Libby Hikind

The Queen of Grants

Children's Book Author & Grant Funding Pioneer

About Libby

Discover the story behind the expertise

Libby Hikind is the Founder & CEO of GrantWatch.com, known as the "Queen of Grants." A former special education teacher with NYC DOE for 29+ years, she pivoted to grant writing to secure millions in funding for her classroom and later schools. In 2010 she launched GrantWatch, now the go‑to platform for grantseekers globally. Libby is also an award‑winning children’s author with several picture books and activity/coloring editions, and a mentor in nonprofit funding strategies.

Areas of Expertise

Comprehensive skills spanning multiple disciplines

Grant Research & Writing

Nonprofit Growth & Strategy

Children's Literature & Education

Public Speaking & Webinar Hosting

Mentorship for Grant Professionals

Platform Development (GrantWatch & GrantWriterTeam)

Key Achievements

Milestones that define a career of impact

Raised $11 million for Brooklyn schools in 2 years
Secured 46,000+ children's health insurance through coalition grant work
Founded GrantWatch in 2010 — featured by Forbes, Business Insider & over 200k users/month
Published children's books like "Mr. Squirrel's Spring Cleaning Lesson" and "Why Don't You Fly, Sky?" in 2025
Led successful NYC City Council primary campaign in 2001 with NYT endorsement

Awards & Recognition

Honored for excellence and innovation

Named “Queen of Grants” by national media

Industry Accolades

2025

What People Say

Testimonials from colleagues and clients

Libby's insight and mentorship have literally funded our mission and shaped our strategic grant approach.

Michael Rodriguez

Development Director, Community Health Alliance

Her children's books beautifully unite storytelling with emotional growth—perfect for classrooms and families.

Jennifer Walsh

Elementary School Principal

My Philosophy

The driving force behind everything I do

Every organization deserves funding and every child deserves to dream. My mission is to empower nonprofits through strategic grant writing and to inspire young hearts through engaging, meaningful stories.

Get In Touch

Ready to collaborate or learn more?