When you care deeply about a nonprofit’s mission, it can feel wrong to question whether you should keep working with them.

But mission alignment alone does not make a sustainable grant writing business.

In this episode of Grant CEO, I’m breaking down how experienced grant writers can evaluate client renewals like a CEO, not from guilt or emotion, but from clarity, data, and business logic. This episode focuses on Pull - how the right clients are attracted, retained, and released as your business evolves.

You’ll learn how to step out of reactive decision-making and into intentional leadership when deciding whether to renew (or walk away from) a client contract.

In this episode:

00:00:00 Separating Mission And Business

00:02:39 Client Renewal Checklist

00:05:08 Grant Writer Pricing Boundaries

This podcast is produced by Ideablossoms.

About DeaRonda Harrison:

DeaRonda Harrison is the founder of June First Firm and host of the Grant CEO podcast, a show for experienced grant writers ready to step into the role of strategic, confident CEO of their own scalable business. With over a decade of experience, she’s helped nonprofits secure more than $45 million in funding.

Today, DeaRonda coaches grant writing consultants on pricing their services, setting boundaries, and moving from freelance grant writer to CEO. Through her You Are the Prize™ Framework, she helps grant professionals build sustainable, profitable grant writing businesses.

Grant CEO Assessment: https://grantceo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearondaharrison/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearondaharrison/

Website: https://junefirstfirm.com/

Just two years ago, Victoria Lamar didn’t even consider herself a grant writer.

Today, she leads a team of seven, supports 12 charter schools, and has recently secured a nearly $1 million federal grant for one of her clients.

In this episode of Grant CEO, we dive deep into two of the most misunderstood pillars of scaling a grant writing business: Pull and Pricing.

Victoria shares how she moved away from being advised to charge $25–$30 an hour, clarified her niche, and positioned herself so clients now come to her—ready to pay retainers, respect her process, and trust her expertise.

This conversation is a must-listen for experienced grant writers who are tired of explaining their value, customizing pricing for every client, or wondering how much to charge for grant writing services.

In this episode:

00:00:00 Entering Grant Writing

00:02:53 Rejecting Low Hourly Rates

00:11:02 Retainer Cadence Systems

00:17:49 Pricing Through Niching

This podcast is produced by Ideablossoms.

Connect with Victoria Lamar:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorialamar/

Website: http://www.securingdegrees.org/

Take The Grant CEO Assessment!

Tired of operating like an overworked freelancer and ready to step into the CEO seat of your business?

Head to grantceo.com, answer the questions, get your report, and start building a profitable and sustainable grant writing business.

About DeaRonda Harrison:

DeaRonda Harrison is the founder of June First Firm and host of the Grant CEO podcast, a show for experienced grant writers ready to step into the role of strategic, confident CEO of their own scalable business. With over a decade of experience, she’s helped nonprofits secure more than $45 million in funding.

Today, DeaRonda coaches grant writing consultants on pricing their services, setting boundaries, and moving from freelance grant writer to CEO. Through her You Are the Prize™ Framework, she helps grant professionals build sustainable, profitable grant writing businesses.

Grant CEO Assessment: https://grantceo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearondaharrison/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearondaharrison/

Website: https://junefirstfirm.com/

If you have ever thought that there are too many grant writers for you to be successful, this episode of Grant CEO will shift how you see (and do) business.

Today, I’m unpacking a concept that stood out to one of my coaching clients: “You can’t compare what doesn’t compete.”

I break down why comparison is a sign of unclear Positioning, and how owning your unique expertise allows you to stop competing and start leading. Using the idea of fingerprint positioning, I explain how your background, niche, and experience become assets when claimed with confidence.

You’ll also hear how stepping into your Power changes how you show up in sales conversations, helps you attract aligned clients, and makes you irrefutable—not replaceable.

In this episode:

00:00:00 Power Over Comparison

00:04:43 Fingerprint Positioning Strategy

00:11:29 Niche Clarity Eliminates Competition

This podcast is produced by Ideablossoms.

Take The Grant CEO Assessment!

Tired of operating like an overworked freelancer and ready to step into the CEO seat of your business?

Head to grantceo.com, answer the questions, get your report, and start building a profitable and sustainable grant writing business.

About DeaRonda Harrison:

DeaRonda Harrison is the founder of June First Firm and host of the Grant CEO podcast, a show for experienced grant writers ready to step into the role of strategic, confident CEO of their own scalable business. With over a decade of experience, she’s helped nonprofits secure more than $45 million in funding.

Today, DeaRonda coaches grant writing consultants on pricing their services, setting boundaries, and moving from freelance grant writer to CEO. Through her You Are the Prize™ Framework, she helps grant professionals build sustainable, profitable grant writing businesses.

Grant CEO Assessment: https://grantceo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearondaharrison/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearondaharrison/

Website: https://junefirstfirm.com/

What happens when a skilled grant writer finally owns her expertise? In this episode of Grant CEO, I sit down with Daphney Jean, founder of SMJ Consulting, to talk about what it really looks like to step into your power as a grant writing business owner.

