Fundraising HayDay

2025 has been a year, and it's only June. For those working in the nonprofit space, it's time to unite our voices and lead with courage. Today we're speaking with organizer Vanessa Priya Daniel about her recently published book, “Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning” so we can learn how to do just that. We're talking work amongst generations, the work of movement organizations, and the five pieces of advice she has for women leaders. JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: Groundswell Fund “Coalition Politics: Turning the Century” by Bernice Johnson Reagon WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: Vanessa Priya Daniel “Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning”

Today's guest said that her career culminated during the pandemic when she was working on her doctorate around nonprofits and organizational resilience during disruptive times. Dr. Brandi Rae Hicks has worked for and with United Way, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, and many other organizations. These experiences have created a well-rounded grant professional who understands the power of diversifying your funds, relationships in the community, and all the other skills necessary to run a successful nonprofit.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: Giving USA 2023 Charitable Report Apparel Line coming soon, monitor this link for updates   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: Dr. Brandi Rae Hicks  Serve University  Serve University on Instagram 

What's the first step of the grant writing process? In what might be a shocking turn of events, it's not grant writing. So many organizations skip the grant readiness step, and that is to their detriment. If your agency wants to find success in grant seeking and grant management, then you need to take the steps necessary to be ready for those processes. If you are unsure what all this entails, then this episode is for you.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon

Collaboration comes in so many shapes and sizes, especially when grant professionals are involved. You can sub-contract for consultants, develop a joint grant proposal, co-author journal articles, co-present workshops and webinars, and so much more. We're joined by Dana Patterson and Melody Hernandez, two successful grant professionals in the Greater Bay Area, who have found many ways to happily collaborate – and they're sharing their insights on what makes it successful.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: Greater Bay Area Bi-weekly Coffee Meetup with Dana and Melody – 8:30pm PACIFIC, every other Friday - Grant Professionals Association   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: Dana Patterson, GPC, Director of Development (insert link: (2) Dana Patterson | LinkedIn) Dana's Email – Grants.dana@gmail.com Kidango (insert link: Kidango | Educating Children, Inspiring Our Future) Melody Hernandez, Founder (insert link: (4) Melody Hernandez | LinkedIn) Root Reach Rise (insert link: Root Reach Rise Inc)

Does your organization have an award or recognition program for your members? Did you ever consider using grants to fund those programs? Well, maybe you should. We are joined by David Lindeman, CFRE, GPC, Director of Grants & Development for the Society for Neuroscience. In his role he manages the organization's award programs and grant funding, so it's no wonder he decided to combine the two.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES:   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: David Lindeman, CFRE, GPC - (6) David Lindeman, CFRE, GPC | LinkedIn David's Email – dhlindeman@gmail.com Society for Neuroscience - Society for Neuroscience - Society for Neuroscience - Advancing the Understanding of the Brain and Nervous System

Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome? Our cohosts have. Heck, many grant professionals have. We're sharing our own experiences, the many types of imposter syndrome, and ways to reduce/eliminate the feeling.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: “Is Imposter Syndrome Holding You Back from Living Your Best Life? Why you still feel like you're faking when you've already made it” written by Arlin Cuncic on September 23, 2024 - Imposter Syndrome: The Five Types, How to Deal With It   Grant Professionals are Leaders – Archived webinar from January 2025 led by Amanda Day & Kimberly Hays de Muga for the Grant Professionals Association – free for GPA members; $49 for everyone else - Grant Professionals are Leaders | Grant Professionals Association

Have you ever been treated as if you couldn't do a job or a skill because you were too old or too young? Have people stereotyped you because of your generation? Or maybe it was your gender, race, or marital status that caused folks to make assumptions about you? For our guest, Maggie Dennis, she experienced ageism by a client, and she's sharing her story, other examples, and the fallout of such experiences.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: Maggie Dennis - (1) Maggie Dennis | LinkedIn StoryForge - StoryForge

