can sense a fellow grant writer at heart! Lisa has such a heart for serving in her community. I can't wait to see how she uses her skills to move forward!
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Grant Writing Courses: www.teresahuff.com/learn
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
Today I want to share with you some important lessons I've learned over the last 15 years of being a grant writer. The journey hasn’t been linear, but I’ve learned from every step. I'll talk about four key areas:
- Skill
- Implementation
- Mindset
- Success
To download the full PDF guide, go to www.teresahuff.com/lessonslearned.
I can’t write ALL the grants for ALL the great causes out there. Nor would I want to! That’s why I feel strongly about mentoring others. Together we can create a much bigger ripple effect.
Ready for deeper support in building your grant writing business or your nonprofit's plan of action? I'm here to help. Book a session at www.teresahuff.com/strategy.
Let's start this journey and change the world together!
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
I get all kinds of questions about grant writing, from simple to complex. Today I'm going to discuss a few of the most common questions. We'll get back to the basics as we talk about:
- Why is it called grant writing when it should be called filling out a grant application?
- How do I figure out which organization to get involved with?
- Is there still opportunity out there for more grant writers?
- How much time does it take to write a grant?
Join me today as we unpack these questions!
I also want to encourage you to consider how your background can relate to grant writing. If you're considering a career in grant writing, head over and take my free quiz, "Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?" at www.teresahuff.com/quiz.
Ready for deeper support in building your grant writing business or your nonprofit's plan of action? I'm here to help. Book a session at www.teresahuff.com/strategy.
Let's start this journey and change the world together!
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
Today I'm going to start with the basics of grant writing so you understand what I’m even referring to in the first place. Grants are a process of applying for funding to be used for a specific cause. The grants I work with are typically given to 501c3 nonprofits, schools, or government agencies such as a health department or library.
We'll talk about what a grant is NOT and also what a grant IS. Join me on the show!
If you're considering a career in grant writing, head over and take my free quiz, "Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?" at www.teresahuff.com/quiz.
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn
Introducing the Grant Writing Simplified Podcast where I'm stepping up to help freelancers and nonprofit leaders maximize their impact and change the world. Grant writing is one of those “mystery fields” that everyone kind of knows about, but no one seems to really know WHAT it really is other than a way to get money for free. As you can guess, there’s a lot more to it than that.
I’m here to break it down for you into practical takeaways to help you understand the purpose and strategies behind successful grant writing.
Today I'll share my grant writing journey with you and explain how I transitioned from special ed teacher into a grant writer and nonprofit consultant.
I also want to encourage you to consider how your background can relate to grant writing. If you're considering a career in grant writing, head over and take my free quiz, "Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?" at www.teresahuff.com/quiz.
Let's start this journey and change the world together!
Connect with Teresa:
Website: www.teresahuff.com
Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?
Social: LinkedIn