GrantTalk

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May 2026

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GrantTalk: Listen to Grant Success Stories and Grant Funders GrantTalk explores the positive impact grants have on people, communities, and programs. We talk to nonprofit leaders, business executives, and development directors who have navigated the grant application process, sharing their challenges and triumphs. Our podcast also features conversations with a variety of funding sources (grantmakers), offering insights into what they look for in successful grant applications. Join us on GrantTalk to hear inspiring stories and gain valuable tips for making a difference through grants.

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55 recent

May 3, 2026Episode 5722 min

GrantTalk Episode 54: What Funders Really Want | Margaret Leverett (CHC)

In this episode of GrantTalk, Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch, sits down with Margaret Leverett, President of the Board of Directors of the CHC Foundation, to reveal what funders really look for when reviewing grant applications. If you have ever wondered why some grants get funded while others are rejected, this conversation gives you a rare behind-the-scenes look directly from a foundation decision-maker. You will learn: - What foundations evaluate when reviewing grant proposals - Why establishing need is the most important part of your application - How budgets, bids, and financials impact funding decisions - What happens after you submit your grant (including site visits) - Common mistakes that can disqualify your application - Why you should never spend money before receiving a grant award - How partnerships and “skin in the game” improve your chances Even if you are not applying to this specific foundation, these insights apply to grant applications across nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and organizations of all sizes. Grant writing is not just about filling out forms. It is about telling a clear, compelling story that funders believe in and trust. 🔎 Looking for grants? Explore thousands of verified funding opportunities on GrantWatch: 👉 https://grantwatch.com/ 🧠 Try GrantWatch’s AI-powered tools to streamline your process, stay organized, and improve your proposals. 📚 Get the book The Queen of Grants: 👉 https://grantwatch.com/book

May 3, 2026Episode 5626 min

GrantTalk Episode 53: Grant Writing Secrets from the Grant Professionals Association (GPA)

n this episode of GrantTalk, GrantWatch Founder & CEO Libby Hikind sits down with Mike Chamberlain, CEO of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), to uncover what it really takes to succeed in grant writing. They discuss how grant professionals find the right funding opportunities, why matching the right grant matters, how GPA supports grant writers with community and training, and how nonprofits can avoid wasting time on the wrong grants. The conversation also touches on the ethical use of AI in grant writing and how tools like GrantWatch help streamline grant research. 👉 Subscribe for weekly nonprofit funding insights 🔗 Search thousands of live grant opportunities at GrantWatch.com 🔗 Join GPA: https://grantprofessionals.org (membership details there) 🔗 Libby's book The Queen of Grants: https://libbyhikind.com/book/the-queen-of-grants/ #GrantWriting #NonprofitFunding #GrantProfessionals #GPA #GrantWatch #GrantTalk #GrantsForNonprofits #AIinGrants

February 18, 2026Episode 5526 min

GrantTalk Ep 52: Boundless Futures: Fueling Women Founders with Grit, Grants, and Guidance

What does it really take to get funding as a woman entrepreneur and how do you know if you’re ready? In this episode of GrantTalk, host Libby Hikind, founder of GrantWatch.com, speaks with Soon Hagerty, co-founder of Boundless Futures Foundation, a nonprofit awarding $10,000–$30,000 grants to early-stage female founders and $100,000 grants to mission-led nonprofits. Soon’s journey from fleeing Vietnam as a child to becoming an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, and philanthropic leader is a masterclass in grit, clarity, and heart. You’ll learn: What funders actually look for in a grant applicant Why AI can support grant writing but can’t replace passion or capacity How motherhood and business fuel each other (even when it feels impossible) Why mentorship and community are just as valuable as funding The mindset shift every founder needs: Start anyway If you’re dreaming of launching a business, searching for grants, or building something that matters, this is your sign.

February 10, 2026Episode 527 min

GrantTalk Episode 4: Help Comes to Haiti and the Mississippi Delta with Nonprofit Grants

Welcome to another captivating episode of GrantTalk, powered by GrantWatch, with your host Libby Hikind! Join us as we explore grants and grant writing from every angle. In today’s episode, we are joined by Dina Ray, the Director of Development at But God Ministries. Dina tells us all about the wonderful work her faith-based nonprofit organization does to elevate underserved communities. From the political chaos of Haiti to the Mississippi Delta, But God Ministries continually strives to help provide basic human necessities according to their own unique model. They offer spiritual guidance, medical care, education, housing, economic relief, and food to anyone in need. You’ll learn how Dina brilliantly navigates the grant funding landscape to find the grants she needs and how she cultivates lasting relationships with her funders. Finally, she and Libby trade tips and hacks that make finding grants on GrantWatch easier. So, settle in and prepare for an unforgettable audio adventure with Libby Hikind and GrantTalk.

February 10, 2026Episode 5420 min

GrantTalk Ep 51: Unlock Trail Funding: Trans Canada Trail Grants Revealed!

