Grant Writing & Funding

The 2026 tax change quietly handed nonprofits a fundraising gift, and most of them have no idea. In this episode, Holly breaks it down in plain English: what changed, who it actually helps, who it does not, and exactly how you can turn it into real value for your clients and new business for you. No tax degree required.In this episode:The new rule that lets everyday donors get a tax break for giving again (and why it's permanent this time)Who this really helps: small nonprofits and the everyday donors they run onWho barely notices (spoiler: the super rich) and who actually feels the pinch (the middle)What the big nonprofit groups say: the National Council of Nonprofits, Independent Sector, and others fought for the everyday-donor break, but warn the full package could be a net negative for givingThe Council Corner: the real question isn't "good or bad," it's "who's going to use it"The simple steps to bring this to your clients without sounding like a tax advisorQuick reminder: this episode is for learning, no

The Doors are NOW Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy until Sunday, June 21st at 11:59 pm EST. Join NOW so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants from Home. The Academy is a 12-month Coaching, Curriculum, and Community program where you have everything you need to learn how to write and win grants and set up or streamline a freelance grant writing business. This is the FINAL time we are offering the Academy at this price. JOIN NOW. What if the thing standing between you and a thriving freelance grant writing business isn't lack of experience, but fear?In this deeply personal bonus episode, Holly Rustick pulls back the curtain on her 21-year journey from teaching overseas and volunteering in post-tsunami Indonesia to building a successful freelance grant writing business that provides both financial freedom and meaningful impact. Along the way, she shares the struggles most people never see: living paycheck-to-paycheck, being a single mom on WIC, battling burnout, unde

The Doors are NOW Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy until Sunday, June 21st at 11:59 pm EST. Join NOW so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants from Home. The Academy is a 12-month Coaching, Curriculum, and Community program where you have everything you need to learn how to write and win grants and set up or streamline a freelance grant writing business. This is the FINAL time we are offering the Academy at this price. JOIN NOW. If you've been telling yourself that now isn't the right time to start a freelance grant writing business, this episode is for you. Holly Rustick tackles the five most common reasons aspiring grant writers stay stuck, and reveals why none of them are actually keeping you from success.From not having enough time, money, experience, or connections to fears about AI replacing grant writers, Holly breaks down each objection and reframes it through the lens of systems, support, and strategy. She shares practical insights from coaching hundreds o

The Doors are NOW Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy until Sunday, June 21st at 11:59 pm EST. Join NOW so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants from Home. The Academy is a 12-month Coaching, Curriculum, and Community program where you have everything you need to learn how to write and win grants and set up or streamline a freelance grant writing business. This is the FINAL time we are offering the Academy at this price. JOIN NOW. Is AI coming for grant writers, or is it creating more opportunity than ever before? Should you embrace it or reject it?In this episode, Holly Rustick cuts through the fear, hype, and uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence and the future of grant writing. Drawing on more than 20 years of grant writing experience and over a decade of coaching freelance grant writers, Holly introduces her new AI-READY Framework: a practical five-step approach to help grant writers confidently navigate the rapidly evolving landscape.You'll learn why t

The Doors are NOW Open to the Freelance Grant Writer Academy until Sunday, June 21st at 11:59 pm EST. Join NOW so you can Replace Your Full-Time Income, on Part-Time Hours, Writing Grants from Home. The Academy is a 12-month Coaching, Curriculum, and Community program where you have everything you need to learn how to write and win grants and set up or streamline a freelance grant writing business. This is the FINAL time we are offering the Academy at this price. JOIN NOW. The headlines about federal grants this week are a lot — and most of them are missing the most important detail: the OMB proposal is not a law. It is not final. It is a proposal, and you have until July 13, 2026 to weigh in on it.In this episode, Holly breaks down what the White House Office of Management and Budget actually published on May 29th, what it would change about how federal grants are reviewed, awarded, and terminated, and,  just as importantly, what it would NOT change yet. Holly also shares two new sections in the proposal the

