Grant Writing & Funding

In podcast episode 63, Holly Rustick interviews Vanessa L. Williams, business lawyer, about starting a 501(c)3 Tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Vanessa shares the common struggles that she sees with many nonprofits, as well as gives advice and tips on what documents people need to form a nonprofit organization. This episode provides a great umbrella to all the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization goodies that we will be rolling out in March. Want downloadable bylaws, articles of incorporation, conflict of interest policies, and more? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker membership for all of that and become a part of the tribe! Visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com for more information! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com Share this podcast and blog on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. To get involved with the Grant Writing & Funding Tribe: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Join the Tribe!

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) can strengthen your grant application in the eyes of a funding source. It demonstrates a strong, committed partnership to ensure the project can and will happen as it is laid out in the proposal. This commitment gives security to all the partners involved as well. Plus, MOUs are frequently REQUIRED when submitting grant applications and can be scored! Have a template to creating the highest scoring MOUs by listening to this podcast! Do you also want a downloadable MOU Template and Sample? Join the GW&F Membership by visiting www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Tune in and learn how to prepare an MOU that includes all the necessary details and will increase your chances of being awarded. Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @grantwriting_funding

Follow these tips and learn how to develop a strong letter of commitment. By preparing a quality letter to go along with your proposal, you will demonstrate to funders the high quality of your collaborative commitments. Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com Share this podcast and blog on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. To get involved with the Grant Writing & Funding Community: Join the Tribe!

The dreaded Letter of Support, yes, the one that you forgot to get and then upload the grant application you’ve been working on for weeks! You suddenly realize you forgot to get your partners to endorse your project. Eek! Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com Share this podcast and blog on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. To get involved with the Grant Writing & Funding Community: Join the Tribe!

Yes, it’s true, you need to ask some funding sources on a date before you actually go on a date. That’s what a Letter of Intent is all about. In order to get a date - you need to ASK for a date! Find out the tips on how to write a Letter of Intent! Also, check out the YouTube video and all the awesome sauce on our website for funding and grant writing! Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com Share this podcast and blog on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. To get involved with the Grant Writing & Funding Community: Join the Tribe!

Hi Changemakers, A Letter of Inquiry is a gateway to funding. This Letter of Inquiry, not to be confused with Letter of Intent, can be the difference between a foundation accepting a full application from your nonprofit or shutting you down. These are 10 steps to Write a Successful Letter of Inquiry that will secure your Invitation to Apply for a Grant #1 Alignment You will normally find requests for Letters of Inquiry from private foundations. Basically, they want to get a snapshot of what your nonprofit is all about before they consider inviting you to share more in a full proposal. Just because there is tons of money out there, doesn’t mean you should apply to every single foundation in the world. #2 Overall Tips on Format Be succinct. No flowery prose here. Be logical and make sure you include an objective, goal, and budget. Do not use cute, flowery, or whimsical language. Save that for your blog or journal. #3 Salutation Include the date you are submitting at the top of the page, as well as the person’s name and title of who it should be addressed to (find a NAME – never just write ‘To Whom it May Concern’), and the address of the foundation. Utilize the good ole' fashioned, “Dear NAME of PERSON”. #4 Introduction (one short paragraph) Unless otherwise required by the foundations you will include steps #3 through #9. Your opening paragraph is where you get the attention of your reviewers from the foundation. Keep this paragraph very short. Do not explain the need and how you will roll out the project, yet. #5 The Need or the Why (2-3 Paragraphs) You’ve already stated what you need, now state why you need it. Give a few stats to back up the need. Try to utilize stats or surveys that are within the previous five years. #6 Project (2+ paragraphs) Explain your goal List the objectives List the activities List your partners #7 Outcomes and Evaluations (1–2 paragraphs) What are the main outcomes? How will you evaluate this? #8 Validation of your Nonprofit (1–2 paragraphs) The last part is where you get to explain why your nonprofit is a rock star. Tell why your nonprofit is the best to carry out the activity. #9 Budget (1–2 paragraphs) Most funding sources would like a snapshot of the budget. If you have space include a little snapshot of a graph of the money. #10 Conclusion (1 short paragraph) Provide a ‘Thank you’ and appreciation for the reviewer’s time. Also include a contact name, email address and phone number. These are the 10 steps to completing a successful Letter of Inquiry. The other thing is by doing this Letter of Inquiry you really have to get clear on your project. The 15-page grant will feel like a cinch after doing this Letter of Inquiry! For full Checklists, more information and Letter of Inquiry Samples, sign up for the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership where you will get access. Send me an e-mail at hollywego@gmail.com if you would like to get it at the $27 per month deal to access online courses, videos, templates, and grant writing samples and get updates every month! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com Share this podcast and blog on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. To get involved with the Grant Writing & Funding Community: Join the Tribe!

