[#GrantNews] Remember Your First Grant Win?

Dear fellow grant pro,

Do you remember what was the first grant you wrote?

Do you remember how stressed you were as you submitted it?

Or perhaps the first grant you were awarded a grant?

Do you remember how excited you were?

I do and don’t, all at the same time. Those answers have instead become more of a combined memory influenced by the highs and lows of the past 20+ years in the field as a grant seeker.

TWENTY PLUS?! How is that possible?!? Thanks, I agree, lol.

As we look to the end of this calendar year, and the start of the next, I’d love it if you took a moment to share what was the first grant you were ever awarded. I’d love to help celebrate your past hard work (grant happy dances optional) as a way to help you reflect you HOW FAR you’ve come since you started this work, whether it was just last month, or more years ago than you can believe.

Regardless, I hope that pride in your work carries you into 2025 with optimism and enthusiasm for the continued impact our work as grant professionals has in our communities.

Happy Holidays,

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST

Please note: Our offices will be closed from December 24th through January 1st. Leading up to the year-end closure, our team is committed to ensuring all necessary work is prepared and completed to ensure all surrounding deadlines are met.

Grant Tip:?

Implementing a grant means doing what you said you would, when you said you would, how you said you would. And when things change, as they very may well in implementation, talk to the grantmakers first before having to ask for forgiveness.

Hot Off the Press

4 Ways Effective Grant Management Impacts Nonprofit Finances

Guest post by: Jon Osterburg by Jitasa

Every grant your nonprofit secures brings you closer to advancing your mission, but effective grant management is essential to make the most of these vital funds. This guide dives into key strategies for budgeting, managing funding restrictions, tracking revenue, and reporting—ensuring each grant drives meaningful change for your organization.

Discover actionable tips, including:

• Aligning grant budgets with your annual financial plan.
• Strategically addressing funding restrictions.
• Recording grant revenue accurately and transparently.
• Simplifying reporting processes to stay compliant and build funder trust.

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