The Grant Writers Gathering
Navigating Uncertainty With Confidence
April 9-12, 2026
Sign Me Up!120 Spots Only
We're All Downstream From the Federal Government
As grant writers, we've always adapted to shifts in the funding landscape. But nothing—not even the pandemic—has prepared us for the "permanent air of uncertainty" we're facing now.
That's why we are hosting the Grant Writers Gathering 2026!
This gathering isn't just about commiserating (though that's a perk!). It's about stepping up as leaders and navigating these changes with confidence.
Our goal is for you to leave The Gathering emotionally bolstered and ready to lead your organization through its best days yet.
The Gathering is For You If...
 | You are a grant writer (in-house with a nonprofit or freelancing) |
| You are ready for energizing in-person time |
| You are tired of boring conferences! (cough, cough GPA Summit we’re looking at you) |
| You want to know what others are doing that’s working to navigate funding uncertainty |
Event Details Overview
Location
📍 Brasada Ranch, Bend, Oregon
Dates
🗓️ Thursday, April 9 (National 🦄 Day!) – Sunday, April 12, 2026
Getting There
Fly into Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), and we'll take care of the rest
Event Size
120 grant writers — mostly exclusive to members of the Grant Writers Collective!
Vibe in a Sentence
So much fun and value, you'll never want to attend a boring event again.
Price
$2,750 (all-inclusive except flights)
What's Included
 | Luxe Lodging in the Ranch House Guestrooms, each with a private terrace, cozy outdoor firepit, and hot tub — perfect for relaxing and recharging. |
| Farm-to-Table Meals crafted by Brasada's culinary team, sourcing fresh ingredients from local farmers, purveyors, and foragers. We'll happily accommodate any dietary needs. |
| Gorgeous Barn-Style Venue for daytime breakout sessions — because we're so over cookie-cutter hotel conference venues. |
| Outdoor & Indoor Activities — bring your hiking boots and yoga gear (gentle, beginner-friendly classes included!). |
| Airport Transportation to and from Redmond for a seamless arrival and departure. |
| National Unicorn Day Kickoff Celebration — Our first time gathering in person, so you know we're going big to celebrate! |
| Themed Evening Parties — Hint: you might be dusting off your old wedding dress or favorite costume for the "Nowhere to Wear It" party. 😉 |
| An Epic Lineup of Inspirational Speakers sharing exclusive insights and game-changing strategies. |
| Tangible Takeaways & Resources with a 90-day "Return to Work" plan — so you can put everything you learn into action immediately. |
The Game Plan
Have we ever let you down? Well, we aren't going to start now!
As we solidify guest speakers and the schedule, you will receive an updated agenda via email. Here is a basic rundown of the good stuff to come.
Thursday, April 9
| Arrivals: Fly into Redmond Airport (RDM) between 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM (ideal!) |
| Check-in: Settle into your guest cabin and explore the property at your leisure. |
| 6:30 PM: National Unicorn Day Kickoff Celebration — themed opening night party to kick things off in style! |
Friday, April 10
| 7:00 AM: Hike with the LGW team or Morning Pages with Rose — wake up with intention and friends. |
| 8:00 AM: Delicious Breakfast — fuel up for the day ahead. |
| 9:00 AM: Opening Session — setting the stage for a transformative weekend. |
| 10:00 AM: Breakout Tracks — dedicated sessions for In-House Nonprofit Grant Writers and Consultants. |
| 11:15 AM: Panel Discussion on Trends in the Industry featuring funders and guest experts. |
| 12:00 PM: Lunch — network, refuel, and relax. |
Friday Afternoon & Evening
| 1:30 PM: Afternoon Workshop — dive deeper into strategies and insights. |
| 2:00 PM: Afternoon Keynote - dive into ethical storytelling with Diana Farias Heinrich. |
| 3:30 PM: Professional Headshots - when was the last time you had new headshots taken? We've got you covered! |
| 3:30 PM: Recharge Time — take a nap, go for a hike, hit the athletic center, or do whatever you need to recharge! |
| 6:30 PM: Dinner followed by Speed Networking Night — get to know your fellow attendees in a fast-paced, fun format. |
Saturday, April 11
| 7:30 AM: Morning Yoga with Alex — start your day with some gentle stretches and mindfulness. |
| 8:30 AM: Delicious Breakfast — energize for the day ahead. |
| 9:30 AM: Morning Keynote — get ready to get inspired! |
