With the passing of her husband fresh on her mind, teacher Danielle Grehn needed a new source of income.
She didn’t make enough money as a teacher to support her family as a single mother. So she started thinking, and what entered her mind was something that she’d always dreamed of doing.
Grehn decided that she was going to use her passion for literature to start a business writing and managing grants.
“It was kind of born out of the inspiration of my husband passing and needing a source of income,” Grehn said.
Grehn is growing her business and creating new ideas while managing her full time job as a teacher.
She needed something flexible that could be worked on when she isn’t teaching. It needed to be something she could do after she retired while still having the flexibility to travel.
“I’m entering a new stage of life too, and I want to be able to run my business anywhere,” Grehn said.
Grehn’s business, Solid Solutions Consulting, was easy to start up. She had to go to the INBiz website to register and it didn’t take long before she was able to start working.
She now runs a consulting firm and helps seniors prepare for college. She also writes all kinds of grants. Currently, she’s helping her nephew with college preparation.
“She writes grants and she’s very good at finding scholarships and finding ways to help kids make school more affordable and help parents with the process,” Grehn’s sister, Lisa Grehn said.
Currently, she writes grants, but writing is only a small part of what she could do with this business. Eventually, she could work on managing the grants.
Grehn eventually wants to manage million dollar grants. When managing a grant, it happens after the award is made and you’ve gained funding. It would include overseeing the entire grant process.
“(The job pays) about $3,000 on average per grant you’re writing,” Grehn said. “If you’re managing a million dollar grant or a $10 million project grant, that’s worth $50,000 for that year.”
Currently, she’s working on two grants. These grants, among others, symbolize the beginning of her new business.
As she writes and teaches, she remembers why she started this business in the first place. It wasn’t just to help her family, but to also follow her dream.
“I don’t want to just work with any company,” Grehn said. “I want to be passionate about the work I’m doing and the place I’m trying to get money for.”
