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This episode, Sheleia Phillips explains how to grow a grant writing business, different ways to make your grant writing business more enjoyable, and the benefits of having an anchor client.
Sheleia Phillips is the Founder and Principal Consultant at SMP Nonprofit Consulting and has dedicated herself to the growth and development of nonprofits for nearly ten years.
In this episode, Sheleia Phillips explains her journey moving from working as a freelance grant writer to becoming the CEO of her own business, the impact of having a mentor, and how having SOPs can change a grant writing business.
She also talks about the things you need to consider when setting up a grant writing agency, how to get the first clients for a grant writing agency, and the impact hiring independent subcontractors has on a grant writing business’s profit.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Moving from working as a freelance grant writer to becoming a CEO.
- The impact of having a mentor.
- Why freelance grant writers should have an anchor client.
- Things you need to consider when setting up a grant writing agency.
- How to get the first clients for a grant writing agency.
- How to grow a grant writing business that doesn’t take over your life.
- Ways to make your grant writing business more enjoyable.
- How hiring independent subcontractors impacts a grant writing business’s profit.
- How soon after starting a business you should set up SOPs.
- How SOPs can change a grant writing business.
About Sheleia Phillips
Sheleia Phillips, MPH, CHES, is the Founder and Principal Consultant at SMP Nonprofit Consulting. A servant leader, Sheleia has dedicated herself to the growth and development of nonprofits for nearly ten years. Sheleia holds a Master of Public Health with an emphasis on Maternal and Child Health from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Chemistry from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. She has advanced training in public health, program development, and public policy. Sheleia’s track record of securing millions of dollars in grants for nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies is a testament to her attention to detail and dedication to her clients. Her ability to effectively communicate her clients’ missions and objectives is a key factor in her success.
Sheleia is also a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant reviewer. Sheleia is an active Grant Professionals Association (GPA) board member. She is committed to serving the greater public good by practicing the highest ethical and professional standards by following GPA’s Code of Ethics. Beyond her grant writing work, Sheleia’s expertise and insights have made her a sought-after speaker and educator in the field. Sheleia has partnered with and been featured in various industry platforms and publications, including Forbes, Grant Professionals Association, Network for Good, Voyage Magazine (St. Louis), Certified Fundraising Executive Digest, Instrumentl, and Neon One.
A Bank of America Emerging Leaders alum, Sheleia believes that nonprofits are essential to creating the change we all want to see. She has a deep passion for people and helping community organizations succeed with excellence and integrity. Her clients believe she motivates others with her can-do attitude, enthusiasm, and cheerful personality. She genuinely enjoys her work and brings a wealth of knowledge and resources to organizations and individuals interested in growing their capacity.
Connect with Sheleia:
Quotables:
- “Under promise and over deliver and do it in a way that is unique for you.”
- “I want to create my business in such a way that I can be duplicated, not replaced but duplicated because I want to take vacations, I like taking naps, and I don’t want to be the bottleneck in the business.”
- “If you’re just starting out in business give yourself the opportunity to grow into it. Don’t stress about SOPs because you’re going to need to pivot and make adjustments to how your process works as you work with more clients.”
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Resources mentioned in this episode:
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Thanks for listening!
Warmly,
Holly Rustick
Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.
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This podcast episode was lovingly sponsored by GEMS!
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What is Grant Writing & Funding?
Quit your toxic nonprofit job and replace your full-time income while writing grants part-time, from home! Join our students in the Freelance Grant Writer Academy to create Financial Stability and Flexibility through writing grants for causes you are passionate about: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy
World-renowned grant writing expert and Amazon bestselling author Holly Rustick provides coaching that helps new and experienced grant writers replace their full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or anywhere they want to live or travel in the world).
She coaches changemakers to master grant writing and start to grow 6-figure+ grant writing businesses on part-time hours via her signature group program, “Freelance Grant Writer Academy."
As an unapologetic feminist, Holly’s work in coaching female grant writers to master grant writing, find their cause-area niche, and navigate value-based pricing and nonprofit sales is breaking glass ceilings for women all over the world.
Every week, she coaches thousands of people through the top-ranking podcast, Grant Writing & Funding, books on grant writing, and inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy.
Holly has 20 years of experience in grant writing, and began her freelance grant writing journey back in 2005. While teaching in Kuwait and Indonesia, and then earning a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy in Belgium, Holly saw the light of setting up a virtual-based business in grant writing back in the mid-2000s. Having secured more than $45 million of dollars for nonprofit organizations, and then setting up a multi 6-figure freelance business, Holly has a mission to help female grant writers break out of toxic nonprofit J-O-B-S and create high-level income while freelance grant writing.
Inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, students have secured more than $225+ million in grant funding and $4+ million in revenue in their grant writing businesses within two years.
To amplify this work, she is past-president of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce and was appointed to the Guam Business Advisory Task Force as an advisor to the first female governor of Guam. Holly lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella.
If you are interested in replacing your full-time income while writing grants part-time from home (or from anywhere in the world!) join the Freelance Grant Writer Academy!
www.grantwritingandfunding.com.