Grant CEO: Where Experienced Grant Writers Become CEOs
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. At the end of each episode, you’ll know how to:
⏰ Set boundaries that protect your time, peace, and profit
🥇Position yourself as the go-to grant professional in your niche
💰 Price your services with confidence and clarity
📦 Package and sell your grant writing offers for consistent revenue
🎯 Build a capable team so you can lead, not do it all
Through honest conversations–solo coaching episodes and guest interviews with successful 6-figure grant writers–you’ll learn how to turn your expertise into a scalable, sustainable grant writing company. One that supports your life, not drains it.
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.
Grant CEO: Where Experienced Grant Writers Become CEOs
E5. Mission Isn’t Enough: How Grant CEOs Evaluate Client Renewals with Clarity and Confidence
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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/