Keep it Real. Keep it Pithy.

I’m Sharmila; mom, immigrant, proud Sri Lankan, and experienced grant writer with a critical eye for how social dynamics and systems play out in our world.

This is a space for sharing reflections, advice, and resources about the nitty gritty of impactful grant writing and grant consulting — insights and stories from lessons learned, life lived, and mistakes made.

Blog content is created and curated for nonprofits, grant consultants, and aspiring grant writers.

Adventures in Grant Writing

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Growing Grant Skills | Stories and Reflections | Coaching

Sharmila Sitther 10/26/26 Sharmila Sitther 10/26/26

Is Language Ever (Truly) Neutral?

Is language ever truly neutral?

The books I read as a child were always about girls called Barbara and Jessica—Never about Randika or Roshi.

So in our pretend play games, we too became Barbara and Jessica.

Because we were never in the stories.

Grant Coaching: My ‘WHY’ Story

Almost 20 years ago I decided to strike out as an independent grant writer after making a conscious decision to leave the international development world. While I would often informally mentor my grant writing clients, I had a deep desire to share what I had learned in a more structured way. Fast forward to 2025, I decided to launch my 1:1 grant coaching practice.