Best Grant Writing Classes 2024
It is a difficult profession, and it’s not for everyone. But if you’re interested in pursuing it to further grow your organization or business, then the best thing for you to do is take a class on how to write grants.
Even if you are someone who wants to step into this career as a freelance writer, it’s a good idea to take the time and effort to learn how it works in order to become a great writer.
In order to be successful in this subject, you must have certain skillsets which people don’t usually need in other types of writing.
This article highlights some of the top grant writing classes available in 2024 and ends with FAQs to address some of the common questions.
The Best Grant Writing Classes
There are quite a few online grant writer certifications worth taking a look at. In fact, you should enroll in them as soon as one clicks to you more than others. With the list below, we try to help you make the right choice by mentioning the price, duration, key takeaways, and more for each course. In this way, it might make it easier for you to decide which classes suit you the most.
1. Udemy – Grant Writing for Nonprofits and Freelance Writers
Talk about winning proposals, the art of writing, and the skill of persuasion, this course has got it all. It is specially designed for nonprofit organizations and freelance writers. If you are an NGO and looking to get your grant approved, this course is for you. Moreover, if you are a writer who wants to grow and learn new things, take this course to hone your skills.
This class is for someone looking for a step-by-step guide on developing successful proposals that will please the government. Udemy has a history of offering discounts now and then. Normally, you can sign up and know what it takes to strive for a government grant for only $29.99, but if a promotional offer is on, the price drops to only a few $.
This course provides lessons that will help you develop successful proposals within the shortest time possible. On the whole, it includes guidance on developing an outline of tasks and objectives for your project as well as tips on how to submit your proposal.
Tim Whitney is the creator and tutor of this course.
Key Takeaways
- Understand why proposals are crucial for getting grants.
- Learn how to write effective project summaries, narratives, and descriptions for your proposal.
- Add a new accomplishment to your career as a grant writer.
- Find out what’s necessary for a successful grant submission.
- Prepare a template that can be reused with some changes for future projects.
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $29.99 ($9.99 on promotional discounts)
Please enroll here.
2. A-Z Grant Writing – Harvard Community Education
This course is a high-potential place for students to learn skills for approval of grants. It provides learners with a comprehensive understanding of the grant process, which is an effective way to get funding for projects or programs that need financial support.
The wisdom of Dr. Beverly A. Browning works behind this course and takes you through the process of writing a grant proposal as well as how to get it funded.
The course is divided into two parts: writing and funding, with comprehensive lessons for each. The instructional materials include traditional lectures and multimedia presentations that will provide an interactive experience for learners who want more than just reading about grant writing processes.
Dr. Browning takes an approach that is both theoretical and practical. Learners will learn the foundation, how to develop an idea for a proposal as well as receive tips on what is needed to write a successful application that has a high chance of being funded.
The course covers in detail: what grants are; how grant applications work; structuring your proposal; and, more.
Key takeaways
- Identify potential funders.
- Find out what’s necessary for a successful proposal and find out different ways to solicit proposals.
- Discover how to build partnerships with potential funders or donors.
It will teach the basic skills for grant writing that include understanding different types of funding and how to identify a fundraising opportunity. This Harvard Community Education course would be an excellent resource for those who want to improve their knowledge of grant applications, more so, write winning proposals.
Duration: Six weeks and three months
Price: $115 and $100
Please go here to get yourself enrolled: ed2go
3. Writing Grant Proposals – Coursera
A destination famous for online grant writer certifications, Coursera offers a course for those who want to learn more about grant applications. It is a four-week, self-paced class that teaches the basics of writing better proposals and making them stand out from the crowd.
With graded quizzes and assignments, it’s vital to stay on top of deadlines which makes it challenging if you have other commitments outside work. However, with its detailed feedback based on what type of funder or audience you’re targeting, students can be sure they will receive valuable advice in order to make changes accordingly.
You will be taught to find the strengths and weaknesses of your organization so you have a more realistic picture of what your organization can and can’t do.
The classes are completely online without having to go to them in person. With an overall 4.5 out of 5 ratings, they are an incredible effort from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
What you will learn:
- How to find and select financiers.
- How to locate and assess grants.
- The types of organizations that do not qualify for grants but still need funding.
- How to write an effective proposal from scratch or use the templates provided by the instructors as training material.
- Increase the efficiency of your research.
- How to find and locate grants that are looking for organizations like yours.
Duration: Close to 18 hours to complete
Price: $49
Please visit Coursera for applying and enrolling.
4. Online Classes for Professional Grant Writers – Harvard Extension School
Another course that is right up there with the finest grant writing courses in the year 2024. Though the registration for the last batch was closed in Aug 2020, you can always register in the new and upcoming classes to get a grip on the subject.
Benefits: This certificate program is designed for those who need to learn how to write grants in order to advance their careers and their organizations. It offers assistance with applying for foundations that may be interested in your cause or project as well as help in applying for local, state, and federal grants. If you need to grow in grant proposal writing, then this course is for you.
