Grant Writing Course Online | University of Illinois Springfield
Become a Grant Writer
In the nonprofit world, grant writing is one of the most important aspects of fundraising. This 100% online course will teach you to how to research, write and manage a funding proposal for your nonprofit organization. Key topics include grant writing templates, budgeting and other nonprofit fundraising techniques.
Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Start anytime.
Job Outlook for Grant Writers
- According to workforce analytics company Burning Glass, the need for grant writers and other fundraising specialists is expected to grow 15% over the next decade.
- com estimates that grant writers can earn up to $68,000 annually, with the current median salary sitting around $48,000.
- In the United States, metropolitan regions and areas adjacent to cities like Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Seattle provided the biggest opportunities for grant writers.
Grant Writing FAQs
WHY DO NONPROFITS NEED GRANT WRITERS?
Not-for-profit (or nonprofit) 501(c) entities rely on fundraising and development to sustain their mission. Grant writing is one of the key strategies in the nonprofits sector for fundraising.
WHAT DO GRANT WRITERS DO?
Grant writers are tasked with researching, drafting and submitting proposals for a nonprofit organizations, including educational institutions, social advocacy groups and healthcare groups. Often, grant writers also handle other fundraising activities, including identifying funding sources, budgeting and managing resources.
WHAT TYPES OF GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR NONPROFITS?
The Federal government is the largest source of grant funding. Additionally, nonprofits organizations can sustain themselves with grants from state, foundation and corporate grants.
IS GRANT WRITING A GOOD CAREER?
Nonprofit organizations will always need fundraising to maintain operational expenses, and grant writing is the main way this is done. Grant writing can be a well-paying career if you have strong history of winning grants, but it can also be very rewarding if you believe in the causes you are writing for.
Course Objectives
Be able to research, plan and write effectively for multiple purposes in the nonprofit sector
Understand the entire grant proposal writing process, including defining scope, project management and financial projections
Learn the fundamentals of budgeting
Identify roles of funding agencies, philanthropic foundations and giving institutions
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to take this course.
Curriculum
INTRODUCTION TO GRANT RESEARCH
Identifying grants that fit with your organization; flexibility in the grant research process
INTRODUCTION TO GRANT WRITING
Common myths about the grant process, preparing the request for proposal, analyzing and responding to the RFP
ADVANCED GRANT WRITING
Program planning and evaluation, defining your program or service and writing a grant proposal
SPECIALIZED WRITING TECHNIQUES FOR GRANTS
The front matter of the grant proposal; common errors made in preparing response to a request for funding
TECHNICAL WRITING
Technical writing skills; writing process of preparing a technical document
WRITING ESSENTIALS
Four components of writing; planning, composition and grammar techniques
GRAMMAR ESSENTIALS
Grammar, syntax and parts of speech; rhetoric and argumentation
BUDGETING ESSENTIALS
The concept of budgeting; factors to consider in budgeting
FUNDRAISING FUNDAMENTALS
Locating funding sources; types of fundraising including, foundation and government grants, annual giving campaigns and corporate sponsorships
Instructor
Katherine Squires Pang
Katherine Squires Pang, J.D., LL.M., M.Ed has practiced law with since 1983. She has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Management at the University of Texas, Dallas, and has been an adjunct faculty member of many universities, including New York University and the University of California, Irvine. She received her B.A. in 1980 from Clark University, her J.D. from the University of Dayton Law School in 1982, her LL.M in Taxation from Georgetown University Law School in 1983, and her M.Ed from the University of Texas in 2001.