🌲 Discover the Power of Trails with Trans Canada Trail on GrantTalk! 🌄 Join host Libby Hikind, founder of GrantWatch.com and author of The Queen of Grants, as she dives into the world of trail funding with Ainsley Monroe and Heidi Tillmanns from Trans Canada Trail. Learn how this organization supports 30,000 km of trails across Canada, from hiking and cycling to indigenous-led projects and tree planting! 🚴‍♀️🌳 In this episode, we explore: How to apply for Trans Canada Trail grants (up to $60,000!) for infrastructure, signage, and community projects. Insider grant writing tips to avoid common mistakes and boost your application success. The impact of trails on tourism, local economies, and mental health. Advice for U.S. organizations looking to fund similar trail projects through groups like American Trails. 🔥 Don’t miss out! Hit the SUBSCRIBE button and comment “trails” below to stay updated on funding opportunities! Visit tctrail.ca for grant details and find more funding sources at GrantWatch.com. 🥾💰

September 11, 2025Episode 5318 min

GrantTalk Ep 50: Grants to Protect Arctic Wildlife | World Wildlife Fund

Calling all arctic wildlife enthusiasts! ❄️☃️🐻‍❄️ ➡️ In this episode of GrantTalk, Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch and author of The Queen of Grants, sits down with Elisabeth Kruger, Manager of Arctic Wildlife at the World Wildlife Fund, to uncover how enthusiasts of arctic wildlife, habitats, and communities can receive funding for their conservation research projects. 💼 🌟 About GrantWatch 🌟 Libby Hikind, author of The Queen of Grants: From Teacher to Grant Writer to CEO, founded GrantWatch.com, the largest advanced grant search engine in the United States. The platform features over 10,000 active, verified, and human-curated grant opportunities in more than 60 funding categories. Additionally, it serves nonprofits, small businesses, government agencies, tribal governments, and individuals seeking grant funding. GrantWatch also offers innovative funding tools like the AI Grant Writing Tool, AI Grant Searching Tool, and My Grant Calendar, making it easier to find grants, track deadlines, and draft proposals. Members can upgrade to MemberPlus+ for complete grant details, eligibility criteria, and application information. With 21 powerful features, live customer support, and weekly GrantTalk podcast episodes, GrantWatch is the go-to resource for finding grants and turning funding opportunities into awarded grant. 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of GrantTalk and to never miss a new way to grow your business and network! Explore more about GrantWatch: https://www.grantwatch.com/ https://www.grantwatch.com/granttalk/ https://www.grantwatch.com/book

August 26, 2025Episode 5223 min

GrantTalk Ep 49: An Organization That Helps Artists | Huntington Arts Council

What happens when creativity meets community? 🎨🩰 ➡️ In this episode of GrantTalk, Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch and author of The Queen of Grants, sits down with Patty Eljaiek, Grants Coordinator for the Huntington Arts Council, to uncover how arts funding transforms lives, fuels local economies across Long Island, New York, and empowers artists to keep creating through fellowships, general operating support, and community impact grants. 💼 🌟 About GrantWatch 🌟 Libby Hikind, author of The Queen of Grants: From Teacher to Grant Writer to CEO, founded GrantWatch.com, the largest advanced grant search engine in the United States. The platform features over 10,000 active, verified, and human-curated grant opportunities in more than 60 funding categories. Additionally, it serves nonprofits, small businesses, government agencies, tribal governments, and individuals seeking grant funding. GrantWatch also offers innovative funding tools like the AI Grant Writing Tool, AI Grant Searching Tool, and My Grant Calendar, making it easier to find grants, track deadlines, and draft proposals. Members can upgrade to MemberPlus+ for complete grant details, eligibility criteria, and application information. With 21 powerful features, live customer support, and weekly GrantTalk podcast episodes, GrantWatch is the go-to resource for finding grants and turning funding opportunities into awarded grant. 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of GrantTalk and to never miss a new way to grow your business and network! Explore more about GrantWatch: https://www.grantwatch.com/ https://www.grantwatch.com/granttalk/ https://www.grantwatch.com/book

July 28, 2025Episode 5120 min

GrantTalk Ep 48 | Grants That Strengthen Operations | The Nonprofit Management Fund

GrantTalk Ep 48: Building Capacity Through Collaboration — The Nonprofit Management Fund with Eloiza Altoro GrantTalk is back with another insightful episode hosted by Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, and author of The Queen of Grants! 👑 📚 Comment "Management" below to get in touch with the Fund. In this episode, Libby sits down with Eloiza Altoro, Fund Advisor for the Nonprofit Management Fund in Wisconsin — a collaborative funding initiative that’s been supporting capacity building for over 30 years. 💼✨ Together, they explore: ✅ How the Nonprofit Management Fund helps nonprofits strengthen operations through consulting and capacity-building grants ✅ Why the fund doesn’t pay for individual grant writers — but does offer cohort training and fundraising bootcamps ✅ How demand for grants has surged in 2025 — and how the fund responded by front-loading disbursements ✅ What makes a strong grant application (Hint: Read the funder’s website first!) ✅ Why building relationships and context with funders matters more than ever ✅ The collaborative power behind eight funding partners working together to build nonprofit resilience 🎯 Funders featured include: The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation Greater Milwaukee Foundation United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Northwestern Mutual Rockwell Automation Bader Philanthropies, Inc. Zilber Family Foundation Daniel M. Soref Charitable Trust Plus: Libby shares why a simple coffee mug on a desk can say, “We won a grant,” and how small gestures celebrate big wins in the nonprofit world. ☕🏆 💬 Want to learn more? Drop the word management in the comments if you'd like to see this model replicated in your own community! 📅 Recorded: April 6 at 11:45 AM CST / 12:45 PM EST 🎙 Guest: Eloiza Altoro, Fund Advisor 🏢 Organization: Nonprofit Management Fund (Wisconsin) 🔔 Subscribe for more GrantTalk episodes, expert tips, and real stories of grant success. Let’s build something powerful — together. #NonprofitGrants #CapacityBuilding #MilwaukeeNonprofits #GrantTalk #LibbyHikind #GrantWritingTips #CollaborativeFunding #NonprofitLeadership #GrantWatch #TheQueenOfGrants

