Grant Writing

If you want to learn the essentials of writing or acquiring grants for private, public, or government use, this course is perfect for you. You'll discover how to develop successful grants by focusing on the skills needed to prepare professional, competitive, compelling grant proposals.

What you will learn

• Know how to research and find available grants
• Understand the fundamental elements of a grant proposal
• Develop the skills needed to prepare professional, competitive, compelling, and successful grant proposals
• Become proficient in the proposal format used by the vast majority of public foundations
• Know the roles and responsibilities of a non-profit board of directors and the management team
• Become knowledgeable on the fundamentals of legal writing, including analytical reasoning and analysis
• Learn how to word, edit, proofread, and format basic documents for daily use within an office environment
• Learn the fundamentals of the budgeting process including how to prepare a budget and manage a budget in a business
• Examine the essential aspects of fundraising and how to maximize fundraising opportunities

How you will benefit

• Become a valuable asset to any organization or project seeking grant funding
• Jump-start a career in the nonprofit sector
• Develop a professional vocabulary that can be used to write grant applications or communicate with clients and peers
• Help deserving organizations in your community find funding with your skillset

1. Introduction to Grant Research
   1. Identifying grants that fit with your organization
   2. How to obtain grants that fit with your organization
   3. How to move through the grant research process
   4. Flexibility in the grant research process
   5. Categorizing grants found in the research process
2. Introduction to Grant Writing
   1. Common myths about the grant process
   2. Preparing the request for proposal
   3. Writing process
   4. a. Bid/no bid decision
   5. b. How to decline an RFP
   6. Analyzing the RFP
   7. Proposal team
   8. Detailed analysis of the RFP
   9. How to protect proprietary information
   10. Scheduling tasks and meeting deadlines for the RFP
   11. Program design
   12. How will you fulfill the requirements of the RFP
   13. Services you will provide
   14. Time and money it will take to complete the project
   15. Parts of the proposal
   16. What to keep in mind when looking for grant funding
3. Advanced Grant Writing
   1. Introduction
   2. Program planning and evaluation
   3. Defining your program or service
   4. How you plan to assess the program
   5. Program planning process
   6. Needs assessment
   7. Proposal writing
   8. Logic model
   9. Writing a grant proposal
   10. Narrative portion of a grant proposal
   11. Grant proposal abstract
4. Specialized Writing Techniques for Grants
   1. Setting up the grant proposal
   2. The front matter of the grant proposal
   3. What is included in the body of the proposal
   4. Program design
   5. Technical section of the proposal
   6. Project management plan
   7. What role will each team member play
   8. What is your timeline
   9. When/what will you report
   10. Time/Cost outline
   11. Common errors made in preparing response to a request for funding
   12. What to include in the organization profile section
   13. Executive summary and appendices of the proposal
5. Technical Writing
   1. Technical writing skills
   2. Writing process of preparing a technical document
   3. Resources to include in technical writing
   4. Specificity in technical writing
6. Writing Essentials
   1. Planning Skills
   2. Composition
   3. Four Components of Writing
   4. Grammar Tips
   5. Common Mistakes
   6. Improving Your Writing
7. Grammar Essentials
   1. Components of Writing
   2. Grammar
   3. Syntax
   4. Word choice
   5. The components of a sentence
   6. Parts of speech
   7. Subjects and predicates
   8. Using word order to change the emphasis of a sentence
   9. Different types of sentences
   10. Simple
   11. Compound
   12. Complex
   13. Compound-complex
   14. Sentence intention
   15. Identifying faulty sentences
   16. Incomplete sentences
   17. Rambling sentences
   18. Using punctuation correctly
   19. Using the correct verb tense in your writing
   20. The function of a paragraph
   21. Topic sentence
   22. Paragraph length
   23. Writing paragraphs
   24. Using cause and effect in your writing
8. Budgeting Essentials
   1. Introduction
   2. The Concept of Budgeting
   3. Activity-based Budgeting
   4. Factors to Consider in Budgeting
   5. Production Planning
   6. Inventory
   7. Sample Budget and Summary
9. Fundraising Fundamentals
   1. Fund Raising
   2. Marketing
   3. Locating Funding Sources
   4. Effective Writing
   5. Successful Proposals
   6. Current Trends
   7. Managing Products
   8. Annual Giving Campaigns
   9. Corporate Sponsorships
   10. Major Donors
   11. Foundation and Government Grants
   12. Planned Giving
   13. Special Events
   14. Capital Campaigns

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or newer.
• Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Office or equivalent (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online. The following textbook will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need
• Demystifying Grant Seeking: What You Really Need to Do to Get Grants
• Managing A Nonprofit Organization
• Handbook for Writing Proposals

Prerequisites:

You should have basic keyboarding and computer skills, be comfortable navigating the Internet and sending emails, and have an understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word is recommended). This course is intended for anyone interested in developing their grant writing skills.

Can I register for a course if I am an international student?

Yes, ed2go courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country's regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.

Does this course prepare for a certification?

No.

When can I start the course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (6) months to complete the course.

What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

What kind of support will I receive?

You may be assigned with an instructor or team of industry experts for one-on-one course interaction. Your support will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. You will be assigned to an Advisor for academic support.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Am I guaranteed a job?

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

Can I get financial assistance?

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.