How to Learn Grant Writing

The nonprofit sector is where many millennials turn when they want to not just do well, but also do good. One of the most common ways to join what is now the third-largest workforce in the United States is through grant writing. If you want to improve your career options and learn grant writing, it’s best to start at the beginning.

Grant writing is the process of an organization or individual applying for money that is being given out by an institution like a foundation or government agency. This process is both a science and an art, and doing it well means combining salesmanship with a thorough knowledge of the rules and regulations involved. In almost every case, money is being given for a specific purpose, and there are many folks competing for it. Learning to stand out from the crowd is key.

If you want to learn grant writing, there are several simple ways to get started that range from free to inexpensive. Here are some tips.

1. Take A Course Or A Class

There are scores, if not hundreds, of in-person classes, online courses, and workshops on grant writing available. A huge number of the ones online are free. Your state’s non-profit association will have an up-to-date list of courses, and you can find more listed here.

2. Read A Book

A little bit of book learning never hurt anybody. Countless titles exist to help you learn how to write grants. You can find a half-dozen older titles to get you started here, and a newer batch here.

3. Surf The Web

If you’re anything like, well, every other millennial, you spend a huge amount of time online. So redirect some of that time to help you get started in your quest to learn grant writing. Grant writing expert Lisa Skaggs suggests doing one targeted search a day. “Go to www.google.com and type in the type of program you need funding for. (I.e., Literacy grant, transportation grant, mentoring children of inmates grant, etc.),” she says. “It takes time to find one that matches, but do one search a day and it will pay off.” You should also visit old standbys like Grantspace.

4. Ask Around

Make sure to talk to people who are already involved in the grant writing world. Ask them for old proposals you can look at, and do some digging yourself to find others. The more you read and immerse yourself in what has worked and what hasn’t, the better you’ll be when your time finally comes. People with a decade or more of experience are particularly valuable, and will be happy to recount their past triumphs and missteps.

5. Talk To The People With Money

Learning grant writing from the asking-for-money side of the fence is good, but peeking into the giving-out-money side of things is even better. Ask funders for comments on past proposals, or just get them to talk about the kinds of things they like to see when someone is asking them for money.

6. Give Out Some Grants Yourself

There are tons of so-called “grants panels” at the local and state levels. Involve yourself in them, so you can immerse yourself in proposals and see the grant writing world from a different angle.