Episode Details
Back to EpisodesBonus Ep: Do Clients Really Pay Every Month? The Truth About Grant Writing Retainers
Description
Have you ever wondered whether nonprofits really need grant writing support every month, or if clients will eventually stop paying once they have a few grant templates in hand?
In this episode, Holly answers two of the most common questions aspiring freelance grant writers ask: Do clients actually have ongoing work every month? And why wouldn’t they simply reuse your previous grant applications instead of continuing to hire you?
The answer comes down to understanding the difference between being a grant writer and being a grant strategist.
Holly breaks down how successful freelance grant writers build recurring revenue through monthly retainers, why nonprofits need ongoing strategic support long after a grant is submitted, and how retainers create predictable income for both you and your clients. She also shares why strong grant writing is never a one-and-done service—and why organizations continue investing in expert guidance month after month.
If you've ever worried that grant writing income is inconsistent or dependent on constant proposal deadlines, this episode will show you a more sustainable path forward.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why the best freelance grant writers don't charge per grant
• What a grant writing retainer actually includes
• The ongoing work nonprofits need every month beyond writing proposals
• Why grant templates are only the beginning—not the finished product
• How retainers create predictable income and business stability
• The difference between being a grant writer and a grant strategist
• How recurring revenue allows you to stop chasing clients and start building a business
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, 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 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
RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCAST