Fund the Future: A grant writing experience

 Dr. Beverly A. Browning, known as Dr. Bev, is a distinguished grant writing expert and founder of the Grant Writing Training Foundation. With over 50 years of experience, she has helped clients secure more than $750 million in grant awards across various sectors, including government, education, healthcare, and Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Bev offers live, interactive courses, including a 15-week Coaching and Mentoring program and a 4-week course on The Business Side of Grant Writing for Freelance Consultants, as well as specialized training in negotiating skills and nonprofit board capacity building. She is the prolific author of 48 grant-related publications, including seven editions of Grant Writing For Dummies. Dr. Bev’s work combines deep expertise with a commitment to empowering grant professionals, nonprofit leaders, and government agencies nationwide. 

dummieauthor6@gmail.com

Dr. Krista Kurlinkus, founder of Grant Writing Made Easy and an experienced grant writing consultant, has an impressive background as a Ph.D. in English-Rhetoric, Composition & Literacy Studies from The Ohio State University. Her ten years in grant writing consulting and grant writer education have established her as a nationally recognized expert in the field of grant writing. She is also a GPA-approved and CFRE-pre-approved grant writing trainer.

Through her groundbreaking online courses, Dr. Kurlinkus has revolutionized grant writing education, equipping tens of thousands of changemakers across the globe with the skills to effectively articulate their organization's mission and programs, secure crucial funding, and bring their transformative projects to life.

As a sought-after educator and active grant writing consultant, she continues to be at the forefront of grant writing and technology, equipping aspiring grant writers with the tools they need to succeed.

Krista@kristakurlinkus.com

 Holly Alsop is a master grant professional and innovative AI prompt developer who has revolutionized grant writing through her firm One Click Grants, where she has secured over $22.5M in funding across 17 clients of nonprofits with an impressive 80% award rate. As a certified grant writer and fund development specialist, she combines traditional expertise with cutting-edge AI-driven approaches to streamline grant writing processes and maximize efficiency for her clients. Holly's unique background in mental health advocacy and strategic consulting enhances her ability to craft compelling narratives and build strong relationships with funders, while her pioneering work in grant automation has established her as a vanguard in the evolving landscape of grant professional services. 

hollya@oneclickgrants.com

Dr. Christie Wright is a strategic planner, grant writer, business analyst, coach, and public speaker. As founder of Wright Business Solutions, she helps nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations align strategy, build grant-ready systems, and make data-driven decisions. She earned her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, holds a PMP® as well as Advanced and Executive Leadership Certificates, and has over 15 years of experience training executives, boards, and teams to achieve measurable impact.

info@wrightbusinesssolutions.org

 Lindsay Swain has worked in grants since 2018, supporting nonprofit organizations through every stage of the grant cycle. She currently partners with multiple clients to provide grant administration, reporting, and writing services. Lindsay specializes in youth development and in strengthening organizations that serve people and families affected by substance use disorders and mental health challenges. Her approach blends strategic thinking with hands-on support to help mission-driven organizations secure and manage critical funding. 

LindsaySwain11@gmail.com

 Rachel helps grant professionals grow through engaging, educational experiences. As the Events & Community Manager at Instrumentl, she curates and hosts webinars that spotlight grant seeking strategies, expert insights, and community-driven learning. 

 She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts from Scripps College in Developmental Psychology & Sociocultural Anthropology. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys playing trombone in the Highland Park Community Band, exploring the backcountry of the Angeles National Forest, and DIY’ing her 100-year-old home with her husband, Max. 

hello@instrumentl.com
 

 Ginny Blankenship is the Founder and Lead Strategist of Lightmaker Grants & Strategy, one of the only agencies in the country dedicated to grant writing and fundraising for education, youth, and workforce development programs.  She brings over 20 years of experience across the nonprofit, education, and public policy sectors. A recovering policy wonk turned grant whisperer, Ginny began her career as a communications director in the U.S. House of Representatives during 9/11 — a baptism by fire that sparked her passion for public service, education equity, and systems change.  She went on to earn a doctorate in education policy from The George Washington University and has since led successful advocacy campaigns and secured more than $9 million in grant funding for mission-driven organizations across the country. As a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), she holds one of the highest credentials in the nonprofit sector.  Ginny lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband, son, two rescue cats (Cleo and Minnie Pearl), and one wild Weimaraner named Juice. 

ginny@lightmakergrants.com

Bryan Partee is a 20-year Boys & Girls Club CEO of two rural Clubs that achieved huge growth. The reason for the growth is the “rural” part. When you have a lack of resources, you have to learn how to do everything to elevate your nonprofit. Partee learned to write grants at a high level, because he had to. During those 20 years, Partee’s Clubs combined impact showed:

 A budget increase of 605%

An enrollment increase of 1,572% 

An ADA increase of 621% 

A site increase of 1,600% 

This allowed Partee to…

Receive over $20M in grant awards and raise another $5M other RD.

After 20 years and beginning to miss his son’s basketball games, Partee left the Clubs to start the Nonprofit Marketplace (nonprofit consulting) with the mission to “help you help others”, hoping to help you avoid the pitfalls that he experienced. 

Partee graduated from UC San Diego with a degree in Psychology with an emphasis on child development. He has been married to Karen for 25+ years and has a giant son, Noah, who is in college.

bpartee@nonprofitmarketplace.org

888.969.4834 

World-renowned grant writer, bestselling author, and business coach Holly Rustick coaches new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship.  As of 2025, students in Holly’s programs have collectively secured $337+ million in grant funding, and $4 million+ in their businesses.

