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

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 awards
  Grant 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 gran