Are you ready to work from home and earn 6 figures on part-time hours? Are you ready to quit your toxic job and work on your schedule? Just like our students? Then be sure to register for the FREE, Live Training, "“How to Start or Grow a Grant Writing Business in 2026 and Get Consistent Paying Clients” on Wednesday, June 10th 5:00 - 6:30pm EST. Register here: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy-webinar What does the future of grant writing look like in an increasingly uncertain funding landscape?In this episode of FUNDED, Holly Rustick analyzes the latest funding trends from April 2026 and reveals what they mean for grant writers, nonprofits, and funding professionals moving forward. From federal funding disruptions and increased competition for foundation grants to major state funding opportunities and growing demand for strategic grant writing support, Holly breaks down what is happening across the sector—and how successful grant professionals are adapting.Drawing from real data inside the Grant Writ

Are you ready to work from home and earn 6 figures on part-time hours? Are you ready to quit your toxic job and work on your schedule? Just like our students? Then be sure to register for the FREE, Live Training, "“How to Start or Grow a Grant Writing Business in 2026 and Get Consistent Paying Clients” on Wednesday, June 10th 5:00 - 6:30pm EST. Register here: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy-webinar In this powerful solo episode, Holly Rustick shares an unplanned but deeply important message for aspiring and established grant writers alike: this is the era of the freelance grant writer.Fresh off a coaching call and curriculum update inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and Grant Professional Mentorship, Holly dives into what really happened for freelance grant writers in 2025 — and why so many who adapted during funding uncertainty didn’t just survive, they thrived.Whether you’re grant-curious, currently working inside a nonprofit, or trying to grow your freelance grant writing business, this e

Are you ready to work from home and earn 6 figures on part-time hours? Are you ready to quit your toxic job and work on your schedule? Just like our students? Then be sure to register for the FREE, Live Training, "“How to Start or Grow a Grant Writing Business in 2026 and Get Consistent Paying Clients” on Wednesday, June 10th 5:00 - 6:30pm EST. Register here: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/academy-webinar In this episode of the Grant Writing & Funding Podcast, Holly Rustick breaks down the shocking dismissal of all 22 members of the National Science Board and what it signals for the future of federal funding, philanthropy, and grant strategy. Holly shares why this moment matters far beyond NSF grants and how shifting agency priorities are creating both uncertainty and opportunity across the nonprofit and research sectors.You’ll learn how organizations are responding to changing funding landscapes, where grant funding is moving in 2026, why foundation funding is surging, and how freelance grant writers

Discover how a boutique consulting firm can outperform large agencies by leaning into relationships, strategy, and high-touch service. In this episode, Dr. Eve McGee shares how she’s secured major wins, built long-term client partnerships, and why grant readiness (not just grant writing) is the real key to funding success.ABOUT OUR GUESTBased in Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Eve McGee is the Owner and CEO of McGee KC Consulting, where she transforms nonprofit vision into sustainable funding. Drawing on three decades of social work practice and executive leadership experience, she guides organizations through the entire funding lifecycle from grant readiness and targeted research to persuasive writing and grant management. Specializing in state and private foundation grants for mental and behavioral health, housing instability, domestic violence, food insecurity, youth development, reentry, and financial literacy, Dr. McGee bridges the gap between community mission and funder priorities, ensuring every project is

This month marked a major milestone inside the grant writing community: over $10 million generated in student grant writing businesses and a collective $278 million in grant funding secured. In this episode, we break down exactly what happened in March 2026 in the grant writing industry, what’s working right now in the grant funding landscape, and what these results signal for both freelance grant writers and nonprofit leaders.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNThe different levels of grant funding being secured right now—from $10K wins to multi-million dollar awardsWhere funding is actually coming from (and how to position yourself to access it)The key patterns driving consistent grant winsHow grant writers are building sustainable, high-revenue businessesThe biggest shifts happening in the grant writing industry todayKEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARCH 2026A total of $4.3 million in grants won by our Students (just in March)A total of nearly $5 million in revenue in our students grant writing businesses (just in March)WHERE FUNDING IS

