Are You Working in the Shadows? Shine a Light on The Tasks Draining Your Time A recent report by Instrumentl, a grant database and management system, confirms what you already feel in your bones: grant professionals are drowning in administrative tasks. Instrumentl named this invisible labor “shadow work.” After talking to over 1,000 grant professionals, they found that the average person spends about 30 hours a week on shadow work, costing organizations $53,700 per year. That’s a problem too...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Effective Use of AI in Grant Writing: Where it Works, and Where it Can Hurt You You have a looming grant deadline and a to-do list a mile long. AI’s siren song promises to write a polished grant in seconds. But should it? Now that the AI genie is out of the bottle, it’s not going back in. It makes sense to experiment and see how this tool can help you. But if there’s one thing I’m hearing from the grant field, it’s to use it with caution. Why AI-written applications hurt your chances AI’s...
5 months ago • 3 min read
"No" Doesn't Mean "Never": A Deeper Look at Grant Rejection and Resilience Rejection stings, whether it’s a childhood crush, a dream job or a grant that could have been a lifeline for your mission. Here’s a secret: one grant rejection is rarely the end of the line. When you plant a new fruit tree, you have to nurse it for years before enjoying your first juicy bite. Grant applications are often the same. “No” usually means, “not now” or “not yet.” You need to wait a few cycles for your...
7 months ago • 3 min read
An Application is Only Part of the Equation: Funder Relationships Are Key One of my clients won a grant without ever filling out an application.I was writing a letter of inquiry (LOI) for a grant application to a new funder. The client didn't have a relationship there, so I encouraged her to use the LOI as a seed to plant one. It opened the door to a phone interview and a site visit, and she got the grant! We celebrate Valentine’s Day (the only major holiday dedicated to...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Your Complete Checklist for a Thriving Grant Strategy Have you ever gone grocery shopping without a list? You grab spaghetti when you have two boxes at home, but forget to buy the milk you actually needed. Now, you have to go back. Taking a few minutes to make that list would’ve saved you time and money. Funding your mission without a roadmap also usually leads to mispent resources and extra work. Your energy is valuable, so let’s put together your strategy. Investing a little time in...
9 months ago • 3 min read
Start the New Year Prepared: Your Checklist for Q1 Readiness Let’s fast-forward to January 5, 2026. Would you rather hit the ground running on grants or scramble and play catch-up? While it’s tempting to use December to wind down after a hectic giving season, proactive grant preparation now will lead to a much more confident start to the new year. Proactive planning: 3 steps to take now These are the three tasks I’d recommend clients tackle now to prepare for the first quarter of 2026....
10 months ago • 3 min read
Preheader Text If you find this email helpful, please share it with a friend. And if someone forwarded this to you, you can get your own subscription here. Finding New Funding: Maintain a Healthy Grant Pipeline When I speak to prospective clients, one question dominates: How do we find new grants? Researching new grants is challenging. But if you haven’t looked for any new grants in a while, you should start before your pipeline runs dry. Why you need to look for new grants A known,...
11 months ago • 3 min read
If you find this email helpful, please share it with a friend. And if someone forwarded this to you, you can get your own subscription here. The grant funding landscape has changed dramatically this year. It’s tough out there. Funders are getting more applications, and many are spreading their money across more organizations. Funds that once seemed like a safe bet might not be anymore. I’ve seen it firsthand. Many of my clients have seen reduced award amounts. It’s frustrating. So, what else...
12 months ago • 3 min read