The P Word: Pivoting Your Grants Career in a Changing World
Since the pandemic, the word “pivot” has been an absolute earworm. It describes everything from sudden funding shake-ups to the rise of artificial intelligence. To this day, grant professionals are performing a whole new level of intellectual labor. We aren’t just writers, we are risk managers, cultural experts, change managers, and tech wizards trying to be the beating heart in a robot age.
With the landscape of philanthropy changing rapidly, how do we future-proof our organizations and our careers? Here is a look at the major trends reshaping our field, and how you can pivot to meet them head-on.
The Federal Funding Rollercoaster
Public funding is a massive pillar of the nonprofit sector. In fact, private foundations would have to increase their giving by an astonishing 282% just to equal the amount of government grants given to nonprofits.[1] However, the current federal administration has ushered in a new era of politicization, increased scrutiny, compressed grant timelines, and cuts to many grant programs. Navigating this requires a new, risk-aware approach. Grantseekers must aggressively monitor forecasts, perform rigorous internal risk assessments, and design project budgets that can handle sudden volatility.
The Great Wealth Exchange
While federal funding is tightening, private philanthropy is experiencing its own seismic shift. We are currently in the midst of the greatest generational transfer of wealth in our lifetime, with an estimated $106 trillion transferring from the Baby Boomer generation to Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z by 2048.[2] This next generation of philanthropists operates very differently from their predecessors, such as moving away from institution-driven giving and toward issue-driven giving. To attract these new donors, organizations must lean into radical transparency, digital verification, and values-aligned action.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence
AI is showing up in all aspects of grants, from funding prospect screening to writing support and proposal review. When used correctly, AI offers incredible benefits for productivity, efficiency, and creativity. However, there is a high risk of producing “slop”—low-quality, mass-produced content. Instead, pair AI with strong critical thinking skills as a tool to brainstorm, summarize research, or even interview yourself to identify career goals.
Ready to Pivot Like a Pro?
If you want to think like a futurist and gain tangible tools to manage these sector threats, we have the perfect training for you.
Join The Grant Plant for The P Word: Pivoting to Change in the Grants Field. In this imaginative session, participants will more deeply explore these current trends in the grants field and work through scenarios to help future-proof their careers. Participants will emerge with a future-forecasting framework and actionable tools to help operationalize change in your grant shop, including a risk checklist, resources for monitoring trends, and printable guidelines for ethical AI use.
Sign up for this recorded webinar through our training platform to secure your spot in this must-attend session!
[1] Koob, A. (2025). How long can nonprofits survive without government grants? Candid. https://candid.org/blogs/how-long-nonprofits-cash-runway-can-survive-without-government-grants/
[2] Merrill (2024). Will the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ transform the markets? https://www.ml.com/articles/great-wealth-transfer-impact.html#footnote-2
Contact: Laurel Meister Schmuck, GPC, Senior Resource Development Officer
This post was filed under: Federal Grants, Grant Writing, Training