Thinking about switching careers but can’t stomach the thought of pulling all-nighters, racking up debt, and spending your days in stiff, boring business attire? (Seriously, who invented those anyway?) Good news: You don’t need to suffer through all that to level up your life. There’s a smarter, way more fun option—grant writing!
Hear me out: If you’ve been told that going back to college is the only way to change careers, you’ve been sold a big ol’ myth. Let’s bust those myths wide open and show you why grant writing could be the fresh, exciting career move you didn’t know you needed.
Myth 1: A Degree is the Only Way to Start a New Career
Spoiler alert: It’s not. Sure, some careers (like medicine or law) require a degree, but most don’t. Skills and experience are what really count. And guess what? You can get those without shelling out a fortune for a diploma. 🤗🤗
Boot camps, online courses, certifications, or just good ol’ on-the-job training can get you where you want to go for a fraction of the cost—and time! Grant writing is a perfect example. It’s all about developing real-world skills like writing compelling proposals and understanding what funders want. Fancy degrees? Optional. 👍🏾👍🏾
Myth 2: College Guarantees Job Security
Ha! If only. A degree isn’t some magical shield against layoffs or unemployment. (Looking at you, AI and automation 😂😂) In fact, the job market is moving so fast that traditional education can’t keep up.
Grant writing, on the other hand, is future-proof. Nonprofits, startups, and social enterprises always need funding. When you know how to bring in the money, you’re basically a superhero. Plus, it’s a skill that adapts with you—no expensive “updates” required.
Myth 3: Older Adults Can’t Compete Without a Degree
Newsflash: Age is an asset. Your experience, perspective, and wisdom are superpowers—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Grant writing is especially friendly to career changers with a few (or more) candles on their birthday cake. Your past experiences, no matter the field, give you a unique edge when crafting grant proposals and understanding what funders want. Older adults bring depth and context to the table—and clients love that.
Myth 4: New Degrees = More Money
Let’s do some quick math: Degrees cost a ton of money. Then there’s the time investment. And when you finally land a job, the salary bump? It’s not always what you expect. The math just doesn’t math anymore.
Enter grant writing. Your income potential doesn’t depend on the letters after your name but on how much value you bring. Take our friend Loretta, for instance. With a Masters degree in environmental studies, she was barely making $16/hour in retail. Fast forward: she learned grant writing, started freelancing, and now runs her own consulting business. She’s crushing six figures and working with clients she actually likes. 💪💪
Myth 5: College is More Respected Than Alternative Education
Let’s stop pretending college is the only legit way to learn. These days, boot camps, online programs, and certifications are turning out pros who are just as (if not more!) skilled than their traditionally educated peers.
In grant writing, no one cares where you went to school. They care about one thing: can you bring in the cash? And with a little training, you’ll be able to deliver the goods, build a reputation, and earn respect the old-fashioned way—by being awesome at your job. In the Global Grant Writers Collective, we’ve created comprehensive grant writing resources and templates to empower you.
The DREAM Framework: Reinventing Your Career Without College Debt
Meredith, our CEO, developed a simple and incredible formula you can use to upgrade your grant writing game in 2025. It’s called the DREAM Framework—a simple, powerful roadmap to help you reinvent your career and build a life you love.
Let’s show you how it works:
D: Design Your Vision
Before you dive headfirst into a career change, take a step back. Ask yourself: How do I want my life to look? Not just the career stuff—think about your perfect day, where you’re living, what you’re doing, and who you’re with.
Visualization is more than just daydreaming—it’s about getting crystal clear on what you’re aiming for. Try this: create a vision board in Canva or write out a detailed narrative. Then, put it somewhere you’ll see it every day. (Seriously, this is non-negotiable. Everyone in the Global Grant Writers Collective does it, and it works.)
Seeing your dream life regularly reminds you what you’re working toward—and trust me, clarity is the first step toward action.
R: Relationship Building
They say your network is your net worth, and it’s true. One of the biggest perks of fancy programs like MBAs is the connections you make. But guess what? You don’t need an MBA to build a powerful network anymore.