Being a grant writer and trainer for 20 years, Holly has a mission to coach grant writers to help causes they care about while making an equitable income on flexible hours. Holly is the podcast host of the top grant writing podcast in the world, “Grant Writing & Funding” and author of the Bestselling book, “The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing.”

Holly has an MA in International Political Economy, is past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, serves on numerous boards of directors, and is an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. Find out more at www.grantwritingandfunding.com  

Tara Johnson is an experienced grant writer who has secured millions in funding over the past decade. She simplifies the grant writing process with a focus on clarity, storytelling, and data—helping everyone from small nonprofits to international NGOs succeed. Tara lives on the Southern Oregon Coast with her family and animals, and enjoys gardening, reading, and time with her grandchildren.

 Julie Starr, BA, MPS, is the founder and principal consultant of JStarr Grants, bringing over 20 years of experience helping nonprofit organizations secure funding. Known for her innovative and approachable style, Julie has guided clients to millions in grant awards by blending strategy with creativity. She believes grant writing doesn’t have to be intimidating—it can be a powerful (and even enjoyable!) tool for building lasting impact. When she’s not demystifying the grant world through her daily newsletter, Write Epic Grants, Julie enjoys traveling, powerlifting, and Afrobeats music.  

 Rocio Puente Mata is a Social Impact Consultant and the President and CEO of Faith Sparked Passion, a nonprofit consulting firm dedicated to helping social service agencies and nonprofit organizations build their capacity and secure funding to bring their visions to life. With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Rocio has successfully secured more than $20 million in grant funding for communities across the United States.

In her free time, Ms. Mata enjoys cooking for her family and traveling.

Patricia A. Cade, MPA, is an accomplished nonprofit and business leader with extensive experience in grant management, project coordination, small business development, and community revitalization. She currently serves as the Assistant Coordinator for Grants & Projects at Cahaba Medical Care Foundation, where she is a managing member of the grants administration team and a member of the organizational leadership team. In addition to her healthcare-focused work, Patricia is the President/CEO of Consulting Done Write, LLC, a consulting firm that provides strategic advising, business planning, coaching, and grant writing services to new and existing businesses and community-based nonprofits. She also serves as President and Co-Founder of the Tuscaloosa Area Black Chamber of Commerce (TABCC), now in its 14th year, where she champions small business growth, technical assistance, and entrepreneurship for minority-owned businesses.

Patricia’s expertise includes:

Grant Writing & Administration: Federal, state, and foundation funding strategy, proposal development, compliance, and reporting.

patricia@consultingdonewrite.com

Conjuring grant success and making funding wishes come true, one polished proposal at a time - Debbi Lane, founder of Magic Lamp Consulting, established in 2019, has secured over $20 million in partnership with small to mid-sized nonprofits across New England. Her journey from IT professional to grant writing expert began when she joined a caregiver support group at the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden while caring for her mother-in-law Ann. Experiencing the life-changing impact of the Healing Garden's support during her family's journey inspired her to help vital nonprofit organizations secure the funding they need to transform lives.

Today, Magic Lamp Consulting serves as the development team for organizations that need expertise without the overhead—from executive consulting and grant writing to strategic planning and budget development. Using her signature LAMP Method (LOCATE hidden funding opportunities, ARTICULATE compelling narratives, MAXIMIZE impact in every word, POLISH proposals to perfection), Debbi transforms how nonprofits approach fundraising.

Join Debbi at the Funding the Future National Grant Summit to discover why grant success isn't magic—it just looks like it. 

Contact 

Collette Schultz is the founder of Virtual Team 360, where she supports nonprofits with bookkeeping, grant research, project management, and software implementation. With 30 years of accounting experience in education, small business, and nonprofit sectors, she combines financial expertise with practical operations support. After managing her virtual assistant business on the side for 12 years, she transitioned full time in 2020. Known as a “software geek” and hands-on partner, Collette helps nonprofits put strategies into action—streamlining systems, managing reporting, and freeing up leaders to focus on their mission.

info@virtualteam360.com

Terecka Brown is the founder of Source Hub by Melanin Solutions, a Texas-based resource hub dedicated to strengthening nonprofits. With a passion for philanthropy and community impact, she has partnered with and supported over 100 nonprofits in building capacity, achieving grant readiness, and positioning themselves for sustainable funding. Through her work, Terecka equips leaders with practical t ools, compliance strategies, and confidence to pursue funding opportunities and expand their miss(ion-driven impact.

Terecka@melaninsolutions.CO

 Fielding Jezreel, MSW, GPC, is a grants professional focusing on federal grants, AI, and other cutting edge topics in the grants field. For nearly a decade, Jezreel Consulting has been dedicated to helping small to mid-sized nonprofits plan and apply for federal grants through grant writing, review, and technical assistance services. Fielding has supported clients in securing over $135 million in federal funding from a dozen federal agencies. She also runs a 12-month federal grant training program called the Federal Grants Accelerator, helping grant writers move from underprepared to confident in federal grants. The course offers 15 hours of foundational self-paced learning, advanced topical training, group coaching, and a range of tools and supports (including AI) to guide nonprofits and grant professionals through every step of the federal grant writing process. 

fielding.jezreel@gmail.com

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