Money Doesn't Grow on Trees: Learn to Write Grants to Support Your Programs

Dates: Tuesdays, February 11, 18 and 25

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (three 3.5-hour sessions)

Location: NICNE CollabLab at NIU Rockford (8500 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108)

Details: Grants are critical for most organizations to survive and successfully fulfill their mission. Grant writing is also highly competitive. Writers must develop skills to be ready to craft compelling proposals while adhering to specific funder guidelines;;;;; Poor proposals can impact results and relationships with funders.

Join NICNE and trainers Dr. Lynn Gibson and Dr. Kim Suedbeck for a three-part workshop that will help you write higher-quality grant proposals. Dr. Gibson and Dr. Suedbeck are experienced and highly sought-after grant writers and trainers, each with more than 20 years of experience with writing and reading federal, state, local, and family foundation grants.

In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Write or improve your grant proposals to appeal to funders.
• Find new funding opportunities.
• Plan for collaboration.
• Develop budgets and outcomes measures.
• Effectively implement the critical elements of storytelling.
• Cultivate and maintain funder relationships.
• Plan for and prepare submissions.
• Effectively track and manage awarded grants.
• Ensure compliance with funder requirements.

A toolkit containing sample forms and policies, templates, best practices and additional resources will be provided to ensure that you are ready and prepared to apply for grants and have the best chance at submitting winning proposals.

The facilitators will address your specific grantwriting questions and will guide you during a writing-intensive component for part of the third session. If you have a grant opportunity already selected, this will be a chance for you to gain feedback and guidance on your proposals from the instructors.

Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for beginner and intermediate grant writers, as well as seasoned grant writers looking for new strategies and answers to specific questions. Come on your own or bring your grant management team!

About the facilitators:

Dr. Lynn Gibson is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University and teaches educational leadership to aspiring superintendents. She has written federal, state, corporate, and foundation grants for more than 25 years and teaches grant writing classes nationally. She is trained in strategic planning, coaching, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Lynn is a retired superintendent from the Northern Illinois area. She has published various articles in regional and national magazines and is currently publishing her first children’s book series with one of her six children.

Dr. Kim Suedbeck is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University. Kim has been an educator since 1984; Her roots began as a Special Education teacher where she has had extensive experience with curriculum development and modification for students at every level of ability. Kim has been trained in strategic planning, coaching, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and grant writing and uses her experience to develop regional and statewide partnerships to coordinate services for students and staff. In her spare time, she is a fine art photographer and loves telling a story through her photos.

About NICNE:

The Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) has been strengthening nonprofits since August 2004 by providing capacity building, training, technical assistance, resource support and initiative leadership to nonprofit organizations in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

NICNE believes in investing in people and organizations that make communities in our area safer, healthier, and more vibrant. We do so by providing training opportunities to help nonprofits successfully achieve their missions. As the region’s primary resource for nonprofit capacity and movement building, NICNE encourages collaboration and best practices that result in a strong, vibrant nonprofit sector to demonstrating significant social impact. NICNE's mission is to promote, model, and grow innovation, excellence and social impact.

Please email questions to COO Billie Callahan at [email protected] or call 815.753.8793. Learn more about NICNE at www.niu.edu/nicne.

Host or Publisher Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE)