Programs We Sponsor

Effective Grantsmanship Course

There are few skills so vital in nonprofit life as grant writing. What does it take to move an idea into action? To write a plan that is so effective a funder is willing to support it? For many nonprofit organizations, the answers to these questions are the keys to successful fundraising.

Part One:

In this two-day workshop series, we will discuss the methods used to conduct a needs assessment to accurately define a set of community needs. Using a set of data collected in a local public health initiative, we will generate potential solutions to a set of community problems, generate the results we hope to achieve, and create an action plan to achieve those results. We will review the steps in preparing a sound budget, and practice research techniques that will enable us to identify appropriate funders for our work.

Please complete the online Application Form by Wednesday, September 19 by 5 p.m.  Students will be notified on Tuesday, September 25th regarding their applications.

Space is limited to 25 students. We ask you to apply to the program ONLY if you can attend BOTH workshop days. The workshops will take place on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, October 16th  from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Gateway
  • Sunday, October 28th from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Gateway

 Students who are accepted into the program will be required to complete two reading assignments and a short writing assignment, before the program begins.

They will also be expected to complete a short grant research assignment and a short writing assignment between the two workshops. 

Part Two - Additional Internship Opportunity:

For those students who would like to apply their new skills, we are offering 8-10 slots for a short-term internship at a local nonprofit. The internships will run from mid-October through early December and will require 10-12 hours of volunteer time on a fundraising project specified by the agency. Students will be selected for this additional opportunity during the application process. 

Students who are selected for the internships are required to attend additional training sessions to prepare for their internships. Their training schedule is noted below:

  • Monday, October 15th from 9:00 – 12:30 in Pensby Multicultural Center
  • Monday, October 15th from 5:30 - 7:30 in Room 200 in the Campus Center  (Dinner to meet agency staff and discuss project)
  • Tuesday, October 16th  from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Gateway
  • Wednesday, October 17 th from 9:00 – 12:00 at the Free Library in Philadelphia This is a trip to the Free Library in Philadelphia to use their grant making data bases.)
  • Sunday, October 28th from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Gateway

Schedule and Student Expectations

For a schedule of the Effective Grantsmanship course and a detailed description of expectations for students, please click here.

 2011 Community Partners

Students participating in this year's Effective Grantsmanship course will complete a grant research or grant writing project for a local community-based organization. The organizations participating in last year's program were:

  • ACPPA Community Art Center
  • AIDS Law Project
  • Community Partnership School
  • Children's Literacy Initiative
  • The Caring Center
  • Delaware Valley Community Health
  • Face to Face
  • Genesis Housing Corporation
  • Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation (LEDC)
  • Main Line Adult Day Center
  • Methodist Home for Children
  • Nationalities Service Center
  • Philadelphia Public School Notebook
  • Programs Employing People
  • Weavers Way
  • Youth Service, Inc (YSI)