In this episode, Holly Rustick shares a real-time update from Guam following a recent super typhoon, and then dives into what every grant writer needs to understand about 2026 federal funding.If you’ve been hearing that “there’s no more grant money” or that federal funding has been slashed, this episode breaks down what’s actually happening versus what made headlines. Holly unpacks key budget shifts, where research funding is still strong, and how to position your proposals to stay competitive.Most importantly, she introduces a powerful framework for winning grants right now: diversification, reframing, and alignment. Whether you’re a researcher or a freelance grant writer, this episode will help you adapt your strategy, strengthen your applications, and confidently move forward in today’s funding landscape.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is

In this episode of the Grant Writing & Funding podcast, Holly Rustick interviews Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractional Network, about the growing role of fractional consulting in the nonprofit sector.Cindy explains how fractional work differs from traditional freelance work by combining strategy, planning, and implementation into one role. This model allows nonprofits to access experienced leadership without hiring full-time staff—making it especially valuable for organizations that have outgrown basic operations but don’t yet have the budget or need for a full-time director.Cindy shares her journey from working in-house in nonprofit fundraising to launching her own consulting business and eventually creating the Nonprofit Fractional Network to train and support others building fractional consulting businesses.Holly and Cindy also explore how fractional models provide more stability for consultants through long-term retainers, while helping nonprofits maximize limited resources. They discuss h

Steve Vick returns to the podcast to unpack what nonprofit leaders and grant professionals need to understand about AI adoption right now. As the founder of Bright Nonprofit and longtime host of the Nonprofit Ally podcast, Steve brings both nonprofit and tech expertise to the conversation and explains why AI is not just a tool issue: it is a governance issue.In this episode, Holly and Steve dig into AI readiness, source of truth, data integrity, human-in-the-loop review, and why AI often reveals organizational problems instead of fixing them. They also discuss what this means for grant writers, why strategic thinking matters more than ever, and how nonprofits can start using AI responsibly without creating bigger bottlenecks, mission drift, or reporting problems down the line.If you’ve been wondering how to use AI in grant writing or nonprofit operations without sacrificing quality, accuracy, or oversight, this conversation is a must-listen.ABOUT OUR GUESTSteve Vick is the founder of Nonprofit Ally and Bright

In this February 2026 Funded Series episode, we break down what actually changed in just 30 days inside a growing ecosystem of freelance grant writers and why it matters.This month alone:Over $1.5 million in grant funding was securedNearly $464,000 in client deals were closedIn this episode, Holly unpacks the exact patterns behind these wins, including:The shift from learning → leveragingWhy clarity is outperforming hustleHow systems and feedback loops are driving real resultsAnd what’s actually working right now to win grants and close clientsIf you’ve been working hard but not seeing consistent results, this episode will show you what might be missing—and how to fix it.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and season

In this episode of the Grant Writing & Funding Podcast, Holly Rustick breaks down a key shift that separates grant writers earning around $50K per year from those building six-figure grant businesses.Interestingly, the difference isn’t talent, experience, or even how hard someone works. Many grant writers have similar technical skills:strong proposal writing, program design knowledge, and a passion for supporting nonprofit missions.The real difference lies in how their work is structured as a business.Holly walks through four major shifts that occur when a grant writer moves from freelancer to grant business owner. From moving beyond hourly pricing to building systems, support teams, and diversified income streams, these changes allow grant professionals to scale their impact and income without burning out.If you’ve ever wondered how some grant writers grow sustainable six-figure businesses while others stay stuck in reactive client work, this episode will show you exactly where that shift happens—and how

In this bonus episode of the Grant Writing & Funding podcast, Holly Rustick sits down with Emma Krass, Owner and Lead Grant Writer of Grants & Growth, to talk about what it really takes to move from freelancer to CEO.Emma shares her journey from working at a grant writing firm to building her own business—and the challenges she faced along the way. From underpricing services and taking on the wrong clients to feeling disorganized and overwhelmed, Emma opens up about what wasn’t working and how she turned it around.Inside the Grant Professional Mentorship, Emma found the structure, systems, and confidence she needed to grow sustainably. She discusses how implementing retainers, hiring her first virtual assistant, and preparing to onboard a grant writer have transformed her business operations and capacity.If you're a grant writer feeling maxed out, disorganized, or unsure how to scale, this episode offers real talk and practical insight on what to focus on first—and why you don’t have to do everything