Hi Changemakers, Happy 2019! In early December I finished facilitating a 10-week Strategic Planning Group. Those nonprofits are definitely set up and ahead of the curve in 2019! In any case, even if you haven’t sat down and did your planning yet, or even if you have, you are going to want to listen to this episode. This is a snapshot of one of the modules from the Strategic Planning Course. It is one that the nonprofits in the group got really excited about and will give you excellent tips on: How to get ahead of your 2019 and make sure that you have: Funding Success Eliminate Burnout Avoid Competition Before we get there, though, a quick reminder that we are starting our BETA Changemaker Membership soon and our Advanced Reader Team (ART)! I know I’ve been talking about it over the last few podcasts, but I really want to make sure that you get to take advantage of the Beta $27 per month deal. The amount will go up substantially in 2019, so if you want to get in at the $27 per month rate and STAY at that rate, then just send me a quick email at hollywego@gmail.com. The paid membership includes: Real awarded grant applications An archive of training videos on grant writing, research and, funding WOWS! Checklists for grants and funding Discounts on our services A community of other nonprofit organizations and grant writers Q & A sessions with yours truly I also have the Advanced Reader Team open right now – so if you would like to get on the ART, and have access to free e-books on grants and funding in exchange for reviews, then send me an e-mail at hollywego@gmail.com and just say add me to the ART! Okay, let’s get into your 2019 Calendar Tips. (Get your FREE Printable by clicking: https://www.grantwritingandfunding.com/057-your-best-year-how-increase-funding-eliminate-burnout-avoid-competition - or just visit www.grantwritingandfunding.com and go to podcast episode 57). The best thing to do is to print out a full-page of a 2019 calendar that lists all the months and dates, and a piece of paper. (Or download the FREE Printable), where we have everything set up for you! Here are some questions to consider: What are our nonprofit’s milestone events for 2019? What are other community-wide big events for 2019? Do we need to adjust the dates of our events? What are the grant and funding timelines in 2019? Click out episode 57 on www.grantwritingandfunding.com for your FREE Printable! Once you have really nailed down this calendar, then make it available and visible for your staff. Let people know what projects are in the works and what they should be prepping for. This activity really shouldn’t take very long at all yet will save your nonprofit hours and hours (maybe even eliminate repeating the same unsuccessful year) and will help everyone understand the vision. You can also: Mitigate having an unsuccessful fundraiser or missing a grant deadline simply by: Planning it in advance Getting corporate funders to commit to funding your event before others Prepping for grants! If you enjoy listening to this podcast, then please leave a review on iTunes or Stitcher! I love seeing reviews and personally read every single one of them! Talk with you all next week, as I share more grant writing and funding tips to help advance your nonprofit organization. Happy New Year! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com Share this podcast and blog on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. To get involved with the Grant Writing & Funding Community: Join the Tribe!

This word should guide you and keep you focused so you don’t get busy chasing the shiny pennies, trapped in projects that don’t meet your mission, or say yes (or no!) to partners that aren’t aligned with your vision. Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding

Check out WEGO Consulting’s Simple 10-Step Check to Write Winning Grants. Be sure to check all the guidelines, determine eligibility, prepare, take the steps to create a strong proposal. Then be sure to review and submit. Happy grant writing! Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding

This secret formula can unlock millions of dollars from the ether that are awaiting to be given to your nonprofit. It can increase partnerships and relationships at an exponential level. It can increase prosperity for your staff so that they are no longer glorified volunteers. Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding

This week’s podcast is focused on a wonderful question that we receive quite frequently. Thank you to Susan Silverman, President of the Women’s Tax Resolution Center, Inc. for asking, “My challenge is we are a very small and new nonprofit and don’t have enough of a track record for grants, etc. Do you have any thoughts on how we could get that first grant?” Tune in to learn six ways your organization can secure funding! Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding

This week we have so much to be thankful for! Tune in as we share 7 tips with you to increase your fundraising success around Thanksgiving. These ideas can be used for other holiday seasons throughout the year for fun, meaningful fundraising. Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding

As we are quickly approaching the holiday season we will be focusing on tips to help you with your organization's end of the year giving. Check out these 6 ways you can stand out on #GivingTuesday! Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding

In-kind resources are goods, services, and people who offset the costs to run your nonprofit organization; these are your budget relieving resources. Their value should be noted and is an important part of relationship building for nonprofit organizations. Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding

Be fearless in following your passions; much like the girls of Niñas Sin Miedo (Fearless Girls). Dylan Mehri shares the mission of Niñas Sin Miedo and his experience in fundraising for this international nonprofit in an exciting conversation with CEO of WEGO Grants, Holly Rustick. Tune into a stimulating and solution-oriented conversation on fundraising for international nonprofits. Looking to advance your grant writing skills? Join the Grant Writing & Funding Changemaker Membership! Get checklists, awarded grant samples, online courses, a tribe, and discounts on our services! Check out the GW&F Membership at www.grantwritingandfunding.com. Have a question related to grants or nonprofits? Send Holly an e-mail at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com! Warmly, Holly Listen to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or Stitcher or watch on YouTube! To share your thoughts: Send Holly an email at holly@grantwritingandfunding.com To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read all of them! Subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube. Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @ grantwriting_funding