Unit 1: Preparing to Win!

The Nature of Grants
Learn the difference between competitive and entitlement grants and what distinguishes government grants from foundation and corporate grants. Understand and recognize different types of grants (program vs. research vs. capital/operating vs. capacity-building, etc.). This section also helps you to understand what attracts grants and to interpret what funders want.

Is This Grant for You?
Not every grant is right for every organization. In fact, not every funding need is grant-worthy. This section gives an overview of the not-for-profit organization, the value of a "mission statement," how, at single glance, to determine whether a grant opportunity is right for you, and how out-of-the-box thinking can help to secure funding.

The Basic Structure of a Grant
Regardless of type, all grant applications have a similar structure. This section provides an overview of that structure, taking you through the seven narrative components of a typical grant: Abstract; Statement of Need; Project Description; Goals & Objectives; Activities & Timeline; Evaluation; Organizational Capacity.

Sustainability
Many grant-makers provide seed money to initiate a program or service. But how will you maintain the momentum once grant funds are gone? It's one of the most common questions on a grant application. Explore acceptable strategies for keeping a good thing going.

A Different Point of View
This is a discussion of the program aspect of grants from the grant-maker's perspective vs. the business aspect of grants from the viewpoint of the grantee. Where and why parties with the same intentions often have different expectations.

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Unit 2: Strategizing to Win!

Goals & Objectives
Every grant-funded program must aim for a specific goal. This section demonstrates how to set a goal that's do-able as well as how to write objectives [strategies to achieve the goal] in terms that are simple, clear, and measurable.

Activities & Timeline
A typical grant-maker provides funding for one year of program operation and wants to know exactly how you plan to achieve your goal within that timeframe. Learn how to create an Activities & Timeline chart -a "punch list" of specific steps needed to achieve each objective.

Evaluation Strategies
Evaluation is the collection of evidence that proves your program had some kind of impact or created change. Learn about the two ways to evaluate most programs: process evaluation and outcome evaluation.

Organizational Capacity
A school or organization is "grant worthy" when it has experience in dealing with the target population and services described in the proposal. This section shows you how to craft a description of your agency that focuses on its most significant assets.

Budget: Couching the Cash
Grant funds support the cost of delivering your program or service. Learn how to structure a budget that's acceptable to the funder, the difference between a budget narrative and a budget summary, and what you need to know about budgets after a grant award has been made.

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Unit 3: Writing to Win!

The Abstract
This section is an in-depth review of the Abstract section of a grant. Learn the best way to manage this small-but-mighty section of your application.

Statement of Need
It's the most pivotal part of any grant application. Discover how to write a compelling "problem statement" that both draws the grant-maker's interest and makes your program response seem like a natural solution.

Statistics
To convince a grant-maker of your need for financial assistance you must provide a detailed picture of that need complete with hard data. Learn the value of research, how to use numbers to illustrate narrative, and when to "hold back" on information that can work against you.

Project Description
The longest and most involved section of any application is the description of your proposed project. Three separate chapters break this section down into manageable units.
Chapter 1: Identifying your agency, its partners, the target population to be served, and the qualifications of the Project Coordinator and other staff. Chapter 2: Explaining your methods (how the program will operate), providing a rationale for choosing such methods, and stating the research or evidence justifying your choices. Chapter 3: The importance of addressing cultural issues, the potential for "institutionalizing" your program; leveraging other available resources; when and how to use a Memorandum of Understanding.

Partnerships
This is an in-depth look at the benefits of partnering with other schools or agencies, the difference between a partnership and a coalition, and how to attract and keep the best partners for your program.

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The Complete Course!

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