[Case Study] He Built his Grant Writing Client Base While Raising Four Kids and Working Full-Time

[FUNDED Series] September 2026: $6.2M in Grants Won + What Nonprofits Are Paying Grant Writers For? What are nonprofits hiring freelance grant writers to do, and what’s helping grant writers secure funding for their clients?In this FUNDED episode, Holly Rustick breaks down September 2026 wins reported by students in the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and Grant Professional Mentorship: 35 grant awards totaling $6.2 million and 24 client agreements worth $587,075.You’ll hear about:Paid grant research, readiness, and strategy projects.Monthly retainers and how initial projects became ongoing relationships.Adjusting services when a client’s budget changes.Student experiences using feedback to strengthen grant proposals.Plus, Holly shares one question to ask on your next client call to better understand what the nonprofit needs. Results are student-reported. Client contract totals include multi-month agreements and do not represent cash collected in September.Explore the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustickYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantWritingandFundingRESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

In what she shares will be her final public media appearance, Bev Browning joins Holly Rustick for a deeply personal conversation about her extraordinary 55-year journey in the grant writing industry, the lessons she learned building a grant writing business before freelancing was commonplace, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.Bev takes us back to the 1970s, when she wrote her first successful grant without even knowing exactly what a grant was. From launching her own consulting business and building a team to becoming the author of Grant Writing for Dummies and training grant writers across the country, she shares how the industry, and her own relationship with the work, has evolved.Holly and Bev also explore what today’s grant writers can learn from the old-school approach to business development, why critical thinking matters more than ever in the age of AI, and why grant writers need strong client boundaries and confidence in the value of their expertise.But this conversation is about more than grant writing. Bev opens up about stepping away from social media, focusing on her faith, family, health, and philanthropy, and finding peace in this next chapter of her life.It’s a conversation about building a career, knowing when to close a door, treating people with kindness, and recognizing that success is about far more than revenue.ABOUT OUR GUESTBev Browning is a veteran grant writing professional, trainer, consultant, and author whose career in the grant writing industry spans more than five decades. She began writing grants in the 1970s and went on to build a grant consulting business, train grant writers and nonprofit professionals, and author books including Grant Writing for Dummies.Throughout her career, Bev has worked with organizations across the United States and beyond, while helping generations of grant professionals develop their skills. Today, she has stepped away from grant writing and social media and is focusing on her faith, health, family, theological studies, and philanthropy.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTBev Browning has stepped away from social media and shared in this interview that she does not want to invite public feedback or outreach.OTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

What happens when your nonprofit does meaningful work, but the results don’t look exactly like the projections you put in your grant proposal? Grant reports can be stressful when programs shift, goals change, or your nonprofit simply doesn’t have the budget for sophisticated evaluation. But that doesn’t mean your organization failed to make an impact.In this episode, Holly Rustick welcomes back Sean Kosofsky, The Nonprofit Fixer, to explore creative ways nonprofits and grant writers can demonstrate impact beyond traditional metrics.Sean shares several strategies from his “18 Ways to Measure Impact” framework, including mission achievement, goal achievement, reputation, technology, talent acquisition, resilience, social proof, people power, and even the problems your organization has prevented.The conversation also explores why momentum matters when communicating with funders, how grant writers can tell a stronger story when projected outcomes change, and how demonstrating organizational strength can help deepen funder relationships.If you write grant reports, manage grants, work with nonprofit clients, or raise money for a nonprofit, this episode will help you recognize—and communicate—the impact that traditional metrics may miss.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why momentum can be an important part of your nonprofit’s impact storyHow to communicate impact when projected grant outcomes changeWays to demonstrate mission and goal achievement beyond traditional metricsHow reputation and social proof can strengthen your case to fundersWhy technology, talent, infrastructure, and organizational resilience matterHow relationships, trust, and “people power” demonstrate organizational strengthWhy nonprofits should consider what their work has prevented—not only what they have producedHow grant writers can use these ideas when preparing grant reports and renewal requestsWhy broader organizational impact can help strengthen conversations about general operating supportABOUT OUR GUESTSean Kosofsky is The Nonprofit Fixer and a nonprofit strategist with experience leading nonprofit organizations and helping mission-driven organizations strengthen their fundraising, leadership, and organizational capacity.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTWebsite: https://nonprofitfixer.com/18 Ways to Measure Impact: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/18-creative-ways-infographic CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustickYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantWritingandFundingOTHER RESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

