Effective Grant Proposal Writing

Effective Grant Proposal Writing guides you through every phase of creating a successful grant, from preparation through post-submittal follow up. Start by discovering how to apply key funding research tools in a practical manner and recognize factors contributing to successful funding efforts in areas including social, religion, arts and sciences, international and education. Then, take advantage of a unique opportunity to create your own grant proposal that can potentially be funded at the end of the course. You’ll also review peer proposals as you consider how grant narrative elements can influence funders’ decisions. At the conclusion of the course, one participant will be awarded $500 toward their winning grant proposal.

Curriculum

8 Week Course

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Creating a Successful Grant Proposal

• Introduction to Effective Nonprofit Grant Writing
• Introduction to Creating a Successful Grant Proposal: Part I
• Introduction to Creating a Successful Grant Proposal: Part II

Lesson 2 - Locating Funding Sources

• Finding Funding Sources for your Program
• The Use of U.S. Government Resources for Locating Funding
• The Use of System for Award Management (SAM)
• The Use of State Resources for Locating Fund Sources
• Performing an Online Search to Locate Funding Through Foundations
• How to Research Grant Information From Your Selected Funding Source
• Locating Private Foundations that Provide Funding
• Research Registered Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Nonprofit Organizations

Lesson 3 - Developing a Dynamic Grant Proposal

• Developing a Case Statement
• Developing a Strategic Plan
• Creating an Explanation of How You Will Execute the Solution
• Creating a Needs Statement
• Why Partnerships Building is Important for Grant Proposals
• Activities After Submitting a Grant Proposal

Lesson 4 - Capacity Building and Performance Management

• Grant Management and Evaluation
• Grant Evaluations and Leadership Roles
• Why is Capacity Building Necessary for Grant Evaluations
• The Essentials of Making a Grant Evaluation a Priority
• Relationship Building for a Successful Grant Evaluation

Lesson 5 - The Essentials of Preparing a Grant Proposal Budget

• Introduction to Creating a Budget - Utilizing the Bubble Project Method
• Core Considerations for Creating a Bubble Project Budget Plan
• Brainstorming and the Branching of the Bubble Project Budget: Part I
• Developing More Branching of the Bubble Project Budget: Part II
• Finalizing the Bubble Project Budget Plan

Lesson 6 - A Private Foundation Perspective on Grant Proposals

• Identifying Your Strategy Before Writing a Grant Proposal
• Grant Research Methods and Finding a Funder
• Creating Strategic Alignment With the Funder’s Mission Statement
• Generating a Sustainable Problem/Needs Statement
• Creating a Winning Solution Statement
• Creating a Logic Model
• Logic Model – Defining Your Project Activities
• Measuring a Grant Proposal’s Outputs and Outcomes
• Explaining Why a Grant Budget Is Imperative to Gain Funding
• Creating a Convincing Abstract

Lesson 7 - A Community Foundation Perspective on Grant Proposals

• Understanding Grant Proposals for Community-Based Grants
• Creating Effective Sustainability and Budgetary Plans
• The Importance of Grant Evaluations
• Utilizing a Program Officer as an Advocate for Your Grant Proposal

Lesson 8 - The Importance of a Project/Program Self-Assessment Before Presenting Your Grant Proposal

• A Community Foundation Perspective on Grant Proposals
• The Grant Proposal Review Process
• Sustainability Through Obtaining a Solid Evaluation
• Understanding the Need for a Sustainability Plan
• Course Conclusion