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]
  

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

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: 

1. "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]

2. "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]

3. "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] 
   
   

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

Every year, billions of dollars in government funding go to the organizations that best understand the process. In this inaugural episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade sits down with Mona Pinder, Executive Director of the Alberta Hospitality Association, to discuss the economic realities of an industry operating on "full tables and paper-thin margins."

As a former healthcare administrator turned pastry chef and provincial advocate, Mona provides a unique perspective on the "double whammy" facing the hospitality sector: skyrocketing input costs and shifting consumer demands. We discuss the data from the 2026 ATB report, explore why 44% of operators are currently at a breaking point, and learn how the industry accounts for nearly 40% of the tourism workforce.

This conversation moves beyond the high-level stats to focus on the "Pursuing the Public Purse" round, where David and Mona decode the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Grant. From $5,000 hiring incentives to the "Indeed vs. Handshake" gap in youth employment, this episode reveals what restaurateurs and small business owners need right now to transform student hiring into a predictable pillar of their success.

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: 

• A look at the fascinating pivot Mona made in her career and how 20 years in healthcare administration prepared her to lead the Alberta Hospitality Association [2:44]

• The key reasons why record-breaking sales in 2026 haven't translated to profit for restaurant owners [8:43]

• Why it takes 11.5 people to make $1M in a restaurant compared to only 3.5 in retail [10:46]

• What's really happening with youth unemployment hitting 14% while restaurants are desperate for staff [17:41]

• The "necessary evil" of third-party apps and the simple website trick that saves restaurants thousands in fees [24:11]

• Why unique, independent businesses, and not large chains, are the true drivers of rural tourism and community vibrancy in Canada [27:53]

• A step-by-step breakdown of how to access $5,000 in funding to bring students into your business using the WIL Grant [30:05]

• Mona's philosophy on "collecting people" and how breaking out of professional silos is the true key to successful advocacy [37:32]
  
  

Key Guest Quotes: 

"Increased sales does not equate to increased profits. The margins have always been thin in restaurants." [8:56]

"Our advocacy is we want governments at all levels to think like a small business owner. So you've got to be good with your money and you've got to consider the trickle-down effects." [14:16]

"We are still a human contact world. But I think for a lot of young people, it's more of this online world, and that's just hard when you get this random resume." [20:03]

"If you're good with computers, the application [for the WIL Grant] takes three minutes. If you're bad with computers, it takes 8 minutes." [32:24]

"I always say I like to collect people. So I like to make connections with people and I always try to keep in touch with them... because they can always help you out." [37:32]

Mona's LinkedIn

Alberta Hospitality Association Website

Learn More About The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Grant

January Jump

ATB Wealth Report: Full Tables, Tight Margins

Mealshare

SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology): Baking and Pastry Arts Program

In this trailer episode, you'll hear: 

(New episodes drop every second Tuesday)

• The role grants play in an unstable world
  
  
• For-profit and not-for-profit organizations can win grants
  
  
• How you can win grants for your projects 

To win grants, you'll need to learn a new language: governmentese. Others have figured it out, and YOU CAN TOO.

Hit follow/subscribe now and let's get to work! 

• Work with us: https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/grant-writing/
  
  
• Let's Connect on LinkedIn

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]
  
  

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

One of the most common dilemmas facing small-town industries and local economies today is how to reinvent themselves when a foundation piece of the community collapses. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade sits down with Brian Williams, the President of the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce, who shares his fascinating transition from a 30-year career in the intense BC lumber industry to becoming a driving force for economic development and grant funding in the Pacific Northwest.

Today we look at where you should start in terms of recognizing local business barriers, how a physical poster on a wall sparked a journey into advanced grant writing that led to securing funding for 18 local workers and Indigenous entrepreneurs, and so much more. 

If you are trying to break into government funding, navigate large-scale procurement, or find practical ways to stabilize and scale a local workforce during a major economic shift, Brian's experience and what he reveals in this conversation will offer a straightforward, real-world blueprint for what to do next.

