[#GrantNews] Stronger than Yesterday

Dear fellow grant pro,

If there is one thing I know deep in my gut as a grant professional and business owner, it is that change is inevitable.?

It may sound cheesy (my teenagers love to call out my cheesy moments, so I'm preempting them by calling it myself), but the way you, as well as your grant team and larger organization teams, adjust to changes that impact your plans, regardless of whether the change is good OR challenging, is what makes your nonprofit stronger and the impact of your mission greater.

As many of you know, I run, cycle, or lift nearly every morning. It fuels my work, it quiets my mind, and it reminds me that I AM STRONGER THAN YESTERDAY, even when something (workout, personal, or professional) may be tough.

The past few weeks, as I have been looking at the words on the wall in my home gym space, it feels like that phrase as been staring back at me with an increased intensity. The idea of being stronger than we were personally or collectively than yesterday is not new. The idea of responding to change over following a plan (whether the change is good or challenging) is not new. The muscles that we individually and collectively have built in the past - whether during community change, the COVD-19 pandemic, or any other change, are there. You may not have had to exercise them and build them every day, but trust me. They. Are. There.

As always, I am here to support you, just as you support me, as part of the larger grant professional community to thrive in times of change. I'm here for the good and for the challenging. That is why I would love for you to hit reply and share one way (or more if you like!) that YOU are stronger than yesterday.

Best regards,

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST

Grant Tip:?

Read your RFP or notice of funding once, twice, and three times for good measure.

Why? Because the details matter! The first read gives you an overview, the second helps you catch key requirements, and the third ensures you haven’t missed any deadlines, eligibility criteria, or funder priorities. A thorough review upfront saves time, prevents mistakes, and strengthens your proposal.

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