111: TEDx Talk Is Live!!! The Real ROI of Grant Writing with Teresa Huff | How Can You Use Failure to Be Successful? Lean In!

<h3>TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing</h3> <p>My TEDx Talk is live!! You can watch and share here:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYrEdgN2LwM" target= "_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Real ROI of Grant Writing</strong></a></p> <p>I've been a longtime fan of learning from TEDx speakers, and am thrilled to have the opportunity to give a talk of my own! I share about nonprofits and how having the right ROI framework in place can open new doors.</p> <p>When most people hear ROI, they think ‘Return on Investment,’ but when it comes to grant writing the ROI framework is different. We're looking for a Return on <em>Impact</em>. Nonprofits have to work on being relevant, optimizing your operations, and interacting authentically and meaningfully with others.</p> <ul> <li><strong>R</strong>elevant</li> <li><strong>O</strong>ptimize Operations</li> <li><strong>I</strong>nteract authentically and meaningfully</li> </ul> <h3>Return on Impact</h3> <p>When a skilled chef is cooking, their secret ingredient can make the meal ten times better. </p> <p>For grant writing, the secret sauce to a higher return on impact doesn’t have to be a secret. It’s not hidden or profound: It’s to build true relationships with people. And it is important to build those relationships through each part of the ROI framework - your relevance, optimization, and interactions.</p> <h3>Don’t Skip Steps</h3> <p>How have I helped dozens of nonprofits over the last two decades? By building relationships, and advising others to do the same. </p> <p>It didn’t start out easy or winning every time. I made a LOT of mistakes, especially at first. I didn’t know any better. But that was part of the process.<br /> We HAVE to fail to get to success. </p> <p>That’s the part people try to skip. They skip the small failures because they’re afraid. And in doing so, they set themselves up for bigger failure.</p> <p>“Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. <strong>That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently fr