Center for
Continuing Education
Nonprofit Manager and Professional Grant Writer

Become a Nonprofit Manager and Professional Grant Writer

Embark on a rewarding career path dedicated to making a positive impact with our comprehensive Nonprofit Manager + Professional Grant Writing course. This course bundle equips you with the essential knowledge to translate good intentions into a professional roadmap. 

Explore the core of nonprofits with the Nonprofit Manager course, and review mission definition, governance, and leadership. Learn the intricacies of managing volunteer programs, handling finances, creating budgets, and mastering marketing and fundraising. Uncover the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizational success. 

In the Professional Grant Writing course, gain expertise in proposal formats, case statement structures, and the intricacies of foundations and government grant agencies. Complete your training with a capstone assignment, receiving expert feedback on each element. Prepare for the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) exam, earning 90 GPCI Education points towards your grant writing certification. Choose enrollment with or without an exam voucher, covering the GPC exam fee upon eligibility. 

 

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Job Outlook for Nonprofit Managers and Professional Grant Writers

According to Salary.com, the average nonprofit program manager in the U.S. earns $97,184 annually as of November 2023, but the range usually falls between $85,484 and $111,638. As the nonprofit sector continues to expand, the demand for skilled managers grows, offering diverse roles in leadership, fundraising, and program management. 

Simultaneously, the dynamic field of grant writing sees an increasing need for professionals skilled at securing funding. The base salary for grant writers ranges from $66,817 to $83,703, according to Saalry.com, with an average base salary of $74,414. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Not-for-profit (or nonprofit) 501(c) entities rely on fundraising and development to sustain their mission. Grant writing is one of the key strategies in the nonprofits sector for fundraising.

Nonprofit managers oversee the strategic direction of nonprofit organizations, ensuring efficient operations and effective pursuit of their mission. Responsibilities include managing staff, implementing programs, and overseeing finances to drive organizational success.

Yes. Beyond grant writing, organizations can set up auctions, donation drives, events and more. To do this, a nonprofit must have a clear mission, vision and organizational structure.

Federal, state, foundation and corporate grants are available. The Federal government is the largest source of grant funding.

Key skills for nonprofit managers and professional grant writers include strategic planning, leadership, financial management, and effective communication. Grant writers must excel in researching funding opportunities, writing compelling proposals, and understanding the intricacies of grant processes. 

To become a nonprofit manager, consider gaining relevant education in nonprofit management or a related field. Aspiring professional grant writers should focus on developing strong writing skills, understanding grant processes, and may benefit from specialized courses or certifications. Practical experience through internships or volunteer work enhances your marketability in both roles.

Course Objectives

  • Define personal mission and vision within the nonprofit sector 
  • Identify governance structures and leadership roles, including effective volunteer management 
  • Acquire skills in fundraising, marketing, and communication strategies 
  • Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles within organizational frameworks 
  • Obtain best practices for project design and creation of logic models 
  • Explore the benefits of certification for grant writers and the essential required skills 
  • Stay current with trends in fund distribution across private and public sectors
  • Learn strategies to effectively match grant funders with fundable programs 
  • Assess the influence of organizational cultures, missions, and customs on grant readiness 
  • Develop evaluation plans incorporating community resources and cultural competencies 
  • Gain skills in preparing grant budgets with appropriate cost analysis and matching components 
  • Depict post-award grant management and transition strategies for grant writers 

 

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Prerequisites and Certification Requirements

You should possess basic keyboarding and computer skills, be comfortable navigating the Internet and using e-mail, and have experience using a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word is recommended) and a spreadsheet program (such as Microsoft Excel) for the budgeting portion.  

Completion of this course earns 90 GPCI Education points applicable to acquiring or maintaining the GPC certification. Visit the GPCI website for GPC exam eligibility details. 

CurriculumNonprofit Manager

  1. The Nonprofit Sector
    1. Defining Your Mission/Imagining Your Vision
    2. Governance and Leadership
    3. Volunteer Management
    4. Nonprofit Finance
    5. Fund Development
    6. Other Revenue Sources
    7. Other Revenue Sources
    8. Other Revenue Sources
    9. Human Resources
    10. Human Resources
    11. Change is The Only Constant
    12. Nonprofit Manager Final Exam
  2. Professional Grant Writing
    1. Why Get a Grant Writing Certification
    2. Being Confident in Your Grant Writing Skills
    3. Grant Funding Trends
    4. Grant Funding Resources and Best Matches for Programs and Projects
    5. Establishing Initial and Ongoing Relationships with Funders
    6. Relationship Between Organizational Development and Grant Seeking Readiness
    7. Proposal Writing Preparation
    8. Proposal Writing Research, Implementation Strategies, Writing Characteristics, and Incorporating Graphics
    9. Writing the Boilerplate for the Grant Applicant Organization            
    10. Diving Deep into Organizational Development Strategies and Funding Needs
    11. Midterm Exam and Writing Prompt Response
    12. Stakeholders, Partnerships, and Key Personnel Collaborations and Communications
    13. Effective Program and Project Design and Development Strategies
    14. Community Resources, Evaluation Designs, and Cultural Competencies
    15. Proposal Budgets
    16. Grant Proposal Submission Processes and Follow-up for Unfunded Submissions
    17. Funded Grant Requests
    18. Writing an Effective Case Statement for Fundraising Purposes
    19. Capstone Assignment: Case Statement
    20. Deciding to Move Forward with Certification
    21. Employability Ethics
    22. Bonus Lesson: Interview Pregame
    23. Professional Grant Writing Final Exam

Instructors

Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together, she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards. 

Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).  

Dr. Browning holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) and the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE).

Registration and Enrollment

This course is open enrollment and 100% online. Start any time.

 

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