We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In the midst of COVID in mid-2020, I made a big decision to step away from my role as a public school teacher and shift my focus to fundraising for a local nonprofit organization where I had been a member for over a decade. The organization was in need of someone to navigate the challenges of hosting an online fall gala and auction, establishing a sustaining member program, and needing general fundraising support.

Drawing on my history with the organization, I was determined to learn how to address their fundraising needs and did a lot of research on how other nonprofits were pivoting from in-person to online events. With a lot of staff and volunteer support, the online gala raised over $60,000 that fall. I was grateful for the opportunity to lead this fundraising initiative. Over the course of a year, I immersed myself in the world of fundraising, learning new skills and insights in the process.

As I delved deeper into fundraising, I began thinking about changing my career path. After 19 years as an educator, I had a desire to find meaningful work that would allow me to continue making a positive impact in the world. This led me to take a leap of faith and establish my own consulting business, Levie INC, now called Grant Knowledge Consulting, LLC, offering fundraising and grant support services to nonprofit organizations.

Fast forward four years, I find so much fulfillment in supporting nonprofits and now small businesses in their work to create meaningful change in the world. The journey of transitioning from a teacher to a fundraising consultant has been both challenging and rewarding, and I am deeply grateful of the trust and confidence given to me by the organizations I work with.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a grant consultant, my focus is in conducting thorough research and analysis to identify the best grants for nonprofits and small businesses, ensuring they have access to top funding opportunities. I specialize in writing compelling grant proposals that effectively communicate an organization’s mission and objectives, emphasizing their unique value to increase their chances of securing crucial funding.

Recognizing the detailed and time-consuming process of grant applications, I offer expert guidance and support throughout the entire application process. I take pride in meticulously preparing and structuring client grant applications to ensure they stand out among the rest. Additionally, I provide assistance in reporting the impact of grant-funded programs, aiding clients in showcasing their achievements and outcomes effectively.

My greatest achievement is securing over $3 million in funding for organizations since 2021. It is incredibly fulfilling to contribute to my clients’ financial success. Building strong client relationships, demonstrating unwavering commitment to their financial objectives through continuous communication, attentive listening, and meeting deadlines are key to this success. Collaboration is essential in my work – I believe that no grant proposal or report is complete until clients have provided extensive feedback and given their final approval. This collaborative approach is what sets me apart.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During the separation from my husband, I found strength and resilience I didn’t know I had. Living on my own for the first time in 24 years, figuring out my finances, and learning who I was at this point in my life was all incredibly challenging, and there were times I really struggled. I worried if I could make enough money to be financially independent, and I had anxiety around how our son would handle the news. Through it all, I learned to rely on my faith, family, and friends to deal with all the worry, self doubt, and fear. Thankfully, our son was very supportive of both of us. And being a young adult, he understood what was going on without internalizing it. For that was I truly grateful.

After a lot of soul searching, I made the decision to end my marriage, and though it was incredibly difficult, it was an important step towards embracing my true self. For too long I had been prioritizing others’ needs and expectations over my own happiness, leading to a loss of who I really was. I learned that for me live an authentic, purposeful life, I needed to have more self-compassion and to embrace all my imperfections. It has been a challenging journey, but now that I am on my own, I have the freedom to create a life on my own terms, and I am committed to making that happen.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source for new clients has been referrals from previous clients and from my network of friends, family and colleagues.

Contact Info:

• Website: hhtps://www.grant-knowledge.com
• Instagram: N/A
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.smith.iowa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-smith-grant-consultant/
• Twitter: N/A
• Youtube: N/A
• Yelp: N/A
• Soundcloud: N/A