Grant Writing Experts Podcast

Instrumentl
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  • NON-PROFIT

The Grant Writing Expert Podcast brings you honest conversations and actionable insights from the front lines of nonprofit fundraising. Each episode features experienced grant professionals, nonprofit leaders, and funders who share what’s working, what’s changing, and how to navigate the evolving world of grants with confidence. This podcast is designed for nonprofit teams who want to write stronger proposals, build sustainable funding strategies, and stay ahead of industry shifts. Whether you're just starting in grant writing or managing a seasoned development team, you'll leave each episode with real-world advice you can put into practice.

Episodes

  1. SEP 17

    Finding Your Unicorn Funders | Elaine Navarro

    What if your grant strategy focused less on chasing every opportunity and more on finding the right funders who truly align with your mission? In this episode, we sit down with Elaine Navarro, founder and Chief Awesome Officer of Just Look Left Creative Grant Consulting, to learn how she identifies what she calls her “unicorn funders.” Elaine shares her proven process for evaluating grantmakers, spotting red flags, and building genuine, trust-based relationships that lead to long-term support. You’ll hear why general operating support and multi-year funding are signs of strong partners, how to validate whether a funder really walks the talk, and why pre-work and relationship-building matter more than cold applications. Whether you’re new to grant writing or a seasoned professional, this episode will give you a practical checklist to help you find — and keep — your own unicorn funders.

    31 min

  2. SEP 10

    Building a Grant Shortlist with Peer Prospecting | Kelsey Barrera

    In this episode of the Grant Writing Experts Podcast, we sit down with Kelsey Barrera, nonprofit strategist and founder of Canopy Nonprofit Consulting. Kelsey introduces her Peer Prospecting method — a practical, step-by-step approach to identifying funders by studying who supports your peer organizations. She shares how this strategy blends with tools like Instrumentl to create a focused, high-quality prospect pipeline. We also explore two common challenges Kelsey sees in her work: how unclear strategic planning and theory of change can sink grant proposals, and why board members should play a more active role in grant seeking. You’ll walk away with tactical tips to refine your funding strategy, strengthen relationships, and save time by focusing on the right opportunities.

    31 min

  3. SEP 3

    The Grant Budget as a Living Document | Deahna Moore

    In this episode of The Grant Writing Experts Podcast, we sit down with Deahna Moore, a freelance financial expert specializing in nonprofit finance and grant writing. Deahna shares her journey into the grants world and unpacks why financial literacy is essential for nonprofit success. She explores the role of storytelling in budgets, the challenges organizations face in securing capacity-building funding, and why collaboration between finance and program teams can make or break a proposal. Listeners will gain practical advice on approaching budgets as living documents, common misconceptions about capacity-building grants, and how starting small with grants can help new grant writers build confidence. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, grant consultant, or early-career grant writer, this conversation offers insights that will change how you think about budgets and funding.

    29 min

  4. AUG 27

    Designing Grant Teams That Work | Courtney Oliphant

    In this episode of The Grant Writing Expert Podcast, we talk with Courtney Oliphant, founder and CEO of Coastal Nonprofit Consulting. Courtney draws on more than a decade of experience to show why grant success depends on more than just writing proposals. She explains how nonprofits can assess their grant readiness, right-size their grant teams, and train grant professionals to act as translators between programs, finance, and leadership. Courtney also shares a practical grant tracker template her team uses to help organizations move from reactive grant chasing to proactive, strategy-driven fundraising. Whether you’re an executive director, development professional, or grant writer, this conversation will give you actionable tools to build lasting grant capacity and reduce the stress around fundraising.

    37 min

  5. AUG 20

    Rethinking Grants in Higher Ed: Getting a Seat at the Table | Maya Evans

    Higher ed grants offices are under pressure like never before: shrinking budgets, changing federal priorities, and rising expectations. In this episode, Maya Evans, founder of Leverage Education and certified grant writer, shares how colleges and universities can adapt their grant strategies for a turbulent future. She covers: Why grant offices must treat funding as seed money for bigger initiativesHow federal cuts are reshaping R1 institutions vs. community collegesWhy grant leaders need a seat at the strategic tableThe business model canvas as a survival tool for grants officesWhat higher ed can learn from startups and the corporate worldWhether you’re a grant director, strategist, or higher ed leader, this conversation offers practical insights to navigate 2025 and beyond.

    35 min

  6. AUG 15

    How to Rethink Your Grant Strategy When Federal Funding Disappears | Persis Loomis

    Welcome to The Grant Writing Expert Podcast. Today’s guest is Persis Loomis, a grant consultant with a unique perspective shaped by her early work at the National Park Service and her current focus supporting museums, libraries, and arts organizations across California. In this episode, Persis shares her insights on how the federal funding landscape has shifted, why many nonprofits are rethinking their reliance on federal grants, and how to design programs that remain fundable and mission-aligned, even in uncertain times. If your organization is navigating funding instability or planning ahead for 2026, this conversation offers timely, practical advice you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in.

    28 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

The Grant Writing Expert Podcast brings you honest conversations and actionable insights from the front lines of nonprofit fundraising. Each episode features experienced grant professionals, nonprofit leaders, and funders who share what’s working, what’s changing, and how to navigate the evolving world of grants with confidence. This podcast is designed for nonprofit teams who want to write stronger proposals, build sustainable funding strategies, and stay ahead of industry shifts. Whether you're just starting in grant writing or managing a seasoned development team, you'll leave each episode with real-world advice you can put into practice.

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