Mastering the Grant Lifecycle: From Prospect to Execution
Grants are the backbone of funding for so many nonprofit organizations, but managing them can often feel stressful, reactive, and disorganized. We’ve heard the challenges from across the network, and many of them can be solved with improved processes and more seamless collaboration. If you’ve ever hit a snag in your grant management process and thought there has to be a better way – this series is for you! The episodes in this series provide a playbook of processes, tools, and strategies that will make your grant management more efficient and may even lead to more funding down the road.
Our gratitude to the Water Foundation and the Urban Waters Learning Network for making this webinar series possible.
Episode 1: The Three Pillars of Grant Management
Welcome to this five-part series on mastering grant management! This first episode will walk you through streamlining processes, collaborating, and defining grant management roles within an organization. Katie Odom (she/her) reviews the three pillars of grant management as a foundation for the topics that will be covered throughout this series.
Resources:
- Key Principles of Collaborative Fundraising from May 7, 2024
Episode 2: Prospecting
How do organizations make informed decisions about which funding sources to pursue? This episode outlines a strategic approach to grant prospecting, or the process of identifying, assessing, and qualifying funding opportunities. It outlines a three-step process for effective prospecting, leading to more compelling grant proposals. This episode concludes with a preview of the next phase in the grant management process: proposal development.
Tools & Templates:
Episode 3: Proposal Development
How do busy organizations develop compelling grant proposals, all while making the process more collaborative and seamless? This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the proposal development process including planning, collaboration, and organization. Katie Odom (she/her) outlines the steps involved in setting up a proposal, launching it through a team meeting, and developing the proposal itself, offering practical tips and tools to enhance proposal effectiveness.
Tools & Templates:
Episode 4: Budget Development
A grant budget should support and corroborate your proposal’s narrative. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use smart budget worksheets, estimate costs correctly, and plan for the future to create a sustainable budget. It is also essential to know the rules before diving in. Reviewing funder guidelines is essential, as well as engaging your core team and accounting for shared costs.
Tools & Templates:
Episode 5: Grant Execution
A successful proposal and budget is just the first step in managing a grant agreement. Ongoing grants management is a continuous process. In this episode, you’ll get practical strategies to ease the burden of long-term grant management so you can focus on the work itself.
Tools & Templates:
