A treasure trove of insights for anyone involved in the world of nonprofit grant writing. You’ll learn a lot from this vibrant conversation between host Julia Patrick and Libby Hikind, the founder and CEO of Grant Watch, affectionately known as the “Queen of Grants.” Libby shares her revolutionary approach to grant writing, emphasizing the ‘role of passion’ in crafting compelling proposals.
Libby discusses her book, which has quickly gained recognition, and reveals how the moniker “Queen of Grants” evolved from a podcast introduction to the title of her acclaimed book. As she begins her wisdom on grant writing, she says, “Your passion has to jump off the page and the reader has to buy in to what you’re saying. If it’s just clinical, right, if it’s just these needs and a bunch of statistics, it’s not engaging.”
Julia and Libby chat about the core principles of effective grant writing, highlighting Libby’s innovative PMF approach—Passion, Maps, and Folders. Libby explains that while clinical data is important, it’s the infusion of passion that makes a grant proposal stand out. She insists, “Passion maps and folders say it all. Your grant is an elevator pitch. Your passion has to be in there, and all the extraneous stuff needs to be trimmed away.”
The discussion takes a pragmatic turn as Libby explains how to balance passion with precise data, using real-world examples and personal anecdotes. She points to the importance of aligning your grant proposal with the mission and vision of the funding source, saying, “If their mission and vision is not what you’re interested in, why are you applying for the grant?” Libby also focuses on the need for consistency of communication across your nonprofit organization in order to avoid mismatches that could undermine your application’s effectiveness.
As you watch, Libby offers invaluable advice on the significance of relationships in the grant-writing process. Her enthusiasm for success is contagious!