Episode Details

Not all consulting projects are created equal—and how they're funded can have a major impact on their success. In this episode of Stepping In It, Renee Schulte and Jason Haglund explore the differences between direct and third-party consultant funding, sharing real-world examples of what works, what doesn't, and why alignment matters. They discuss the opportunities that grant-funded technical assistance can create, the challenges of mismatched expectations, and how organizations can make the most of one-time funding opportunities. Whether you're a consultant, healthcare leader, or policymaker, this conversation offers practical insights for building projects that create lasting value instead of reports that collect dust.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand the differences between direct and third-party consultant funding models.
• Learn the benefits and challenges of grant-funded technical assistance for organizations and consultants.
• Discover why alignment between funders, consultants, and organizations is critical for successful outcomes.
• Explore how Rural Health Transformation funding, opioid settlement dollars, and other federal investments are creating new opportunities for rural healthcare innovation.
• Gain practical advice for evaluating consulting opportunities and ensuring projects remain sustainable after funding ends.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 – Introduction & Preparing for Harvest Season

00:02:07 – Why Funding Structure Changes the Consulting Relationship

00:02:57 – Understanding Third-Party Funded Consulting Projects

00:04:12 – When "Free" Technical Assistance Creates More Work Than Value

00:06:01 – The Benefits of Third-Party Funding and Expert Partnerships

00:07:17 – Why Shovel-Ready Projects Are Best Positioned for One-Time Funding

00:09:06 – Common Pitfalls: Poor Consultant Matches and Misaligned Goals

00:11:02 – Due Diligence: Knowing When to Walk Away from Free Funding

00:12:41 – What Technical Assistance Is—and What It Isn't

00:14:02 – Lessons from Incomplete Projects and Funding That Ends Too Soon

00:17:07 – Asking Better Questions Before Accepting Technical Assistance

00:18:01 – Delays, Federal Funding, and the Challenges of One-Time Dollars

00:19:15 – Rural Health Transformation Funding and Opportunities for Consultants

00:21:20 – Resources in the Show Notes: Rural Health, Healthy Hometowns, and Opioid Settlement Funding

00:21:54 – Why Buildings Alone Don't Transform Care: Policy, Practice, and Coordination Matter

Links:

• https://www.iowapca.org/healthyhometownsiowa
• https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/rural-health-transformation-rht-program/overview
• https://www.iowacounties.org/member-resources/opioid-settlement-resources/ 

Connect with us: 

https://ruralpolicypartners.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/ 

https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners

https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Nk0EJSr-O6A