You might be thinking grant writing isn’t your thing because you have a ‘low’ grant success rate or haven’t secured any or much money for organizations yet.

Or maybe you, as a Freelance Grant Writer, think your business isn’t great because other Freelance Grant Writers’ posts on LinkedIn get so much more engagement.

Stop comparing yourself to others. This is “comparasitis” and will make you stop learning grants or stop selling  your grant writing services.

In this week’s episode, Holly Rustick explains:
Why Grant Writing Success Rates are Skewed
Why Total Grant Money Secured Doesn’t Prove Your Grant Writing Skills
Why Freelance Grant Writers on Social Media may just have vanity metrics vs. Sales

Tune in today to listen to this podcast. 

Links Mentioned in the Podcast:
Freelance Grant Writer Academy
Align & Attract by Kerry Rowet
Smart Passive Income Podcast

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — move toward writing higher quality grants without overwhelm, and to start and grow successful grant writing businesses! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!"

This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:
This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS).
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Book YOUR FREE demo now!

Ep. 388 Grant Writing Success Rates and Wins Don't Mean You're a Good or Bad Grant Writer

We are moving through a new era in federal grant writing.
For access to federal grant funds during this new Trump Administration in 2025, nonprofits need to be more aware of what types of words you are using, and are not using, in your grant applications.

We have always said that grant writing is a word game, and the types of words you use play a big part in how you construct a grant.

With the Trump Administration in 2025, though, we have not experienced the sheer elimination of word usage in federal grant guidance before.

Regular Changes in Words in Grants
To put it into context, we’ve been writing grants for more than 20 years, and we have learned to play the wordsmith game of grant writing.

What is normal in federal grant word usage changes is that words are often added to the federal grant cycles when:

A new administration starts
Societal movements and norms enter into the federal mainstream
Priorities of the federal government are identified
Even for foundation grants, we have been training grant writers to connect words with the funding source priority areas, Request for Proposals (RFPs), and website information so that grant writers mimic funding source language.

Then we teach grant writers how to integrate these words into their programs in a way that aligns with what they do.

This ensures that everyone is on the same page with language and what that language means AND helps with consistent language in grant applications.

This approach also helps nonprofits so they aren’t mission drifting or scope creeping, but are aligning with funding sources for their specific cause areas.

While we still entirely support this approach, the new wrench in the bucket in February 2025 is the potential sheer number of words to NOT use for the new recommendations from certain federal agencies (as of 2/10/2025) 

Replace Potential Trigger Words Using ChatGPT
I ran all the words listed in ChatGPT to find alternative words. While this was helpful to get ideas, it was not entirely efficient.

At the end of the day, words are important.
Tune in today to listen to this podcast.

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“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something.”

If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!

Follow now so you don’t miss any bonus episodes!

This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:
This podcast episode is lovingly sponsored by Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS).
Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN!
Book YOUR FREE demo now!


Ep. 389 Banned and Trigger Words in Federal Grant Writing in the Trump Administration 2.0

In this week’s podcast we go behind-the-scenes with Rachel Werner of MyFedTrainer.com to discuss what is currently going on with federal grants during the Trump Administration, and what the forecast is.

We recorded this as one of ‘fly-on-wall’ podcasts where we had Academy and Mentorship students attend the live recording and got to ask questions afterwards! So FUN and needed!

In this conversation, we discuss:
An outlay of federal grants over the last month
What nonprofits can do if they are not aligned with current Executive Orders
How freelance grant writers can help nonprofits navigate these times

Forecast: What the Continuing Resolution means on the Federal Budget on March 14th

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! 

This helps me support more people — just like you — move toward writing higher quality grants without overwhelm, and to start and grow successful grant writing businesses! 

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!"

This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:
Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS).
Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN!
Book YOUR FREE demo now! 


Ep. 390 Federal Grant Updates under the Trump Administration

A flashlight emits a steady beam of light. So what's the flash part of that word about? The earliest flashlights lit up only briefly before the batteries gave out. Also, if you're a Nervous Nellie, you're skittish and indecisive--both characteristics of an American politician who earned that nickname in the 1920s. And, rhinestone: The name of this sparkly fake gem has a history that involves a famous river in Europe. Plus, the many names for toilet paper rolls, pull a seam, a puzzle all about the word it, a blessing and a curse, hitten vs. hit, idea vs. ideal, shaving yak hair vs. shaving gnat hair, Daylo, knocking something galley-west, the evolving meaning of dab, and the role of cultural context in learning languages. All of which you should listen to right smack now. http://waywordradio.org

Smack Dab (Full Episode)

In this week’s Podcast we go behind-the-scenes with Fielding Jezreel of Jezreel Consulting.

