Friday, February 20, 2015

The Benefits Of A Grant Writing Certificate Course

By Olivia Cross


The non-profit organizations depend on grants and donations to fund their activities. However, many of these organizations still miss the funding opportunities, not for lack of qualification, but for lack of skills in drafting the winning proposals. It is a very technical endeavor, yet very crucial for these organizations is not surprising that the experts who write proposals for the NGOs normally occupy big positions in the organizations. Most of them are executive directors, board members, or even fundraising specialists among others. A grant writing certificate course is there to ensure that more organizations get services of experts in their fundraising bids.

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.

The U. S Government grants are known as federal grants. In order to benefit from this, there are stringent rules that must be met. The proposals are similar in their basic parts. The areas that are the same include the order of the proposal, the terminology for each part, and the points that are allocated to each of the sections. The rules such as number of pages, double spacing, font, and 12 characters or more per inch are also the same for any proposal. Given the high rate of competition, you cannot afford to make a mistake.

The state governments have grants that are funded with the "flow-through" monies that come from the federal government. There is a reduced competition as only the organizations within the state can apply for these grants. However, the rules are more or less the same, as the proposals that get funded are those that are drafted in the right way.

The third alternative is a charity foundation run by wealthy individuals or companies. In most cases, they prefer to fund charitable activities and research. It is advisable to get into contact with the representatives from these foundations and get to know their specific requirements and preferences. The same applies to donations and other funds from individuals and organizations.

However, without a foundation course in this writing, the whole exercise can be in futility. In response to this need, there are several causes that are now offered to ensure that the organizations do not miss out on these funding opportunities. Introduction or basics parts may not take long time. In some cases, it can be covered in three days to one-week active classroom session and you get certified. In some instance, the course is offered online and you complete it at your own pace. The advanced certification may require more time to complete.

By taking a course in grant writing, you can become one of these experts and enjoy the returns. The course entails a number of topics depending on the institution that offers it. It is possible to take the classes online and finish at your own pace or seat in the actual classroom.

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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