Episode
The Funded Series: $4M in Grant + Client Wins (What Worked in July)
- Podcast
- Grant Writing & Funding
- Published
- Sep 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 777
- Processing state
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Summary
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 What if the biggest opportunity in grant funding right now isn’t federal money at all? In this episode of The Funded Series, Holly Rustick breaks down the real grant and client wins reported by members of the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and Grant Professional Mentorship in July 2026—and the numbers challenge some of the biggest assumptions in the grant writing industry. In just one month, 41 grant wins totaled $3,511,001.88 for nonprofit clients. And while federal grants are often treated like the “big leagues,” private and family foundations accounted for 30 of those wins and 76.6% of all grant dollars awarded. Holly digs into what these numbers mean for grant writers and nonprofits, why local government funding deserves a place in your funding strategy, and what the stories behind the wins reveal about building a sustainable grant writing business. She also flips the ledger to look at the money grant writers generated for themselves: 32 client wins totaling $526,234. Retainers led the way, with renewals and upsells showing why your next revenue opportunity may already exist within your current client relationships. You’ll also hear what grant writers said actually helped them close business—from pricing and offer feedback to coaching, ethical sales strategies, and peer support—and why learning to confidently charge for your expertise can be just as important as learning how to write a winning grant. If you’re waiting for federal funding, constantly chasing new leads, underchar…