By: Natisha S. Jordan
A recent experience has pushed me into a deeper reflection about my work as a grant writer and consultant. I love this work. I love being able to help organizations strengthen their vision, shape their ideas into something fundable, and move closer to the communities they say they want to serve. For me, this work has never been just about contracts, deadlines, or deliverables. It has always been about purpose. It is about using my skills to help bring meaningful resources, programs, and opportunities to people who need them most.
That is why negative experiences like this one are so painful. It is not only the frustration of being ignored. It is the deeper disappointment of realizing that the time, care, and commitment I bring to this work are not always valued in return. When I show up prepared, attend meetings, invest thought, begin building the work, and still receive silence where there should be communication, it makes me pause and ask harder questions. What does it mean when an organization asks for support but does not honor the people trying to help them? What does that say about how they approach their mission, their partnerships, and their responsibility to others?
This has also made me reflect on how often people make assumptions about credibility, professionalism, and expertise. I do not have to look like what someone expects a grant writer or consultant to look like. I do not have to fit anyone’s narrow image of who belongs in this role. My value is not determined by appearances, titles, or whether I match someone else’s comfort zone. My value is in the work itself. It is in my ability to listen, understand a mission, build strategy, write with clarity, and care deeply about the impact of what I create.
At the heart of this work is sincerity. I do this because I want to help. I want to support organizations that are doing meaningful work and help them access the resources they need to serve their communities. That intention is real, and it is one of my greatest strengths. If anything, this experience has reminded me that I need to be even more protective of that strength. Not every organization deserves unlimited access to my time, my energy, or my trust. Alignment matters. Respect matters. Mutual commitment matters.
I am learning that professionalism is not just about delivering quality work. It is also about honoring myself enough to recognize when my labor is being undervalued. It is about setting clearer boundaries, asking better questions up front, and choosing to work with people who understand that collaboration requires communication, respect, and accountability.
This experience has not taken away my love for this work, but it has changed me. It has made me more honest about what I need in order to do this work well and sustainably. I still believe in the power of this profession. I still believe in the impact that thoughtful, mission-driven consulting can have. But I also believe that the people who do this work deserve to be treated with dignity.
Moving forward, I want to continue building a practice rooted not only in skill and service, but also in discernment. I want to work with organizations that value partnership, that communicate clearly, and that understand that behind every draft, meeting, and strategy is a person offering their time, care, and expertise. I know what I bring to this work. I know the heart I bring to it. And I am learning that honoring that truth is just as important as helping others fulfill their mission.
