Grant Writing: Keys to a Successful Foundation Proposal (2-Part Series)

Dates

Two 4-Hour Sessions (In-Person)
Tuesday, December 5th and 12th
Check in begins at 10:00 a.m. Workshop begins at 10:30 a.m. 
Coffee and lunch provided.

Event Description

Title
Grant Writing: Keys to a Successful Foundation Proposal (2-Part Series) - McMinnville

Facilitator
Sarah Spangler, Nonprofit Education Specialist, NAO

Join us for this 2-part grant writing series tailored to foundation grants. This series will offer hands-on learning activities, peer networking, expert knowledge on grant readiness, grant research, proposal writing, and grant management. In addition to in-class instruction, participants will have homework to deepen learning and have direct access to course trainers for feedback and support.

This series perfectly introduces foundation proposal writing for small and rural nonprofits and those new to grant writing. Through this course, participants will gain tangible tools and strategies to bring back and implement in their nonprofit organizations.

NAO is committed to creating inclusive learning environments and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Automatic closed captioning via Zoom is turned on by default for all NAO virtual sessions. For other accommodation requests, please contact us at training@nonprofitoregon.org. Advanced notice of at least 10 days is appreciated.

Outline

Session 1: December 5

Grant Readiness 
In this session, we’ll discuss what it takes to be considered “ready” to seek foundation funding. We’ll review a list of commonly requested documents, highlight what funders are looking for, discuss how to assess priorities and ensure program readiness.

Objectives:

1. Learn the importance of having a strategy and priorities for funding
2. Gain confidence that you are PREPARED enough to seek grants (programmatically and organizationally)
3. Develop an efficient and organized grant system
4. Develop a Logic Model for a top-priority project/program (to work on during class time) 
5. Learn about the benefits of creating a Grant Answer Template 

Grant Research
Most people feel lost when it comes to grant research because they “don’t know where to start,” which is why we’ll walk through the entire process! We’ll start by discussing the importance of identifying keywords and phrases, showcasing the different platforms to look for grants (grant databases, Google, 990s), and walking through cursory and detailed reviews of grant guidelines.

Objectives:

1. Learn about platforms for grant research and discuss how to pick the one(s) that will best serve your organization’s grant-seeking process 
2. Discuss keywords and why they are important; brainstorm a list of keywords to use as a starting point for your independent grant research 
3. Introduce and explore the Grant Opportunity List (template): Research List 

Session 2: December 12

Grant Writing
This is where we like to dig in and do some actual writing! We will refer back to the Grant Answer Template introduced in Session 1, and in this session, we will walk through the boilerplate and teach you how to add compelling language, data, and funder-specific alignment to make your narrative stand out. 

Objectives:

1. Understand how to create a concise and compelling grant proposal 
2. Learn what funders *really* want to know
3. Taking a proposal to the next level by making your narrative tailored to each funder you apply for
4. Gain confidence in your writing skills

Grant Management/Building Relationships
In this session, we will begin to wrap up the grant writing process by discussing how to track outcomes you’ve outlined in grant proposals (internal progress reports), how to organize your reporting calendar, and ways to build relationships with funders after the grant ends.

Objectives:

1. Understand how to show your program was successful & worth the investment
2. Clarifying goals and objectives and how to track them 
3. When to reach out to funders and what to say to build strong relationships
4. Developing an organized plan to track outcomes

NAO is committed to creating inclusive learning environments and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Automatic closed captioning via Zoom is turned on by default for all NAO virtual sessions. For other accommodation requests, please contact us at training@nonprofitoregon.org. Advanced notice of at least 10 days is appreciated.

About the Facilitator

Sarah Spangler, Nonprofit Education Specialist, NAO Sarah Spangler is a Nonprofit Education Specialist at NAO. Sarah has worked in the nonprofit sector in different capacities for almost 10 years; as a nonprofit volunteer, committee member, program coordinator, development director, executive director, and board member. Sarah is an active community member and feels at her best when she is surrounded by others who are passionate about building stronger, more equitable, and more compassionate communities.

Thank You Funders

This workshop series is made possible with support from The Ford Family Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and The Roundhouse Foundation.

Cost

$125 for NAO Members
$200 for Nonmembers

If you have questions or trouble registering contact: training@nonprofitoregeon.org. 

Location