In this conversation, we discuss:
How to know if you are ready for federal grants
How to build internal readiness
Why organizations should not assume that federal grants aren’t accessible
Today’s climate of federal grants

Connect with Fielding Jezreel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fieldingjezreel/
Website: https://www.jezreelconsulting.com/about

At the end of the day, words are important.
Tune in today to listen to this podcast.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts!

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something.”

If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!

Follow now so you don’t miss any bonus episodes!

This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:
Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS).

Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN!
Book YOUR FREE demo now!

Ep. 391 Why Federal Grant Writing Might Still be a Way  Forward for Your Nonprofit

You may need to restructure your grant writing business in 2025.

Meaning three main things need to be re-evaluated:
-Offers
-Systems
-Team

There has been a lot going on with grants in the last month, and it’s clear that there will be changes in 2025.

Does that mean all grant funding is gone or your clients will dry up?
No.

But you may need to get back to the heart of your business.
Pivoting is a word you may be bringing back into your vocabulary this year.
Knowing what service offers to keep, what to double down on, and what to let go is all vital to growing your revenue and serving your clients.

As a grant writing CEO (yes, you’ve graduated from the thought you are ‘only’ a freelancer), you may even have a virtual assistant and/or subcontract grant writer or two on your team.

You may be wondering if you need to restructure your team and  offers in 2025 with everything that is happening with the new Administration.

#1 - Restructure Your Grant Writing Offers
If you have federal grant writing service offers (meaning you write federal grants), then you will want to work closely with your clients on how to adjust to all the changes. 
This might mean re-working your scope of work retainer and taking out a couple of grants and putting in Monthly Updates instead. 

#2 - Update Your Business Systems
You need to create or update SOPs. Even if this year wasn’t full of new grant things, we recommend you do this every quarter! Look over SOPs and update any. 
See if you can add AI to support any functions.

#3 - Examine Your Team and Reset Roles
You may need to role reset some team members. Your virtual assistant may need fewer hours this year or you may assign them some hours to attend webinars on federal grant updates and send you notes. 

Your grant writers may need to be reporting on grant updates or working on doubling foundation grant outputs. 

But within everything, you need to make sure this aligns with your budget.

Students inside the Grant Professional Mentorship have been addressing these needs to see how to adjust in 2025.

Some are hiring virtual assistants to help with more admin duties so they can be in front of a lot of issues.

Others are streamlining team members and paying for scope of work instead of just hourly.

When you join the Grant Professional Mentorship, we will have a LIVE 3-Hour Business Reset Call to dig into your business. 

Tune in today to listen to this podcast.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! 

This helps me support more people — just like you — move toward writing higher quality grants without overwhelm, and to start and grow successful grant writing businesses! 

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!"

This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:
Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS).
Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN!
Book YOUR FREE demo now! 

Ep. 392 3 Items to Restructure Your Grant Writing Business in 2025

To grok something means "to understand it completely." The word grok comes from a language spoken on the planet Mars -- well, at least according to the science fiction writer who coined the term! Also, we know the meaning of the word trauma, but is there a word that denotes "the opposite of trauma"? Plus, if someone describes something as "wicked good," they mean it's extremely good, especially if they're from New England. All that, plus cut to the chase, super-short town names,  a puzzle that involves lopping off letters, an Ethiopian proverb, hell strip vs. devil strip, words from the Norn language, corny, This wicked good show's as cool as 4-55 air conditioning! http://waywordradio.org

Wicked Good (Full Episode)

In this week’s podcast Holly Rustick brings Laura Hull, Grant Consultant of Premio Services, LLC on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast.

In this conversation, we discuss:
-Laura’s journey into grant writing
-How Laura negotiated with her job to get health insurance
-Hiring and how it has helped to have support
-Managing a growing grant writing business as a single mom.

About Laura Hull

Laura is a first generation U.S. immigrant with more than a decade of grants experience and nonprofit leadership in multicultural contexts. Laura launched PSI in 2017 to elevate the grants profession and increase social impact by providing transformational grants services to nonprofits. She delivers high quality consulting to nonprofits seeking to expand their grant portfolios by uncovering barriers and finding the right resources to meet unique needs. With creative strategy, an average 98% funding success rate, and a data-driven commitment to success, Laura offers the best in grant services to her clients and sector. Outside of grants, Laura enjoys spending quality time with her son and daughter, ages 9 and 4, reading, creative writing, and exploring Idaho's spectacular outdoors.

Connect with Laura Hull:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurahullgrantconsultant/
Website: https://premioservices.com/

Links Mentioned:
Grant Professional Mentorship: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship

Freelance Grant Writer Academy: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/

Tune in today to listen to this podcast.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! 