| 10:30 AM: Break-Out Workshops — continued sessions for In-House Nonprofit Grant Writers and Consultants. Theme: Money! |
| 12:00 PM: Lunch — take a moment to relax and enjoy great food and conversation. |
Saturday Afternoon & Evening
| 1:30 PM: Afternoon Workshop — dive into actionable strategies and insights. |
| 3:30 PM: Professional Headshots - fabulous for a LinkedIn refresh |
| 3:30 PM: Recharge Time — time to reflect, refresh, or take a walk in the beautiful surroundings. |
| 6:30 PM: Finale Dinner Celebration — a memorable evening of celebration, reflection, and fun. |
| After-party: Nowhere to Wear It — bring out your creative side and join us for a themed party (dust off that old wedding dress or your favorite costume!). |
Sunday, April 12
| 8:00 AM: Farewell Breakfast — enjoy a final meal with new friends before heading out. |
| 9:00 AM: Shuttles to Airport — transportation provided to Redmond Airport (RDM) for your departure. |
| 11:00 AM: Checkout — say your goodbyes and check out by 11 AM. |
Meet Your Speakers
Heinrich
Hosted By:
& Alex Lustig
*This will continue to be updated as we refine the agenda
Rose Hedberg
Rose Hedberg is a writer by trade (a published author and grant writer), whose passion for storytelling evolved beyond the page when she discovered the art of sales in 2023. Seeing how sales touched every corner of life—from the shows we binge to the services we buy—she became fixated on understanding its reputation, especially in the nonprofit world.
Since then, Rose has led over 400 successful sales calls mastering the craft of nurturing prospects through email, direct messaging, and one-on-one calls. Under the mentorship of sales expert Chris R. Rigoudis, Rose now applies a curious, connected, and transformation-based approach to selling, because "people don't buy out of desperation, they buy out of hope."
At The Gathering, Rose’s breakout session will support nonprofit professionals in navigating donor and client conversations with confidence and integrity. We'll unpack how to approach sales conversations with authenticity—conquering objections, articulating your value, and reframing sales as a form of storytelling.
Participants will walk away with:
- Practical techniques to address and overcome common objections
- Clarity on what distinguishes “pushy” from “proactive” communication
- A deeper understanding of how sales is simply transformation-based storytelling
Tyler Hobbs
Tyler Hobbs (he/him) is a philanthropy and nonprofit leader with experience in secondary education, fundraising, and organizational development. A former educator, school administrator, and fundraiser, he was recruited in 2020 to build the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation’s infrastructure and grantmaking strategy. The foundation now distributes over $20 million annually to nonprofit organizations across Oregon. You can learn more about Tyler and the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation here.
Rachel Werner
Rachel Werner is the Principal at MyFedTrainer, a nationally recognized federal grants compliance training provider. She is also the Owner and CEO of RBW Strategy, a woman-owned grants consulting firm located in the Washington, DC, area. Rachel and her team at RBW Strategy have collectively raised over $450 million and managed over $2.5 billion in federal grant awards, and she has trained thousands of individuals and groups at conferences, through virtual webinars, and MyFedTrainer courses. She has a Certificate in Grants Management, is a certified Project Management Professional, is a Certified Grants Professional, and Grant Professionals Association Approved Trainer. You can learn more about Rachel and My FedTrainer here.
Diana Farias Heinrich
Diana Farias Heinrich's bio goes here.
Cost
Think you have to donate blood or eat ramen for a month to afford this? Nahhh, we're bringing you a 7-star experience (a core value of ours) at the same cost as a traditional hotel conference.
Member of the Collective? Email [email protected] to snag your member-only ticket price.
Includes:
- Incredible line up of speakers
- Stunning cabin lodging
- Homemade, locally sourced meals and snacks
- All activities and themed parties
- Conference venue
- Transportation to/from airport
- Surprise swag
- Access to Athletic Center and Spa
- 90-Day "Back to Work" Plan
- Priceless insights and connections
- And oh so much more
P.S. We do have a few shared room options that can lower your price. Email us at [email protected] if you're interested.
