Farm Director KC Sheperd recently sat down with Sarah Diamond of Diamond Grants and Consulting to demystify the process of grant writing for agricultural producers and other business owners. Diamond emphasized that grant writing is a skill worth understanding for anyone who owns a business, even if they don’t have an immediate need for a grant. Being familiar with the process means they can be prepared to act quickly when an opportunity arises, whether it’s from a local community foundation or a state-level program.
For those new to grant writing, Diamond shared that it’s largely a self-taught skill. She recommends starting with simple grants for a local nonprofit to build confidence and experience. There are numerous free resources available, such as online workshops, webinars, and YouTube videos, that can help people get started. When asked about using AI, she clarified that it’s a great tool for organizing ideas and structuring text, but it cannot replace the human element. The business owner, who is the expert, must ensure the grant application authentically reflects their specific project, community needs, and unique voice.
For busy farmers and agricultural producers, Diamond suggested a practical first step to feel out the landscape of available grants. She recommends using services like GrantWatch.com, which she likens to “the Indeed of grants.” For a subscription fee, users can plug in keywords and receive regular updates on relevant opportunities, from small grants of a few hundred dollars to much larger ones. This helps producers see what’s available and decide which grants might be a good fit. Diamond also offered a crucial tip: save everything. Since only about one in ten grants are typically funded, keeping a digital archive of all past work, from project descriptions to budgets, saves a tremendous amount of time and effort when applying for future grants. Finally, for those who find the task too daunting, Diamond’s consulting business, Diamondgrants.com, offers services to guide and assist small businesses, women-owned businesses, and farms through the grant writing process.