This helps me support more people — just like you — move toward writing higher quality grants without overwhelm, and to start and grow successful grant writing businesses! 

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!"

This Podcast Episode is Lovingly Sponsored by:
Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS).
Break Up with Your Spreadsheet – Get GEMS Grant Easy Management Software and NEVER MISS A DEADLINE AGAIN!
Book YOUR FREE demo now!

Ep: 395 Going from Scarcity Mindset to Courage with a 4-Day Workweek as a Grant Consultant

So many books and so little time--it's a challenge to choose what to read next! It helps to remember that so-called "reading mortality" is a fact of life--you'll never get to them all, but you can curate your own to-read list that speaks specifically to you. Plus, the sneaky story behind the expression slip someone a mickey, and a new word for walking your dog: Let's go on a sniffari! And: favorite first lines of books, Bohemian, a brain teaser about song titles, how to pronounce aioli, jo-jo potatoes, a cool million, and more. http://waywordradio.org

A Cool Million (Full Episode)

Samantha Harvey's novel Orbital is a sensuous, exhilarating meditation about the strangeness of life on a space station, with its mix of tedious tasks and jaw-dropping views. And: a musician who rode the rails in his youth shares the slang he picked up along the way. For example, the word spanging is a blend of the words spare and changing, and means "panhandling." Plus, what does the doggie say? The sound of a dog barking is often written as Bow wow. But why? Doesn't barking sound more like ruff ruff? Plus, slang on the ski slopes, boodling, a jazzy pangram, larruping good food, avoir le moral dans les chaussettes, a quiz about puzzling store names, ride or die, and a clever answer for when someone inquires as to how you're doing. http://waywordradio.org

Real Corker (Full Episode)

R.R. Reno, editor of First Things magazine, joins me to discuss why the principles of MAGA could potentially conflict with the values of a liberal society.

- - - 

Today’s Sponsor:

Beam - Try Beam's best-selling Dream Powder and get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to https://shopbeam.com/KLAVAN and use code KLAVAN at checkout.

Trump's Nationalism Signals a Return to Strength | R.R. Reno

A baby's first word is often a cherished milestone, but some cultures pay more attention to other firsts, like a baby's first laugh. A fascinating new book by a linguist examines language at the beginning and the end of life. Plus, the expression "Murphy's Law" reflects the idea that "anything that can go wrong will go wrong. But is this term a slur against the Irish? And an old word for new life: the verb to whicken involves daylight hours growing longer in springtime. Also, breard, honour bright and honour bright, the long history of groceries, a brain teaser about Pig Latin, sea painter, give someone down the road, give someone down the banks, a different way to write AI, plurale tantem, and how to pronounce rhetoric. http://waywordradio.org

Honor Bright (Full Episode)

In the 1920's, Americans were warned of a new danger sweeping across the country. This menace that harmed people's health, ruined minds, and threatened marriages. The culprit? The national obsession with a new form of entertainment: crossword puzzles. Plus: why are accountants referred to as bean counters? And an old-fashioned way to describe a noisy, new restaurant: You can't hear your ears in this place! Also, alcoholic, vacuum vs. sweeper, swarping and sworping, hove and heave, a quiz about funny surnames, objet trouvé, Wunderkammer, a punny school mascot, and debubiate. http://waywordradio.org

Bean Counting (Full Episode)

So you think you can spell? Youngsters in modern spelling bees are expected to memorize a wide range of words, from chemical processes to names of rare animals. Also: In many languages, the word for "mother" begins with the letter M—but not in all of them. And where are you from, eh? If you phrase a question that way, it's pretty clear where YOU'RE from. Plus, saltigrade and tardigrade, bite the dust and buy the farm, Hoofddorp, a family euphemism, pilkunviilaaja, a letter-lopping brain teaser, and sacar la garra. http://waywordradio.org

The Other Shoe (Full Episode)

English spelling is a hot mess, even for native speakers. But as a new book shows, would-be spelling reformers, including Benjamin Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, eventually just gave up. Also, what do you call your fellow parent in front of the children? Do you use the same word when the kids aren't around? And: Baseball announcers may refer to a fastball as high cheese, but the reason has nothing to do with dairy products. Plus, "Mairzy Doats," straight and narrow vs. straightened arrow, a puzzle about sound switcheroos, cuando la rana crie pelos, a cute kid coinage, geehaw, quid, teknonomy, and books with great opening lines. http://waywordradio.org

Straight and Narrow (Full Episode)

