The Absolute Worst Way to Stay Updated
Let’s cut through the nonsense.
Too many grant writers waste their lives glued to pointless webinars, fumbling through endless newsletters, or—worse of all—attending meetings where program officers drone on like it’s their job to bore you.
And peer networks? Please. No one’s giving away the good stuff in a casual Slack channel or over stale bagels at a conference. Let’s be honest—if they had real secrets, they wouldn’t be sharing them.
A Smarter, Faster Way to Stay on Top
Here’s the play: let your stakeholders do the heavy lifting.
Seriously. Your team, your board, your leadership, even your clients—they’re out there moving, talking, connecting. Use that to your advantage. These folks cover more ground than you ever could—and they care deeply about winning grant money.
Tell your leadership:
“Make me the hub. Feed me the good stuff.”
Every grant deadline, trend, or juicy opportunity? You want it on your desk. And make it a habit—when they see something, they should say something.
And don’t fall into the trap of signing up for 27 newsletters yourself. That’s a fast track to burnout. Have your team subscribe instead, scan what matters, and report back to you with the highlights. You stay focused. They stay useful. Everyone wins.
Pro Tip: Go Straight to the Power Players
If you’re chasing federal grants, skip the middlemen. Connect with political staffers. They live and breathe this stuff—and they want to bring money home to their districts just as much as you do. Treat them like the goldmine of intel they are.
Bottom Line?
Stop trying to do everything yourself. Don’t waste another second in Zoom purgatory or reading newsletters you’ll never finish.
Rally your tribe, focus their energy, and let them bring you the good stuff.
You’ll get better info, faster—and keep your sanity intact.