Training details

calendar_today Tuesday, February 14, 2023

access_time Eastern: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Central: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Mountain: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Pacific: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

place Online

attach_money $800

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About

Learn the essential knowledge and skills to develop effective foundation grant proposals in this four-week course. In this interactive course, you will connect with expert Candid trainers and your peers to learn the practical skills needed to:

  • build the key components of a competitive grant proposal to a foundation
  • develop a well-organized budget
  • identify a targeted list of foundation funding prospects

You will be encouraged to approach your proposal from the funder's perspective and to think critically about what makes a compelling pitch. To accommodate diversity in learning styles, the four weeks are grounded in project-based learning and include individual writing time, self-paced eLearning, live virtual lectures, and small group discussions and peer activities. 

To learn more about boot camp, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Preparing for the course 

We encourage you to prepare for class by identifying a project for which you would like to seek foundation funding. The workshop will include opportunities to draft a logic model and letter of inquiry that you can use to pursue funding for this project.

With self-paced and live sessions, you should plan to invest a total of 6 to 8 hours per week on the course, broken down in the following way:  

  • Weekly 2-hour live and interactive sessions with expert Candid facilitators 
  • Video and written instructional content diving deeper into the topics covered in each week’s live session for you to review in your own time 
  • Two assignments to support you drafting a need statement and letter of inquiry that you can use when connecting with funders. 

Course at-a-glance 

Week 1: Intro, need statement and analysis
Learn the structure of a grant proposal and develop a need statement.  Draft a need statement for review.  

Week 2: Logic model and Letter of Inquiry
Get an overview of using the logic model framework to craft a project description and evaluation plan. This week will also include an introduction to and review of the letter of inquiry format.  

Week 3: Letter of Inquiry questions and budget
Receive intensive training on developing a project budget. Review the essential components of a full proposal and letter of inquiry. Draft and submit a 1-page letter of inquiry for Week 4’s peer-review exercise.

Week 4: Relationship building and LOI review 

Learn how to research, approach, and cultivate relationships with funders. Engage in expert and peer review of your submitted letter of inquiry. Wrap up with summary exercises and evaluation.

Testimonials

“It was very helpful to sit down and actually work on drafting an LOI. Having peers review and provide feedback was also very beneficial. I would recommend [Proposal Writing Bootcamp] to anyone, regardless of how much experience they have with proposal writing. ” – Melody in Boston, MA; October 2022 virtual Proposal Writing Boot Camp participant

“Having many eyes, inputs, perspectives, and feedback was extremely supportive and clarifying. I now know how to refine, clearly address, and present the information funders and organizations are looking for...I will definitely be taking more courses and have already recommended to others. ” – Aubrey in Willow Creek, CA; October 2022 virtual Proposal Writing Boot Camp participant

 

Qualifies for
12 CFRE point(s)

Additional information

To support your work and ensure our trainings are more accessible, we’re offering this program at an early-bird price of $650. The price increases to $800 on February 1, 2023.

Dates for Live Sessions: 

  • One orientation session – Tuesday, February 14, 2023  - 11am-12pm PT/2pm-3pm ET
  • Three weekly 2-hour live sessions:
    • Tuesday, February 21, 11am-1pm PT/2pm-4pm ET
    • Tuesday, February 28, 11am-1pm PT/2pm-4pm ET
    • Tuesday, March 7, 11am-1pm PT/2pm-4pm ET

How our virtual workshops work:

Within one business day of your registration, you will be enrolled in this course and receive an email from our eLearning platform, Bridge. This email will have instructions on how to create your own online account in Bridge as well as a link to access your course.

We recommend using Firefox as your browser. Visit Bridge for more information on accessing courses, navigating through a course, and viewing its technical requirements. You can learn more about Zoom by accessing this page. You will have access to the course for 90 days after enrollment. The course fee entitles purchaser to one computer log-in which cannot be shared. In addition, no refunds, transfers, or credits will be issued.

Unable to attend the live session? While we strongly encourage you to attend the highly-interactive live sessions, we will record the live meetings and circulate the recording to all course participants within 24 hours of the meetings.

By enrolling in this training, you agree to grant Candid permission to document this session with photography, film, and/or video. Material captured may be used in future publications, brochures, or other printed materials used to promote Candid. Please inform the instructor(s) if you do not agree to these conditions.

Outcomes

  • You will learn how to: 
  • Develop selected elements of a proposal and letter of inquiry, and to improve online applications
  • Use a logic model framework to craft key elements of a proposal
  • Craft a budget that conveys an accurate picture of your project’s needs and value
  • Explain what grantmakers look for in a proposal and how they approach the proposal review process
  • Analyze and evaluate prospects using Foundation Directory Online Professional to determine a potential funding fit. 

Intended audience

  • All levels of experience

Featuring

David Holmes (he/him) Educational Programming Manager, Candid
Lori Guidry Educational Programming Manager, Candid
Tracy Kaufman Educational Programming Manager, Candid
Ivonne Simms (she/her) Educational Programming Manager, Candid
Krista Berry (she/her) Equitable Access Strategy Manager, Candid