Webinars
Inside Grants by Team DWC
Learn from the people who wrote the playbook.
Navigating federal grants can feel like walking through a moving maze. Requirements shift, oversight is intense, and one wrong step can drain your time, budget, or hard-earned trust. Meanwhile, nonprofits are facing reduced government support and fewer resources to figure it all out.
Inside Grants was built to change that. This webinar series is led by former federal insiders who know how decisions are made, where organizations get tripped up, and how to stay ahead of the curve. Each session breaks things down into clear, usable guidance, giving you tools and strategies to:
- Keep up with changing federal expectations
- Steer clear of compliance roadblocks
- Make budgeting, reporting, and communication far more manageable
Whether you’re responsible for a single award or a full slate of grants, Inside Grants equips you with the insight and confidence to protect your funding and strengthen your programs.
No buzzwords. No jargon. Just practical expertise you can apply immediately to make smarter calls and avoid expensive missteps.
Ready to Cut Through the Red Tape?
Join us for the Inside Grants webinar series and get insider strategies you can put to work right away.
Allowable Costs Made Simple
Federal cost rules under 2 CFR 200 don’t have to feel like a trap or a guessing game. In this session, Dave Wickstrom will lead a practical walkthrough for nonprofits and state agencies managing federally funded programs who want clarity, not compliance theater. Together with Aaron Taylor, they’ll break down which costs are truly allowable under the Uniform Guidance, what commonly raises red flags with funders and auditors, and how to make everyday spending decisions that are defensible and well-documented. You’ll leave with a clear, usable framework for approving costs confidently, supporting program delivery, and reducing audit risk before it becomes an issue.
Date: February 19th
Time: 12:00 EST
Building a Grant Budget That Actually Works
Under 2 CFR 200, a strong budget is about more than just the numbers. In this session, Aaron Taylor will walk through how to build grant budgets that reflect how your nonprofit or agency actually operates, not how a sample template suggests it should. The conversation will cover common budget breakdowns, realistic staffing and cost assumptions, and how to structure budgets that support compliance, withstand funder review, and hold up under detailed auditor questioning.
Date: March 17th
Time: 12:00 EST
Procurement for Busy Grant Teams
Procurement requirements under 2 CFR 200 are one of the most common and most misunderstood sources of audit findings for federally funded nonprofits and state agencies. In this session, Dave Wickstrom will walk through the procurement standards that matter most, where teams typically get tripped up, and what funders and auditors are actually looking for. The focus stays practical: how to design procurement processes that meet Uniform Guidance requirements while still allowing your team to move work forward without unnecessary delays or risk.
Date: April 15th
Time: 12:00 EST
What Federal Monitors Are Actually Looking For
Federal monitoring is one of the most anticipated and often misunderstood parts of working with federal funding. In this session, Dave Wickstrom and Aaron Taylor will walk through how monitoring actually works, what reviewers tend to focus on first, and where organizations most often run into trouble. Drawing on real experiences from inside federal agencies, they will break down how monitoring reviews are structured and highlight the small documentation gaps that can quickly turn into findings. The focus stays practical: how to prepare before a visit is ever scheduled and how to organize your documentation so reviews go smoothly and with confidence.
Date: May 21st
Time: 12:00 EST
The 10 Federal Grant Mistakes That Trigger Findings
Audit findings are rarely the result of fraud or major misconduct, but they are one of the most common and costly challenges organizations face. In this session, Aaron Taylor and Dave Wickstrom will walk through the issues federal reviewers flag most often across nonprofits and state agencies. From documentation gaps to procurement missteps to reporting inconsistencies, they will break down why these issues raise red flags and where teams typically get tripped up. The focus stays practical: how to identify and address these risks now so your organization is better prepared for its next monitoring visit or audit.
Date: June 16th
Time: 12:00 EST
Federal Year End Survival Guide: Closeout, Carryover, and Spending Down Grants
As the federal fiscal year comes to a close, organizations face increased pressure to spend funds appropriately, meet deadlines, and avoid costly compliance mistakes. In this session, Dave Wickstrom and Aaron Taylor will walk through the rules and realities of year-end grant management, including obligations, expenditures, carryover requests, no-cost extensions, and closeout requirements. Drawing from years of federal oversight and monitoring experience, they will highlight common mistakes organizations make in the final weeks of the grant year and provide practical strategies to help teams finish strong. The focus stays practical: how to manage remaining funds responsibly, document decisions clearly, and position your organization for a successful new grant year.
Date: July 15th
Time: 12:00 EST
Program Income: The Rules Nobody Understands
Program income remains one of the most misunderstood areas of federal grant management. Many organizations struggle to identify program income correctly, track it consistently, and apply it in accordance with federal requirements. In this session, Aaron Taylor will break down the fundamentals of program income under 2 CFR 200, explain the differences between additive, deductive, and cost-sharing methods, and walk through real-world examples that commonly create confusion. They will also discuss reporting requirements, documentation expectations, and the mistakes that frequently lead to findings. The focus stays practical: how to confidently manage program income without creating unnecessary compliance risk.
Date: August 19th
Time: 12:00 EST
Indirect Costs, Cost Allocation, and Administrative Costs Explained
Indirect costs and cost allocation are often viewed as complicated financial topics reserved for accountants, but they directly affect an organization’s ability to recover costs and sustain federally funded programs. In this session, Aaron Taylor and Dave Wickstrom will explain how indirect cost rates work, when organizations can use the de minimis rate, how to develop reasonable cost allocation methodologies, and what separates administrative costs from program costs. They will also discuss common mistakes, audit concerns, and practical approaches for charging shared costs across multiple funding sources. The focus stays practical: helping organizations maximize available funding while maintaining compliance and transparency.
Date: September 16th
Time: 12:00 EST
Meet the Experts
Inside Grants is led by seasoned federal insiders who’ve shaped the very policies, priorities, and compliance systems grantees navigate today. Together, they bring decades of experience and practical know-how you can put to work right away.
Dave Wickstrom
Corinna Stiles, J.D., Ph.D
Aaron Taylor
Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Leading?
Federal grants don’t come with an instruction manual, but now you’ve got the people who wrote the playbook. Seats are limited, and every session is packed with insider strategies you won’t find anywhere else.
Register above and secure your spot in Inside Grants.
Let’s Get to Work.
Inside Grants is just the start. If you’re ready to tackle your organization’s biggest grants challenges with expert support, let’s talk.
From compliance strategy to budgeting, reporting, and communications, our team has the insider experience to help you stay ahead of the rules and focus on what matters most: your mission.
