What This Course Will Do for You
Grant writing is not the same as writing a newspaper article, a book or a how-to guide. Like traditional journalists, grant writers must answer the "Five W's" of traditional journalism — Who, What, When, Where and Why — but they also need knowledge of the process. The first step is knowing where to look for grants, which proposals are likely to get funded, and how to write a grant proposal that will generate enthusiasm and demonstrate a need for the program or service being proposed. The rewards can be high – paying jobs for writers are few and far between, but good grant writers are always in high demand. 
This short but in-depth course walks aspiring and novice grant writers through the steps of writing a grant proposal from start to finish. Students will learn how to research funding sources, how to understand the grant application, how to write a winning proposal, and the nine basic elements that must be included in all grant proposals including the Cover Letter, Introduction, Needs Assessment, Objectives, Procedures, Evaluation, Future Plans and Budget. A wide selection of funding sources will be examined in the course including personal grants, city, county and state grants, regional grants, global grants, the 26 major federal grant funding agencies, and community grants offered by foundations and corporate donors. Learners will also gain a working knowledge of dozens of common terms used by grant writers and funders in the nonprofit world. The course will also give students valuable background information on how nonprofit organizations work, how to create a new nonprofit corporation, the forms that need to be filed to apply for federal tax-exemption, details about tax-deductibility of donations, and a breakdown of the differences between various types of charities and foundations. "Grant Writing 101" will give a head start to writers looking to develop their skills in the highly rewarding field of grant writing. Employees at nonprofit organizations wanting to learn more about funding opportunities from the public sector, private foundations and corporate donors will also benefit from this course. When you have completed this course, you should be able to:
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About the Instructor
Dr. Linda Sapp-Cox is a Native American whose diverse background in social work and the nonprofit sector spans 50+ years as a volunteer, consultant, board member, program designer, grant writer and paid staffer. She has expertise in compiling, researching and writing grants of all shapes and sizes. She holds a Ph.D. in Native American Studies and Master's degrees in American History and Social Work. Additionally, she holds a certification in Gerontology Studies from the University of Nevada. Dr. Sapp-Cox has organized and developed more than 80 nonprofit entities with financial planning and grant support for a variety of projects and programs since 1953. She is the founder of the Nonprofit Business Development Training Center in Nevada. She developed 17 components of a nonprofit business curriculum that is still taught at the Community College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada Las Vegas campus sponsored by the United Way of Southern Nevada. She has taught nonprofit business development at both colleges. Currently, Dr. Sapp-Cox serves as a consultant to nonprofits in the U.S. as well as globally in such locations as Qatar (Saudi Arabia); Yorkshire, England; Canada and Normandy. She was the first Executive Director for the Southern Nevada Alzheimer’s Association (in the early 1990’s) and wrote several grants for them as their Program Coordinator. She coordinated the first Alzheimer’s Association “Memory Walk” in Nevada. She also coordinated parent’s advisory groups and taught HeadStart (in the early 1980’s) in California. Internationally, Dr. Sapp-Cox has designed programs and taught preschool teachers to develop programs for disabled toddlers in Qatar. She has also developed nursing programs for AIDS clinics funded by the World Health Organization in Africa. She has written and coordinated grants and programs for Native Americans in the U.S. on reservations and living in urban areas throughout the Southwest and Midwest. Many of these were health care grants to establish clinics for families of children with juvenile diabetes.
Lesson Plan
Syllabus: Getting Started (Course Syllabus)Unit 1: The ABCs of Grant Writing Unit 2: The Needs Assessment Unit 3: Glossary of Common Grant Terms Unit 4: Budgets and Grant Writing Unit 5: Other Types of Grant Applications Unit 6: The 10-Point Plan for Grant Funding Proposals Unit 7: Nonprofit Business Development Unit 8: Final Exam
How to Participate in this Course
The course curriculum will include tutorial lessons, suggested readings, and homework activities. If you are taking the course for personal enjoyment or self-enrichment, homework is optional but you are encouraged to take part in suggested class activities to derive optimum benefit from the course. Homework projects, if completed satisfactorily, will earn Extra Credit points. These points will be added to your Final Exam score and may increase the overall grade you earn in the course. There are no formal class meetings, so you do not have to be online at any set time. You can study and complete assignments at your convenience. Plan to devote 3-5 hours a week to class assignments and study. The benefit that you will receive from this online class will be proportionate to the time and effort you invest. Students who approach online learning as an adventure, make an effort to keep up with the curriculum and interact with classmates on the discussion forum will enjoy the greatest opportunity for knowledge and personal growth. The Student Handbook provides useful information on how to make the most of your online learning experience at Webversity. Refer to this guide for helpful tips on how to access your classrooms, posting homework, and answers to most frequently asked questions. The following sections may be especially helpful: |