In this episode, our guest, Sarah Rowe, is not just a successful freelance grant writer but also a devoted mother. Within an astonishingly short period of four months, Sarah was able to replace her full-time job’s income, thanks to her newfound skills in grant writing. What makes her story even more compelling is how she achieved this remarkable success while being able to stay home with her 4-year-old daughter.

Sarah’s journey is a testament to the empowering possibilities that come with mastering grant writing. From securing over $40,500 in grants for her clients to earning $45,400 through her own business this year, she’s living proof that you can have both a fulfilling career and quality time with your loved ones.

So, sit back, relax, and prepare to be inspired by Sarah’s incredible journey. Whether you’re juggling a demanding job, parenting responsibilities, or both, this episode is for you. Stay tuned to learn how you, too, can turn your passion for helping others into a profitable and flexible career.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Swift Transition to Freelancing: 

Within just four months, Sarah Rowe transitioned from a traditional full-time job to a freelance grant writer, effectively replacing her full-time income.

2. Financial and Personal Fulfillment: 

Sarah has successfully earned $45,400 through her grant-writing business and was able to secure $40,500 in grants for her clients, providing both financial stability and personal fulfillment.

3. Flexibility for Family: 

The Freelance Grant Writer Academy allowed Sarah to change her lifestyle, working around her daughter’s schedule—including tasks like dropping her off at preschool while still being productive.

4. Enhanced Work-Life Balance: 

Sarah’s freelance work structure enabled her to reduce her work hours compared to her previous nonprofit job, leading to more family time and less burnout.

5. Motivation Driven by Parenthood: 

Sarah’s desire to spend more time with her daughter, especially after fertility challenges, motivated her to take the risk of starting her own business, providing greater control over her work-life balance.

About Sarah Rowe

With over 14 years of comprehensive experience in the grant industry, Sarah Rowe is a distinguished grant strategist and consultant who has excelled on all sides of the funding process. From securing millions in grant funding to managing complex, multi-state projects, Sarah’s expertise is unparalleled.

Sarah’s journey in the grant world began with a strong educational foundation, holding a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Her academic background is complemented by a Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM) credential from the Project Management Institute.

Throughout her career, Sarah has demonstrated exceptional skill in grant writing, administration, and strategy. She has successfully overseen the distribution and request of funds, provided timely grant and impact reports, managed all aspects of post-award success, and grown grant portfolios across multiple continents. Her strategic oversight has expanded grant portfolios across Africa, Australia, Cambodia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

Sarah’s expertise extends to her role as a collegiate professor, where she teaches “Intro to Grant Writing.” Her ability to convey complex grant writing concepts in an engaging and accessible manner has made her a sought-after educator, inspiring the next generation of grant professionals.

Recently, Sarah has transitioned from working as a full-time internal grant expert to serving a variety of missions through contract, project-based, or retainer opportunities. This shift allows her the variety and flexibility to hyper-focus on her expertise in the grant industry and build meaningful relationships with nonprofits and small businesses. By working with diverse organizations, Sarah can tailor her strategies to meet specific needs, ensuring optimal outcomes for each project.

Her volunteer work as a Federal Grant Reviewer is extensive, having served on numerous grant review panels for various federal agencies. Sarah has reviewed grants for initiatives such as the Healthy Families Community Based Perinatal Health Initiative, Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs, Youth Engagement in Sports, and many others. This experience has given her a deep understanding of the criteria and standards required for successful grant applications.

Sarah Rowe is not just a grant expert; she is a visionary leader who brings a wealth of knowledge, strategic insight, and a proven track record of success. Whether you are looking to secure funding, manage grant projects, or develop a robust grant strategy, Sarah is the expert you need to achieve your goals.

Connect with Sarah:

• Email: sarahvorowe@gmail.com
• Sarah Rowe | LinkedIn

Quotables:

 “A lot of the questions I have or the pain points I run into, someone else is already talking about it or I’ve heard someone talking about it before it becomes an issue for me.” – Sarah Rowe

“I think with not being an internal employee, it kind of empowers you to say things you might not have felt comfortable saying as an internal employee because your livelihood does not depend on your opinion about how they should move things forward.” – Sarah Rowe

“So it’s just having all those resources in your back pocket. And then when things come up that you don’t expect or, you know, that you start to question yourself, like, there’s this whole community behind you to jump in Slack at any time of day.” – Sarah Rowe 

“I want as much time with this little girl as I possibly can because there was a while I didn’t know if I would have her. So it’s like, this is what works for us because I now have the ability to, you know, show up for her as a mom first and still use all the skills and things that I have built. And I don’t have to pick being a mom or a grant writer.” – Sarah Rowe

“To have, you know, a little girl watch you do all this from scratch is really powerful and shows her that same mindset of you can do anything if you put your mind to it and if you surround yourself with the right people.” – Sarah Rowe

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Freelance Grant Writer Academy
• Free Webinar, “How to Create a Profitable Grant Writing Business with Little to No Experience” on Tuesday, Oct. 15th at 4 pm EST. 

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