McGrants – Drive-Through Moments

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 unpack responsibility across leadership, program, finance, evaluation, and grant teams. We also discuss who owns the finished products-the consultant or the client?

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 McDonald talk with federal grant strategist Fielding Jezreel, MSW, GPC, about nonprofit readiness, shifting federal funding priorities, delayed reimbursements, grant terminations, DEI language, and political influence on the review process. Fielding shares practical guidance for helping small and midsized nonprofits assess risk, make stronger go/no-go decisions, and prepare to pursue and manage federal funding in an increasingly unpredictable environment.

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 leadership, and business shapes their approach to grant development. From realistic program commitments and project budgets to focused research and adaptable grant design, they explore the work behind the application and why success means securing funding an organization can actually put to work.

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 expand impact. Written by Alison Welch, a grant writer, grant reviewer, social worker, and college professor with over two decades of field experience, this is the advanced guide that takes you from the history of philanthropy to the final attachment in a submitted proposal, and everything in between.   *Note* This episode is longer than our typical ten minutes. 

Even nonprofits that never receive federal grants are feeling the effects of federal funding reductions. Organizations losing government support are turning to foundations and individual donors, increasing competition throughout the funding ecosystem. CEP specifically documented this downstream effect in its 2026 research.