Expertise matters, and grant writing skills are more important than ever! Whether you're someone who is ready to move beyond their fundamental understanding of grant writing, or someone who is seeking a basic skills refresher, this intermediate-level course will provide you with instruction specifically designed to enhance grant writing skills.
Course Overview
Presented over six sessions, Intermediate Grant Writing is a follow-up course to Grant Writing Fundamentals. This intermediate-level course goes beyond exploring grant writing basics. The course instructs participants in the application of the proactive approach to grant writing while practicing proposal development activities. The course is designed to deepen participants' knowledge of the real-world, proactive approach to grant writing. Professional grant writer Erin E. Portland, Ed.D., will guide participants through the grant writing process from her unique and seasoned perspective as a grant writer and reviewer.
Course Details
Each session will include presentations, discussion, real-world examples, "stories from the field," practical strategies, tips, resources and supplemental materials (supplemental materials are to be provided to each participant in an electronic format [PDF] via email prior to each session).
- Session 1: Grant Writing Fundamentals Refresher
- Session 2: Preparing Your Proposal Summary and Organizational Narrative
- Session 3: Preparing Your Purpose and Need Statements
- Session 4: Designing Basic Evaluation Plans (Non-Scientific) and Effective Timelines
- Session 5: Preparing a Basic Budget and Other Required Attachments (e.g. Proposal Abstract, Cover Letters, Support Letters, etc.)
- Session 6: Grant Application Submission and Post-Award Best Practices
Course Level: Intermediate
Who should attend
- Members of nonprofit or other types of community serving organizations (e.g. human service, social service, healthcare) and individuals with basic grant writing experience interested in enhancing grant writing skills
- Members of nonprofit or other types of community serving organizations interested in pursuing future advance level courses
- Any individual (e.g. organization volunteers, board members, community advocates) with basic grant writing experience seeking to refresh or enhance their grant writing skills
As a result of the course, participants will be able to:
- Apply the proactive approach to grant writing using a basic proposal outline
- Prepare basic grant application content for their organization
- Gain a fundamental understanding of a typical competitive grant review process
- Identify and implement grant writing best-practices
Prerequisites/other participant requirements
Completion of the Grant Writing Fundamentals course or other similar courses, or basic level grant writing knowledge gained through other types of experiences.
Schedule and registration
This course will meet in-person at Penn State Schuylkill Tuesdays, April 11 through May 16, 2023, from 5:00 - 6:45 p.m.
This course is a $475 investment. Register Now >
Instructed by Erin E. Portland, Ed.D.
Erin E. Portland, Ed.D. is a skilled grant writer with over 20 years experience. Dr. Portland is a grant writer with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit and Schuylkill Technology Centers and is the owner of Schuylkill GrantWorks, LLC.
During her career, Dr. Portland successfully secured over 18 million dollars in competitive grant awards. Dr. Portland has experience in developing successful federal and state governmental competitive grant applications. She has facilitated grant applications that resulted in funding awards from several national charitable foundations. Having previously worked in one of the executive offices under the jurisdiction of the governor, Dr. Portland has the experience of being a grant reviewer within state government.
She is a graduate of Penn State University with a Master’s of Public Administration and Immaculata University with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration. Dr. Portland is also a member of the Grant Professionals Association. When she is not grant writing, Dr. Portland enjoys spending time with her family fossil hunting, hiking nature trails, and touring historical sites.