Fundraising 5 With Nicole Muzzy

Grant Writer and Founder of Muzzy Grant Writing

Interviewed by Emily Cole-Jones

Describe your role with Fox Advancement. Why are you passionate about your work?

I currently work as a grant writer for two Fox clients: a federally recognized Tribe and an Urban Indian organization. I manage the grant application process from beginning to end, collaborating with a wide range of area experts. My favorite part of the work is learning about projects as diverse as healthcare, cultural preservation, language revitalization, new affordable housing construction, and youth-led public policy advocacy—just to name a few! The urgency of these projects also inspires my passion for the work and motivates me to do my best to get them funded.

What have you enjoyed most about working with Fox Advancement?

Everyone I’ve worked with, both from the clients’ side and on the Fox team, has been wonderful. I’m constantly impressed by their passion, professionalism, and commitment—and they’re also really fun and kind! They ensure that everything runs super smoothly and are excellent communicators. I feel very supported!

What is an example of a fundraising challenge that you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?

During my time with Fox, one of the biggest challenges has been the tendency of deadlines to cluster! Even as an experienced grant writer who is well-versed in the cycles of fundraising, it can still be a lot to juggle and keep track of—especially the federal awards which sometimes require more than a dozen attachments along with the application itself. The Fox team has jumped in to help with coordination and making sure all communications continue to flow seamlessly between each stakeholder. As a result, even when I have a lot on my plate, I never feel overextended or overwhelmed.

What is a particularly memorable interaction you’ve had with a client?

My most cherished client moment was when the project lead for a huge US Department of Education grant notified me that we had won! She was so ecstatic and we had both worked very hard (the final submitted application package was over 80 pages total). It’s a five year grant that will help the client get every single high-priority youth initiative launched or scaled. I’ll never forget the stream of exclamation points from everyone’s emails that day!

On a personal note: Describe your perfect day from beginning to end!

What a fun question! I suppose it would be waking up and having a gigantic breakfast at my favorite local diner (once it’s safe to do so, post-COVID). Then hitting the beach for a few hours before the crowds arrive. On the way home, there’s an amazing food truck that sells fresh-to-order donuts! I’d order half a dozen, Nutella-filled. If there’s time to squeeze in the farmer’s market, I’d probably add that to the agenda. Once I’m back at home, dinner, then curling up with my family to watch a true crime documentary. Food is apparently the main feature of my perfect day!

If you’re interested in joining our team as a Grant Writing Consultant or a Campaign Consultant, please review the requirements and apply!