Grant Writing & Funding

Doors are now open to the Grant Professional Mentorship: a 12-month mastermind where grant professionals scale from freelancer to CEO, double their monthly revenue, and build a business with consistent leads and systems that give you your time back.

Seats are limited and doors close April 3rd. Apply or book a call at grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship.

Episode Summary:

What does it really take to move from freelancer to CEO—and finally take time off without your business falling apart?

In this special mentorship spotlight episode, Holly Rustick sits down with Alexandra Cohen, founder of ANC Consult, to share her journey of building, refining, and scaling her grant writing business.

Alexandra first joined one of Holly’s earliest programs back in 2022, then rejoined years later to grow and scale her business in a more sustainable way. Since then, she’s streamlined her services, shifted fully into nonprofit work, increased retainer clients, and—perhaps most importantly—built systems that allow her to step away from her business without everything stopping.

If you're ready to grow beyond freelancing, create consistent income, and build a business that supports your life (not the other way around), this episode is for you.

Alexandra helps nonprofits strengthen their fundraising, diversify revenue, and build the operational infrastructure needed for sustainable growth. She works with Executive Directors, development teams, and boards to clarify strategy, streamline systems, and create practical plans that translate ambitious goals into actionable, fundable plans.

Known for blending data with storytelling, Alexandra supports nonprofits in developing competitive grant proposals and donor communications that clearly articulate need, impact, and outcomes. Her work helps organizations translate programs, evaluation data, and financial priorities into compelling narratives that resonate with institutional funders and individual donors alike -strengthening funding relationships and supporting long-term revenue growth.

Before launching ANC Consult, Alexandra spent 15 years as a litigation attorney, developing skills in strategy, communication, and creative problem-solving that now inform her work with mission-driven organizations. She holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University (B.A.), Hofstra University School of Law (J.D.), and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MBA/MA in Social Enterprise & Finance and International Policy & Development).

Website: https://anc-consult.com

Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener?

This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review!

“Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week.

Thanks for listening!

Warmly,

Holly Rustick

Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.