Grant Writing Workshops

January 25 – March 8, 2010
(By popular demand 6-9 pm Monday Nights)
Ventura County Community Foundation - Center for Nonprofit Leadership

Monday Night Grantwriting—Are You Ready for Some Grant $$$?
The ABCs of LOIs: A step-by-step guide to planning and writing a LETTER OF INQUIRY (LOI), which most funders now require before inviting full grant proposals.

This workshop is for anyone who works with/ for nonprofits applying for any grant-- regardless of your track record, experience, or organizational budget.

From Participant Evaluations:
“I’ve never rated a workshop or seminar this high before!”
“...truly innovative and effective...”
“...the Monty Python of Powerpoints!”
“The humor was important in making what might ordinarily be very dry material interesting and dynamic.”
“…new information not usually found in grant writing classes.”
“…the offer of a ‘Lifetime Pass” is absolutely incredible…”
“Finally, I have some real nuts and bolts that have reshaped my thinking and writing.”

Please visit the VCCF website at: http://www.vccf.org/cnlws.html for more information and reservation on their Workshop Calendar January-April, 2010.

March 5 – April 2, 2010 (Fridays 9 am—Noon)
Ventura County Community Foundation – Center for Nonprofit Leadership

What do you get when you bring together graduates of Jon O’Brien’s “ABCs of LOIs,” workshops (nonprofit professionals), great ideas for programs, real-life funding opportunities, and an open-ended structure with participants determining the direction of the workshop? Unlimited possibilities. Be one of a limited number of participants (previous enrollment in one of Jon’s workshops is required) who roll up your sleeves, unleash your creativity, and build on what you’ve learned about the basics of program design in this full-throttle meeting of the minds designed to take everyone’s thinking, writing and design skills to the next level.

Bring in your real-world project (LOI or short application) and get ready to work with this advanced group to transform your program into a compelling, competitive and fundable grant winner! See why Jon was held over one week at the Nonprofit Support Center in Santa Barbara, why his latest book RIGHT BEFORE YOU WRITE: The Ground Breaking Planning Process Used To Win More Than $385 Million In Competitive Grant Awards won six national book awards and why a recent workshop attendee called Jon “…one of the most creative thinkers I have come across…”

Five consecutive Friday mornings beginning March 5th

Please visit the VCCF website at: http://www.vccf.org/cnlws.html for more information and reservation on their Workshop Calendar January-April, 2010.

April 9 – May 14, 2010 (Fridays 9 am—Noon)
Ventura County Community Foundation – Center for Nonprofit Leadership

Write Here, Right Now: The ABCs of LOIs
A step-by-step guide to planning and writing a LETTER OF INQUIRY (LOI), which most funders now require before inviting full grant proposals.

This workshop is for anyone who works with/ for nonprofits applying for any grant-- regardless of your track record, experience, or organizational budget.

Please visit the VCCF website at: http://www.vccf.org/cnlws.html for more information and reservation on their Workshop Calendar January-April, 2010.

January 15 – February 5, 2010
Fridays, 8:30am-12:30 pm
Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo Counties Nonprofit Support Center

Write Here, Right Now: The ABC’s of LOI’s

Most grant applications are lost before any of the actual writing begins. Too much time is spent on filling out applications and answering questions and not enough on designing a program proposal that is compelling, competitive and fundable.

O’Brien will work with participants to apply new techniques to the writing of a Letter Of Inquiry (LOI) for three reasons:

- Most funders require these two to three page concept letters before inviting full grant proposals
- LOIS are used to request smaller grants ($50,000 and under) from local foundations and funding agencies
- Working within the manageable framework of an LOI allows students to address all elements of program design within a brief time period.

Designed for anyone who works with or for nonprofit organizations — regardless of their track record, experience, or organizational budget -- this four-week session will be the only workshop offered by O’Brien in the Santa Maria area this year.

