Show Notes
Every podcast has a reason it exists. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade gets personal and shares the story behind why he does what he does, where it all started, and where this podcast is headed next. As you'll hear, David traces the winding road that led him here. And at the center of it all is a mission that hasn't changed since 2012: building trust between business and government. With Alberta separation on the ballot this fall and the relationship between citizens and government feeling more strained than ever, David makes the case that this mission matters now more than it ever has. You'll also hear what's coming next for the podcast, including a front row seat to real grant winning stories from alumni of the Advanced Grant Writing Course, starting with Tracy, who won a $26,000 grant for a seniors housing project. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $61M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is coming September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: How two questions from Peter Drucker helped David finally clarify something about himself, and why they might do the same for you [3:49]
David's story of scoring a 98 in world issues and nearly failing everything else, and how that one class ended up quietly shaping his entire career [7:47]
A critical moment sitting in the Alberta Legislature library that set the direction for everything that followed [12:11]
The mindset shift that separates the grant writers who win consistently from the ones who keep coming up short [14:20]
Why David named his first company after his grandfather and what that decision says about how he approaches working with government [14:39]
The reason he walked away from a decade of grant writing to start teaching it instead, and what he saw in the market that nobody else was filling [15:36]
What's coming next on the podcast and why hearing real alumni grant stories is going to be more valuable than almost anything else out there [17:47]
Why the mission David started with in 2012 feels more urgent and necessary now than at any other point in his career [18:38]
LINKS: 03: 7,761 to 1. Winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize: Melanie Dussaye and Ray Frankenhauser 01: Winning a $5,000 Restaurant Grant with Mona Pinder 10: Your Podcasting Anchor: The One Thing That Keeps You From Drifting (Matt Mawhinney/PodAssist) The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter F. Drucker Advanced Grant Writing Course Grant Gazette (Sign Up for a Pro Plan for Just $99/year) YouTube Book: Golden Grant Rules Website Email: [email protected] Phone: 780-297-6177
More from Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade
What actually happens when a room full of smart people sit down to write grants together for a week? In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade reflects on his latest in-person Advanced Grant Writing Course in Lacombe, Alberta, and shares 5 lessons from the experience that apply well beyond the classroom. David has several upcoming events and courses worth knowing about. He is speaking at Strathcona County's Small Business Week in Sherwood Park on October 20th, 2026. He is also hosting a webinar on October 13th for municipalities on the complexity of finding grants. As well, the last live Advanced Grant Writing Course of the year runs November 23rd to 27th in Sherwood Park, so reach out soon to secure a training grant before the October 22nd deadline. The next online cohort begins January 27th. David is also planning two in-person courses in British Columbia in February and March 2026; if you want him to come to your town, now is the time to reach out by email, [email protected] or by phone/text at (780) 297-6177.
In this freestyle solo episode of Winning the Public Purse, David records on a Friday evening before heading to Lacombe for a week of in-person grant writing training, and uses the moment to share what is on his mind heading into one of his busiest falls yet. You'll also learn the difference between leaders who invest in their people and themselves, and those who don't. David also shares a personal win from the summer that has nothing to do with grants, and a whole lot more. Equal parts life update, business reflection, and genuine encouragement, this one is worth a listen if you have ever talked yourself out of doing the hard thing. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $71M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is happening this week, September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. David's next online course starts October 1st, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition! Reach out to David by email at [email protected], or by phone at 780-297-6177 to learn more. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: Why David decided to keep the current podcast name after considering a rebrand, and what the name change would have got wrong [1:34]
Some of the best lessons in government funding do not come from a grant portal. They come from watching how a real funding story unfolds in real time. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade walks through a recent Alberta government funding announcement that quietly became a masterclass in stakeholder relations, grant timing, and what happens when organizations are caught off guard. Starting with a May 2026 announcement of nearly $62 million for family violence initiatives, David traces how a swift and coordinated response from the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters triggered media coverage, public pressure, and ultimately an additional $16 million from the government by July. By September, grant applications were open with deadlines as tight as four weeks out. This unfolding story drives home three lessons that apply to any sector: know your stakeholders before the announcements hit, have your master grant application ready before the deadlines appear, and never let the summer grind become an excuse to fall behind on funding intelligence. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $71M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is coming September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. David is heading back to Lacombe on September 21-25 for one more live cohort, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition (as of the time of this recording, there are still a couple of spots left)! Reach out to David by email at [email protected], or by phone at 780-297-6177 to learn more. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: How a May 19th Alberta government announcement of nearly $62 million for family violence initiatives quietly set off a chain of events worth paying close attention to [3:08]
Some lessons about winning grants do not come from a boardroom or a textbook. In this solo episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade draws a surprisingly sharp line between his fly fishing hobby and the patterns he has watched play out across 14 years of professional grant writing and over 174 students in his Advanced Grant Writing Course. Equal parts practical and personal, this episode connects fly fishing, high cholesterol, productivity grants, and leadership into one of the more honest conversations David has had to date on the podcast. David is heading back to Lacombe in September for one more live cohort, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition (as of the time of this recording, there are still a couple of spots left)! Reach out to David by email at [email protected], or by phone at 780-297-6177 to learn more. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $71M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is coming September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: Why some organizations win grants consistently while others keep struggling, and what David believes is really behind this gap [1:08]
August can feel like a lost month. Guests reschedule, C-suites disappear, and the grind slows to a crawl. In this reflective solo episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade makes the case that the slow season is actually one of the most important times of year for grant writers, and for anyone building something worth funding. For non-profit leaders, grant writers, and anyone who has ever felt guilty for slowing down in August, this one reframes the whole month. David is heading back to Lacombe in September for one more live cohort, and he can help you secure a training grant to offset the tuition. Reach out to David by email at [email protected] to learn more. Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $67M in funding using the frameworks taught in the Advanced Grant Writing Course, and the next online class is coming September 24th, 2026. You can get started and grab your spot now at https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing. To ensure you never miss an insight into the world of public funding, subscribe to Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other mission-driven leaders unlock the public purse. Highlights From This Episode: Why August is the number one vacation month for C-suites, and what grant writers need to have sorted before summer hits [1:10]