Gain critical grant writing skills every nonprofit leader and educator must have. Professional Development credits available.

Classroom teachers, school administrators, librarians, nonprofit employees, city and county workers, chamber of commerce members, health and social workers, and anyone who wants to learn the skill of grant writing should attend our grant writing training sessions. These sessions include three types of training:

Session I: Basic Introduction to Grants and Grants Research (1 day)

This one-day session is comprised of three parts:

  1. teaches attendees how to successfully locate and align several funding opportunities with their programs and projects of choice
  2. how to interact with potential funders in an effort to “get their foot in the door”
  3. how to plan an entire grant proposal from beginning to end

We will examine the reasons that certain proposals are chosen for funding, as well as discovering why grant funders are interested in specific programs. Further, attendees will develop both a verbal approach of introduction (via telephone) and a written approach (letter of inquiry). Ultimately, attendees will also come away with a plan to track, manage, and follow-up on completed grant proposals.

Session II: Basic Introduction and Writing a Complete Proposal (1 or 2 days)

This two-day session begins with the three parts outlined in Session I’s : (how to successfully locate and align several funding opportunities with programs and projects of choice,  how to interact with potential funders, and how to plan an entire grant proposal from beginning to end. On day two, attendees will:

  1. come to understand the diversity of the funding community and how to approach a wide range of guidelines
  2. write a first draft grant proposal from start to finish, including the proposal abstract, needs statement, narrative, activities, key personnel, timeline, goals, evaluation method for those goals, sustainability plan, and both budget detail and budget narrative
  3. reach a full understanding of which addendums and attachments are required by various types of funders

Overall, attendees will learn how to:

  • Comprehend the diversity of the funding community
  • Research and identify potential donors
  • Create the right fit with the selected funding agency
  • Address the guidelines of proposals
  • Identify and effectively write the key elements of a proposal
  • Integrate each component of the grant into the final product
  • Develop focused and realistic budgets
  • Package a professional grant submission
  • Write winning grants that stand out among competition

Session III: Proposals for State and Federal Government Grants (1, 2, or 3 days)

Session three is a three-day training comprised of the first two sessions outlined earlier, plus methodology for pulling together a state and/or federal grant proposal. When it comes to actually constructing a grant proposal for a government agency, applicants will find up to sixty pages or more may be expected. Because of this, a good bit of research and work is required well before an applicant begins the writing process. The first step is to thoroughly review the individual catalog program, or government agency grant, that a prospective recipient is applying for to ensure a firm grasp on all specific criteria. Programs generally have a contact person listed within the description and application, and a phone call or email to that individual comes in handy to confirm the funding available, deadlines, how to submit the application / full grant proposal (i.e., online or mailed in), and any other specifics that will lay down the foundation to developing the proposal itself. Often, in fact, a preliminary letter of intent has its own unique deadline.

Bear in mind that the application process is unique for every grant, including varying application forms and requirements, and attendees will come to fully understand that they must do their homework / research on a specific grant of choice, and not the overall federal grant application process. There never, ever is a boilerplate approach to submitting a proposal, though a number of components are the same.

Once the deadlines, application format, and the criteria of the grant are mastered, it’ll be time to start ensuring that a proposal is solid, and does not run into unintended competition. Before developing any proposal, it’s essential to review similar programs or projects that may already be in the works on a state or local level. Essentially, state or local government agencies could already be beneficiaries of a federally funded grant to do similar work, and if such a program already exists, the original concept may need to be altered to cater to or address a new niche. Contacting your state legislators or specialized branch of government that would work in your area of interest will be instrumental in confirming that your proposal isn’t already addressed and funded.

Perhaps the most important aspect of ensuring that a government grant proposal is read is to make sure you’re not the only voice of support. A network of community collaborators and promotion is a must, and can go a long way when it comes to encouraging grantors to fund a specific proposal. Attendees to this session will learn how to write a winning letter of support.

Aside from what is learned in sessions I and II, attendees will understand:

  • Taking initial steps towards developing a proposal
  • Generating support for the proposal
  • How to work with the government agency
  • Capturing your audience’s attention
  • Establishing credibility