In October 2024, the latest changes to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (also known as 2 CFR Part 200 or Uniform Guidance) went into effect. Many changes were beneficial to grantees. And while this was recorded before the new administration started making drastic changes in the federal funding landscape, the Uniform Guidance as it stands is in effect until updated again.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 (2 CFR Part 200) – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards – Where to find the most current version (and you should always go with source material over what is aired in a podcast!) - eCFR :: 2 CFR Part 200 -- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards   Update guidance of federal funders, and material used by Fundraising HayDay to help create this episode: Housing and Urban Development - https://hudgov-my.sharepoint.com/personal/daniel_s_celaya_hud_gov/Documents/2 CFR 200 Changes 2020 vs 2024 breakdown Environmental Protection Agency - What's New in the Uniform Grants Guidance 2024 Revision to 2 CFR 200 | US EPA Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs - 2024 Part 200 Uniform Requirements Updates   OMB memorandum M-10-11 “Guidance on the Use of Challenges and Prizes to Promote Open Government” issued March 8, 2010 - Memoranda   To learn more about federal grant management, consider registering for the Grant Professionals Associations Next Level Grant University course on grant management - Next Level Grant Training - Grant Professionals Association

When communicating with anyone, language matters. Language is especially important when you serve as grant and/or fundraising professionals who use the written word to explain to funders the needs, successes, and goals of the communities we serve. It is vital we use inclusive language no matter who we are talking about. Joining the conversation is Maggie Dennis, GPC, a grant writer who focuses on storytelling as a tool to build community awareness and support, as well as India Phoenix and Jamie Rasmussen, by the brujas, whose mission is to create brand culture through intuitive communication strategies. We're talking about work focused on bringing ALL people along.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES:   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUESTS: Morgan Carpenter - (3) Morgan (Vanek) Carpenter | LinkedIn India Phoenix - (3) India Phoenix | LinkedIn Jamie Rasmussen - (3) Jamie (JR) Rasmussen | LinkedIn   by the brujas - Home | By The Brujas LLC   Carpenter Nonprofit Consulting - Carpenter Nonprofit Consulting   Morgan Carpenter's Book “Prepare for Impact: Everything You Need to Know to Win Grants and Super-Charge Your Nonprofit” – Amazon.com: Prepare for Impact: Everything You Need to Know to Win Grants and Super-Charge Your Nonprofit eBook : Carpenter, Morgan: Kindle Store

Professional coaching can go a long way to improve your work, your team, and your organization. But what does it even mean? We're talking with John Hall, motivational speaker and performance advisor, about the aspects of his program Coaching Up. At the center of it all is collaborative communication, connecting with people, teamwork, gifts and doubts, taking inventory, and  gratitude.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES:   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUESTS: John Hall - John Hall | LinkedIn

A great way to spread your wings, learn new skills, and gain leadership experience is to get involved with a professional organization. For grant and fundraising professionals, groups like the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), Association of Fundraising Professionals, and National Grant Management Association, are organizations that offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.   During the 2024 GrantSummit we spoke with GPA leaders and volunteers. We're hearing from folks representing national boards (GPA, Grant Professionals Certification Institute, and Grant Professionals Foundation), the GPA Ethics Committee, GPA Publications Committee, GPA staff, and the inductees of the 2024 Grant Professionals Distinguished Fellows. Learn how you can join a committee or board today.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: Grant Professionals Association's 2025 GrantSummit Annual Conference - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Association Committees (Volunteer Opportunities) NOTE: You must be signed in as a GPA member to access this site Committees - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Association's Publications Publications - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Association's Ethics FAQs Ethics FAQs - Grant Professionals Association   Grant Professionals Certification Institute GPCI – Grant Professionals Certification Institute   Grant Professionals Foundation Grant Professionals Foundation – Strengthening Nonprofits – Advancing The Grant Profession   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUESTS:   Barb Boggs (5) Barb Boggs | LinkedIn Headquarters Staff - Grant Professionals Association   Amanda Day (5) Amanda Day, GPC | LinkedIn HayDay Services   Debbie DiVirgilio (5) Debbie DiVirgilio, MNM, GPC, CGT, CCNL | LinkedIn Front Page - DiVirgilio & Associates   Laura Gore Meet the Team | Boyd Grants   Ericka Harney (5) Dr. Ericka Harney | LinkedIn Harney & Associates - ErickaHarney Home   Shavon Richardson (5) Shavonn Richardson, MBA, GPC (Grant Writer) | LinkedIn Think and Ink Grant Consulting | Atlanta Grant Writers and Grant Consultants   Tammy Tilzey (5) Tammy Tilzey | LinkedIn Innovative Marketing for Nonprofit-Focused Businesses — Willow Peak Consulting   Bernard Turner (5) Bernard Turner | LinkedIn Bernard Turner | Belmont University   Erin Van Gilder (5) Erin Van Gilder, M.A., CGW, GPC | LinkedIn Cherokee Nation Commerce Services

