Write To Win: Alan Sharpe'S Grant Writing Masterclass

The Comprehensive & Practical Guide to Crafting Non-Profit Grant Proposals that Get Funded. Help for Grant Writers.

What you'll learn

Define the problem your project solves—and why it matters.

Describe your organization with clarity and credibility.

Craft a compelling Statement of Need.

Set measurable objectives and prove your capacity to deliver.

Tailor every proposal to the funder’s mission and priorities.

Requirements

No non-profit experience needed.

No fundraising experience needed.

Simply a desire to craft persuasive grant proposals that funders actually read—and reward.

Description

If you are wondering if you should take this masterclass on grant writing, just consider the top-six reasons that funders give for rejecting grant proposals.Misalignment with Funder Priorities. Proposals fail because the project doesn't align closely with the funder’s mission, strategy, or desired impact, even if the proposal is well-written.Lack of Compelling Evidence. Successful proposals must demonstrate need, impact and effectiveness using data, case studies and evaluation plans. Many nonprofits don’t know how to gather this evidence, or they present it poorly.Weak Statement of Need or Solution. A vague or poorly defined problem, or a solution that seems unrealistic, unfocused or unsustainable, quickly disqualifies your proposal.Budget Issues. When your budget doesn’t align with your narrative, when it lacks detail, when it seems padded or unrealistic, you sink an otherwise great proposal.Number five: Poor Writing and Organization. Funders read dozens, even hundreds, of grant proposals. If your proposal is hard to follow, lacks clarity, or is riddled with jargon or typos, funders will set aside and refuse to fund your project.Failure to Follow Instructions: Missing required documents, ignoring word limits, or using the wrong format, results in automatic rejection, regardless of how well your proposal is written.These six reasons are the bad news. But the good news is that you can learn to write grant proposals that get funded.Write to Win is the masterclass for aspiring grant writers. It’s your step-by-step guide to crafting grant proposals that stand out, speak to funders, and secure the support your nonprofit needs to grow.The course is based on my book of the same name. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a fundraiser who wants to sharpen your skills, this course teaches you how to plan, write and tailor every section of a grant proposal with confidence.Based on over 40 years of real-world experience, this masterclass walks you through the entire grant-writing process, from understanding the grantmaking ecosystem to writing the proposal to submitting it successfully.I’m your instructor, Alan Sharpe. I have written dozens of successful grant proposals over the past 40 years. I’ve worked for five non-profits as an in-house fundraiser and I’ve spoken internationally as a fundraising consultant. I’ve written multiple books and handbooks on fundraising, and I’m passionate about helping non-profits tell their stories and secure the funding they need to change the world.Course StructureI’ve structured this masterclass into clear, practical sections that mirror the grant-writing process. Over the space of almost six hours, I cover everything you need to know to write successful grant proposals. I introduce you to key concepts, define terms, describe common mistakes to avoid, and teach you dozens of best practices.Introduction to Grant WritingLearn the fundamentals—how grants work, who gives them, and why writing winning proposals is essential for nonprofit survival and growth.Writing the Organization DescriptionPosition your nonprofit as credible and capable. Craft a clear, funder-focused description that showcases your mission, programs, expertise, and capacity to deliver results.Crafting the Statement of NeedMake your case by clearly defining the problem you aim to solve. Learn how to use data and human stories to demonstrate urgency and align with funder priorities.Writing the Project DescriptionTranslate your ideas into action. Describe your project plan, target outcomes, and expected impact—backed by timelines, strategies, and facts.Establishing Goals & ObjectivesSet SMART goals that reflect both your mission and the funder’s intent. You’ll learn to write measurable, achievable objectives that clarify what success looks like.Writing the Evaluation PlanShow funders how you’ll track progress, measure results, and use data to improve. Learn how to create a logic model and evaluation strategy funders trust.Writing the Sustainability PlanProve your project has staying power. Discover how to assure funders that their investment will deliver long-term impact beyond the grant period.Crafting the BudgetBuild a transparent, funder-friendly budget—complete with direct and indirect costs, a clear narrative, and matching gift/in-kind strategies.Throughout this masterclass, I use dozens of examples from a wide variety of non-profit organizations. Health charities. Arts organizations. Environmental non-profits. International NGOs. Charities that work with seniors, charities that work with at-risk youth, charities that work with women of color experiencing domestic abuse in the southside of Chicago. In other words, this masterclass is based on real-world non-profits writing grant proposals to meet real-world needs. It’s comprehensive, practical, and, above all, helpful.By the end of this masterclass, you’ll be able to write a compelling, funder-aligned proposal that avoids the top-six blunders, increases your odds of success, and helps your non-profit make a greater impact.If you’re ready to stop fumbling and start winning grants, enroll now.

