Grant Writing Made Clear with Dr. Trenette
Ever wish you had a mentor with two decades of grant writing experience, ready to guide you through the complexities of securing the funding your organization needs to thrive? Look no further—because that’s exactly what you’ll get when you tune in to Grant Writing Made Clear! Hosted by Dr. Trenette, a distinguished professor, behavioral scientist, seasoned grant writer, and former nonprofit president, she has been principal investigator, co-principal investigator, and co-investigator on grants totaling $14 million dollars. This podcast breaks down the grant writing process and equips you with the tools and strategies to secure larger, impactful funding for your mission-driven organization. In every episode, Dr. Trenette shares lessons learned from both formal training and hands-on experience, so you can write powerful grant proposals that turn your vision into reality.
Whether you're new to grant writing or a seasoned pro looking to find the right funding mechanism, avoid common pitfalls, or craft a winning proposal, Grant Writing Made Clear has you covered. Tune in to get inspired, learn actionable steps, and discover how to turn your goals into funded realities!
Disclosure: We periodically use AI tools to assist in various ways such as brainstorming topics and editing audio. Learning AI will help us to teach others how to use AI in grant writing.
Grant Writing Made Clear with Dr. Trenette
Episode 32: Foundation Funding 101: LOIs That Get the Green Light
Grant Writing Made Clear
Many, if not most, foundations screen with Letters of Intent (LOIs). LOIs are short, high-stakes documents that decide whether you get to submit a full proposal. In this episode, I break down what program officers look for in LOIs, share a simple LOI structure that works, and the mindset that helps you rise to the top of a crowded review pile.
If you have ever felt unsure about how to stand out in 2–3 pages, this episode will show you how to communicate with confidence, clarity, and alignment.
HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
1- Alignment is key: A tailored LOI that mirrors a foundation’s stated priorities will outperform a generic template every time. Speak their language and connect your project to their portfolio.
2- Clarity + compliance win first: Follow the instructions exactly. Be clear and specific in your writing. Clarity helps you succeed.
3- Credibility needs numbers: Replace vague claims with evidence (e.g., results, figures).
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Why foundations rely on LOIs and how to use that to your advantage
- A clean LOI outline you can adapt quickly
- Common LOI killers and stronger alternatives
ACTION STEPS
- Identify one truly aligned foundation and draft a practice LOI (do not submit yet)
- Craft a one-sentence clear and compelling problem statement
- Compile preliminary results you can plug into any LOI
MORE FROM ME
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