DT #593 How GrantGuru Helps Communities Compete for Funding

Develop This: Economic and Community Development

In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Adrian Spencer, Co-Founder and Director of GrantGuru, the world's largest aggregator of grants and funding programs. Together, they explore how Grant Guru is transforming the way communities, local governments, and nonprofits access funding opportunities.

Adrian shares his unlikely journey from geology to grant funding, the evolution of GrantGuru into a global grants intelligence platform, and how its technology helps simplify and democratize access to more than 163,000 active grants worth over $3.5 trillion.

Listeners will learn how economic developers can leverage GrantGuru to identify relevant programs, support local businesses and nonprofits, and strategically use grants as a tool for long-term community growth. Adrian and Dennis also dive into the challenge of keeping grant data current, designing user-friendly tools, and the importance of pairing funding with strategic thinking and local impact.

Whether you're a small-town economic developer or part of a regional organization, this conversation offers practical insights into how technology can make the complex world of grants more accessible, transparent, and effective.

Key Takeaways

• Adrian Spencer's unconventional path from geologist to grant funding expert
• Grant Guru aggregates over 163,000 grants valued at $3.5 trillion worldwide
• The platform's mission: democratize access to funding for all communities
• How economic developers can simplify and streamline grant searches
• The importance of strategic alignment between grants and community goals
• Insights into how technology and data power modern grant discovery
• Why maintaining accurate, up-to-date information is key for success
• Grant funding as a lever for community empowerment and resilience

Download our free White Paper here (by providing a name/email): https://pages.grantguru.com/state-of-play-us-2025

Mention that you heard about GrantGuru on Develop This! and receive a 20% discount