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Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade

Winning the Public Purse with David Kincade

By: David Kincade | Government Grants & 
Public Funding Expert
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Every year, billions of dollars in government funding go to the organizations that best understand the process. Hosted by David Kincade—Canada's leading grant writing expert and author of Golden Grant Rules—this podcast pulls back the curtain on how to navigate the complex world of public funding. David has helped clients secure over $10M in grants, and his Advanced Grant Writing Course has helped students win over $61M more. Whether you're meeting with bureaucrats in the "GrantTank" or trying to decode "governmentese," Winning the Public Purse provides the strategic roadmap to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success. Through a mix of deep-dive solo masterclasses and interviews with successful entrepreneurs, executive directors, and policy insiders, we break down exactly how the money flows from the government to the front lines. This show is for: • For-Profit Businesses: Owners and employees looking to scale high-growth startups and grow their impact. • Not-for-Profits: Leaders who require mission-critical funds to help those most in need. From federal business incentives to local program grants, tune in to learn how to optimize your resources, leverage AI, and out-compete the field for the funding your mission deserves. Subscribe now to unlock the public purse and get new episodes as soon as they drop.2026 Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 04: AI for Non-STEM Professionals

    04: AI for Non-STEM Professionals
    May 19 2026
    AI isn't coming for your job, but someone who knows how to use it might be. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade breaks down the 5-phase evolution of AI and what it means for grant writers and non-STEM professionals navigating this rapidly changing landscape. David remembers the exact moment in 2021 when he saw a computer write a Facebook ad for the first time and immediately thought, "This changes everything." From Jasper's meteoric rise to a $1.5 billion valuation in just 18 months to ChatGPT's explosion into mainstream consciousness, he traces the timeline that brought us to this pivotal moment. But this isn't a doom-and-gloom story about technology replacing humans. It's a candid conversation about what's actually happening out there and how to position yourself for what's coming next. You'll discover why your voice matters more than ever in a world of AI-generated content, how to avoid the "slop and oatmeal" trap that's already annoying grant reviewers, and why investing time in crafting quality prompts is the new essential skill. If you've been putting off learning AI, or if family members have been telling you grant writers won't be needed anymore, this episode will show you why this time is genuinely different, and how to turn it into your greatest career advantage. Want to go even deeper on this topic? You won't want to miss the live webinar, AI for Professionals, happening this Thursday, May 21st, 2026. You can get all the details and register at https://sedawk.com/webinar-ai-revolution.html (if you can't attend live, a replay will be available). 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 Jasper became a $1.5 billion company in just 18 months by making AI accessible to non-technical professionals [5:37] Why David initially dismissed AI as just another tech trend like blockchain and NFTs, and the moment he realized this one was fundamentally different [10:42] Jensen Huang's famous quote that sums up his David's thinking on AI right now [12:39] How AI is leveling the playing field for people who struggle in specific skills related to grant writing [13:02] Some of the exciting ways in which AI is enabling non-technical professionals to create work breakdown structures and pro formas without needing developers [13:08] Why your own voice and personal touch matters more than ever in a world of AI-generated "slop and oatmeal" content [18:53] A story that demonstrates why individuality and personal touch still matter so much to organizations awarding grants [19:41] Why investing time in crafting quality prompts is becoming the new essential skill for grant writers in the AI era [20:20] LINKS: Register for the Live Webinar, AI for Professionals (Thursday, May 21st, 2026) Typing Is Being Replaced by Whispering—and It's Way More Annoying (Wall Street Journal) Advanced Grant Writing Course Grant Gazette YouTube Book: Golden Grant Rules Website Email: davidk@albertabusinessgrants.ca Phone: 780-297-6177
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    24 mins
  • 03: 7,761 to 1. Winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize: Melanie Dussaye and Ray Frankenhauser