It is one of the best courses to date from none other than Harvard, an institute that has proved itself time and again. It includes workshops, classes, coaching sessions as well as access to the Harvard knowledge center.
What you’ll learn:
- How to develop a strategy for finding and accessing funding sources.
- The language of grants, including the various types of funding agencies.
- How to write budget-friendly grants that are high quality? You will also be learning how to use different formats such as short proposals, long prose, one-page letters, and more.
- Each week you’ll have coaching sessions that help with your progress as well as workshops where you can learn from professors in person. This course is perfect for beginners, but it’s not just limited to them! Anyone who wants an introduction or refresher may benefit from this class too.
- Why do I recommend Harvard? Of all the courses out there designed specifically for grants or otherwise, this one offers the most comprehensive and thorough introduction to the subject.
Duration: On-Demand
Price: $2900
To learn more about the program, please visit Harvard.
5. Fundamentals of Grant Writing – University of Georgia
This course by the University of Georgia is in partnership with the Center for Continuing Education and Education to Go. It gives you a broad introduction to the fundraising world and provides insights into how to write successful proposals.
The course is divided into two sections: Introduction, which covers everything from what makes an effective proposal through its various stages of production, to be able to identify communities who would be a good fit for the program. The second section covers how to write specific proposals in detail and discusses different approaches that writers should consider when writing such documents.
The course is delivered online, with a duration of 24 hours, allowing you to tap into the content when it is convenient for you.
Moreover, it provides insights into successful proposals based on real-life experiences of the instructor, someone who has been in the field for many years.
What you’ll learn:
- The fundamentals of writing for grant awards.
- A more in-depth look at the process from drafting to asking for feedback
- How to write a good document that is both well written and successful.
There are many courses out there, but what makes this one different? The focus on real-life examples and insights into how to craft winning proposals will give you the edge over your competitors, particularly as deadlines loom close.
It also offers plenty of opportunities for Q&A sessions with the instructor. You’ll find these online classes invaluable if you’re looking to take your career path seriously! What’s even better is that they come at a reasonable price point.
Duration: 24 hours
Price: $159
To register yourself in this course, please go to the University of Georgia.
6. Professional Certificate in Grant Writing – San Diego State University
This certificate is relevant within a state full of nonprofits like food banks, animal shelters, and other social service organizations that are always in need of funding.
Due to increasing competition for getting grant funding, this certificate from SDSU plays the role of a rescuer.
The course includes the following areas:
• Grant Funding for NGOs
• Grant Management Strategies in Support of Community-Based Programs and Services
• Proposals: Beyond Project Design to Program Quality, Efficiency, and Effectiveness
Note: It is not for people who are trying to land grants for their research or business.
To pursue this course, the applicant must have some background in academic writing because it is focused on writing skills and not just grant research.
It includes an opportunity to explore real-world examples of organizations that are doing great work in communities across the country through case studies and interactive presentations by experts from a variety of nonprofit sectors.
Through extensive interaction with faculty members who have years of experience as practitioners, you get to know what’s it like to be in the middle of the grant approval process.
Duration: 10 weeks
Price: $898
While the classes are online, you can find more about the program or register via San Diego State University.
FAQs
Here, you’ll know some of the frequently asked questions related to this field. Government grants are funds the government is supposed to release, but for that to happen, you have to be persuasive enough to grab their attention.
What is grant writing?
It is a process of soliciting funds from donors. Due to the growing scarcity of government funds, it is becoming a necessary activity for many organizations. The need for writers to be more skilled in the art of grant acquisition is on the rise. Certified grant writers who are properly trained will not only be able to secure more funding for their organizations, but they’ll know why their organization deserves the grant in the first place.
There are usually no prerequisites required for these classes; however, one has to have the passion to write and is ready to persuade the person on the other side.
What should I consider before writing a proposal for funds?
In addition to having excellent content, these include: who will be reading them (namely funders); what’s included; how much money you’re asking for; why what you want done matters today; an anticipated timeline along with milestones or deadlines. As an experienced grant writer, you won’t need to put so much effort into it.
Is it worth becoming a certified grant writer?
They may or may not be worth it for your organization depending on the type of grants you are looking for. For instance, if you are looking for grants in a certain sector of the economy, then it is worth taking these classes.
However, if your focus is on finding and applying for grants that serve one specific disadvantaged population or community (say young women survivors of violence), then you may not learn much from general-purpose grant resources because they won’t go deep enough on the subject.
How much does it cost to take a grant proposal certification?
A typical grant writing program may cost $100 to a couple of thousands, so the charges vary. Some are free, while others have sliding scale tuition based on income – so you can make an informed decision about what is best for your situation and budget. Besides, this article helps you make intelligent decisions.
Final Words
While grants may seem like just a way to boost your ego, they are vehicles for positive change. This is why it’s of significance that you be an excellent writer, not only to make yourself look good but also tangibly improve people’s lives.
If you are looking for an affordable institute coupled with online grant writing classes, this article is a great place to start. What are your thoughts?