If your organization is looking to meet community needs for the benefit of the public, whether it be infrastructure or programming, you can ask your federal elected officials to legislate that project so Congress will send money to fund it. If this sounds familiar, it is. Years ago, it was called earmarks or federal appropriations, but around 2011 this funding source went away (or did it?). Join our very informative conversation with Tonia Brown-Kinzel, GPC, CGMS, for a history lesson on this funding source, plus a step-by-step process for participating in the new process, which is known as Congressionally Directed Spending.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   SHOW NOTES: Senators – Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) General Guidance on Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Requests – US Senator Committee on Appropriations   Representatives – Community Projects Funding (CPF) FY25 Member Request Guidance   Tonia's FY2026 Federal Appropriations Links & Resources   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: Tonia Brown-Kinzel LinkedIn The Grant Plant

As grant professionals, communication is the root of our work. Not only are we responsible for conveying information through the written word, but we must communicate with a variety of colleagues, subject matter experts, program directors, finance personnel, leaders, elected officials, funders, and more. We're talking with Michelle Gladieux about the value and importance of communication, plus how we can be direct and vulnerable and diplomatic (through practice) to improve our communication skills.   JOIN THE FUNDRAISING HAYDAY COMMUNITY: Become a member of the Patreon   WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: Michelle Gladieux Gladieux Consulting LinkedIn

Amanda and Kimberly have a combined 50+ years of grant work. To say our cohosts have learned a few things along the way is an understatement. They are sharing their top 10 lessons learned along the way – maybe a few of them will resonate with you.

For many grant professionals, the leap from working for an organization to starting your own grant and/or fundraising consultancy is a scary one. There are so many questions, from wondering if you should be an LLC or sole proprietor to what to charge and how to market your business.   The Fundraising HayDay cohosts partnered with Allison Boyd, Owner of Boyd Grants, to create Morphology, an on-demand training to help you create a consultancy business that works for you. On the podcast, we are sharing why we leapt into the world of consultancy, how to define success, and what you can expect from Morphology.  

Foundation and corporate grants are a funding source for many nonprofit organizations, but since these funders are not required to have a website, your best source of information is their annual Form 990. On that document they are required to share information about their assets, board members, recent grantees, and a few details about how to submit an application (or not if they do not accept unsolicited applications). Sounds easy, right? Oh, if only it were so. Today, we're discussing where to find what you're looking for on Form 990s and venting our frustrations when things are not where they're supposed to be.   SHOW NOTES   Tax Exempt Organization Search on IRS Website HERE

Have you ever worked at an organization where you were expected to bring in all the funding plus a million other things? Your title might be Development Director, Grants Administrator, Director of Fundraising, or anything along those lines. But that title alone doesn't mean you have the time, skills, capacity, and energy to do all the things dumped in your lap. Multi-tasking is a total myth, so we're here to breakdown how you can be a successful fundraiser while juggling everything else on your plate. Here's a hint: without outside help, you can't do it all.   SHOW NOTES   To better understand the origins of nonprofit work, go back and listen to Fundraising HayDay's Season 6, Episode 21 – How to Have Uncomfortable Conversations About Race, Bias, and More with Fleur Larsen – How to Have Uncomfortable Conversations About Race, Bias, and More - HayDay Services

People come to the grant field from a variety of backgrounds and their work varies depending on their clients, focus, and experience. Dr. Janelle Harvey's passion is nonprofits and ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive. She shares her insights on being mentored, working with faith-based organizations, her recent experience with the Milestone Circles program at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, and so much more.   Show Notes:   Faith and Fundraising Podcast on Kingdom Purpose Radio - Kingdom Purpose Radio – Harvey (drharveywrites.com) & Christian Radio | Kingdom Purpose Radio   Harvey NPO Consulting, LLC - Harvey – Harvey NPO Consulting Group (drharveywrites.com)

Many grant proposals allow, and sometimes require, letters of support. Whether you call them support letters, letters of endorsement, or commitment letters, this is a means for funders to see the wide range of “support” for your project or program. They can be gathered from individuals, nonprofits, government agencies, elected officials, businesses, school systems, civic organizations, and more. But getting quality letters in a timely manner isn't always as simple as you think.

