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.

Public dollars? Slashed. Private foundations? Flooded with more applications than they’ve ever seen. Organizations that used to have a decent shot? They’re getting rejection after rejection. And just because the need is bigger doesn’t mean private funders suddenly have more money to hand out. They don’t. There’s no secret vault of cash waiting to save the day. That’s the mess we’re all trying to navigate right now – a tough, competitive, and frankly shitty reality

One of the weirdest things about being self-employed? No performance reviews or anyone sitting me down to say “great job!” or “you need...

Nonprofit burnout is real. Here’s why overloading one staff member with fundraising, grants, and marketing sets your mission up to fail — and how to fix it.

I built a nonprofit grant system from the ground up—clean workflows, clear documentation, and aligned teams. Then I walked away. This blog shares why leaving the system I perfected was the right move, and how building something of your own can be the most aligned decision you’ll ever make.

In-kind grants might not come with a big dollar sign attached, but they can be worth just as much—if not more—than traditional cash awards. In this post, I break down how one overlooked opportunity led to a $250,000 solar project win for the Arizona Humane Society, saving them thousands annually and proving that infrastructure upgrades, donated services, and non-cash awards can drive major impact. If your organization is only chasing cash grants, it’s time to rethink your str

You open a new grant application. You’re staring at the first prompt: “Describe your organization’s mission, history, and key...

We’re getting personal. Because my marketing manager, who, to her credit, is trying to help me grow and not sabotage my introvert lifestyle, has been gently nudging me to show up. Like, actually show up. As a person. With a face. And stories. So here’s the truth: I don’t look, act, or exist like your average “professional.” And honestly? I like it that way.