June 30, 2025Episode 5017 min

GrantTalk Ep 47 | How One Nonprofit Got $4,500 to Build Ramps for Seniors and Veterans | RiverLife

GrantTalk is back with another powerful episode, hosted by Libby Hikind, Founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, and author of The Queen of Grants! 👑 📚 In this episode, Libby sits down with Melanie Reeves, Executive Director of RiverLife. This Georgia-based nonprofit has transformed lives through wheelchair ramps, home repairs, disaster relief, and compassionate volunteer service . 💪🏽🏡✨ 💬 Melanie shares how RiverLife mobilizes volunteers to meet critical needs for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities — and how they secured a $4,500 grant through GrantWatch to build five wheelchair ramps that helped individuals like 83-year-old Miss Mary regain access to her church and community. They explore: ✅ How RiverLife was born from Melanie’s vision to bring church and community together ✅ The powerful impact of a single wheelchair ramp on someone’s independence ✅ RiverLife’s rapid grant success after subscribing to GrantWatch ✅ Their collaborative, faith-driven approach to volunteer mobilization ✅ Lessons from their response to a devastating EF4 tornado — and how it shaped their disaster relief program ✅ Tips for writing grants that align with a funder’s mission and values 🎯 Plus: Libby dives into how RiverLife is building internal grant writing capacity, and how their very first grant created a cascade effect that positions them for even greater funding success. 📅 Current Grant Opportunity: The Ramlose Foundation Grant offers up to $6,000 to nonprofits in Georgia and other New England states for human services, special needs, and community impact. Deadline: August 31, 2025. GrantWatch ID: #214675 🔗 Links & Resources: 💸 Ramlose Foundation Grant via GrantWatch: https://www.grantwatch.com/grant/214675 🌐 RiverLife Website: https://livetheriverlife.com/ 📬 Contact Melanie Reeves: mreeves@livetheriverlife.com 📖 Libby’s Book – The Queen of Grants: https://www.grantwatch.com/book 🔍 Search More Grants on GrantWatch: https://www.grantwatch.com 📱 Follow RiverLife on Instagram: @livetheriverlife

June 20, 2025Episode 4922 min

GrantTalk Ep 46 | $200K in Grants for Arts and Science Immigrant Organizations, The Vilcek Foundation

GrantTalk is back with another powerful episode, hosted by Libby Hikind, Founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, and author of The Queen of Grants! 👑 📚 In this episode, Libby sits down with Elizabeth (Liz) Boylan, Grants Officer at The Vilcek Foundation. This private operating foundation celebrates the vital contributions of immigrants to the arts and sciences in the United States. 🌎🎨🧬 💬 Liz shares how the foundation not only uplifts immigrant voices through grant funding but also awards unrestricted $200,000 prizes to outstanding foreign-born artists, curators, and scientists whose work shapes American culture and progress. They explore: ✅ The origins of The Vilcek Foundation and its immigrant founders’ vision ✅ How nonprofits can apply for grants to support immigrant artists and communities ✅ Who qualifies for the $200K Vilcek Prizes, and how recipients are selected ✅ The foundation’s commitment to Native American land acknowledgment and inclusive exchange ✅ Real examples of immigrant excellence — from visual arts to biomedical science ✅ The kinds of projects that excite the foundation most and what they’re looking for in future grantees 🎯 Plus: Libby asks how posting the grant on GrantWatch.com has helped the foundation spread its mission and reach more nonprofits across the U.S. and its territories. 📅 Current Grant Opportunity: Open now through June 30, 2025, for nonprofits supporting immigrant artists! Grants promote diversity in the arts, sciences, education, and humanities. 🔗 Links & Resources: 💸 Vilcek Foundation Immigrant Artists Grant (via GrantWatch): https://www.grantwatch.com/grant/218157 🌐 The Vilcek Foundation Website: https://vilcek.org/ 📬 Contact Liz Boylan: elizabeth.boylan@vilcek.org 🔍 Find More Grants on GrantWatch: https://www.grantwatch.com 📖 Libby’s Book – The Queen of Grants: https://www.grantwatch.com/book