McGrants – Drive-Through Moments

S1 E28 The Order Behind the Order

Today, we’re going behind the order. In grants, there’s plenty of advice about what you’re supposed to do, but experience has a way of changing how you see things. So, we

S1 E27 From Kitchen to Counter Who Actually Owns the Grant

Many organizations behave as though the grant professional owns as everything from program design through reporting and the final products as well. This episode could unp

S1 E26 Special Dine In Episode with Fielding Jezreel. Today’s Specials: Federal Grants, Funding Trends & What Grantseekers Need to Know

Federal grants continue to change and so are the risks, expectations, and strategies surrounding them. In this McGrants Dine-In episode, Valerie A. Grant and Keri McDonal

S1 Ep 25: More Than Taking Orders: Why We’re Grant Professionals, Not Grant Writers

Writing a proposal is only a small part of what grant professionals do. In this episode, Keri and Valerie share how their experience in direct services, nonprofit leaders

Special Dine-In Episode #1 with Allison Welch: Creating the “Of Course” Factor in Grant Writing

The "Of Course" Factor is a comprehensive guide to meaningful grant writing for practitioners and organizations who want to do more than secure funding. They want to expa

S1 E23. Everybody’s Ordering From the Same Menu: The Ripple Effect of Federal Funding Cuts

Even nonprofits that never receive federal grants are feeling the effects of federal funding reductions. Organizations losing government support are turning to foundation

S1 E22. Short-Staffed at the Counter: When Grant Expectations Exceed Capacity

Organizations often respond to financial pressure by adding more grants to the pipeline without considering who will develop, implement, manage, and report on them. This

S1 E21 Rush Hour at the Drive-Thru: What the State of Nonprofits Means for Grantseekers

The 2026 State of Nonprofits report found that 57% of nonprofit CEOs say securing foundation grants has become harder since January 2025, 44% have experienced reduced fou

S1 E20 Skip the Combo: Why More Grants Isn't Always Better

A longer list of possible grants doesn't always produce better results. This conversation explores why organizations should focus on building the right grant portfolio in

S1 E19 Open or Closed? Reading Between the Lines of Grant Guidelines

Grant guidelines don't always say everything they're trying to communicate. Learn how experienced grant professionals look beyond eligibility requirements to understand w

S1 E18 Keep the Change: Why Small Investments Lead to Bigger Grants

Organizations often focus on landing the biggest grant possible. But the strongest grant programs are usually built one relationship, one outcome, and one successful proj

S1 E17 Side of Volunteering: When Corporate Giving Isn’t Cash

Not every corporate opportunity comes as a check. This episode explores how nonprofits can evaluate corporate volunteerism, in-kind support, employee engagement, sponsors

S1 E16 Robot at the Register: Using AI Without Serving a Generic Grant Proposal

AI can help grant professionals work faster, but it can also create generic, inaccurate, or funder-misaligned proposals when used poorly. This episode explores how to use

S1 E 15 Quick Pick-Up: What to Do in the First 30 Days With a New Grant Client

In this episode of McGrants: Drive-Through Moments, Keri and Valerie discuss what consultants should focus on during the first 30 days with a new grant client. From under

S1 E14 The Window Keeps Moving: How to Adapt When Grant Rules Change

In this episode of McGrants: Drive-Through Moments, Keri and Valerie discuss how nonprofit organizations and grant professionals can adapt when grant rules change. Grant

S1 E13 Extra Value Meal: Building a Reserve Fund with Foundation Support

Strong organizations plan beyond today's needs. This conversation explores how nonprofits can work with foundations to strengthen financial resilience, build operating re

S1 E12 First Time at the Window: Building Funder Relationships from Scratch

Every grantmaker relationship starts somewhere. Two GPC experts discuss practical ways new organizations can begin connecting with funders, building credibility, and crea

S1 E 11 Still Hungry? When to Keep Applying After a Grant Denial-The Purple Episode

Getting turned down doesn't always mean moving on. This conversation explores how to evaluate grant rejections, determine whether a funder is still a strong fit, and deci

S1 E10. Repeat Customers: Turning One Grant Into Long-Term Funding

The best grants lead to more opportunities. This conversation explores how reporting, stewardship, and thoughtful follow-up can transform a one-time award into an ongoing

S1 E9. Value Meal Metrics: Choosing Outcomes That Matter

Funders want results—but not every metric tells the right story. This discussion focuses on selecting outcomes that demonstrate meaningful impact and strengthen proposal