Have you lived in your home so long that you don’t notice its flaws? In Sweden, they have a name for this condition: It’s hemmablind—literally, “home blind.” A popular Swedish TV program shows what you can do about it. Plus, unlocking the mysterious word conclave. And: How did the expression “throw in the towel” come to mean “give up”? Also, pully, visiting firemen, the origin of conclave, how to pronounce grimace, the reason to substitute a different word for substitute, a word challenge involving the letter Y, Shiver me timbers! and Kiss the dealer! http://waywordradio.org

Eat My Hat (Full Episode)

Alright, alright, alright! How do some catchphrases become part of the larger vernacular—to the point where people don’t always know the original reference? And the island of Ocracoke off the coast of North Carolina has a distinctive dialect all its own. A new book shows how tourism is changing how the locals talk.  Plus: Are you binge-watching or stinge-watching? If you’re stinge-watching your favorite TV series, you’re savoring it over a long period of time. Also, smearcase, names for imaginary friends, a disem-voweled puzzle, steen o’clock, the rocky origin of cloud, dreepy, nicknames for days of the week, bag raising, and how to pronounce the word mobile when it refers to that toy that hangs above a crib. http://waywordradio.org

Imaginary Friends (Full Episode)

You might be surprised to learn that a “hoosier” isn’t necessarily from Indiana. In St. Louis, Missouri, the term hoosier has a whole other meaning. And: Scotland is the home of the Golden Spurtle world championship, but what exactly IS a spurtle? Some of the finest kitchens are stocked with spurtles. Plus, a love poem from a now-extinct language still echoes through the centuries. Also, boire en wifi and other synonyms for airsipping, an anagrammatic word challenge, thivel, good times at the hosie, Proto-Indo-European, sprit, bully pulpit, the vocabulary of Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania, water sommelier, and a punny riddle. http://waywordradio.org

Mox Nix (Full Episode)

Why is it harder to talk if we don’t move our hands? Even when we’re talking on the phone we feel the need to gesture to aid communication. A new book offers a look at the relatively new field of gesture studies. And: Ever wonder why we describe the American flag as “red, white, and blue?” Why not “blue, white, and red?” Plus, everyone should have a hellbox for tossing their discards! But where exactly would you find one? Also: a tall glass of water, since dirt was young, since King Hatchet was a hammer, since Hector was a pup, a brain teaser about multiple letters, sold down the river, an alliterative drinking game, upper-case vs. lower-case, why we say red, white, and blue and not blue, white, and red, and how to pronounce pecan. http://waywordradio.org

Tall Drink of Water (Full Episode)

A Way with Words is a fun and funny public radio program about language examined through history, culture, and family. Its mission is to change the way you think about language. The program is heard by broadcast and podcast across the United States and around the world by more than a quarter-million listeners each week. It's produced by Wayword, Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to promote lifelong learning, better human communication, and the value of a thing well-said or well-written. Call or write with your language questions at any time: (877) 929-9673 (toll-free in the US and Canada) or just email us: words@waywordradio.org.

End of Western Civilization got you down? All is tickety-boo on The Andrew Klavan Show as Andrew laughs his way though Armageddon with political satire, cultural commentary, interviews and relentless mockery of racial pieties, sexual perversities, and feminist absurdities. Monday thru Thursday.

Quit your toxic nonprofit job and replace your full-time income while writing grants part-time, from home! Join our students in the Freelance Grant Writer Academy to create Financial Stability and Flexibility through writing grants for causes you are passionate about: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy 

World-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author Holly Rustick provides coaching that helps new and experienced grant writers replace their full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or anywhere they want to live or travel in the world). 

She coaches changemakers to master grant writing and start to grow 6-figure+ grant writing businesses on part-time hours via her signature group program, “Freelance Grant Writer Academy."

As an unapologetic feminist, Holly’s work in coaching female grant writers to master grant writing, find their cause-area niche, and navigate value-based pricing and nonprofit sales is breaking glass ceilings for women all over the world.

Every week, she coaches thousands of people through the top-ranking podcast, Grant Writing & Funding, books on grant writing, and inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.  

Holly has 20 years of experience in grant writing, and began her freelance grant writing journey back in 2005. While teaching in Kuwait and Indonesia, 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 more than $45 million of dollars for nonprofit organizations, and then setting up a multi 6-figure freelance business, Holly has a mission to help female grant writers break out of toxic nonprofit J-O-B-S and create high-level income while freelance grant writing. 

Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, students have secured more than $61+ million in grant funding and $1.3+ million in revenue in their grant writing businesses within ONE year.

To amplify this work, she is past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce and was appointed to 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 replacing your full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or from anywhere in the world!) join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy! 

www.grantwritingandfunding.com.

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