Collaborative Grantseeking Training Workshops
(in-person or virtual)

How do you go from an idea to a successful project within a library where resources are limited and competing priorities make certain projects unattainable? Do you know any library employees who are eager to acquire grant funds to support creative projects that otherwise could not happen without external funds? Are there questions about where and how to get started, and what steps can prevent folks from reinventing the wheel? Do you think there are enough interested employees who want to start a coordinated grantseeking effort?

Accessing more than 30 years of combined grantseeeking and grantmaking experiences, this workshop reveals the hidden barriers to successfully navigating the grant application process. Grant proposals are declined for a variety of reasons, even though these projects have great merit. This unfortunate event can happen often, and it can be devastating to project teams who have invested many hours pursuing an award for worthy causes. It can often be most helpful to learn where we may misjudge, omit, miscalculate, or ignore small details to own detriment. Join us to learn the factors that cause this to happen so you can anticipate these surprising pitfalls.

TRAINING WORKSHOPThe age-old needs assessment is embedded in our work to assist organizations and communities. But this approach can stifle creativity and discourage teams who want more immediate improvements. This workshop illuminates the benefits of working with...

TRAINING WORKSHOPAs  personnel, it's important to know the various ways and places you can search for grant opportunities. Getting to know a sponsor from information that is available online contributes to decisions that your team will make about: how much to ask for,...

TRAINING WORKSHOPThere is no formula for creating competitive grant budgets with timelines that sufficiently describe the planned steps to execute the project, should it be awarded. Each grant opportunity, applicant organization, and potential sponsor situation is...

How can you complete a competitive grant application if you have never read one or understood the ways in which to do this? Interpreting grant guidelines is essential to creating fundable grant proposals. This workshop demonstrates the art and science of how to do this and outlines the steps necessary to create complete and competitive proposals. Examples of customized checklists for specific guidelines, and successful proposals will offer practical models.

Often known as the “holy grail” of grantseeking, this workshop will share concepts related to how to approach the application question: What is the significance of your proposed project? For those in the information field, composing answers to this common question should not be burdensome given the breadth of information access available. Using case studies, participants will learn what works and what doesn’t in the quest to hook the reader into learning more about the project’s goals and strategies.

A collaborative approach to grantseeking can stimulate and reshape the culture of colleges, departments, libraries, and museums. The focus of this approach emphasizes available resources and how assets can be mobilized to meet multiple objectives and move communities toward positive, innovative change. Bess will answer questions from the field and share some insights into how her leadership and facilitation of grantseeking activities with project leaders and teams has resulted in unusually consistent funding results. These insights and examples are featured in her authored and coauthored books, and featured articles available on this site.

This full-day, interactive workshop will establish a collective understanding about how to create and sustain a thriving grantseeking culture your library or organization. The workshop will present concepts related to asset-based community development that form the foundation for collaborative grantseeking activities.