Fundraising HayDay

Mistakes Were Made – A Sneak Peak

NOTE: This month, we’re sharing our mistakes were made episode with all our listeners – the free podcast community and our patreon subscribers. If you’re not a member of our patreon, we hope you enjoy this glimpse behind the curtain. This is a great example of our monthly mistakes were made episode, where our cohosts take turns in the hot seat, sharing mistakes. No grant professional is perfect, and we want others to learn from our mistakes. We hope you’ll consider joining as a paid member of the patreon community so you can enjoy all our bonus content, access the comments and community, and support our work on Fundraising HayDay.

 

In our December episode, cohost Kimberly takes the hot seat. She shared about making a handful of mistakes in a recent grant proposal – mistakes that she knew better than making, but she was in a rush and did it anyway.

 

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December Book Club – A Sneak Peak

NOTE: This month, we’re sharing our book club episode with all our listeners – the free podcast community and our patreon subscribers. If you’re not a member of our patreon, we hope you enjoy this glimpse behind the curtain. This is a great example of our monthly book club, where we read and discuss an eclectic collection of storytelling – from nonfiction and fiction of multiple genres written by authors of a variety of backgrounds. Starting in 2026, we’ll even have a live book club once a month for subscribers, so you can be in on the conversation. We hope you’ll consider joining as a paid member of the patreon community so you can enjoy all our bonus content, access the comments and community, and support our work on Fundraising HayDay.

 

In our December book club, we read “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be” by Marissa R. Moss. It follows three artists (Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, and Mickey Guyton) as they work to break into traditional country music but find ways to work around the systems meant to keep them out. This behind-the-scenes story shows the good, the bad, and the ugly side of country music radio and the engine that keeps women limited to 10% of its airtime. Thanks for listening to our book club!

 

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SHOW NOTES:

“Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be”

By: Marissa R. Moss

Top Ten Things That Helped Us Survive 2025

Between DOGE taking over grants.gov, a freeze on federal grant funding, executive orders attacking nonprofits and the grants profession, and a government shut down, 2025 has not been the best of years. But grant professionals, like any true professional, must carry on for the good of their organizations, clients, and communities served. How’d we do it? Our cohosts are sharing their top 10 things that helped them survive the year.

 

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SHOW NOTES:

Trusted sources referenced under Item #1:

National Council of Nonprofits

Rachel Werner, GPC, PMP

 

Social media book influencer referenced under Item #4

jordys.book.club

 

Our weekly newsletter referenced under Item #6

HayDay HotTakes – Register for free today!

 

Link to Kimberly’s Spotify playlist referenced under Item #9

Funky Dance Party

 

Unscripted Rant-o-Rama

Sometimes a good rant is cathartic. In 2025, whatever you can do to get thoughts and feelings out in meaningful (and unharmful) ways, we say go for it! And we’re putting that into practice in this episode. From consulting training that promises the moon to sticking your head in the sand in the hopes that things will get better eventually, we’re talking about all the things on our minds.

 

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Ripped from the Headlines: Federal Funding Scandals Across the Country

Nonprofits and grant funding programs exist for public good. But sadly, not all individuals and agencies tasked with the responsibility of safeguarding grant funds follow the rules. Ripped straight from the headlines, from college professors and nonprofit leaders to state governments and retired NFL quarterbacks, we learn that no one is above the law.

 

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SHOW NOTES:

 

To learn more about today’s stories, read the following articles:

CUNY Scientist Accused of Fabricating Data

U.S. levels fraud indictment at CUNY scientist who helped Alzheimer’s drug developer | Science | AAAS

 

Office of Public Affairs | Professor Charged for Operating Multimillion-Dollar Grant Fraud Scheme | United States Department of Justice

 

Co-developer of Cassava’s potential Alzheimer’s drug cited for ‘egregious misconduct’ | Science | AAAS

 

Minnesota Nonprofit Employees Convicted for Misuse of Funds

5 of 7 defendants convicted of misusing Covid relief money meant to feed children

 

Minnesota man gets 28 years for pandemic-era food fraud

 

Former NFL QB and State of Mississippi Welfare Scandal

Brett Favre scandal explained: Ex-NFL QB accused of misusing Mississippi state welfare funds - CBS Sports

 

Brett Favre and the Mississippi Welfare Scandal: Inside the Shocking Fraud Case

Advocating for Change: How Nonprofits and Grant Pros Can Push for Better Practices

Many in the grant community have been calling for reform for years. We’re frustrated by inefficient processes, inequitable practices, and systems that waste time and money. But there are organizations in place to help make grant making more just and accessible. Many are highlighted here.

 

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SHOW NOTES:

More Than Grant Writers

 

Crappy Funding Practices

 

Grant Advisor

 

#FixTheForm

 

National Council of Nonprofits

How to Run Fundraising Events Without Burning Out

You may find this hard to believe, but fundraising events aren’t always the money-making events people think they are. Let’s take a deep dive into how to run events that raise funds without destroying your budget, staff, or sanity in the process.

 

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Unapologetically Profitable with Julie Boll

It’s often a touchy subject for consultants and employees in the nonprofit sector – how much should you charge/be paid for your work? Truthfully, the answer varies based on your education, experience, and know-how. Charging less than your worth because you’re working for a nonprofit does not mean you care more for nonprofits in general or the mission of one nonprofit in particular.

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SHOW NOTES:

Julie’s Viral LinkedIn Post

Complete the Courageous Leadership Scorecard

WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST:

Julie Boll

Julie Boll Consulting

Permission to Fail

Leadership is vital to the success of any organization. We often talk about it. We often dream about good leadership. But who actually takes the time to study leadership and then help nonprofit leaders really think about how to develop programs that work? Stacy Fitzsimmons, CEO of SNF Writing Solutions, that’s who.

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SHOW NOTES:

Master Class on John C. Maxwell’s book “Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn”

Code for 50% off is 25HAYDAY50

WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST:

Stacy Fitzsimmons

SNF Writing Solutions

Building Your Grant Management Team

To ensure the proper checks and balances of an organization, it takes more than one person to manage your organization’s grants, particularly when federal grant funding is involved. Even if you are the only one with “grant” in your title, it takes a team to get the job done. Let’s talk about all the elements of grant management and who should be a member of your grant management team.

 

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