Humpback Whales and Grant Writing
In the first episode of Our Oceans, the film opens with a scene of humpback whales migrating thousands of miles across the Pacific in search of food.
That scene has stayed with me because it reflects what I’m seeing in the grant writing and fundraising world right now.
Movement is not optional.
Federal grants, foundation funding, and even the experts we often look to are not providing the same nourishment they used to.
A shift is happening, and we can all feel it.
I'm not exempt from this either.
This year, my grant business crossed six figures for the first time, and it felt incredible. But soon after, the tides started changing.
Selling $5,000 a month grant packages started to feel out of step with the changes happening around me.
Trying not to panic, I was laying out on the floor of my bed room wondering what the hell is happening.
After some tears and rhythmic pumps of my fist on my chest, the whales came to mind.
These majestic creatures consume about a ton of food a day, eating billions of tiny crustaceans called copepods that are packed with protein and calorie-rich oils.
If there is no food in one place, they start moving, often traveling thousands of miles across the ocean in search of new opportunities.
We also have the same choice that the whales have.
When our environment changes, we can stay put, wallow in what was, or worse, keep operating as if the same opportunities still exist where they don’t.
We could get angry.
Shake our hands at the powers that be.
Or, we could get moving.
It's by moving we find new ideas that spark new ways of thinking.
The beautiful thing is you don't have to physically move to find new opportunities.
One of my clients, Scott Hatley with INCIGHT, a nonprofit helping people with disabilities unlock their full potential, recently connected with Anja Günther in Austria who is with Zero Project.
As INCIGHT's grant writer, I had the pleasure of facilitating this virtual conversation, and we learned so much from Anja.
She shared how entire villages in Singapore have been designed for accessibility. Not just isolated buildings, but whole communities including parks, public spaces, and even libraries.
"The library I toured was perfectly built for people with disabilities. From the counter where you get books to the heights of the shelves, everything is thoughtfully designed. It’s really wonderful to see this level of commitment."
Hearing insights like this was motivating. There are organizations around the world, like INCIGHT, that are waiting to be connected.
Making things even better, Anja invited INCIGHT to apply to speak in another country next year in front of 1,000 people.
The fact that such an opportunity emerged at all, one that could lead to more speaking engagements, relationships, and opportunities, was exactly the point.
When we move and find new currents, the ocean rewards those who keep swimming.
Just look to the whales.
—Cody