This episode, Stephanie Sample explains how to build a business plan, what to include in your business plan, and how to avoid burnout.
Stephanie Sample is the Founder of Fundraising for The Future, a 6 figure business with a calculated profit margin and clear business goals.
Stephanie explains why freelance grant writers need a business plan, the most important aspects of building a business plan, and what to include in a business plan.
She also talks about why freelance grant writers should have an anchor client, how to screen your grant writing clients, and ways to avoid burnout.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- How to build a nonprofit consultant business plan.
- Why freelance grant writers need a business plan.
- Why freelance grant writers should have an anchor client.
- How grant writers can get accountability and find community.
- What nonprofit consultants should include in their business plan.
- How grant writers should screen the clients they work with.
- The processes grant writers need in place to hire subcontractors.
- How to price your grant writing services.
- How nonprofit consultants can avoid burnout.
About Stephanie Sample
In 2016, after 4 years of full time grant writing as an employee, Stephanie Sample launched her independent grant writing business, Sample Consulting Studio. In 2018, to support her vision of an abundant 5 month maternity leave, Sample began subcontracting projects to grant writers while she welcomed her daughter to the world and adjusted to motherhood. In 2019, SCS grew to include 2 subcontractors with 12+ grant writing projects monthly and in 2020 Sample rebranded her business to Fundraising for The Future. Today, FFTF is a team of 4 serving nonprofit and for profit clients across New Mexico and the United States with grant writing and business plan development.
FFTF is a healthy 6 figure business with a calculated profit margin and clear business goals. Sample is passionate about collaborating with nonprofit consultant support organizations, and supporting new entrepreneurs and business owners in mapping their business growth plans. In addition to running FFTF, you can find her training nationwide on topics from fiscal sustainability to the impact of organizational culture on agency growth. When not at her desk, you’ll find her lifting weights, cooking for her family, or reading.
Connect with Stephanie:
Quotables:
- “There’s something so satisfying about building a business plan because it is a process of imperfection and forecasting. There’s no way to know so you have to make educated estimations and think clearly about what you want.”
- “If you don’t know how much time you’re spending and you don’t know what it costs to run your business you can get your pricing honed in but you’re still going to be losing money and working for 60 hours if your expenses aren’t honed in.”
- “Even if you’re not charging hourly, track your time and use that data.”
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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