Training details

calendar_today Wednesday, June 27, 2018 - Friday, June 29, 2018

access_time 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ET

place Candid

attach_money $895

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About

Learn the essential knowledge and skills to develop effective foundation grant proposals in this three-week course. In this interactive course, you will connect with expert Candid trainers and your peers to learn the practical skills needed to: build the key components of a competitive grant proposal to a foundationdevelop a well-organized budget, and identify a targeted list of foundation funding prospects. You will be encouraged to approach your proposal from the funder's perspective and to think critically about what makes a compelling pitch. To accommodate diversity in learning styles, the three weeks are grounded in project-based learning and include individual writing time, self-paced eLearning, live virtual lectures, and small group discussions and peer activities. 

Preparing for the course 

We encourage you to prepare for class by identifying a project for which you would like to seek foundation funding. The workshop will include opportunities to draft a logic model and letter of inquiry that you can use to pursue funding for this project. 

Course at-a-glance 

Week 1:  Structuring the proposal and letter of inquiry
Learn the structure of a grant proposal, develop a need statement, and get an overview of using the logic model framework to craft a project description and evaluation plan. This week will also include an introduction to and review of the letter of inquiry format. 

Week 2: Drafting the letter of inquiry and project budget
Continue to gain familiarity and practice with the components of a full proposal and letter of inquiry. Draft and submit a 1-page letter of inquiry for week three’s peer-review exercise, learn how to prioritize fundraising for your organization, and receive intensive training on developing a project budget. 

Week 3:  Preparing to build relationships with funders 

Kick off the week learning how to research, approach, and cultivate relationships with funders. Engage in expert and peer review of your submitted letter of inquiry. Wrap up with summary exercises and evaluation. 

We have designed the 3-week course to be equivalent to the 3 days of time spent together during our in-person Proposal Writing Boot Camp. As such, you should plan to invest a total of 6 to 8 hours per week on the course, broken down in the following way: 

  • Weekly 2-hour live and interactive sessions with expert Candid facilitators
  • Video and written instructional content diving deeper into the topics covered in each week’s live session for you to review in your own time
  • An assignment to support you in drafting a letter of inquiry that you will be able to use when connecting with funders.

 

Testimonials

“It was very helpful to sit down and actually work on drafting an LOI. Having peers review and provide feedback was also very beneficial. I would recommend [Proposal Writing Bootcamp] to anyone, regardless of how much experience they have with proposal writing. ” – Melody in Boston, MA; October 2022 virtual Proposal Writing Boot Camp participant

“Having many eyes, inputs, perspectives, and feedback was extremely supportive and clarifying. I now know how to refine, clearly address, and present the information funders and organizations are looking for...I will definitely be taking more courses and have already recommended to others. ” – Aubrey in Willow Creek, CA; October 2022 virtual Proposal Writing Boot Camp participant

Qualifies for
11 CFRE point(s)

Outcomes

  • You will learn how to: 
  • Develop selected elements of a proposal and letter of inquiry, and to improve online applications
  • Use a logic model framework to craft key elements of a proposal
  • Craft a budget that conveys an accurate picture of your project’s needs and value
  • Explain what grantmakers look for in a proposal and how they approach the proposal review process
  • Analyze and evaluate prospects using Foundation Directory Online Professional to determine a potential funding fit. 

Intended audience

  • All levels of experience

Featuring

Kim Buckner Patton Director Foundation Center Northeast (DC)

By enrolling in this training, you agree to grant Candid permission to document this session with photography, film, and/or video. Material captured may be used in future publications, brochures, or other printed materials used to promote Candid. Please inform instructor if you do not agree to these conditions.