Workshop and Speaking Schedule

Online grant proposals are here to stay. They are frustrating, exasperating, and daunting. Still, we often must present our case for support in 2,000 characters (~350 words) or less. Writing tight or to the point while getting the attention of the grant reviewer has never been more crucial.

Although brevity is key, grant makers still want engaging narratives that state the issue or problem succinctly while providing evidence that your organization will achieve the proposed outcomes. Knowing what to say and how to say it in a short grant application is the focus of this session. The techniques discussed will help you craft successful paper and paperless proposal narratives.

Participants will learn techniques to assist them to present their case for support in as few words as possible. Key learning points include the following:

• Identify key elements that will grab the attention of grant reviewers
• Use simple, direct language to make your point
• Eliminate passive voice from your narratives
• Edit proposals for strong content

This is a fun, dynamic session that combines lecture, discussion, and hands-on exercises. Attendees will be able to use the slides in the handout as a guide to help them prepare grant proposals in the future.

The U.S. government awarded $1.833 billion in grants to qualified nonprofits and institutions of higher education in 2018. Of the 98,799 grant recipients, approximately 1.0 million more received rejection notices. Is your organization ready to compete for future federal grants opportunities? Erase the complexity and confusion often associated with federal grants. Rather than relying on corporate or foundation giving, it may be time to seek out potential federal grants.

The intended goals of this workshop are as follows:

• Demystify the process of seeking federal grants for single awards of $50,000 to multi-year requests of $1.0 million or more
• Learn to carefully review federal opportunity announcements (FOAs)/request for proposals (RFP) to understand what the government wants to fund
• Plan ahead for future publication of available federal grants through online resources
• Understand the process of preparing an average 40-page, single-spaced proposal narrative in less than 15 business days
• Learn how peer reviewers score your proposal

This workshop provides learning opportunities for intermediate to advanced (10+ years) grant seekers. The ideal participants will be those with two or more years of experience preparing grant proposals. They will have an understanding how to develop a strong needs statement, goals and outcomes, evaluation strategies, and the budget and justification for the project/program they propose.

Register online at Philanthropy Massachusetts (formerly Associated Grant Makers).

Nonprofit organizations often seek grant support but fall short in receiving an award. Competition for grants continue to grow as government funding dwindles. Learn how to present your case for support no matter the type or size of grant you are requesting. This session will sharpen your grant-seeking skills by making your proposal more competitive.

From logic models to making your case for support using 2,000 or less characters, this workshop will help you prepare successful paper and paperless proposal narratives including those to the different levels of government. There will be a discussion on the use of Gantt and PERT charts and other visual aids to help reviewers quickly understand the intent of your proposed project. You will also learn techniques to use when preparing proposals to obtain grants for capacity-building projects and capital campaigns.

This workshop is all about improving on the skills already developed, shedding old attitudes, and learning new techniques to make grant proposals more competitive. Ideal participants will be those with two or more years of experience preparing grant proposals. They will have an understanding how to develop a strong needs statement, goals and outcomes, evaluation strategies, and the budget and justification for the project/program they propose.

Participants will learn the following:

• Understand the current giving trends of foundations, corporations, and government agencies
• Analyze request for proposals (RFPs) to determine a fit with your proposed project
• Prepare reviewer friendly proposals
• Formulate strategies to develop proposals for special projects, capacity-building efforts, and capital campaigns
• Learn techniques to apply for a multi-year or million-dollar grant

Register online at Philanthropy Massachusetts (formerly Associated Grant Makers).