Fielding Jezreel 4/27/26 Fielding Jezreel 4/27/26

Shadow Work in Grants

Shadow work is the hidden labor behind every successful grant—from rebuilding budgets to chasing internal data. New research shows it’s costing organizations an average of $53,700 a year and forcing many to walk away from major funding opportunities. This post explores what’s really happening behind the scenes and why it’s time to rethink how grant work is supported.

Fielding Jezreel 2/16/26 Fielding Jezreel 2/16/26

Positioning Yourself for Federal Grants Using Your Existing Strengths

Federal grants are often seen as too big, too complex, or out of reach. In reality, readiness has less to do with size and more to do with clarity, consistency, and strong systems. Federal readiness is not about becoming something different. It is about making your work structured, measurable, and aligned with long-term growth.

Fielding Jezreel 7/7/25 Fielding Jezreel 7/7/25

Building Your Federal Grant Muscles

Right now, federal grants things are weird. But you don’t need a live opportunity to start preparing for future opportunities. Here are several things I recommend doing while you wait for opportunities to reappear.

Fielding Jezreel 6/9/25 Fielding Jezreel 6/9/25

Why We Can’t Afford to Sit Out

Lately, I’ve been hearing more and more organizations ask, “Should we even bother applying for federal grants right now?”

I get it. It feels uncertain. But your community work is worth the investment. Our communities are worth the paperwork. And showing up, even when it’s messy, is a form of advocacy. Which means we need to stay in the game and get smarter about how we play.