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OEL 650: Grant Writing for Nonprofit Manager (Graduate Level)

Course Description

This course empowers nonprofit leaders with the knowledge, strategies, and practical skills to develop successful grant proposals. Students will learn to navigate the complexities of grant acquisition, from identifying potential funders to creating compelling narratives. The curriculum includes understanding funder perspectives, aligning projects with funding guidelines, mastering budget details, and techniques for impactful storytelling. Students will also learn about effective and efficient grant writing best practices, ensuring participants can craft persuasive applications, secure funding, and advance their non-profit missions. (3 credits)

Prerequisite

  • OEL 501: Driving Organization Adaptability through Learning Organizations

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Design and produce a comprehensive, funder-aligned grant proposal, incorporating advanced project planning, persuasive narrative, and strategic budgeting.
  2. Evaluate and identify appropriate funding opportunities within a defined case context, aligning nonprofit missions and goals with funder interests and guidelines.
  3. Compose compelling, evidence-based proposal narratives that align with funder expectations and demonstrate feasibility and value.
  4. Construct and defend a detailed program budget that reflects funder requirements, project needs, and fiscal stewardship.
  5. Develop integrated evaluation and sustainability strategies using logic models and measurable outcomes.
  6. Critically examine ethical and equity issues in grant writing, including representation, transparency, and community voice.
  7. Apply advanced post-award grant management practices including compliance, reporting, and relationship-building.

Applicable Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

  • PLO 2. Students will be able to integrate leadership theory, styles and practices that promote and achieve an organization vision and mission.
  • PLO 3. Students will be able to create organizational design and change strategies employing the appropriate knowledge, tools, and models to promote organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability in a complex business environment.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsPoints

Week 1

Discussion 1: Introduction & Challenges of Grant Writing (25 pts)
Assignment 1: Grant Readiness Checklist (25 pts)

50

Week 2

Assignment 2: Simulated Case Study & Project Description (50 pts)
Assignment 3: Funder Alignment Justification Paper (50 pts)
Discussion 2: Funder Rationale & Alignment in Case Study (25 pts)

125

Week 3

Assignment 4: Draft Problem Statement, Goals, & Objectives (75 pts)
Discussion 3: Simulated Case Study & Funder Alignment Strategy (25 pts)

100

Week 4

Assignment 5: Midterm Draft Grant Proposal (150 pts)
Assignment 6: Midterm Logic Model (50 pts)

200

Week 5

Assignment 7: Draft Program Budget & Narrative (75 pts)
Discussion 4: Budgeting Challenges and Strategies (25 pts)

100

Week 6

Assignment 8: Evaluation & Sustainability Plan (75 pts)
Discussion 5: Evaluation and Measurement Strategies (25 pts)

100

Week 7

Assignment 9: Grant Management & Reporting Plan (75 pts)
Discussion 6: Ethics & Accountability in Grant Reporting (25 pts)

100

Week 8

Assignment 10: Final Grant Proposal (200 pts)
Discussion 7: Final Reflection on Learning (25 pts)

225

Total Points

1000

Required Textbook

  • This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are no cost for students.

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,6

Topics: Foundations of Grant Writing & Organizational Readiness

  • Read and Review:
    • Introduction to Proposal Writing, video and handout
    • Sample Grant Proposals
    • Grant Readiness Checklist
 
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions: Introduction, Challenges of Grant Writing, & New Insights
  • Grant Readiness Checklist

2

1,2,3

Topics: Defining Your Project & Selecting a Case Study

  • Read and Review:
    • Grants Prospecting Strategy 101
    • Learning from peers to refine your nonprofit funding strategy
    • Adaptive funder strategies for supporting nonprofits in 2025 amid funding uncertainty 
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions: Funder Rationale and Alignment in Case Study
  • Write and submit Simulated Case Study & Project Description
  • Write and submit Funder Alignment Justification Paper
  •  

3

1,3,6

Topics: Writing the Problem Statement, Goals, & Objectives

  • Read and Review:
    • 15 Tips for an Excellent Problem Statement
    • Writing SMART Objectives, video
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions: Reflecting on Your Simulated Case Study & Funder Alignment Strategy
  • Write and submit Draft Problem Statement, Goals & Objectives

4

1,3,5

Topics: Building the Grant Narrative & Logic Model

  • Read and Review:
    • Logic Model Development Guide
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Complete and submit Midterm:
    • Grant Proposal Draft
    • Logic Model

5

4

Topics: Developing the Budget & Budget Justification

  • Read and Review:
    • Introduction to Project Budgets
    • What Do Funders Look for in Grant Proposal Budgets?, video
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions: Budgeting Challenges and Strategies
  • Write and submit Program Budget & Narrative Draft

6

5,6

Topic: Evaluation & Sustainability in Grant Proposals

  • Read and Review:
    • Evaluating the Initiative
    • The 3 types of capital nonprofits need to succeed in 2025
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions: Evaluation and Measurement Strategies
  • Write and submit Evaluation & Sustainability Plan

7

6,7

Topics: Managing Funded Grants & Communicating Outcomes

  • Read and Review:
    • Grant Management: A Guide for Nonprofits
    • Mastering the Grant Life Cycle: From Prospect to Execution, video
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions: Ethics & Accountability in Grant Reporting
  • Write and submit Grant Management & Reporting Plan

8

1-7

Topic: Integration of Major Concepts and Conclusions

  • Read and Review:
    • How do I write a grant proposal?
    • Nonprofit Funding Trends 2025: Adapting to Tariffs, Federal Cuts, and New Giving Opportunities
    • 7 Steps to a Winning Proposal, video
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions: Final Reflection on Grant Writing Learning Journey
  • Write and submit Final Grant Proposal
  • Complete Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.