The fastest road to burnout is overloading your staff. Boards, elected officials, executive directors, and other leaders must understand the capacity of time and resources necessary to develop and manage grant proposals. It is not a solo sport. So before chasing the dollars, ensure the right people with the right skills are on your agency's grants team to ensure success and longevity of your grant funded programs.

It's a bonus episode! In January 2024, Kimberly and Amanda (your Fundraising HayDay cohosts) attended Courageous Leadership training led by Julie Boll. Over 8 weeks we each built and refined our calls to courage, affirmed our skills, and learned what courageous leadership looks like for us. Today, Julie is taking the reins and interviewing us about this process and the changes in our business and daily lives. Sometimes you need a little push to dream big, and Julie helped give us the nudges we needed.   Show Notes: Announcing Fundraising HayDay's first Patreon experience. Join our Ear Buddies membership at $5 to support the podcast AND access member only benefits: https://patreon.com/FundraisingHayDay   Julie and Dana's January 2025 Retreat in the Redwoods – visit  www.juliebollconsulting.com/hayday for a discounted price and more details

What two things are necessary for a sustainable nonprofit? Fundraising and administration. What two things are nonprofits often judged for spending money on? Fundraising and administration.   Programs serve people, but you cannot have programs without funding and staff. Nonprofits need oversight. They require finance personnel, fundraisers, executive directors, and more.   Too many organizations and people perpetuate the overhead myth – the notion that overhead costs (like administration and fundraising) should be 10% or less. Let's debunk that myth together.

Logic models: you either love them or hope you never have to create one. But the truth is, you should not be intimated by one. Simply put, it is a flowchart that highlights the important elements of your planned work and intended results related to a grant funding request. With a one-page diagram, you can easily outline the vital elements of a grant application and use it as a template to build your narrative.   Show Notes:   W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model Development Guide

In 2023, today's guest (Laura Chynoweth) penned the blog post “Disrupting the Development Hierarchy” in which she spells out why grant writing so often is found at the bottom. Laura, founder and CEO of Grant Fundraising Consultants, joined us to share those reasons and ways in which grant professionals can educate their colleagues and others about the true nature of grant work. The truth is, those who conduct prospect research, develop grant proposals, and manage grant awards play a vital role in the fundraising arm of organizations. It's time that is understood.   SHOW NOTES:   Laura Chynoweth's Grant Professional Association Blog Post Article “Disrupting the Development Hierarchy” - Disrupting the Development Hierarchy - Grant Professionals Association   Laura Chynoweth - (2) Laura Chynoweth, MA, CFRE, GPC | LinkedIn   Grant Fundraising Consultants - Granted Fundraising Consultants

Each year, the Giving USA Foundation and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IU Indianapolis releases the annual Giving USA Report. Their goal is to “advance philanthropy through research and education.” The results from the data collected and studies in 2023 were released by Giving USA on June 25, 2024. Our cohosts are highlighting charitable giving by source, types of recipient organizations to receive charitable giving, and why this matters to recipients. The overall message is that while overall funding increased, it did not keep up with inflation, and that will impact nonprofits and their work.   Access the data we highlighted from Giving USA on today's podcast episode here: Giving USA: U.S. charitable giving totaled $557.16 billion in 2023 | Giving USA   Download the infographic from Giving USA with the highlights of their findings here: 2024 Infographic – Giving USA  

We often spend more time at work than anywhere else. But that doesn't mean we are closest to our bosses and colleagues. So how does that work when you have things in your life that affect your work performance? Today we are joined by Melanie Palmer, GPC, CFRE and Leilani Ocasio of Melanie Palmer Consulting, where they share their personal inspirations for leading the "Vulnerability in Grants Work: Set Yourself (and Others) Free" workshop two years running at GrantSummit, a conference hosted by the Grant Professionals Association. Together we talk about building safe spaces and safe communities for everyone to share their moments of vulnerability so we can all work together to be our true, authentic selves.

Grant funding can be used for travel, if the funder allows it. Your needs for travel expenses will vary from airline and hotel costs to reach a conference event to local mileage for traveling nurses to visit seniors in their homes. If federal funding is involved, there are some very specific rules about what you can and cannot do with travel funding. We're talking about all those specifics to make sure you spend you grant funding appropriately.

Have you started your own business? Are you thinking about it? Whether you plan to be a grant consultant, start a fundraising empire, or want to freelance here and there, it is important to think about your plans for maintaining or growing your business. We are joined by Kim Joyce, Founder & CEO of Kim Joyce & Associates. When she first started her business she had a handful of clients, and today she employees over 30 individuals. She's got a lot to say about how it happened.  

