Grant Coordinators and Writers

Volunteering for nonprofit organizations is a good way to find out about a grant coordinator's work firsthand. Contact local religious institutions, charities, health organizations, or social service agencies. In nonprofit organizations that have grant coordinators, the ideal internship or volunteer experience involves assisting with a grant application project. Sometimes schools have their own grant application projects several times a year. You can get an understanding of all of the work involved by seeing the application or proposal process through from start to finish.

The Grantsmanship Center offers The Grantsmanship Center News, and the guide, Grantsmanship: Program Planning and Proposal Writing, which provide useful information for grant writers and coordinators. The Grantsmanship Center also maintains an archive of articles.

Many fund-raising organizations also have helpful publications for the potential grant coordinator. An annual almanac, Giving USA, is published by The Giving Institute http://givingusa.org).

Read books about grant writing such as Grant Writing For Dummies, by Beverly A. Browning; Winning Grants Step by Step: The Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing, and Writing Successful Proposals, by Tori O'Neal-McElrath, Lynn Kanter, and Lynn English; and Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, edited by Genevieve G. Shaker, et al.

Some colleges and universities offer courses in fund-raising. These may even include business lectures or seminars on the grant application process. Many colleges also offer courses in arts management or in nonprofit work that would help potential grant coordinators and writers understand the type of work required in this occupation.