Quick Tips
Three Common Language Traps in Grant Narratives
Part II of our series “The Power and Politics of Language in Grant Narratives” explores three common language traps in grant narratives and offers practical strategies to write more accurate, respectful, and grounded needs statements. It challenges grant writers to move beyond deficit-based and exaggerated language, and instead center community agency, context, and truth in their proposals.
Grant Writing. It’s Political. And Your Needs Statement Proves It.
Grant writing isn’t neutral. The language used in needs statements and project justifications shapes how communities are perceived—and funded. This blog explores how to write compelling narratives that tell the truth without reinforcing harmful deficit-based framing.
Preparing Now for the Earmark Window Ahead
Many organizations wrote off earmarks in 2025. That was a mistake. While headlines focused on partisan narratives, three appropriations minibus bills quietly moved through Congress — and they included Congressionally Directed Spending. Organizations that stayed engaged with their representatives and senators secured millions. Those who assumed earmarks were dead stopped paying attention and missed the window.
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.
What to Do When You’re Told “You’re Not a Fit”
If you are in federal grants long enough, you will hear it: “You’re not a fit.” In this blog, we name what “no” really means (and doesn’t), unpack a practical debrief process you can use immediately, and offer insight for building a resilient posture for the long game of federal funding. Most importantly, I’ll invite you to share your story, because our field is stronger when we compare notes.
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.
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.
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.
AI Tools That Are Changing the Game for Grant Writers
AI, when used well, can actually expand your power as a grant writer and equip you with tools that give you a head start, offer clarity, and free up your brain for the strategic decisions only you can make. In this Quick Tips post, I introduce you to three CustomGPTs—field-tested assistants I’ve built for the reality of small, capacity-strapped nonprofits who are doing this work without a full grant team.
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.