Grant management is a vital part of the grant life cycle. If you cannot keep the funding awarded to your agency, you are lessening the chance of future funding. Today we're walking you through the five main components of post-award work. Whether you are new to the grant world or an experienced grant manager, take a listen to make sure you're covering all the basics.

From small family foundations to large corporation foundations, many funders ask potential grantees to submit an LOI. Do they mean a Letter of Intent or Letter of Interest? Do they want one page or three? What topics do they expect you to cover? The simple answer: it depends. Our cohosts are sharing the ins and outs of all aspects of an LOI in this “how to” episode.

Sure, your title may have “writer” in it, but we are more than grant writers. Grant professionals build capacity, develop programs, conduct research, work with clients, build budgets, and so much more. We also have a voice in philanthropy, because without nonprofits and other agencies to do all of its good works, foundations and government agencies would have money to give but not one to give it to. Our guests, Patrice Shumate and Liyen Chong, are two of the founding members of More Than Grant Writers, a collaborative community space for grant professionals to practice their unique collective power for social and environmental justice. Learn about More Than Grant Writers and how you can add your voice to the collective.

Grant funding is out there. In 2022, foundations gave $105.2 BILLION and corporations $29.5 BILLION. In Fiscal Year 2023, the federal government awarded $1.7 TRILLION in federal discretionary resources. So how do you wade through all those funding opportunities to find the right fit for your organization? We're walking you through the process today. If you are in need of resources to help conduct your grant prospect research, here are a few: S1, E7 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Grant Prospect Research  S1, E13 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Private Funding & How to Approach it  S1, E14 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Public Funding & You  S4, E11 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Prospect Research: What's Old is New Again  HayDay Services Webinar – 5 Free Ways to Fine More Grants  The Go/No Go Grant Decision Guide goes hand in hand with today's episode. 

During the 2023 #GrantSummit hosted by the Grant Professionals Association, our cohosts interviewed a variety of leaders in the grant field. They shared their experiences, insights, and words of wisdom related to a number of themes ranging from giving back to the profession, leadership, philanthropy, professionalism, volunteering, professional development, and more. Hear key takeaways from each of our esteemed guests: Bernard Turner, GPC, Associate Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Belmont University   Cheryl Kester, CFRE, GPC, 2023 Distinguished Fellow Awardee and Owner of The Kester Group Doris Shivers, GPC, Director of Grant Innovation and Management for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Egondu Onuoha, GPC, President of the Grant Professionals Certification Institute and Vice President of Real Estate and Special Programs at the Brooklyn Hospital Jess Pettitt, Emcee of #GrantSummit, Speaker at Good Enough Now Johna Rodgers, GPC, Immediate Past President of the Grant Professionals Association and Owner of Johna Rodgers Consulting Leilani Ocasio, Grant Professionals Association Board Member and Project Manager at M. Palmer Consulting Mike Chamberlain, CAE, Chief Executive Office of the Grant Professionals Association Pat Duboise, GPC, Chair of the Grant Professionals Association Mentoring Committee and Director at Grant Initiatives Reagan Lynch, Immediate Past President of the Grant Professionals Foundation and Grant Policy Manager at Witt O'Brien's Scot Scala, GPC, 2023 Distinguished Fellow Awardee and President & Senior Consultant at Scala & Associates

So many people are focused on getting the grant. But then it's awarded. Now what? Grant management is a key component to keeping your grant awards AND getting future grant awards. Join our conversation with Rachel Werner and Lucy Morgan of MyFedTrainer.com about all things grant management. We're talking tips for good management, Uniform Guidance, advice for organizations who are new to federal grant funding, and more.

Grant writing, just like fundraising, is very relational. The truth is that people give to people. This is why we are talking to Kara D. Mostowy, CFRE, GPC, Chief Development Officer of The Watson Institutehttps://www.thewatsoninstitute.org/. We are working to break down the silos between fundraisers and grant professionals. The more we can work together, the better we can fund the good work of our organizations.  

With a combined 50+ years of grant writing experience, our cohosts know their way around a grant proposal. Today they are sharing writing tips based on lessons learned, sometimes the hard way. Whether you are new to the grant field or have been doing this a few decades yourself, we are covering a plethora of tips and tricks to help you effectively develop your grant proposals.

