
Ep 20: The Hidden Risks in Your Federal Grant: Federal Grant Compliance Explained
Grants Explained Around the WorldShow Notes
Federal grants come with strings attached—and misunderstanding those strings can cost your organization its funding, its reputation, or worse. In this milestone 20th episode and Season 1 finale, I cut through the bureaucracy to answer a deceptively simple question: what does it actually take to stay compliant with a federal award?
I break down:
📍 the layers of obligations that many grantees overlook 📍 the specific terms buried in your agreement that can trigger audits, repayment demands, or even legal action 📍 why something as routine as charging staff time to a grant can become a red flag, and more 📍 an urgent alarm about a pending regulatory change
The episode concludes with a look ahead as the podcast expands beyond US federal grants to feature grant-funded organizations around the world.
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ABOUT ME:
I'm the founder and CEO of GrantWin™️ Consulting (formerly Grants Works) and the lead trainer for GrantWin Academy. I have over 18 years of federal grants experience.
Before starting the firm, I obtained and managed multimillion dollar federal and other government grants for nonprofits and managed grants as a research program manager at a top research university. I'm also a former CDC employee who worked with grantees.
I'm one of approximately 313 Certified Grants Management Specialists (CGMS) in the US, a member of the Thompson Grants Expert Panel, and the creator of a 4.7 out of 5 star rated federal grant management training series for a federal agency.
I'm a mom of three who enjoys international fiction and foreign films, and I'm a world travel enthusiast.
ABOUT GRANTWIN:
GrantWin is a grant consulting and training firm based in Atlanta, GA that provides pre- and post-award services to support our clients as they find, obtain, manage and comply with federal grants. For over six years, we have provided a range of services for our nonprofit, university, for profit, and local government clients. Our staff has a combined 80 years of experience, and we have obtained and managed federal grants from the perspectives of a recipient, subrecipient, and passthrough entity from over 20 federal and other government agencies.
We support all types of organizations as they navigate the federal grant funding landscape. GrantWin Consulting's mission is to help organizations find, obtain, manage, and keep federal grants that positively impact people and communities.
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Consulting Firm: https://grantwinconsulting.com/ Case Studies: https://grantwinconsulting.com/case-studies/ Academy: https://www.grantwinacademy.com/ Book Me As Your Next Speaker: https://grantwinconsulting.com/speaking-and-media/
More from Grants Explained Around the World
In Episode 21, we covered how countries access grants.
Countries receive grants. Not just nonprofits, universities, and local governments —countries. And much of it does not work the way US federal grants work: no competition, no scoring, no application in the way you and I know it.
What does it take to protect an island nation's environment when the threats keep coming?
The Office of Management and Budget dropped its proposed revisions to Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) on May 29, 2026 — and federal grant professionals need to pay attention before the public comment period closes on July 13.
Welcome to a brand-new era of Federal Grants Explained.