Episode Details

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

The 2026 tax change quietly handed nonprofits a fundraising gift, and most of them have no idea. In this episode, Holly breaks it down in plain English: what changed, who it actually helps, who it does not, and exactly how you can turn it into real value for your clients and new business for you. No tax degree required.

In this episode:

• The new rule that lets everyday donors get a tax break for giving again (and why it's permanent this time)
• Who this really helps: small nonprofits and the everyday donors they run on
• Who barely notices (spoiler: the super rich) and who actually feels the pinch (the middle)
• What the big nonprofit groups say: the National Council of Nonprofits, Independent Sector, and others fought for the everyday-donor break, but warn the full package could be a net negative for giving
• The Council Corner: the real question isn't "good or bad," it's "who's going to use it"
• The simple steps to bring this to your clients without sounding like a tax advisor

Quick reminder: this episode is for learning, not tax advice. Always send clients to a qualified tax preparer for the specifics.

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/

RESOURCES:

IRS, One, Big, Beautiful Bill: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions 

The Giving Block, 2026 Universal Charitable Deduction Now in Effect: https://thegivingblock.com/resources/2026-universal-charitable-deduction-now-in-effect/

Kiplinger, 3 Major Changes to the 2026 Charitable Deduction: https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/major-changes-to-the-charitable-deduction

Thomson Reuters, OBBB Charitable Deduction Rules Reshape Giving Strategies: https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/obbb-charitable-deduction-rules-reshape-giving-strategies/

Independent Sector, Support Grows for Universal Charitable Deduction: https://independen