We’re putting together a grant writing course in 2023 and need to know if you are interested. If you are, click on the button and let us know. We’ll be in touch when the course is scheduled.
You might have some questions. Like these:
Who will be teaching? Scott Evans, freelance grant writer and our very own Administrator for AFP Desert Communities. Scott’s been helping nonprofits throughout Southern California with grant proposals for 15+ years and has been teaching the craft for the past five years.
What’s the process? The course is in five sessions, probably in five consecutive weeks, meeting 1x per week for about 2-1/2 hours each.
How big are the classes? We’ll limit attendance to 12 to maximize your experience. Because class interaction is so important, we strive to get the perfect class size so you can ask questions, get feedback – but not get lost in too large a group.
How much does it cost? The cost for AFP members is $225. It’s $300 for non-members. If you are in an organization with a current AFP member, you qualify for the Member rate.
Live or Zoom? It’s on Zoom. Scott has found that Zoom is actually preferable to live for grant writing classes. Why? Because during the class each student’s homework is displayed and critiqued. This works much better on Zoom than in-person.
What about homework? Each week, you’ll have a homework assignment to complete. You’ll write that segment of the overall proposal and Scott will cover your work in class and also provide written feedback after the class.
What level course is it? The course is designed to help BOTH people who’ve never written a proposal before – and those who have a few under their belts. See comments below from students in both camps.
What do you cover? As you probably know, more and more grant proposals are completed online. But, because all the forms are so different, Scott has found it easier to teach the creation of a “print” proposal that you can adapt to online forms. There are often many things you want to include in your proposal that a funder just doesn’t ask. You have to figure out a way to get that information into the proposal.
What makes this course different from other grant writing courses? Scott seeks to get students to “think like a funder.” Funders think about grants differently than nonprofit executives. They read proposals with a “different eye.” In the course, you’ll learn to understand their priorities and come up with the best way to present your nonprofit to them.
Anything else to set this course apart? Probably many things are different in this course but just a couple are the incorporation of 1) personality types and 2) storytelling. Those are actually pretty important elements to understand as you write proposals.
Also, we will likely have a visit from a funder (a foundation decision-maker) – and participants will get a free month of use of Foundation Search, a robust search engine for finding funders that match your mission.
What do I do next? If you are at all interested, just click on the “Yes, I’m interested” button. There is no obligation. You’ll get information on dates and times for the course and you can decide whether or not to register at that time.
You can also let us know if someone you know is interested.
Some Comments from Students
“I felt the format and the pacing were perfect. We were able to consume information in chunks. Taking in the lessons in smaller segments made it easier to learn but also more importantly easier to retain.”
“I’m super thankful for Scott and his patience throughout this whole training. I think he has so much knowledge and all of his tips were so helpful!”
“Thank you for a great course! I have been writing grants for 4 years and got exactly what I wanted from this class, I wanted to go back to basics and hone in on skills to make sure I am still on track with my grant writing. I appreciate all the time you took reviewing and answering everyone’s questions! My boss was very happy that we now have a very in-depth program description and we have already used a few of the pieces I wrote in proposals. Thank you again!”
“Really well done. Before entering the program, I really did not know anything about Grant writing and today after the 5 sessions, I really have the feeling that I’ve learned a lot and I am ready to write my first proposal. We got lots of personalized feedback from Scott and this was very useful.”
“It was helpful to get different perspectives on real life topics dealing with grant proposals—it was like listening to a review team, especially helpful given that we had an experienced and knowledgeable instructor guiding the class.”
Association of Fundraising Professionals Desert Communities Chapter
760-449-1971 / www.afpcadesert.org / afpcadesert@gmail.com
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 2213, Palm Desert, CA 92261
