This week on the Nonprofit Jenni Show, we explore the career path of a grant writer. Whether you’re looking to learn new development skills, branch out as a freelance grant writer, or just scope out new career options, you’ll love this interview with Meredith Noble from Learn Grant Writing about the career journey of a grant writer.
Grant Writing Book Giveaway!
In our interview, Meredith gives a behind-the-scenes peek into her writing process because she just released the new edition of her book, “How to Write a Grant”. She’s been generous enough to let me give away two free copies of her book to a couple podcast listeners. Visit my Instagram for a chance to win a copy for you and a friend who want to learn more about starting a career as a grant writer!
I’m randomly selecting the winners on Thursday, July 1, so be sure to enter no later than Wednesday!
Why People Become Grant Writers
If you want to learn how to write a grant, I highly recommend checking out Meredith’s book or website. But in my podcast interview with Meredith, I wanted to focus on what it actually looks like to become a grant writer.
Through her book and online course, Meredith has worked with thousands of new and aspiring grant writers. I asked why her readers and students are attracted to this profession, and she offered a few great reasons. For instance, they often want:
A new career with greater purpose and meaning
A new skill set for the nonprofit career they already love
A fundraising experience that can help them land a full-time nonprofit job
A way to support a good cause without having to start or lead a nonprofit
A flexible career that complements their preferred lifestyle
Meredith was personally inspired by that last point. She became a freelance grant writer, and later a self-employed grant writing consultant/educator, so she could have more freedom to travel and go on wilderness adventures! (She’s basically the coolest.)
How to Get Started as a Grant Writer
Learn Grant Writing, Meredith’s company, teaches the “unicorn method” of becoming a grant writer. Meredith knows the struggle of breaking into a new field: “How do you get the entry level position if you don't have experience? Start by side hustling, gaining some experience, gaining confidence… Then you can either go into freelance contracting or go land a position [at a nonprofit].”
She shares some advice for finding your first grant writing clients:
Find opportunities by having informational interviews with organizations that you think you want to work with... [A]pproach that conversation from a place of curiosity and learning. So very low pressure; no “salesy-ness” to it at all. It's building your network in an organic and authentic way.
Often what happens is you do identify a need, and you say, “Hey, I could help you figure out what grants you should be focusing on for the next 12 months.” Then what often happens is you’re asked, “Okay, can we now extend our contract to have you implement that funding strategy?”
Then [this opportunity] opens the door for a larger grant writing contract contract, or take a full-time position at the organization.
Listen to the Full Episode
Listen to my full conversation with Meredith to start your grant writing journey:
Listen now on Apple Podcasts
Listen now on Spotify
Listen now on Google Podcasts
Jenni’s Favorite Resources This Week
BOOK GIVEAWAY — Meredith Noble, this week’s podcast guest and grant writing extraordinaire, is giving away a free copy of her new book How to Write a Grant on my Instagram! I’ll choose a winner on Thursday, July 2, so enter NOW before you forget!
Google Ad Grant Resources — My podcast sponsor Nonprofit Megaphone can help you get the Google Ad Grant, which gives your nonprofit $10,000 in free Google Ads every single month. Check out their website to learn more.
Build Your Nonprofit’s Financial Foundation — My podcast sponsor Visionary Accounting Group hosts this free half-hour webinar to help you learn the basics of nonprofit finance.
Data Fitness Review and Roadmap — My colleague Paul Collier (founder of CoEffect and recent podcast guest) is offering a 20% discount for Nonprofit Jenni Show listeners who need help defining a strategy to make impactful, data-driven decisions at their nonprofit. Learn how to collect, manage, and evaluate data to drive your nonprofit’s growth.
My once-per-week email newsletter — Get a short summary of every podcast episode plus free marketing and fundraising resources!
Personal Update + Connect With Jenni
This has been such a season of roller coasters as I’ve been simultaneously addressing a family emergency and working through some personal health issues.
One positive result of all the turmoil is that I’ve been reminded that everything really will be okay. If I can’t take new consulting clients, the nonprofit sector won’t collapse. If I have to tell someone I don’t have time to interview them for my podcast, they won’t die from disappointment.
So I’m refocusing my work on what I love the most: Connecting nonprofit leaders with one another, so we can all make each other stronger. I still love working one-on-one with consulting clients, but I want to spend more energy creating a space of connection and collaboration for nonprofit leaders through my new book club.
My pilot book club in June had only a handful of leaders involved, but I’m excited to open the group to new members this fall for our second book study! We will:
Read a professional development book together
Ask questions to get advice from other nonprofit leaders
Support one another by sharing our career experiences
If you want to get an update when new member applications are open, sign up for book club updates here.
What is your work focused on right now? Send me an email and let me know!