After years of underestimating her impact and saying things like “I only got them $500K,” Daphney shifted how she positioned her expertise and services.

The result? Higher retainers, stronger renewals, and better-aligned clients.

You’ll hear how Power and Positioning allowed her to stop wasting so much time onboarding new clients and start charging higher rates with confidence and a proven ROI. This conversation is a must-listen if you’re ready to charge confidently and scale sustainably.

In this episode:

00:03:07 Grant Writer Power

00:10:29 Confident Pricing Decisions

00:14:22 Niching With Intention

This podcast is produced by Ideablossoms.

Connect with Daphney Jean:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphneyjean1/

Website: https://www.smjgrantconsulting.com

Take The Grant CEO Assessment!

Tired of operating like an overworked freelancer and ready to step into the CEO seat of your business?

Head to grantceo.com, answer the questions, get your report, and start building a profitable and sustainable grant writing business.

About DeaRonda Harrison:

DeaRonda Harrison is the founder of June First Firm and host of the Grant CEO podcast, a show for experienced grant writers ready to step into the role of strategic, confident CEO of their own scalable business. With over a decade of experience, she’s helped nonprofits secure more than $45 million in funding.

Today, DeaRonda coaches grant writing consultants on pricing their services, setting boundaries, and moving from freelance grant writer to CEO. Through her You Are the Prize™ Framework, she helps grant professionals build sustainable, profitable grant writing businesses.

Grant CEO Assessment: https://grantceo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearondaharrison/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearondaharrison/

Website: https://junefirstfirm.com/

Let me guess, when you dreamed about starting your own grant-writing business, you did not dream about working long hours, answering emails late at night, or saying yes to every little thing that client asks you. Am I right?

Grant CEO is the podcast for experienced grant-writers and grant consultants who have mastered their craft (and even reached the big 10K months) but are now struggling to run a grant-writing business that feels true to their values, goals, and dreams.

I’m DeaRonda Harrison, founder of June First Firm and creator of the You Are the Prize™ Framework.

I’m here to help you ditch the grind and step fully into your role as the CEO of your grant writing business.

Each week, we're diving deep into one of the five pillars of my proven framework — Power, Pricing, Packaging, Positioning, and People.

Whether you’re exploring grant-writer retainers, raising your pricing, or looking to hire a team member, this podcast gives you the tools, mindset, strategies, and motivation to grow from grant-writer freelancer to Grant CEO.

It’s time to stop overdelivering, undercharging, and working nights and weekends.

It’s time to run your grant writing business like a CEO.

About DeaRonda Harrison:

DeaRonda Harrison is the founder of June First Firm and host of the Grant CEO podcast, a show for experienced grant writers ready to step into the role of strategic, confident CEO of their own scalable business. With over a decade of experience, she’s helped nonprofits secure more than $45 million in funding.

Today, DeaRonda coaches grant writing consultants on pricing their services, setting boundaries, and moving from freelance grant writer to CEO. Through her You Are the Prize™ Framework, she helps grant professionals build sustainable, profitable grant writing businesses.

Grant CEO Assessment: https://grantceo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearondaharrison/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearondaharrison/

Website: https://junefirstfirm.com/

Welcome to Grant CEO, the podcast for experienced grant writers earning consistent income but tired of doing everything themselves. If you’re negotiating your rates, customizing pricing for every client, sending proposals that get ghosted, or working more hours than you did in-house, you’re in the right place.

In this first episode, I introduce the five pillars of the Grant CEO framework—power, positioning, pull, pricing, and people—and how they work together to help you scale a sustainable grant writing business.

You’ll learn how to move from overworked freelance grant writer to confident Grant CEO by setting boundaries, pricing your services strategically, attracting the right clients, and building a team that supports your growth.

In this episode:

00:00:00 Scaling a Grant Writing Business

00:01:27 Five Pillars Framework

00:05:26 Freelance Consultant To CEO

This podcast is produced by Ideablossoms.

Take The Grant CEO Assessment!

Tired of operating like an overworked freelancer and ready to step into the CEO seat of your business?

Head to grantceo.com, answer the questions, get your report, and start building a profitable and sustainable grant writing business.

About DeaRonda Harrison:

DeaRonda Harrison is the founder of June First Firm and host of the Grant CEO podcast, a show for experienced grant writers ready to step into the role of strategic, confident CEO of their own scalable business. With over a decade of experience, she’s helped nonprofits secure more than $45 million in funding.

Today, DeaRonda coaches grant writing consultants on pricing their services, setting boundaries, and moving from freelance grant writer to CEO. Through her You Are the Prize™ Framework, she helps grant professionals build sustainable, profitable grant writing businesses.

Grant CEO Assessment: https://grantceo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearondaharrison/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearondaharrison/

Website: https://junefirstfirm.com/