New through advanced grant writers are always looking for ways to create stronger applications, be better prepared, and create a positive, productive, and professional process. We are both consultants, but we have each worked in nonprofits as grant writers and our content will also work for non-consultants. We thought through the various steps in grant preparation and broke them down into the following areas in which we have identified multiple tips (with some examples):

1. Determining if a NOFO is a good fit for a project

-How to explain to a PI/PD if it is not

2. Setting expectations and getting prepared

- Create checklists, deliverables chart, and timeline

3. Get organized

- Organize your notes, research, and communications, save time and energy by doing it once; Weava highlighter for PDFs

4. Selecting communications and systems

- DropBox, Google Drive, One Drive, Teams "“ the good, the bad the UGLY

5. Writing

- Hat: give them something to hang their hat on; Heart: Don't forget the heart!

6. Research

- Saving and organizing research; Evernote

7. Formatting

- Advanced Word and Excel tips; use of tables

8. Submission

- Preparing for problems

Kelly and Stacy have similarities and differences in approaches, so any attendee should benefit and pick up something new. We will share high-tech and low-tech techniques. We will solicit tips from the audience via stickies or chat depending on format. 

Presenter:

Stacy has worked 25 years in the grant profession. She serves on numerous government grant review panels and as a private reviewer. She has vast experience writing government and foundation grants for nonprofits and higher education. She is a sought-after trainer in the U.S. and world-wide on grant management, U.S. federal regulations, and writing. She is the Central Virginia Chapter Board President. She served on the GPA Chapter Advisory Committee and now on the Governmental Advocacy Committee.

Kelly Willoughby, CFRE has a life-time goal to make the world a better place by connecting people's gifts and graces with the world's need. She served as President/CEO of non-profits before realizing that engaging supporters was her real calling. She has a master's degree in theology and has earned numerous certifications in Social Enterprise studies from Harvard University. She served on many local boards of directors and on the national board for Habitat for Humanity International.

 
Skill Level:
Advanced-Career

Learning Path: 
Proposal Development/Communication Strategies

GPC Competencies:
How to craft, construct, and submit an effective grant application

How to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs 

Practices and services that raise the level of professionalism of grant developers

Ability to write a convincing case for funding