Quick Tips
From Heart to Head: Preparing Your Narrative for Federal Grants
Transitioning from foundation grants to federal grant writing requires more than minor adjustments—it demands a fundamental mindset shift. While foundation proposals often lean on compelling stories and flexible formats, federal grants require structured, evidence-based narratives rooted in data, measurable objectives, and strict compliance with RFP guidelines. This blog outlines key differences in tone, structure, and expectations, and offers practical exercises to help writers adapt—from reframing emotional appeals with data, to aligning narratives with federal evaluation criteria. Whether or not you pursue federal funding, these skills will elevate the rigor and credibility of all your grant proposals.
Seven Reasons Why AI Won’t Replace Grant Writers
I believe that grant writing is more than a deliverable. While AI may support parts of the process, it will never understand the call to serve, to advocate, and to lead through language.
Federal grants are not won by shortcuts or chance. They are won through clarity, alignment, storytelling, and trust. These are all things that begin and end with people. So if you’re wondering whether the rise of AI means the fall of professional grant writers, rest easy.
As long as grants are written for humans, by humans, the craft will remain in human hands.
What My Cycle Taught Me About Writing Better Grants
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t usually come up in grant writing circles: menstrual cycles. For years, I’ve tracked it for the usual reasons—physical health, mood, energy. But lately, I’ve noticed something else: it’s a powerful creative tool.
The Elephant in the Room: Are Federal Grants Really Coming Back?
Federal grants are back—but with strings attached.
While billions in funding are available through 2025, new compliance rules, tighter oversight, and political shifts are changing the game. For nonprofits—especially those serving underresourced communities—it's a moment of both opportunity and risk. Learn how to navigate this new landscape.
Threads: The Key to Successful Grant Writing
Grant writing isn’t just about crafting compelling answers to specific prompts – it’s about making sure that every piece of the puzzle fits together. At the core of successful grant applications are threads: the essential connections between the need, the intervention, and the impact. Without strong threads, federal grant proposals can become disconnected, unfocused, and ultimately unsuccessful.