Course Overview

Course Overview

This course will cover key aspects of the grant-seeking process, including resources for finding grants, tools for tracking research results, and strategies to attract funders' attention.  The course is divided into ten chapters:

I. Getting into the Grant Mindset

II. Generating Search Terms

III. Where to Look for Funding Opportunities

IV. Leveraging Partnerships

V. Following Funding Trends

VI. Tools & Templates to Track Research Results

VII. Evaluating Opportunities

VIII. Bonus Materials

IX. Summary

X. Resources

Our goal with this course is to provide practical tips to help organizations leverage free and low-cost resources to identify potential funders for their projects and programs. 

How to Navigate through the Course

Each chapter consists of multiple lessons. You can see each of the chapters, with their respective lessons nested beneath them, on the left-hand side of your screen. Many of the lessons have embedded PDFs and Google Slides (which you can also download copies of through the included links). To view the PDFs, scroll down. To view all the slides in each presentation, click the right and left arrows that appear in the bottom left of each slide.

In addition to the narrative content, you'll find additional content throughout the course, including downloadable resource lists and templates.

Join the Discussion!

This course has a discussion feature that allows you to post questions and comments and engage with us, the course leaders, as well as with others taking the course. We hope you'll take advantage of this feature to share your questions as well as your expertise! 

How to Find Funding for Your Organization

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Course Introduction

  • Course Overview
  • How to Get the Most from the Course
  • About Peak Proposals

Chapter 1: Setting Reasonable Expectations for Your Grant Targets

  • Introduction
  • Getting into the Grant Mindset
  • Chapter 1: Setting Reasonable Expectations for Your Grant Targets: Quiz
  • Finding Funding: Need Assessment

Chapter 2: Generating Effective Search Terms

  • Relevant Results: The Challenge of Finding the Right Search Terms
  • Generating Search Terms
  • Chapter 2: Generating Effective Search Terms: Quiz

Chapter 3: Resources for Finding Funding Opportunities

  • Choosing Your Tools and Methods for Funder Research
  • Funder Research
  • Finding Funding: Evaluating Databases

Supplemental Reading: Methods for Finding Funding Opportunities

  • Conducting Prospect Research Using Google
  • Working Backward: How to Follow the Funding Trail (or, how to find funding opportunities without a funder database)
  • Seeking Funding from the US Government
  • Seeking Funds for International Projects

Video Tours of Funder Databases

  • Review of Philanthropy News Digest
  • Tour of Grants.gov

Chapter 4: Leveraging Partnerships

  • Introduction to Organizational Partnerships
  • The Benefits of Partnerships
  • Finding Funding: Partnerships

Chapter 5: Following Funding Trends

  • What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: The Importance of Tracking News about Funders & Funding Priorities
  • Following Funding Trends
  • Chapter 5: Following Funding Trends: Quiz

Chapter 6: Tools & Templates to Track Research Results

  • Introduction: Choosing a Tracking System for Your Prospect Research
  • Free Tools for Tracking the Results of Your Prospect Research
  • How to Use Trello for Grant Research & Writing
  • Video: Introduction to Trello
  • Chapter 6: Tools & Templates to Track Research Results: Quiz

Chapter 7: Evaluating Opportunities

  • Opportunity Evaluation: The Who, What, & How of Evaluating Potential Opportunities
  • Evaluate Opportunities
  • Overview of the Go/No-Go Meeting Process
  • Chapter 7: Evaluating Opportunities: Quiz
  • Finding Funding: Evaluating Opportunities

Bonus Material

  • The Relationship between Your Organization's Online Presence & Its Ability to Attract Funding
  • Finding Funding: Bonus
  • Bonus Material: Quiz

Resources

  • Resources
  • PDF Download: Free Resources for Researching Funders & Funding Opportunities
  • Customizable Prospect Research Templates

Summary

  • Key Steps for Finding Funding & Tips for Success
  • Next Steps
  • Course Feedback