The term “grant writer” is somewhat of a misnomer. Writing grants is just one step in a broader process of program or organizational planning. Securing grants takes skill in research, planning, collaboration, program design, impact evaluation, budgeting, writing, editing, and donor relations.

This workshop takes an in-depth look at each section of a grant proposal, including examples of weak and strong narratives. Throughout the session, participants will apply presented concepts to their own projects. The result will be a draft outline from which to complete the post-workshop homework assignment: development of a boilerplate proposal.

This session will be limited to 15 participants, one person per organization. The additional course fee includes the workshop plus 1-to-1 coaching with up to four hours of consulting time.

In collaboration with the Sarasota County Library System, we’re diving deeper into grant research with a live demonstration of the Foundation Directory online database. This is the gold standard search tool for charitable grants. During this FREE session, you’ll gain hands-on experience navigating the Foundation Directory.

Fundraising is about more than asking for money – it’s about building relationships, sharing stories, and inspiring generosity. Participants of this interactive workshop will discover how board members and staff at every level can support fundraising by utilizing their natural strengths.

In collaboration with the Sarasota County Library System, we’re diving deeper into grant research with a live demonstration of the Foundation Directory online database. This is the gold standard search tool for charitable grants. During this FREE session, you’ll gain hands-on experience navigating the Foundation Directory.

Proposal budgets are often left for the last minute and fail to receive the same level of care devoted to narrative components of a grant application. However, these numbers play a key role in reinforcing the story being conveyed in your proposal narrative. A well-crafted budget adds credibility by representing the true cost of a project, showing how funder support will leverage other investment, and demonstrating your organization’s sustainability.

Today, funders are holding grantee organizations to a higher standard, shifting the focus from activities to outcomes in order to answer the question “what difference do our efforts make?”. In this workshop, participants will explore the use of logic models in planning project proposals, advance their knowledge of evaluation methods, apply these concepts through case studies, and learn the benefits of being a data-driven organization.

The strength of a nonprofit’s board lies not in numbers, but in who is at the table, and why they are there. This interactive workshop covers how to determine your organization’s unique board profile, how to recruit board members who align with your mission and values, and the importance of ensuring solid representation. Using tools like the BoardSource Board Composition Matrix, you’ll learn how to identify your organization’s most pressing governance and leadership needs. We’ll also cover how to set clear expectations—ensuring new board members are not only aligned, but engaged and effective.