In this podcast episode, you hear from four freelance grant writers and how they got their first grant writing clients. Some had no grant writing experience and others just had no business (marketing or sales) experience. In all cases, they got their clients and are building freelance grant writing businesses that are replacing full-time jobs. ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustickYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantWritingandFundingRESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

In this podcast episode, you hear from three freelance grant writers and how they made their first $100K in their grant writing business. All are using retainers, and two don't even have a website. You'll get takeaways at how Dr. Melvin got a client at his dentist, how Payton empowers her family members as ambassadors, and how Staci went from burned out executive director to now hiring freelance grant writers in her ever-growing business.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustickYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantWritingandFundingRESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.

This is a bonus podcast with a special co-host from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy program!From Unsure Where to Start to Confidently Pricing Her Services with Paulette Moore. Paulette wanted to become a grant writer, but had never owned a business and didn’t have a clear plan for getting startedIn this episode, Paulette shares how the Freelance Grant Writer Academy gave her mentorship, coaching, and practical tools to start landing clients and building her business.After underpricing her first grant prospecting project, she raised her prices, and landed more clients.You’ll hear how Paulette gained confidence in selling her services and communicating the value of her expertise.“I’m not giving it away for free anymore.”Ready to build your freelance grant writing business? Explore the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.

This is a bonus podcast with a special co-host from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy program!From Fundraising Experience to Freelance Business Confidence with Cassandra Grimes. Cassandra Grimes had experience in philanthropic fundraising, but wanted help building a freelance business of her own.In this episode, Cassandra shares how the Freelance Grant Writer Academy helped her gain confidence in her pricing—and how her first non-referral client through the Grant Writer Directory became a year-long contract.Since joining, she’s reported $115,200 in client wins and $6.4 million in grants won for clients.You’ll hear how she moved beyond offering “bare-bones” prices and learned to recognize the value of her expertise.Ready to build your freelance grant writing business? Explore the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.

This is a bonus podcast with a special co-host from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy program!From Stuck to a $7,500 Grant Writing Contract with Tamara Crump. Knowing how to write grants is one thing. Knowing how to package and price your services is another.In this episode, Tamara Crump shares how the Freelance Grant Writer Academy helped her turn years of grant experience into clear packages, retainers, and greater confidence as a business owner; leading to a $7,500 contract.You’ll hear how Tamara moved beyond hourly pricing and started building her business around the work she wanted to do.“I just made back my money, and then some, with one contract.”Ready to build the business behind your grant writing skills? Explore the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.

This is a bonus podcast with a special co-host from the Freelance Grant Writer Academy program!From 30 Grant Rejections to a Growing Grant Writing Business with Ken McQuiller. Ken started writing grants to support his nonprofit. After roughly 30 rejections, he committed to learning the process—and eventually launched Nonprofit Missionary to help other faith-based nonprofits fund their missions.In this episode, Ken shares how the Freelance Grant Writer Academy helped him build the business systems, connections, and confidence to grow.You’ll hear how he gained three to four clients, built relationships through the Academy community, and strengthened his proposals through grant reviews; leading to more grant wins.His advice to aspiring freelance grant writers? “Trust the process.”Ready to build your freelance grant writing business? Explore the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.Connect with Ken at Nonprofit Missionary.

In the final episode of the Marketing Series for Freelance Grant Writers, your host Holly Rustick talk about how to get fully booked out in Q4 with your grant writing services by following 5 simple steps.ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICKGrant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the Bestselling book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICKWebsite: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustickYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantWritingandFundingRESOURCES:Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorshipRATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCASTFavor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.Thanks for listening!Warmly,Holly RustickLeading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.