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Professional Development Programs

Certificate Program in Grant Writing

 

Details:

This Certificate Program in Grant Writing provides an intensive opportunity to acquire the knowledge and practice the skills necessary to succeed in today's competitive grant writing environment.

Successful grant writing is critical to the survival of many nonprofits; for some lucky others, it is frosting on the cake. In order to attract the interest of funders, organizations must demonstrate substantive programming, good supporting data and financial viability, and they must package this complex information in a clear and convincing style. Research to find a likely funding source and then developing a proposal that will both meet unique guidelines and rise above the competition are also crucial to success.

Nonprofit organizations must either grow their own in-house expertise or hire consultants to help them through the often confusing grant application process. If you work for a nonprofit or serve as a volunteer board member, the grant writing expertise you contribute will be a highly valued commodity.

Instructor Jack Smith is an accomplished grant writer with an easygoing style who packs each day with a vast amount of content and expertise. In addition, you'll receive an extensive package of materials to use both during the week and for future grant writing projects.

 

Program Requirements:

This certificate program is composed of four required courses and can be completed in two ways:

  • Full Program Package
    Four courses held over 5 consecutive days  
  • Individual Course Package
    Registration within each course over a period of time

Individuals may participate in the program by enrolling and participating in all five required courses within one week’s offering or enrolling in individual courses over time.

For those interested in just one or two of the courses, please note, you are welcome to enroll in a course and do not have to commit to the full certificate program (pre-requisites apply). Individuals who have already taken one or more of these courses with us can apply those courses toward the full certificate.

Full Program Package - Five consecutive days:

Required: (30 total hours)

This full program includes the below four courses:

  • Introduction to Grant Writing (1 day)
  • Hands-on Grant Writing (2 days)
  • Grand Research: Targeting Funds for Nonprofits online (1 day)
  • Coordinating Grant Research with Development (1 day)

Required Materials: A laptop computer is required for 3 days of the program and familiarity with the personal computer environment is highly recommended as a prerequisite for this program. Please bring a grant proposal idea with you to use in class.

Register for the full certificate program (April)

Register for the full certificate program (July)


Individual Course Package: Participating in the program one course at a time.

Required Courses: (30 total hours)

This course is required for participation in the additional three courses:

For individual course schedules and fees, please click on course titles above.


Schedule:

This certificate program is offered during both the fall and spring semesters. Please click individual required courses above for class schedules.

The full program is 5 consecutive days. Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.

 

*For those interested in participating in individual courses only, please click on the course titles above to view specific course schedules.  

 

Fee:

$645 Includes lunch on the last day of the program

This program is currently approved for use of GI Bill Benefits. To use your U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits, please contact Carolyn Cutting in Veterans Services at ccutting@usm.maine.edu / 207-780-5232 after you have registered for the certificate program. You can register online, over the phone, or in person. Payment is due at time of registration.

 

Contact Hours/CEUs:

30 contact hours / 3.0 CEUs

 

Instructor:

  • Jack Smith, M.P.A., is a nationally recognized grant writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1987, his consulting practice has provided grant-writing services to more than 150 organizations, including the Huntington's Disease Society of America, Catholic Charities of Greater Atlanta, Y-Clubs of Georgia, Century Pacific Housing, and the Maine Center for Community Dental Health. He has taught grant-writing skills for the state governments of Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Vermont and for agencies and clients of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Cherokee Nation. Each year, more than 1,000 participants attend one of his full-day classes. He serves as adjunct instructor at the University of Georgia, Emory University, Duke University, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Management Institute. Read more about Jack's recent trip to Africa here!

View more instructor biographies.


Receive Your Certificate:

For those participating in the full program- If you have met all certificate requirements, you will receive your certificate on the last day of class.

For those participating in individual courses- After you have met all certificate program requirements, complete the program evaluation and certificate completion form, and we will award your certificate. 

 

Student Profile:

Angelica Caterino


Customized Training:

Learn how your organization can take advantage of this program at a reduced cost.