Why Grant Pros are Uniquely Suited to Life as a Digital Nomad

I’m always singing the praises of getting out on the road as an RVer, partly because it’s been a transformative lifestyle for us. In the four years since I launched my business and hit the road as a full-time RVer, I’ve learned so much about myself (like how to embrace uncertainty), my friends and family, and the country. I’ve answered lots of questions about what it’s like to live on the road.

A few months ago, I had the great fortune to present on this topic with my colleagues Liz Forster and Maureen Bonnefin. In the section of the presentation where we discussed how to transition to the nomadic lifestyle, I got up on my soapbox. I PREACHED to my fellow grant pros about how the skills we have already honed as grant writers translate to living life as a digital nomad. These skills are relevant regardless of whether you’re an RVer or a suitcase traveler, domestic or international, full-time or part-time, or any combination of the above!

Here’s a version of that sermon, slightly updated for the blog format. Enjoy!

Grant pro skill: Project management (and tech tools)

Grant professionals are fantastic at creating and maintaining systems and processes. We manage projects across multiple technological platforms and departments. We’re constantly thinking about ways to make our lives and work better and more efficient, which sometimes means learning new technologies and tools.

As an example, I take my real-life project management skills in Airtable and build out my travel itinerary to share with family and friends. I’m also a fan of templates and checklists, so I have a checklist that I run every time I hitch and unhitch my travel trailer. Employing these systems gives me peace of mind that I know where I’m going, and I’ll get there safely.

Grant pro skill: Details, details, details

Grant pros are also detail people. Perhaps this is to our detriment at times, since I know I can get overwhelmed by a long RFP. My mind immediately starts going through all the details required for a grant application rather than thinking at a high level about the opportunity and being sure the client is a fit. But trust me when I say that no one else can focus on these details like you can.

I might feel like I’m drowning when I’m planning a long travel route, but my detail-oriented brain means that I am actually reading the campground policies before I book somewhere. I’ve seen some pretty weird rules about dogs (like one place that said if my dog made any noise alone in the RV, they would break into my RV without me present and take my dog to the pound).

Grant pro skill: Research

Similarly, grant pros are researchers. We have to profile grant funders to find out whether their geographic and programmatic priorities align with our work. We comb through Census data and community health assessments to find that one nugget of information for our need statement.

For me, that translates to quickly vetting a campground for location, price, cell coverage, and so on. For you, that might be understanding which online sources will get you the information you need about your next adventure.

Grant pro skill: Storytelling and creativity

Grant pros are also natural storytellers. Aligned with our search for data, we also need to be able to present that data in a palatable way. Sometimes that comes in the form of client stories or impact statements from partner organizations. We have to be creative in the way we present information to some funders, even pretending we’re panelists so we can consider the application from their perspective.

When we left our sticks and bricks, I got into the habit of journaling regularly. We also have a private social media account for our family and friends. I might not ever write a book or a public travel blog, but documenting our travels fulfills that storytelling need in me.

Grant pro skill: Resilience

Finally, grant professionals are resilient! We have to overcome grant denials on a regular basis. We figure out how to adapt to every funder’s different portal with their different requirements. We’re part of the “it’s never enough” fundraising club. As in, “great, you met your grant goal last year. Let’s increase it by 25% this year.” You have the resilience to overcome so much in your personal and professional life.

Obviously, this speaks to mindset, as well. You can’t get past denials if your mindset is in the trash. Having a positive mindset will help you through the bad days at work, but it’ll also help when everything goes wrong at the same time on a travel day. Like that one time it was pouring down rain at a dump station, and I was up to my ankles in water (at least, I hope that’s what it was). I’ve had periods where getting any appreciable cell or satellite service has been a struggle, and I’ve had to alter my work plans.

What skills do you have?

Even if you don’t plan to live on the road full-time like me (or even consult on grants full-time like me!), you’ll likely recognize your own strengths on this list that will allow you to overcome challenges in your life. You might even figure out a way to work remotely part of the year when your kids are out of school for the summer.

What skills have you honed from your own work that apply to nomadic life?

Photography by Elizabeth Leitzell