How This Federal Grant Writer Advanced Her Freelance Grant Writing Business

Grant Writing & Funding · Ep.249: How This Federal Grant Writer Advanced Her Freelance Grant Writing Business

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Knowing how to write federal grants is a great skill to have! This type of grant writing is very specific, taps into federal funding, and requires (a majority of time) a lot more hours to write compared to foundation grants.

Our guest this week, Dr. Cheri Westmoreland owner of Spirit Excel, brings to the table decades of federal grant writing experience. She also talks about lessons learned from working with nonprofit organizations and why having a nonprofit strategic plan is vital for the fiscal health of a nonprofit.

Additionally, Dr. Cheri has owned a grant writing business since 2012 and has vast experience in working with nonprofit organizations from a business perspective. In 2022, she joined the Grant Professional Mentorship and has been able to increase her confidence and get clearer on her messaging and pricing!

About Dr. Cheri Westmoreland

Dr. Cheri Westmoreland, founder of Spirit Excel, exists to energize, empower, and elevate faith- and community-based organizations through tools to enhance professional excellence. Cheri has worked for over 30 years in higher education and in non-profit community-based agencies. She currently works at the University of Cincinnati as the Executive Director for Academic Enrichment and Outreach.

Cheri has successfully received federal grants totaling over 1.2 million per grant for 3-5 years of funding. Offering services to write foundation and state agency grants, strategic planning for nonprofit and business/ministry, program development and program evaluation, grant review and grants management services.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, from Wittenberg University, Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Miami University, and Doctor of Education in Educational Foundations from the University Cincinnati. She is also a member of the Grant Professional Association. Dr. Westmoreland is married to Kim Westmoreland and has an adult married son and two beautiful granddaughters.