My Journey

I was the Director of Entrepreneurship at Arch Grants, a groundbreaking nonprofit organization that changed the entrepreneurial and economic development landscape in the Mid-Western United States. We built one of the largest business plan competitions in the world, and one of the most successful and replicated models for economic development. My role? Recruiting and selecting brilliant minds and ensuring they had the resources they needed to turn their visions into reality.

As a grant giver, I got to see the "other side" of grant review for over six years.

I’ve seen firsthand how a well-crafted grant can transform a dream into a booming reality.

Before this, I ran my own businesses and managed over 100 employees at Young Entrepreneurs Across America. This national organization empowers young adults to develop their entrepreneurial skills through real-world business experience.

I mentored countless aspiring entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the challenges of running a business while fostering a spirit of innovation and resilience.

Academic Achievements

My academic journey is a testament to my dedication and hard work. I completed my undergraduate degree with honors in just three years and was named Marketing Student of the Year in my final year.

I then earned my MBA in Entrepreneurial Studies from Olin Business School, one of the top business schools in the US. The faculty recognized my efforts and awarded me the Professional Achievement Award for my class.

Technical Expertise

Working with universities on academic research sharpened my technical writing skills. I learned to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively—an essential skill in the world of grant writing.

I was also able to co-author a master's level curriculum in the field of Social Entrepreneurship. This handy semester pumped me up for organizing important concepts in a more fluid, real-life way...

Current Endeavors

Nowadays, I’m running a nonprofit food assistance program in rural Arizona. It’s challenging but incredibly rewarding work.

I’ve successfully written and received dozens of grants to support our mission, ensuring that those in need have access to nutritious food.

Personal Life

When I’m not busy with work, you’ll find me exploring the great outdoors with my wife and kids. We love hiking and discovering new trails in Sedona, Mount Shasta, and all over the western US.

One of things that I find completely disconnected in the nonprofit world is the lack of focus on mindset and health. By now, you're likely at least aware of the concept of law of attraction.

While Grant Getting is not about gaining a greater spiritual understanding, it IS about GETTING FUNDED.

And my personal life is not separate from my professional one. The things that work for bringing about a better life for yourself are extremely helpful in attracting resources for your nonprogram.

So, yeah, mindset is pretty key to getting grants! And traveling and being in nature as much as possible with my family and friends is crucial for me.

These adventures fuel my passion for community and nature, driving me to make a positive impact through my work.

Why I’m Here

Here's the truth.

Writing grants is easy. Anyone can do it.

You don't want to write grants.  You want to GET grants.

I was tired of self-promotional seminars and 800 page "how-to" books...

And it seemed like those who were trying to teach others were not ACTIVELY doing it themselves!

Things are changing way too quickly right now to have outdated information. So I wanted to set up this system where nonprofit professionals and grant writers could BOTH learn the fundamentals of grant research, writing, and reporting, but ALSO to be up to date with trends, focus areas, and new resources.

Along my journey, I have been observant to the key performance indicators for both nonprofit organizations as well as successful grant applications.

What have I learned?

Well, it's something that a lot of people don't want to hear...

Getting grants is not just about improving your writing skills...

It's about having a good business...

That's right...BUSINESS!

Because it turns out that many of the things that make up a good business are the same things that make up a solid nonprofit program.

And having a good program - even if it is in its very early stages of development - is key to getting grants.

So throughout the resources and training that I provide, you're going to see that grant writing does not operate in a silo.

You can't write a successful grant application for a nonprofit program that doesn't make a difference - meaningfully - in your community or environment.

Of course, there are ways to tell a story that elicit a more favorable response in applications (and YES I talk a lot about that)...

But it's all connected.

Everything in your organization affects everything else. Getting grants is a function of hundreds of things...

But, it's also very simple and intuitive!

I started this because I want to share my knowledge and experience to help you succeed without falling into traps, and without a decade of trial and error.

Here, you’ll find actionable advice, real-world insights, and honest support.

If I can help you write a better grant, run a more effective nonprofit, or simply inspire you to keep pushing forward, then I’ve done my job. Let’s cut through the noise and get to what works.

Cheers, Benjamin Dean