Certificate in Grant Writing

Grantwriting photo - Continuing Education at Seattle Central College

Student Reviews

"I walked away with all I expected and more! I'm inspired."
"I learned so much from your grant writing classes - can't wait to make use of my new skill and have a positive impact. I met some lovely classmates (virtually) too!"
"The class was well organized and informative, the tools and resources shared were applicable to real world scenarios, and class discussions were casual and interesting."
"Great! The coursework and videos are high quality. I appreciate how easy it is to use the coursework site."
"I felt that the class really maximized the time we had available and allowed us to write great sample grant proposals that could be used for future job applications."
"Thank you so much for this class!! It helped give me the confidence to go out and get my dream job and I feel so much more prepared for anything grant-related that comes my way!"
"Great class. Very eye opening to fundamentals of grantwriting as well as in-depth evaluating."
"The lessons learned in class go far beyond grantwriting; I will apply them to all aspects of managing my non-profit. Thank you!"
"Having started with almost no knowledge about grants I now feel equipped to go out there and get funding. It worked!"
"I feel much more knowledgeable and prepared. The lessons, resources provided, assignments, and feedback did an excellent job of helping me feel confident and prepared to undertake writing a grant."
"I thought this class was very helpful and I feel confident that I now have a solid foundation to start with."
"I now feel much more confident in my abilities to create a strong grant application...everything that we would need to know when sending out real grant proposals including how to follow up and build rapport with grant makers. I didn't just learn how to write a grant but rather how to be a grant writer."

Class Overview

The Certificate in Grant Writing course is designed to help you build the skills needed to write clear, compelling, and competitive grant proposals. Whether you work for a nonprofit, school, government agency, tribal nation, or community organization, this course guides you step-by-step through a proven framework used by grant professionals in the field.

You will learn how to design a project using a logic model, develop cohesive narrative sections, prepare a complete project budget, and integrate all proposal components into a polished final submission. By the end of the course, you will have written a full grant proposal for an organization of your choice.

Important Course Format Information

Delivered fully online through the Circle learning platform
The first live class meeting takes place during Week 1 and walks students through how to connect and get set up
Live class meetings are held weekly
To earn the certificate, students must attend at least 75% of live sessions

What You Will Learn

How to write a complete grant proposal, section by section
How to use a logic model to design a clear, fundable project
How to align goals, outcomes, objectives, and activities
How to create a project work plan, timeline, and detailed budget
How to communicate with clarity and persuasive focus
How to apply ethical standards and the responsible use of AI in grant writing
Where to find grants and basic prospect research strategies (supporting topic)
How to build and sustain relationships with grant makers (overview)

This course blends on-demand instruction with weekly live class meetings centered on real-world problem solving. You will receive individualized feedback on your writing and strategy throughout the course — a defining strength of this certificate program. To earn the certificate, you will complete a capstone project consisting of a full grant proposal, logic model, project budget, and grants calendar. This course requires a minimum of three hours of work outside class each week to succeed.

Your instructor, Allison Jones, M.Ed., GPC, brings more than 25 years of professional experience and certification through both the Grant Professionals Association and the Grant Professional Certification Institute. She will guide you through the proposal writing process step by step.

Technology Information

Circle platform + weekly live class meetings. Access information will be provided at the first session. If you are new to online learning platforms, please see “FAQ about Online Classes.”

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Design and structure a fundable project using a logic model
Write a complete, competitive grant proposal
Develop a project budget and accompanying narrative
Strengthen clarity, cohesion, and persuasive impact in your writing
Apply ethical standards and use AI responsibly in proposal development
Identify appropriate funding opportunities through basic prospect research
Present a polished grant proposal created with expert guidance

Who Might Enjoy This Class?

Professionals from government, nonprofit, tribes, and educational organizations
Fund development consultants who are interested in honing their skills
Freelance writers interested in expanding their available services
Anyone interested in a career in nonprofits, government, education, tribes, fund development, or grant writing