About this episode

Holly Rustick discusses with Reece Bester the essential elements nonprofits need to have in place before seeking grant funding.

In this episode, Holly talks with Reece Bester, Founder and CEO of Breakthrough Grants, about what nonprofits need to have in place before pursuing grant funding. Reece shares how data, diversified revenue, fiscal responsibility, testimonials, strong program design, and relationship-building all play a role in becoming truly grant-ready. They also discuss why nonprofits are businesses, how grant writers can support clients beyond writing, and why funders are increasingly looking for clear outcomes, sustainability, and strong organizational infrastructure. ABOUT OUR GUEST Reece is a nonprofit founder turned grant strategist with over a decade of experience in program development and sustainable funding. After founding and scaling a STEM-based nonprofit through successful grant acquisition, I now provide specialized funding services to nonprofits nationwide. Having been in the founder’s seat, I bridge the gap between community need and funder expectations, replacing financial stress with reliable, systems-based growth. CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST Website: https://breakthroughgrants.com/ OTHER RESOURCES: Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and…

People in this episode

Host: Holly Rustick

Guest: Reece Bester

Topics covered

• nonprofit success
• grant funding
• organizational infrastructure
• program design
• relationship-building

Keywords

• nonprofit
• grant funding
• data
• fiscal responsibility
• sustainability
• program design
• funders

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Breakthrough Grants

More episodes of Grant Writing & Funding

• Feeling Guilty About Leaving Your Nonprofit Job? · July 21, 2026 · 17 min
• The Identity Shift That Will Scale Your Grant Writing Business · July 14, 2026 · 25 min
• State of the Grant Industry: May 2026 Market Report · July 7, 2026 · 31 min
• The 2026 Tax Change Every Grant Writer Should Know About · June 23, 2026 · 21 min
• The Fear Never Fully Goes Away, Even After Six Figures (What 12 Years in Business Taught Me) · June 19, 2026 · 37 min
• The 5 Reasons You Haven't Started a Grant Writing Business Yet (And Why None of Them Are Real) · June 18, 2026 · 19 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Grant Writing & Funding podcast page.