Exploring New Frontiers: Innovative Approaches to Grant Writing and Funding

Dalya F. Massachi, MA. has been a writer ever since learning to hold a pencil. She inspires and equips changemakers in nonprofits and social-mission businesses to confidently use their writing to make a difference in their communities.

Dalya specializes in content strategy and development for those who want to boost their visibility and market position. Her creative insights help deliver strong, clear messages that achieve clients’ marketing, fundraising, and public education goals.

Since 1997, Dalya has raised millions of grant dollars for nonprofits of all sizes on a wide range of social and environmental issues. A former journalist, she has also worked with many changemakers to polish their messages through books, e-books, websites, reports, and articles. Check out her Client List.

Always striving to build the capacity of the social sector, Dalya has empowered several thousand in-person and online audience members across the U.S. to improve their fundraising and outreach work. Her friendly, practical presentations and individual coaching share top techniques and insights drawn from her nearly 25 years of experience in the field. One of her favorite comments from a workshop participant is: “I am no longer clueless. Now I am dangerous!”

Her collaborative and supportive style carries over into her online training and coaching work, including her new on-demand course “Grant Writing and Management” (co-created with TechSoup), and free “Ask Dalya Live” online video series that offers grant-related advice in bite-size chunks.

Dalya is the award-winning author of the 2011 book, Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact. She is also a co-author of the fundraising chapter in Do Good Well: Your Guide to Leadership, Action, and Social Innovation, and has published scores of recent articles.

From 2000-2004, Dalya served as Founding Director of the largest network of international development organizations on the West Coast: BAIDO (Bay Area International Development Organizations). She has worked and studied in Central America, Africa, Israel, the U.K., and several regions of the U.S. In addition, she has extensive experience in the global women’s movement. Dalya holds an M.A. in Communication & International Development and a B.A. in International Studies.

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST is a Grant Professional Certified (GPC), Approved Trainer of the Grant Professionals Association, and a Registered Scrum Trainer.

Diane began her career as a Program Officer for a state-wide grantmaking organization and she continues to serve as a reviewer for a variety of grantmaking organizations. Since 2006, when she formed DH Leonard Consulting, Diane and her team have secured more than $119.5 million dollars in competitive grant awards and Diane has personally trained more than 80,498 nonprofit professionals.

When not working with her team, Diane can be found in the 1000 Islands, out for a run, or drinking a strong cup of coffee.

Rachel Waterman has over 25 years of community development and grant writing experience, is Grant Professional Certified (GPC), a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Approved Trainer, and an expert in grant management. She holds a Master’s degree in community and economic development with a concentration in applied social research from Illinois State University and a Bachelor’s degree in international studies from Barry University. Her career has encompassed a broad spectrum of professional experiences, including serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, nonprofit executive director, community organizer, city master planner, researcher, and Mayor of the city of Lake Worth Beach, Florida.

Rachel is CEO and Founder of GDS Grants. She is responsible for client strategy, new program & budget development, data tracking systems, outcome measures and data analysis. Rachel also oversees the GDS Professional Development Program and personally coaches GDS interns, fellows and mentees.