You can find like-minded communities online for just about any interest or industry. And when it comes to creating your dream career, relationships are everything—peers, mentors, clients, you name it.
Here’s a tip: follow what we call the “organic networking framework” It’s all about building genuine, meaningful connections. Focus on learning from others and offering value in return. The right people will naturally gravitate toward you, and your dream life will start to feel a lot closer.
E: Earn and Learn
Why quit your job and dive into a brand-new career blindfolded? There’s a better way: the earn-and-learn method. Start earning money while testing out your new career. It’s all about de-risking the leap.
Take Francine, for example. She dipped her toes into grant writing while keeping her day job. Within three months, she made $5,000 on the side. Now? She’s crossed $100,000, and her career is full of wild, unexpected opportunities—like a paid trip to Bordeaux to write grants for Napa Valley wineries. (Yes, really.)
Watch this training to learn more about how the earn-and-learn method works.
Is Grant Writing For You?
If you are looking for a career change and interested in grant writing consulting, check out this training on how to get started. Build a flexible life you love!
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A: Ambition and Gratitude Mindset
This step is a game-changer. To build your dream career, you need to balance two things: ambition (the drive to go after your goals) and gratitude (appreciating what you already have).
Here’s the truth: you’ll never make more money than you believe you’re worth. Your mindset shapes your outcomes, and often, we carry limiting beliefs about our value. (Trust me, I’ve been there too.)
Let’s flip those beliefs. Try a daily “belief upgrade.” Take an old belief that’s holding you back and rewrite it into something empowering. For example:
- Old belief: “I have to work ridiculously hard to deserve nice things.”
- Upgraded belief: “I’m inherently worthy of success and abundance.”
Do this daily, and watch how it shifts your perspective—and your results.
M: Momentum Building
Finally, let’s talk about momentum. Big changes don’t happen overnight. Like building muscle, creating a new career requires consistency. Doing 20 push-ups once won’t get you far, but doing 20 every day? That’s how you make real progress. With enough grant writing resources to feed you for a year, our collective literally transforms you into a fundraising juggernaut!
Commit to one year of focused effort on your new path. That’s it. One year of trying, learning, and showing up—no matter how messy or imperfect it feels. The universe rewards commitment, and you’ll be amazed at the transformation a year can bring.
In fact, over 50% of members in the Global Grant Writers Collective stick around for three years because they’ve built unstoppable momentum. Ask yourself: Can I make a one-year commitment to myself?
Ditch the MBA Dreams—Write Your Own Success Story
Listen, you don’t need sleepless nights, debt, or stiff business clothes to make a big career move. Grant writing lets you skip the stress and jump straight to the good stuff: financial independence, meaningful work, and the freedom to build a life you love.
Joel’s story says it all. Joel wanted better pay than his journalism 9-5. Going back to school with three kids at home was out of the question. After applying for 100s of jobs without success he joined the Collective to start side-hustling as a grant writer. In six months he’d made enough money to quit his job. By the end of the year he doubled his previous take-home pay to support his 3-kiddos. In year two, he’s projecting $220k in revenue for his business, supporting a team of grant writers and a $120k in take home pay. Cherry on top he had time to finish and publish his novel after nine years of not having the time.
Oh, and did I mention? When you hit $100K in revenue in our program, you get a custom hoodie. Yes, we celebrate your wins in style.
So, why not give it a shot? Forget the MBA. Choose a career that’s smart, fun, and lets you make a real impact. Grant writing might just be your golden ticket to a sparkling new chapter. 🎉
Your Next Move
Here’s the bottom line: your life can look completely different a year from now if you follow these steps. Get clear on what you want, find someone who’s already done it to guide you, and take consistent, imperfect action.
Oh, and bet on yourself. Because the truth is, you’re worth the investment!
If you’re still thinking about that higher education route, no shade—we’ve got PhDs, MBAs, and everything in between in the Global Grant Writers Collective. But for a fraction of the cost (we’re talking 9% of an MBA), you can build the career—and life—you’ve been dreaming about. So, what’s stopping you? Let’s make it happen today. Check this out to discover how grant writing can work as a career for you.
