Meet Gail Lockwood | Grant Consultant for Nonprofits

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gail Lockwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gail, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I’ve always believed in working smarter, not harder. Over time, that mindset has shaped the way I approach balance. Consulting gave me the freedom to be in control of my schedule, focus on productivity instead of hours, and still deliver great results. It’s also given me flexibility — I can lean into consulting when I want more autonomy, or step into a full-time role while keeping my consulting work on the side. That balance has evolved into something intentional: creating a career that’s sustainable, adaptable, and doesn’t require me to sacrifice my personal life to be successful.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got into grant writing from a place you don’t see very often — social work. Many grant professionals start in academic research, healthcare, marketing, or libraries, but not many come from a background where you’re sitting with people in crisis, seeing firsthand what keeps them from accessing the help they need. I chose social work on purpose — earning both my bachelor’s and master’s — because I knew I wanted to one day lead on the administrative side of nonprofits. But I didn’t want to lead without understanding. I wanted to see the work from the ground level first: what drives people to seek services, what barriers stand in their way, and what impact a well-run nonprofit can have on their lives.

That perspective has shaped everything I do now. When I sit down to write a grant or advise an organization, I’m not just thinking about compliance and budgets. I’m thinking about strategy, sustainability, and how to build the kind of nonprofit funders trust and want to invest in — one that can actually change lives. I’ve had the privilege of working across many sectors — housing, food insecurity, youth enrichment, higher education, healthcare, social justice — and I’ve learned that while missions differ, the underlying needs are often the same: strong operations, clear impact, and a vision funders can believe in.

Grant consulting is one of the most misunderstood professions. People assume we find “free money” for individuals — which isn’t true — and even many new nonprofit leaders don’t know what it takes to become what we call “grant ready.” Part of my work is education — helping leaders build the systems, data, and clarity they need so funders will trust them with larger investments.

When I started my own consulting business, I wanted its name to mean something. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” That’s how I came up with Grants For Change. Because to me, grant writing isn’t just paperwork — it’s strategy, storytelling, and a way to bring real resources to the communities that need them most.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
You can’t come to the DFW area without taking in the following :

Sports- Arlington the sports mecca of Texas- You have the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers just blocks away from each other.

Culture- Fort Worth is home to the best museums, The Kimball , The Amon Carter, and The Modern Art Museum, also just blocks from each other.

Texas Flare- Nobody has Texas flare like Fort Worth, The stockyards home to some of the best Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants – La Playa Maya, Esparanzas (Best breakfast ever) and Joe T Garcia – most popular and best outdoor restaurant.

Okay, I will mention Dallas- Home to the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars if basketball or hockey are your thing. Also , The Nasher Sculpture Center is a must-see.

If nature is more what you want to experience, The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Nature Preserve or The Prairie Park are great escapes, Dallas is home to the Dallas Arboretum.

One last mention, Fort Worth is not Dallas (wink)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My career would not be as successful as it is if it were not for two dedicated, encouraging patient mentors, Connie Winkle and Meryl Gunter. Connie introduced me to grant writing and thinking about all the many forms of grant writing. She did so with positivity, patience, and became more than a mentor but a true friend. Meryl is my current supervisor at Clayton Youth Enrichment. She has taught me so much about strategy and how to make an impact in grant funding, also with patience and positivity.

Website: https://grants4change.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-lockwood-msw-she-her-hers-75161828