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: 

• Brian shares how a 30-year career in the British Columbia lumber industry prepared him to take on the role of president at the Terrace District Chamber of Commerce [2:49]

• The severe economic impact of American tariffs and rising production costs on rural forestry communities across BC [7:05]

• The way that a $5,000 public funding opportunity discovered on a physical poster sparked Brian's interest in advanced grant writing [19:46]

• Brian's story of successfully drafting applications which secured $5,000 grants for 18 local workers and Indigenous entrepreneurs impacted by mill closures [22:32]

• What he and the Chamber are now doing to prepare small and mid-sized contractors for massive supply chain and procurement opportunities with international giants [28:52]
  
  

Brian's Email: bwsteppingstone@gmail.com

His Phone: 250-641-6116

Terrace District Chamber of Commerce

Export Navigator

Alberta Self-Employment Program

Advanced Grant Writing Course

Grant Gazette (Sign Up for a Pro Plan for Just $99/year)

YouTube

Book: Golden Grant Rules

Website

Email: davidk@albertabusinessgrants.ca

Phone: 780-297-6177

Every podcast has a reason it exists. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade gets personal and shares the story behind why he does what he does, where it all started, and where this podcast is headed next.

As you'll hear, David traces the winding road that led him here. And at the center of it all is a mission that hasn't changed since 2012: building trust between business and government.

With Alberta separation on the ballot this fall and the relationship between citizens and government feeling more strained than ever, David makes the case that this mission matters now more than it ever has. You'll also hear what's coming next for the podcast, including a front row seat to real grant winning stories from alumni of the Advanced Grant Writing Course, starting with Tracy, who won a $26,000 grant for a seniors housing project.

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 two questions from Peter Drucker helped David finally clarify something about himself, and why they might do the same for you [3:49]

• David's story of scoring a 98 in world issues and nearly failing everything else, and how that one class ended up quietly shaping  his entire career [7:47]

• A critical moment sitting in the Alberta Legislature library that set the direction for everything that followed [12:11]

• The mindset shift that separates the grant writers who win consistently from the ones who keep coming up short [14:20]

• Why David named his first company after his grandfather and what that decision says about how he approaches working with government [14:39]

• The reason he walked away from a decade of grant writing to start teaching it instead, and what he saw in the market that nobody else was filling [15:36]

• What's coming next on the podcast and why hearing real alumni grant stories is going to be more valuable than almost anything else out there [17:47]

• Why the mission David started with in 2012 feels more urgent and necessary now than at any other point in his career [18:38]
  
  

03: 7,761 to 1. Winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize: Melanie Dussaye and Ray Frankenhauser

01: Winning a $5,000 Restaurant Grant with Mona Pinder

10: Your Podcasting Anchor: The One Thing That Keeps You From Drifting (Matt Mawhinney/PodAssist)

The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter F. Drucker 

Advanced Grant Writing Course

Grant Gazette (Sign Up for a Pro Plan for Just $99/year)

YouTube

Book: Golden Grant Rules

Website

Email: davidk@albertabusinessgrants.ca

Phone: 780-297-6177

As Canada's senior population surpasses 8 million, one in five Canadians, the pressure on nonprofit housing organizations to do more with less has never been greater. In this episode of Winning the Public Purse, David Kincade sits down with Tracy Elliott, Executive Director of the Sylvan Lake Lodge Foundation. Tracy shares her remarkable journey from hotel front desks to running a seniors' lodge, and how she used grant funding to solve a very real safety crisis hiding in plain sight.

Today we explore what it looks like to walk into a leadership role with zero grant-writing experience and come out the other side winning nearly $30,000 in security infrastructure funding, all on your first serious attempt. Tracy also opens up about the growing demand for senior housing in Alberta, what transient summer populations mean for vulnerable residents, and why AI and lifelong learning have become her secret weapons.

Nonprofit leaders, this one's for you. Tracy came in with no grant writing experience, a security crisis, and residents depending on her - and she figured it out anyway.

Ready to transform grant writing into a predictable pillar of your success? David's students have already won over $67M 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: 

• Tracy shares her path from hotel front desk to General Manager, and the way that decades in hospitality shaped her approach to senior living [6:22]

• How a six-year role overseeing 300 beds and 200 staff members became the career turning point that defined her leadership philosophy [8:10]

• The startling statistic that 30% of Sylvan Lake residents are seniors,  and why the wait list for the Lodge has grown to 58 people for just 59 suites [16:31]

• The security crisis that prompted Tracy to go searching for grant funding [22:03]

• How Tracy discovered the Alberta Security Infrastructure Program and assembled a three-stream application totalling nearly $30,000 in her first major grant [24:13]

• The five-minute email that won Tracy a spontaneous $5,000 grant mid-conference, plus what being "grant-ready" actually made possible [28:20]
  
  

Tracy's LinkedIn

Sylvan Lake Lodge Foundation 

Older Adults and Population Aging Statistics (Statistics Canada)

Advanced Grant Writing Course

Grant Gazette (Sign Up for a Pro Plan for Just $99/year)

YouTube

Book: Golden Grant Rules

Website

Email: davidk@albertabusinessgrants.ca

Phone: 780-297-6177