Grant Writing Certificate

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DePaul's Certificate in Grant Writing teaches you the art and science of writing successful grant proposals.

Topics covered in the 10-week writing program include understanding philanthropy, researching prospects, crafting persuasive letters of inquiry, outlining and writing full proposals, evaluating program success, preparing budgets, and grant stewardship. By the end of the class, students should be prepared to effectively tackle a wide range of grant writing challenges. Certificate requirements include two or more chapters of reading per week, 2-4 pages of writing per week, independent research, asynchronous discussion forums, and synchronous online class attendance and face-to-face participation.

If you are new to nonprofits and fundraising, DePaul's Introduction to Grant Writing course provides the basics and high-level information about grant writing. This four-week course is particularly helpful for beginners before completing the 10-week certificate program.

For those who want to build upon their current grant writing knowledge and abilities, DePaul's Advanced Grant Writing and Grants Management Certificate equips experienced grant writers with the skills to navigate complex challenges in proposal writing, funder relationships, and grants management. In this advanced program, you will take on the perspective of both grantee and funder, learning to craft compelling proposals, design efficient systems, and align fundraising efforts with institutional expectations for greater funding success.

Note: The Grant Writing Certificate Program requires and assumes a core competency in expository writing and focuses on extending these skills into the specialized technical writing involved in fundraising. Students without fundamental writing skills, or those for whom English is a second language, may feel challenged at times.

 

For More Information, Contact:

Isabel Avalos
Email: iavalos@depaul.edu
Phone: +1 312-362-5295

“The Certificate in Grant Writing at DePaul has had a great impact on my career. The organization that I partnered with was able to secure over $40K for the program with the help of the materials I provided in my grant proposal. And, I have recently begun to freelance my grant writing services.”

-Emma Palasz

 

"Less than a month after completion of the Grant Writing course I was hired as a Development Assistant [for] a non-profit organization. I believe the knowledge I gained in the course, and the final proposal which I was able to submit as my writing sample, were integral to me securing this job. I think this course played a huge role in my entry and advancement within the [non-profit] community!"

Grant writers seeking skill enhancement, non-profit employees and volunteers and people seeking marketable skills in the NPO environment.

 

Our program is primarily geared towards those seeking funds for nonprofit organizations. However, artists and scholars seeking personal support for projects will also benefit from this class.

 

Note: This class requires and assumes a core competency in expository writing and focuses on extending these skills into the specialized technical writing involved in fundraising. Students without fundamental writing skills, or those for whom English is a second language, may feel challenged at times.

In this class, you will:

 

  • Receive an overview of philanthropy and nonprofit culture
  • Use online resources to identify foundation funding for a program or project
  • Evaluate and draft Letters of Intent or Inquiry (LOI)
  • Develop your writing skills via peer-review and individual conference
  • Draft and revise a complete Grant Proposal Narrative
  • Reflect on the importance of Grant Stewardship
  • Compare Grant-Writing to Individual Donor Solicitation Case-writing

Week 1

Understanding the market: philanthropy overview

 

Week 2

Finding the fit: researching prospects

 

Week 3

Refining your ask: persuasion 101and introduction to LOI's

 

Week 4

Ducks in a row: preparing for a grant-writing campaign

 

Week 5

Breaking down the proposal I (outline, background and need)

 

Week 6

Breaking down the proposal II (project description and evaluation)

 

Week 7

Breaking down the proposal III (capacity and sustainability, budgets and cover letters)

 

Week 8

Teacher/student conferences and problem-solving

 

Week 9

Revision, putting the package together, writing style

 

Week 10

Grant stewardship, ethical issues and career opportunities

Are any writing requirements needed for this course?

While no specific background in writing is required, this class requires a core competency in expository writing and focuses on extending these skills into the specialized technical writing involved in fundraising. Those students for whom English is a second language and who do not have formal writing training may feel challenged at times.

Are there any class requirements?

Full credit and granting of a certificate for participation in this class requires:

  • Regular attendance: no more than 2 absences unless approval is expressly given.
  • Active participation in synchronous sessions, including engaging in small-group work.
  • Satisfactory completion of all assignments.
  • Complete Final Draft of the Full Proposal Narrative
  • Final score of, at least, 70 out of 100 to earn the certificate.

Are there any required books?

Yes, the program requires 2-3 books costing approximately $30/book. Books are not included in the course fee. The instructor will email a current booklist to all registered students prior to the course start date. All other course materials are included in the tuition fee and will be distributed in class and/or electronically.

Are courses taught in class or online?

All courses are taught online live via Zoom once per week.

How long is the program?

The program runs for 10 weeks and meets once/week on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Join Wait List
Sorry, this course is not open for enrollment
Price: $1,425.00

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