Show notes
Freelance Grant Writer Summit | Free, 2-Day Summit October 13th–14th
Learn how to find better-fit clients, confidently price your services, and build consistent freelance income through live trainings, panels, and coaching.
Save your free seat: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-summit
Every month on the Funded Series, Holly Rustick celebrates the incredible grant wins and business milestones happening inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and Grant Professional Mentorship.
This month, students reported 41 grant awards totaling $7,095,276, along with $480,340 in new client contracts—creating more than $7.5 million in combined impact in June alone.
But beyond the impressive numbers, Holly shares the bigger story behind the results. From diversified funding strategies and repeatable grant systems to value-based pricing, packaged services, and long-term client relationships, June demonstrated how successful grant writers aren't just winning more grants—they're building stronger, more sustainable businesses.
If you're ready to see what's possible when excellent grant strategy meets solid business practices, this episode is full of inspiration.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- Why June's 41 grant awards tell a bigger story than funding totals alone.
- The breakdown of foundation, state, federal, and community funding wins.
- What multiple grant awards reveal about building sustainable grant systems.
- Why diversified funding portfolios matter more than ever.
- How students secured nearly half a million dollars in new client contracts.
- The mindset shift from selling services to solving client problems.
- Why confidence is transforming grant writers' pricing and business decisions.
- How coaching supports business growth beyond grant writing skills.
- The role community plays in generating referrals, confidence, and professional growth.
- Why successful grant writers are becoming long-term strategic partners instead of transactional proposal writers.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS
June's student success stories highlighted an exciting trend: consistent, repeatable success.
Students secured:
- 41 grant awards
- $7,095,276 in grant funding
- 26 foundation grants
- 7 state grants
- 5 federal grants
- 3 additional local government and community funding awardsGrant awards ranged from $1,000 to an impressive $2,590,276 federal grant, proving that every award—large or small—creates meaningful impact for nonprofits.
On the business side, students reported:
- $480,340 in new client contracts
- Annual retainers
- Grant readiness packages
- Funding asset packages
- Grant research services
- Development consulting
- Grant writing engagements
- Long-term strategic partnerships
The largest client contract reached $48,000 annually, but Holly explains that the most important takeaway wasn't the dollar amount—it was the value-driven mindset students adopted to earn those contracts.
Throughout the month, one common theme appeared again and again:
Confidence.
Students shared wins like:
- Raising their prices.
- Transitioning from hourly billing to packaged services.
- Renewing existing clients at higher rates.
- Narrowing their services instead of discounting.
- Understanding the true value of their expertise.
The coaching experience also extended far beyond grant writing itself.
Students described receiving guidance on:
- Pricing strategies
- Service packages
- Simplifying grant narratives
- Strengthening goals and objectives
- Navigating client challenges
- Making confident business decisions
Perhaps most importantly, Holly reflects on how the Academy community itself has become one of the greatest competitive advantages for members through referrals, peer coaching, Slack conversations, and shared learning experiences.
Her biggest takeaway?
June wasn't simply about larger grant awards.
It was about building better grant writing businesses.
ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK
Grant 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, and service 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 RUSTICK
Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantWritingandFunding
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/mentorship
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Thanks for listening!
Warmly,
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