Grant Writing: The Science and Art of Funding Success (new)

Course Calendar

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Course Description

This project-based course covers the complete process of grant proposal development: needs assessment, identification of viable funding sources, proposal writing, budget development, preparation of a full package for submission, and post-award or rejection follow-up with funders. Students are expected to develop a complete grant proposal (15-30 pages) for submission to a funding agency of their choice. The course is ideal for students who aspire to work for nonprofit and government agencies, supervise grant-based programs or agencies, and/or acquire the know-how of the grant process. Students who complete this course will be able to list actual grant writing experience on their résumé.

Course Learning Objectives

1. Develop a comprehensive understanding of grant writing in the nonprofit world.
2. Outline the stages of the grant process. 
3.  Master the fundamental components of a grant proposal: problem/needs statement, qualifications, mission match, objectives, program description, timeline, budget, evaluation, and sustainability
4. Identify, describe, and document a need for funding of the population served. 
5. Research and locate grantmakers and available grants.
6. Strategically use research, writing, design, and organization skills to write a competitive grant proposal that matches need to program and program to funders’ requirements. 
7. Practice the skills most needed in the current political and economic climate, including innovation within an established organization and collaboration with outside agencies. 

Course Projects

The course is structured around four projects and each unit/section is dedicated to a project:

Grant Search

In this 2 to 3-page paper, you will research funding websites and review a grant you are interested in applying for.

Needs Assessment

In this 3 to 6-page paper, you will state the problem your proposal seeks to alleviate or solve, use primary and/or secondary research to document the existence and severity of the problem within the targeted population, and research previous approaches that have been used to address the problem.

Project Description

In this 4 to 10-page paper, you will thoroughly describe the program your organization intends to implement to alleviate or solve the problem. Your description should include the objectives, the methods and activities, the implementation timeline and budget, the evaluation methods, your (organization’s) qualifications, as well as the sustainability plans. 

Full Grant Proposal

In this 12 to 20 -page paper, you will synthesize the information in your needs assessment and program description to create a visually appealing grant proposal that has the full features of a report: 1) front matter (Cover page, Cover letter, Abstract, Table of contents), 2) Body, and 3) Back Matter (Bibliography and Appendices).

Who is this course for?

1. Nonprofit Professionals: Individuals working within nonprofit organizations who seek to secure funding through grants. The course will enhance their skills in articulating the needs of their cause and the impact of their work.
2. Educators and Academic Researchers: Faculty members and researchers looking to fund educational programs or scholarly research. They will learn to effectively communicate the significance and methodology of their projects.
3. Graduate Students: Students aiming to fund their research or projects can gain valuable skills in grant writing, which is essential for academic and professional success in many fields.
4. Social Entrepreneurs: Visionaries starting new ventures with a social impact focus who need to learn how to obtain financial support through well-crafted grant proposals.
5. Government Agency Employees: Staff members responsible for securing grant funding for government projects or initiatives, who must understand how to navigate the specific requirements of government grants.
6. Healthcare Professionals: Individuals in the health sector looking to fund community health programs or medical research, needing to detail the necessity and benefits of their proposals.
7. Freelance Writers: Professional writers who want to expand their services to include grant writing for various organizations, seeking to refine their persuasive writing skills.
8. Community Leaders: People involved in community development who require funding for local projects and can benefit from learning how to effectively advocate for their community’s needs.
9. Environmental Advocates: Activists and organizations focused on environmental issues who need to secure funding for conservation, sustainability, or advocacy projects.
10. Arts and Culture Managers: Professionals in the arts sector seeking funding for cultural projects, exhibitions, or performances, learning to highlight the artistic and cultural value of their proposals.
11. Startup Founders: Entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development who can utilize grants as a source of funding to launch or scale their ventures.
12. Faith-Based Organization Leaders: Individuals responsible for funding religious or spiritual programs who require the skills to present their projects in a manner that aligns with grant-making entities’ goals.
13. Philanthropy Consultants: Advisors who assist organizations in securing funding and can benefit from advanced grant writing techniques to improve their service offerings