Overview

Section 1: Understanding Grant Writing & Grant Making

Lecture 1 Grants 101 – Key Terms and Concepts

Lecture 2 The Grant Making Ecosystem

Lecture 3 Types of Funders and Grants

Lecture 4 Anatomy of a Grant Proposal

Lecture 5 Planning Your Grant Proposal

Section 2: Writing the Statement of Need

Lecture 6 Why Your Statement of Need is Vital

Lecture 7 Statement of Need Example 1 - Health

Lecture 8 Statement of Need Example 2 - Education

Lecture 9 Statement of Need Example 3 - Health

Lecture 10 Statement of Need Example 4 - Arts

Lecture 11 Statement of Need Best Practices

Section 3: Crafting the Project Description

Lecture 12 Align with Community Needs and Funder Priorities

Lecture 13 Create a Detailed Project Plan

Lecture 14 Focus on Outcomes and Impact

Lecture 15 Use Data and Evidence for Credibility

Lecture 16 Anatomy of a Project Description

Section 4: Setting Project Goals and Objectives

Lecture 17 What Is a Project Goal?

Lecture 18 Craft Clear and Compelling Goal Statements

Lecture 19 Tailor Project Goals to Funder Priorities

Lecture 20 Create SMART Objectives

Section 5: Creating the Evaluation Plan

Lecture 21 What an Evaluation Plan Is

Lecture 22 Outputs vs. Outcomes

Lecture 23 Map Your Program with a Logic Model

Lecture 24 Choose Your KPIs and Data Collection Methods

Lecture 25 Formative vs. Summative Evaluation

Lecture 26 Internal vs. External Evaluators

Lecture 27 Writing Your Evaluation Plan Plan

Lecture 28 Common Pitfalls and Best Practices

Lecture 29 Why You Must Include an Evaluation Plan

Section 6: Creating the Sustainability Plan

Lecture 30 Understanding Sustainability: Part 1

Lecture 31 Understanding Sustainability: Part 2

Lecture 32 Key Components of a Strong Sustainability Plan

Lecture 33 Meeting Government Funders’ Sustainability Expectations

Lecture 34 Meeting Private Foundation Funders’ Sustainability Expectations

Lecture 35 Meeting Corporate Funders’ Sustainability Expectations

Lecture 36 30 Tips for Writing an Effective Sustainability Plan

Section 7: Crafting the Budget

Lecture 37 Why Budgets Matter in Grant Proposals

Lecture 38 Understanding Funder Budget Requirements

Lecture 39 Direct vs. Indirect Costs

Lecture 40 How to Estimate Project Expenses

Lecture 41 Budgeting for Staff, Resources and Overhead

Lecture 42 How to Format and Double-Check Your Budget

Lecture 43 Building Budgets for Capital Campaigns

Lecture 44 Building Budgets for Multi-Year and General Support Grants

Lecture 45 How to Include In-Kind Donations and Matching Contributions

Lecture 46 Tailoring Budgets for Government, Foundation and Corporate Grants

Lecture 47 Writing a Strong Budget Narrative

Lecture 48 Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Section 8: Crafting the Organization Description

Lecture 49 Purpose of the Organization Description Section

Lecture 50 Crafting Your Mission and History

Lecture 51 Describing Programs, Services and Expertise

Lecture 52 Showcasing Achievements and Track Record

If you work at a nonprofit and want to win more grants—with less stress—this course is for you.