Course Overview: English 478 Grant Writing
Over the course of the semester you will be introduced to the broad principles of the grant-writing profession in theory and practice; by the end of the semester, you will have completed a project proposal requesting funding for a cause that you care about.
At its essence, grant writing is the art of pragmatically matching visions, missions, objectives, and goals so that a project idea will receive the funding it requires to help a community in need. All the moving parts from over in the Grant Maker (GM) world have to be in synch with all the moving parts of your non-profit agency (NPA) and your proposed project from within that agency. Without a mission-match, there will be no grant awarded by your GM. That is why we will spend considerable time early on in the course exercising the subtle skill of close reading of culture. Mid-way, you will practice the more pragmatic art of building each element of a proposal. By the end of the semester, you will have written a completed grant application with narrative explanation of need, logical justification for solution, evaluation strategy for measuring outcomes, and a feasible budget.
Learning Objectives
- Comprehensive understanding of the grant-writing field in the non-profit world
- Strategic use of research skills to match need to proposed program and program to funding foundation
- Beginning mastery of all elements of the basic proposal, including: mission match, objectives that fill a proven need, evaluation strategies that reliably measure outcome, a feasible budget, and proof of capacity and sustainability
- Practice of skills most needed in the current economic and political climate, including innovation within an established organization, and collaboration with outside agencies
- Mastery of applied rhetorical style emphasizing clarity and precision
Major Papers
You have 4 building-block papers that will lead to a full-length grant proposal in your 5th assignment; then there is 1 short follow-up assignment for a total of 6 graded projects, each with hard deadlines spread throughout the semester. Your papers will be as follows:
- Papers 1-3: Building block outlines of researched, developed materials needed for grant proposals.
- Paper 4: A Letter of Intent that provides a concise, preliminary version of the grant application’s argument for funding.
- Paper 5: The full-length grant application proposal, with attachments.
- Paper 6: A brief memo about next steps and a cover letter for future employment.
Course Developer and Instructor: Judith McKelvey, Associate Teaching Professor for The Department of English jlm24@psu.edu or joodite@gmail.com
Courses Offered for Fall 2018 Semester: World Campus English 478.1 (online semester from Aug 20 to Dec 7); Resident English 478.001 meets MWF 12:20-1:10 p.m. in 015 Sparks. REGISTER TODAY IN LIONPATH: https://www.lionpath.psu.edu/