    03: 7,761 to 1. Winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize: Melanie Dussaye and Ray Frankenhauser
    May 5 2026
    Imagine applying for a grant to fund a project in a rural Indigenous community, only to find yourself competing against 7,761 applicants from 173 countries. Success in the public sector requires a rare combination of bold vision and a grounded, strategic proof of concept, and Melanie Duchesne and Ray Frankenhauser break it all down in this one. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade sits down with a husband-and-wife duo whose backgrounds read like a Hollywood script: Melanie, a finance professional who has managed operations across four continents, and Ray, a former Canadian diplomat with 20 years of experience in high-risk global environments. Together, they share the remarkable story of how the Alberta Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church won the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize for Mamawi Atosketan Native School. From an initial $150,000 USD grant to receiving police clearance from the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi to accept a global award, this conversation explores how a "finance brain" and a "faith-driven sense of purpose" can turn a shipping container into a year-round hydroponic farm. This episode is for the grant seeker building from the ground up, the seasoned professional looking to scale their impact, and the community leader dedicated to solving food insecurity. Melanie and Ray provide a clear, actionable path for anyone ready to take their next step in the public sector. 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. You can get started 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 Melanie accepted a job in Liberia before even checking its location on a map and how that adaptability fueled her career [7:41] Ray's perspective on the difference between visiting a local market as a diplomat in an armored car versus visiting as a local person [13:01] The key reasons that the issue of food insecurity is nuanced and isn't just with raw quantity available [25:50] A look at why Indigenous households in Canada experience food insecurity at more than double the rate of the general population [28:11] How winning a small greenUp grant from Fortis Alberta paved the way for a million-dollar global prize [30:38] Why wanting the money a grant provides isn't enough and the importance of understanding the execution and reporting nature of a project before you write the application [31:27] What the experience of becoming a finalist for the Zayed Sustainability Prize was like for Melanie and Ray and the logistics they faced taking two students halfway across the world [33:26] A sneak peek of what it's like to attend a gala where movie stars, presidents, and kings are in attendance, and the students are the stars of the show [39:02] Ray and Melanie's final thoughts on the "leaps of faith" they've taken and why having a sense of purpose makes you the primary driver of your own success [42:13] LINKS: Mamawi Atosketan Native School Represents Canada and North America, Wins Global Sustainability Prize in Abu Dhabi Melanie's LinkedIn Ray's LinkedIn 01: Winning a $5,000 Restaurant Grant with Mona Pinder Advanced Grant Writing Course Grant Gazette YouTube Book: Golden Grant Rules Website Email: davidk@albertabusinessgrants.ca Phone: 780-297-6177
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    45 mins
  • 02: Stop Asking, Start Aligning: How "Governmentese" Wins BIG Grants

    02: Stop Asking, Start Aligning: How "Governmentese" Wins BIG Grants
    Apr 21 2026
    Winning a grant isn't about being the customer at a drive-thru; it's about becoming the person behind the counter. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade dives into the psychology of "governmentese" and explains why your project's success depends on your ability to talk about yourself in a way that aligns with the government's mandate. Today's show is a strategic masterclass on how to get "on the menu" before the next grant cycle even opens. From decoding ministerial annual reports to finding the high-value "subheadings" that make an application irresistible to reviewers, you'll learn how to position your organization as a trusted advisor rather than just another name in the pile. If you want to understand why the same organizations seem to win millions of dollars year after year, this will show you exactly how they align their metrics with the heartbeat of the public purse. 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. You can get started 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 most grant applicants fail by focusing only on their own projects instead of understanding the fundamental concept of "governmentese" [0:35] The way election platforms and mandate letters can serve as a strategic roadmap for exactly what governments are looking to fund [2:28] The critical mindset shift required to stop viewing yourself as a customer and start positioning your business as a trusted solution for government problems [4:58] How to find and utilize specific ministry strategies to discover high-impact subheadings for your next application [6:34] Why 70% of successful applicants are known by agencies before they ever receive funding and how to get your organization "on the menu" [11:51] The simple website and press release audit you can perform to align your key metrics with the specific language government ministers want to see [14:15] Key Quotes: "You don't get it. In this example, in grants, understanding governmentese, the government is the customer, okay? They're the person actually coming. They're not on the menu." [9:56] "You want to be on the menu. In other words, you're thought about, you're trusted, you're liked, and they're going to come and 'buy' from you, [or] give you grants in this case. And you don't want to be that person that shows up and says, 'Give me this. I want a grant.'" [13:37] "Your job is to find the strategies in your area and communicate it in a way that when they put a press release about you, it aligns exactly with what the government is trying to do." [16:09] LINKS: Advanced Grant Writing Course: https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing/ Grant Gazette: https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@davidkincade Book: Golden Grant Rules LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kincade-ma-029a9157/ Website: https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/ Email: davidk@albertabusinesgrants.ca Phone: 780-297-6177
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    17 mins
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