We'll Have Done Our Job If You
Leave The Gathering Feeling …
| More confident navigating uncertainty caused by the Federal Government The uncertainty we're navigating as nonprofits and organizations in the grant sector won't last forever, but we also have a good three more years of it. You'll leave The Gathering with tangible takeaways for navigating these changes and being the calm and steady force needed right now. |
| Grounded in Your Authority as an Expert You're not just a grant writer. Whether consulting or working internally, you'll leave with proven strategies, scripts for positioning your value, and coaching to help you claim your space as a confident authority—even if you're still building credibility. |
| Inspired to Unlock Your Level 10 Self Listen up—you get in rooms like this, and you fundamentally change. You see what's possible. You get wicked inspired. Because let's be real, this work can be lonely. More now than ever, you need Unicorn Besties on speed dial. The Gathering will unlock the level 10 version of you. |
| Up on the Latest AI Strategies for Grant Writers The grant writing industry is NOT keeping with it. The GPA Grant Summit barely touched on AI, and most of our "competitors" aren't building a culture around developing AI skills. Right now, the gap between grant writers using AI and those who aren't might seem small, but by 2026, that gap will explode. You'll be on the front end of it. |
| Ready to Take Action with Real, Tangible Takeaways At The Gathering, you won't just leave with inspiration — you'll leave with real tools you can put to work immediately. From a 90-day action plan to customizable frameworks and scripts, you'll be ready to implement everything you've learned and hit the ground running when home. |
QUESTIONS
If we didn't answer your question, please send us an email at [email protected]
Fly into Redmond Airport (RDM) and land between 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 9. We’ll coordinate shuttle transportation (we’ll collect your flight details closer to the event). If you’re arriving much later, we may ask you to take a Lyft or Taxi, as our National Unicorn Day Celebration starts at 6:30 PM, and we’d hate for you to miss it!
Don't worry, we'll send you a full packing list by email, but here's a quick preview:
- Comfortable, colorful clothes (break free from black and navy—you're not at a boring conference!).
- Outdoor attire (think tennis shoes and breathable clothes for some exploration).
- Hot pink for Speed Networking Night!
- National Unicorn Day outfits (Unicorn attire encouraged, but at least bring the sequins! Think boas, crowns, unicorn horns, gems, and glam!).
- "Nowhere to Wear It" themed outfit (Bust out that old wedding dress, costume, or anything that never gets worn in the back of your closet!).
- Your laptop for a few of the live workshops and sessions.
Leave work behind! Don't let emails or to-do lists distract you from being fully present. We want you to work ON your nonprofit or business, not IN it.
We've got you covered! Our culinary team at Brasada Ranch will provide gluten-free and dairy-free options, and we're happy to accommodate other dietary needs. We'll ask you for this information closer to the event date in a survey.
Yep, you'll have plenty of access to the outside world. That said, we'll encourage you to disconnect and immerse yourself fully in the experience.
We understand—life happens! You can cancel for a full refund up to 60 days before the event. You can receive a 50% refund after 30 days. After that, we're unable to offer refunds, but we can help transfer your spot to someone else if needed.
Expect swanky, rustic vibes—with a touch of fancy! We hosted our 5% Club Mastermind here a few years ago, and let's just say, hot tub social hour was a thing. You'll be comfy!
Yes, we offer a limited number of scholarships specifically for BIPOC community members. If that's you, please email [email protected] for the application.
Absolutely! This is legit professional development—and every penny is an investment in yourself and your future. Expect to 10x your ROI. Let's do this!
Yes! This is the first time we're opening our event to non-members. However, space is limited, so don't wait to register!
We want this retreat to be accessible to all. Please inform our team what your accommodations are and we will do our very best. If you are unsure before purchasing your ticket, please email [email protected] and we will get you an answer!
We're sorry, but we prefer to keep the focus on you. Having family members along can divide your attention and prevent you from fully immersing in the experience. That said, they are welcome to explore Bend while you're at the event, and you can join them before or after.
What are you waiting for?
