After a decade of writing grants, I've seen some things… For example, I've inherited grant applications that were halfway finished, budgets that made absolutely no mathematical sense, and narratives that somehow answered every question except the one the funder actually asked. When organizations hire us, we're often stepping into applications that are already in progress. Sometimes we're reviewing drafts before submission, but most of the time, we’re reading through old propo

I don't usually think much of it when I see a weird eligibility requirement pop up; every funder has its quirks, but when I saw the same bullshit requirement twice in one week with two completely unrelated clients in two different states… my gears started to grind.

I know that sounds a little blunt, but stay with me. After nearly a decade of working with nonprofits at all different stages, I can usually tell within the first five minutes of a conversation whether an organization is actually ready to pursue grants or about to spend a lot of time chasing something that was never going to land.

Recently, I came across a grant application that felt… off. On the surface, it sounded polished, but the more I read, the more it all started to blur together. The same phrasing, the same structure, the same repetitive language that didn’t quite line up with the actual work, and then it clicked.

March almost took me out. On paper, it was one of our strongest months. We pushed out more grant applications than ever before, stayed on top of deadlines, and even brought on a new Grant Specialist to support growth. From the outside, it probably looked like we were crushing it.

On March 31, 2026, Jorden Anderson Consulting turned six years old, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what actually feels worth celebrating...

Thinking about hiring a grant writer? Learn when you actually need one, what red flags to avoid, and how to choose a strategic partner who can help you build a grant strategy that’s ready to win.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this work is that mission alignment and partnership alignment are not the same thing.

Hiring a grant writer shouldn’t feel like a gamble. Before you invest, understand what ethical grant professionals actually do, the red flags to avoid like percentage-based fees or guaranteed funding, and the strategic questions that separate real partnership from proposal typing. The goal isn’t just submitting more grants, it’s building a funding strategy your organization is actually ready to sustain.

One of the most common things I hear from nonprofit leaders is, “We just need to find a grant.” What they usually mean is, we need money soon because cash flow pressure is real.

If I was your grant writer, I’d tell you something you might not love hearing at first: You’re trying to tell funders way too damn much.

If I had to sum up what makes JAC different in one sentence, it’s this: we’re here to help, not to hustle.

I usually love the start of a new year. I’m normally energized, motivated, ready to set goals, and hit the ground running.

I’ve always been the kind of person who runs 100 miles a minute. In college, that looked like taking a full class load, pursuing a double major, working full time, volunteering, and still saying yes to basically everything.

Every generation brings a new roar. And if you ask me, this one sounds a lot like women reclaiming their power in business — showing up boldly, building without permission, and leading with both grit and grace.

We live in a microwave culture. Push a button, get results. But grant writing? It’s not instant mashed potatoes. You can’t just add hot water, stir, and expect a million-dollar award to appear. The reality is that successful grants take groundwork. Funders want to see that you’re prepared, organized, and serious about the work you do. That means having strong financial systems, clean data, clear program descriptions, and leadership that can articulate your mission without sou

Funders don’t fund feelings—they fund proof. In this blog, Jorden Anderson breaks down the difference between outputs and outcomes, why data matters more than emotion, and how tracking real impact helps nonprofits win more grants.

You know what keeps me up at night?It’s not missing a deadline or a funder asking for three years of audited financials for a $5,000 grant. It’s this: taking on a client who isn’t 100% transparent, because nothing is spookier than realizing after you’ve signed the contract that the story they told you in the discovery call isn’t the whole damn story.

When I first hired Lexi from Myliu Marketing to create a brand for JAC, we were both lil’ baby businesses just trying to figure it out as we went. I found her on Instagram, immediately saw myself in her hustle, and thought: yep, this is my kind of person.

Someone slid into my LinkedIn messages not because of a referral, not because of a cold pitch, and definitely not because I was out there aggressively marketing myself or JAC. They simply messaged me because they liked my vibe. From posts about being an entrepreneurial mom, to my random thoughts about today’s world, and nuances about grant seeking. I guess it all added up to something that felt familiar to them and trustworthy.