Tech tools abound to make the lives and work of grant professionals easier. But some of the tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), can be scary and overwhelming. If you are not an early adopter of technology, then have we got the nerd who jumps in and figures it out for you, so you don't have to. Today we are talking to Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend. She's got great advice and more to share. Listen and put something new to use today!

The use of artificial Intelligence tools for writing is a hot topic of discussion in the grant and fundraising community these days. Questions abound about the efficacy, ethical boundaries, and inherent bias associated with AI. Join our discussion with Philip Deng, Cofounder and CEO of Grantable, about how we can best use this tool in a way that makes sense for our work.

This year's Top Ten list is a retrospective of our past 5 years of the podcast. We are taking a walk down memory, reminiscing about favorite moments, interviews, and topics that put a smile on our face.

Season 1 of Fundraising HayDay was launched in November 2018. This month (November 2023) marks our 5-year anniversary. We are celebrating with memories and guests who love and support the show.

In grant trainings, we often talk about the many mistakes grant professionals make that cause grant applications to be denied – from missing deadlines to forgetting necessary attachments. Today we're covering those reasons, but we are also reviewing the impact of funders, their processes, and their decisions that negatively impact our grant success. Join us as we review the top 5 reasons your grant proposals are denied. Lessons learned will help future applications.

It can be uncomfortable to talk about race. But you need to push past your own comfort level and bias and be part of the conversation. As grant and fundraising professionals, social justice and equity play a role in the work we all do, no matter our organization or mission. To best serve our communities, we must be prepared to have difficult conversations, talk about inequities, and recognize our own bias. Fleur Larsen works with organizations to shift workplace culture to produce results, and today she is sharing insights on these topics with us.

One of the most frustrating aspects of grant prospect research is the lack of transparency and information provided by private funders. Sure, foundations and corporations are required to file an annual 990, but those are a year or two behind the curve and often provide very little information about their application process. Imagine if every funder had a website! It's a win-win situation. Applicants can find funders who align with their work, and foundations will receive applications that are better aligned with their work. When the guidelines are clear, it saves time and heartache for us all. Is that really too much to ask?

Building community, understanding culture, and recognizing prejudices is such a vital part of being a better human. This is an ongoing conversation, and today we are happy to continue that conversation with Kia Jarmon. We're talking about conflict, different perspectives, and learned experiences and how we can best bring it all together in our own organizations and communities. If you're a grant professional who does not understand the community for which you are writing grant proposals, how can you best explain that community's needs and wants and desires to others?

Whether you work as a grant professional employed by an organization or as a grant consultant, it is important to understand the skills, knowledge, and expertise you bring to the table. If you do not understand your own value, no one else will. We spoke with DeaRonda Harrison, Founder and President of June First Firm, about what we wish we had known starting out in this profession, career building, responding to those who say your prices are too high, and so much more.

In November 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). It provides $1.2 Trillion in federal funding designed to transform, enhance, and augment all sorts of vital projects across the country. To get you acquainted with the funding we are talking Justice40, sharing resources, and more.

Human service organizations the world over work tirelessly to feed, clothe, house, and care for our communities. In Milwaukee, one nonprofit is bring the full resources of the city to bear in order to end generational poverty. Join our conversation with City on a Hill's CEO, Art Serna, as he shares their approach of holistic programming, collaboration, diversified funding, and community engagement. 

Federal funders always produce a set of guidelines with each grant application. They are known by a variety of names, depending on the funding agency, from Request for Proposal (RFP) to NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity) and many acronyms in between. Grant professionals must understand how to read each RFP to ensure eligiblity and competiveness of the organization applying, as well as the requirements for a quality proposal.

Today we are interviewing Shavonn Richardson, CEO of Think and Ink Grant Consulting. She has done all the things in the grant world: started her own nonprofit, worked for a foundation to award grants to nonprofits, and finally grant consultant. We talk entrepreneurship, leadership, and all things grant work.

Your organization is ready to tackle the realm of grants, but you need the assistance of a grant professional. Should you hire an employee or consultant? Hear the pros and cons of each, because the answer will vary based on your organization's needs and fundraising goals.

Most federal grant programs will allow in-direct cost rates. But what is it? How does your organization get one? What does it fund? The process is complicated and has many moving parts, which is why we brought in an expert. Join our discussion with Karen Norris, Principal of Kanoco, as we get our questions answers and navigate the complex world of federal in-direct cost rates.