Vanessa Burns

Vanessa Burns, GPC

Grant Strategist and Change Agent

Meet Vanessa Burns: the Grant Strategist who is officially making grants a little more fun. As one of only six Grant Professional Certified (GPC) accredited pros in Canada, Vanessa is essentially the CPA of the grant world.

There is more to grants than writing and Vanessa doesn't approach grants in the traditional sense. She helps to architect the futures of small businesses and not for profits through a strategic process. She’s built a reputation for moving past the grind of paperwork and turning grant funding into a powerful change agent. One day she is leading her signature Grants Without the Grind cohort, the next, she is helping strategize a grant program to help bring an organization’s vision to life. Vanessa’s mission is simple: To help you navigate grants using PURPOSE and not PANIC.

Vanessa is a sought-after speaker for her ability to capture the room through interactive activities, simple to understand content and a sense of humour. She brings a high-energy, uplifting presence to every stage, proving that with the right strategy, anyone can learn to love the grant process.

Vanessa Burns Grant Consulting is based in Halifax, NS. Since 2021, we have consulted with over 130 businesses and not for profits to help them apply for first time grants, become more confident in their grants programs, and win much needed funding. Vanessa has also taken the stage both nationally and internationally to deliver interactive workshops. Vanessa Burns Grant Consulting is a certified Queer owned business with the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) and was awarded the 2025 Atlantic Canada Certified Queer Supplier of the Year. Vanessa sits on the Boards of Halifax Pride and the Queer Atlantic Business Hub.

Signature Speaking Topics

• Demystifying Grants: The "No-B.S." Guide

We’re stripping away the jargon and the "PhD-speak" to show you exactly how to navigate the money map in Canada. Perfect for those who feel like grants are a gatekept secret.

• Grants – Learn to Love ‘Em

Mindset Shift Alert. Stop treating grants like a chore and start seeing them as your business’s best friend. Vanessa turns the "ugh" into "aha!" by showing how grants act as a change agent for your mission.

• The Road to Sustainability: Beyond the One-and-Done

It’s not about one check; it’s about building a legacy. We’ll map out how to use grants as a strategic lever for long-term financial health and organizational resilience.

• Rewiring Rejection: Decoding the "No"

A masterclass in resilience. Getting a "No" isn’t the end—it’s the intel you need to get a "Yes." Learn how to analyze funder feedback and use rejection to strengthen your next winning bid. 

• Funding Your Arts Vision Tailored for the Creators. Drawing on her recorded work with Arts Boost, Vanessa helps artists translate their creative magic into "Funder-Speak".

Also available:

12 week Grants Without the Grind Masterclass for both small businesses and not for profits. Learn to navigate the world of grants using purpose and not panic.Bring the skills in-house and build the internal grant capacity of your organization.

Past audiences include:

REKN Conference Edmonton, CQCC, CAMSC, CEED, Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Start Up Canada, Ukrainian Association of Nova Scotia, Queer Atlantic Business Hub, Work in Culture, Brampton Arts Organization, Scottish Fundraising Conference, Maritime Fundraising Conference, United African Canadian Women’s Association, DPAD, BWIE, HRM Volunteer Conference, BBI, Municipality of Cumberland, Quadrangle NL, Uganda NGO, Association of Fundraising Professionals, The Space & Company, Arts Boost, and The Arts Firm.

Click below to open Vanessa's speaker sheet.