Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorinda Gonzalez.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
From a very young age, writing was an outlet for me to express my thoughts and unique perspective on the world. I learned early on in life that to be successful, I had to find my niche – a career that embraced my joy for writing, analytical mindset, and affinity for technology, while at the same time allowed me to make a difference in people’s lives.
Being independent and living a lifestyle of my choosing despite having a disability was my definition of success. Originally, my plan was to attend college and get a degree in business so I could get corporate job and make a life for myself, which led me to graduate from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s Degree. After working a 9-5 job in Human Resources during undergrad, I realized that the typical corporate job wasn’t for me, as it didn’t allow for the flexible work environment I needed to be productive given the variances in my lifestyle as a wheelchair user. At the same time, I had started working as an editor for graduate students and marketing firms on the West Coast. The work was very lucrative but left me unsatisfied.
In 2015, after dabbling with the idea of working solely to support of non-profit organizations, I realized that to be happy I had to go against the status quo and focus on my true passion: supporting community causes through my talent for writing. During a family trip to Maui, I had a spiritual experience that gave me tremendous clarity, which led me to quit my job as an editor and open Grants Ink © LLC, a grant writing a training firm serving nonprofit organizations.
Has it been a smooth road?
The decision to quit my job and open my own firm was very difficult. There are very few if any grant writing firms and most people in this line of work serve as either employee of nonprofit organizations or freelancers. Also, the fact that I was still in my 20’s and the average grant writer worth their salt had my age in work experience alone under their belt, led to many questionable glares in the numerous training programs I enrolled in over the next few years. As an entrepreneur – a title I knew fit my personality the day I left the undergrad HR job – I knew that turning this into a viable business was my path. Gratefully, what started as a side hustle in college – editing term papers for graduate students – turned into a multifaceted firm serving community organizations in the US and internationally and, most importantly, has led to thousands of lives changed through the craft of writing – a little girl’s gift that brought light to the world.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Grants Ink – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
After over a decade of serving nonprofits in multiple roles – from volunteers to part of management – we’ve learned the in’s and out’s of securing and sustaining grant funding. We’re constantly learning more about the field and focus on a transparent, ethical approach to acquiring grant funding to support nonprofits. Gone are the days of hiring a grant writer with the most connections for the highest dollar.
Today, my team and I at Grants Ink © empower nonprofits with the knowledge and skills to craft proposals that attract funders and create real change in the community.
We believe that grant funds should be equally accessible to all qualified nonprofits and that with the right tools, organizations can achieve sustainability and growth. We’re here to support impactful causes that serve our communities needs and create a better world for all.
To date, we’ve served over 100 nonprofit organizations in the United States, Africa, and a Latin America and have acquired over $14 million dollars in grant funds to support their programs and services.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Miami is such a beautiful, culturally rich city with different neighborhoods that bring to light their own individual uniqueness…I absolutely love living here! From delicious Cuban Coffee on 8th street to the Boardwalk in South Beach, and the Entrepreneurial Spirit of Brickell – there’s always something to do and someone new to meet.
What I like least about our city is that we are so fast-paced, we forget to really look around and see the beauty around us. The drive to South Beach over the MacArthur Causeway Bridge when the sun is out and the ride back to Downtown at night with the city’s skyline in view and the bridge’s beautiful lights reflecting off of the intercoastal beneath are often overlooked and unappreciated.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2103 Coral Way, Suite 200
Miami, Florida 33145 - Website: www.grantsink.com
- Phone: 929-447-2687
- Email: info@grantsink.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/grants_ink_llc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/grantsinkllc
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/grants_ink
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdKhf-njKjEBf9sBf7cRxuw
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