Why You Need A Grant Writing Certificate Course

By Olivia Cross


Every year, numerous non-profit organizations miss out of funds that could go a long way in supporting child care programs or other charity programs that they are engaged in not for lack of qualification but for inability to write a convincing proposal. Although a very technical endeavor, writing a proposal is core in the NGOs. In fact, the officials who write the proposals for grants occupy big positions in the organizations. They can be the board members, directors or the fundraising specialists. In order to fully benefit from this lucrative career, you need a grant writing certificate course to start you off or to take you to the next level.

The demand for grant writing skills has been increasing tremendously, a reflection of the fact that more NGOs are coming up and the bodies that issue grants are now strict on the proposal drafting. This has left a big market gap that many people are rushing to fill. There are those who are employed by the NGOs for their skills while others work as freelancers to share the cake of this booming business opportunity.

Generally, the sources of funding for the non-profit organizations can be categorized into three; the federal government, state government, and the private companies and charitable foundations. The U. S Government gives out federal grants. Writing a proposal for this is very tricky as there are set rules in regards to format, order of proposal, terminologies, number of pages, font size, double spacing, and the points that are allocated to each of the sections. The competition for federal grants is very high as it attracts applications from hundreds of organizations from each of the states.

The state governments fund state grants using the "flow-through" money from the federal government. There is less competition here as only the NGOs within the state are submitting the application. You could also talk to the senator or other representatives to increase the chances.

The last category consists of private individuals or companies that often fund charitable organizations through foundations. There is no uniformity here. It is best to visit the representatives of the targeted foundation and go through the requirements so that the proposal that is drafted meets the required rules.

The chances of getting grants from any of the three sources require that your proposal stands out among the numerous proposals received every season. In the realization of this, the NGOs are now seeking for the services of experts in this field. In order to enjoy from this, it is best to enroll for a course in grant writing. These courses are offered by numerous institutions and it is possible to get certified online.

During the training process, the topics such as the concept of proposal development, research and development, grant administration, and programmatic marketing skills among others are covered. Some institutions teach their students on the lobbying skills necessary to win the grants.

This is simply and art, a technical one and learning it comes with many benefits. In an interview, you stand out if you have skills and experience in this area. Whether you opt to learn it through online means, actual classes or through seminars and trainings organized by your organization, the fruits are very sweet.




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