Week #1 - Jon’s Almost World Famous Seven Cs!
One simple principle • How FUNdamental storytelling principles used by Hollywood’s top screenwriters can help better the design of your program • Retooling your program design and your own gray matter • It’s only a crapshoot if you write crap • The “Bill of Writes” • M.O.S.T applicants • The #1 reason for not winning a grant award • Ye Grant Gods • The witch’s broom.

Week #2 – THE ABCS OF LOIs
What LOIs iz • What LOIs ain’t • The “Lucky 13” • How LOIs are read • The one exception • The real purpose of LOIs • Seriously considered • The one liner • One key stat • Structuring your LOI • Writing, editing, rewriting and polishing some more • “Handshake or hook ‘em” • The focused ask • “Artfully sell the problem” • Writing styles of the rich and successful.

Week #3 – SHOW ME THE GRANT MONEY!
Where NOT to start • Where TO start • Walk a mile in my funding guidelines (a different approach to researching funding sources) • “Never tell me the odds” (competition for grant money) • All-important face time • Researching beyond the web page • Best practice models • It’s not who you know, it’s whom • Brief encounters of the selling kind • The “Hellevator Speech” • “Listening with Hungry Ears” • The funding agency as partner • Critique of participants’ work.

Week #4 - Writer's Workshop

Upon completion of the four week session, Jon will offer participants a “Lifetime Pass,” meaning he will answer questions, coach participants through the process of applying for future grants and read and critique all future work!

April 6, 2010
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Community Foundation of Monterey

Most grant applications are lost before any of the actual writing begins. Too much time is spent on filling out applications rather than designing a program proposal that is compelling, competitive and fundable. Using an innovative humorous approach and incorporating his experience in writing for TV and the big screen, Jon O’Brien shares storytelling principles to help nonprofits better their grant proposal writing.

Please visit their website for more information and registration at: http://www.cfmco.org

April 19-21, 2010
National AfterSchool Association Convention
Washington, DC

How To Win Grants and Influence Students
Participants roll up their sleeves and engage in interactive, fun and inspiring brainstorming activities designed to better their grant research and writing skills. Based on "Jon's Almost World Famous 7 Cs," this easy to follow process combines O'Brien's madcap teaching style with FUNdamental screenwriting principles that can be used by any educator with a good heart and a good cause. The workshop will demystify and simplify the complex and competitive grant seeking process. In this session, educators will realize how their teaching skills such as storytelling, researching and writing can be used to win grant awards that will fund programs for their classroom or entire school.

Each attendee will walk away with a list of grant resources for educators; a copy of the "Bill of Writes;" an outline for their own small grant application or letter of inquiry; and "Jon's lifetime pass"-- a critique of their future submissions.

Please visit the NAA Website at http://www.naaconvention.org/ for more information and registration.

BOOST (Best Out Of School Time) Conference Workshops April 28 – MAY 1, 2010
Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA
(Specific date and time of workshop TBA)

43 Tips, Mistakes to Avoid and Quick and Easy Steps to Produce a Fun and Fundable Grant Program

We’re in tough economic times. But, fact is there’s lots of grant money out there. And applying is simpler than you think. But where do you find these grants? How do you learn about new grant opportunities? How do you apply? How do you translate your great ideas into compelling and competitive applications? This fun, fast-paced workshop—designed for providers with big hearts and little spare time—promises to keep it real and bombard participants with loads of leads, tips, handouts and resources. Participants will leave saying, “I can do this!”

Please visit the BOOST Conference Website at http://www.boostconference.org/ for more information and registration.

Fall 2010 TBD
Santa Barbara Nonprofit Support Center

Write Here, Right Now:The ABCs of LOIs
A step-by-step guide to planning and writing a LETTER OF INQUIRY (LOI), which most funders now require before inviting full grant proposals.

This workshop is for anyone who works with/ for nonprofits applying for any grant--regardless of your track record, experience, or organizational budget.

Please visit the NSC Website at http://www.supportcenter.org/ for more information and registration.