Virtual GrantSummit Scholarship Reflection

GPA has become the foundation of my professional network and knowledge growth. I credit much of my development as a grant professional over the past 8 years to the connections and learnings I’ve gained from GPA. There are some professional events that I look forward to each year – my Central Ohio GPA Chapter holiday party, attending new and interesting webinars, the GrantSummit, and this year, earning my GPC! I have been fortunate to attend GrantSummit in the past, and this year, after earning my GPC, attendance at the conference was even more important to me as I continue to hone my skills and show up as a grant professional in meaningful ways. The scholarship I received from the Grant Professionals Foundation enabled me to attend my fifth conference, but my first conference as a GPC!

As I was identifying sessions to attend, a theme emerged that guided my 2024 conference experience. There was an emphasis on relationships, connections, and communication, as well as a focus on federal grant management – all of which have been areas I’ve worked to develop in my day-to-day career.

Sessions like “How to Establish and Maintain Excellent Grant Funder Relationships,” “It Takes a Village: How to Manage Neurodiversity in the Workplace,” and Michelle Gladieux’s keynote address on communicating with courage all gave me tips and tools for developing and maintaining relationships (both with internal and external partners). Michelle also reminded me that growth isn’t linear and challenges promote growth. She encouraged us to keep showing up and remembering that we “need practice, not perfection,” which translates well in both the grant writing and relationship-building spaces.

Federal grant management has become a large aspect of my job, so I also sought out conference sessions specifically related to federal grants. I attended “Implementing System-Wide Internal Controls and Socializing Change,” “Updating Policies and Procedures for the Revised Uniform Guidance,” “Match Making: Understanding Matching Funds in Federal Grants,” and “Sexy Budget Narratives” (one of my favorite sessions). These sessions focused on various aspects of federal grant management such as internal controls, uniform guidance, and budgeting. I took copious notes and learned new tips and tricks that will help me work with my team and manage federal grants with more ease and confidence.

Each session I attended provided valuable insight and new information that will help me each day in my job as a grant professional. The keynote address by Michelle Gladieux and the closing address by Jess Pettitt reminded me how important grant professionals are in our communities, and at the same time, they challenged me to do more. Michelle encouraged us to “choose one place to give 1% more,” a seemingly easy task – try a little harder, do a little more, give a tiny bit – in one place, to one person, at one time per day. Simple, yes, but the impact and ripple effect that could have if we all give 1% more could be profound!

In a similar way, Jess Pettitt reminded us to leave everything—every situation, relationship, conversation, project, or grant—better than we found it. Going into a new year, I plan to reflect on these new calls to action and make them goals for 2025.

As always, GrantSummit helped to enhance my skills and introduced me to new concepts as I work with my team moving forward to implement new procedures. I am fortunate to be able to take the learnings and resources I found at GrantSummit and share them with my team of grant pros, thus sharing positive change, new insights, and knowledge that will continue to improve our work and benefit our community.

The conference is always inspiring to me. It’s not often that you are surrounded by hundreds of grant pros who truly understand your day-to-day successes and struggles. The energy (even felt virtually) is contagious. So many grant professionals work embedded in their communities, trying each and every day to make their piece of the world a better place. It can be a lonely and seemingly never-ending job, but GrantSummit brings together grant pros who support, commiserate, and understand each other. This is enough to re-ignite your flame and fill you with motivation to keep moving forward.

GrantSummit filled my cup – with both newfound knowledge and renewed inspiration! The scholarship I received made the conference more accessible this year and allowed me to grow personally and professionally! I am grateful to the Grant Professionals Foundation, the staff of GPA, conference speakers, volunteers, tech support, my fellow grant professionals, and everyone who came together to make this another successful conference – both in person and virtually!