Getting the hang of the ins and outs of grant management is absolutely crucial in the nonprofit industry.
Fortunately, we are here to share the best nonprofit grant management training availabe so that you can become an expert in no time. Get ready to dive into:
Why it’s so important to learn grant management if you want to succeed in the nonprofit sector
And how the right trainings can help you snag more funding for your organization
Stick around for some useful insights and tools that will help you manage your grants effectively and make a real difference in furthering your mission.
Let’s go!
What Is Nonprofit Grant Management?
Let’s start with the very basics: what is nonprofit grant management?
Grant management is the process of overseeing and administering grant funds, including the:
Application
Compliance
Reporting
And successful implementation of grant-funded projects.
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Ultimately, grant management is a process that helps nonprofit organizations administer their grant proposals, from the very earliest stages of research and writing all the way through post-award project execution and reporting.
This process can be daunting, even for the most experienced grant professionals. That’s why it’s so important to have the right grant management tools in place to keep your grants organized, on track, and in compliance with the funder’s requirements.
Without a grant management process, you risk missing important deadlines, souring relationships with funders, and damaging your nonprofit’s reputation.
Sounds awful, right? We know! That’s why we’re here to share with you all the best nonprofit grant management training.
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By this point, you might be wondering—is learning grant management hard?
We won’t lie–it can be! But remember: as with any skill, it gets easier the more you do it. Keep reading for an in-depth look into the complexities of grant management.
Grant Management Is Complex
‍Nonprofit grant management can be pretty tricky. That’s why investing in the right training is important.
Why is it so complicated, you ask? Let’s take a closer look:
Strict compliance requirements: Many funders have strict requirements that grantees must adhere to in order to remain in good standing. Tracking these requirements across all of your different funders to ensure you aren’t missing any key guidelines can be a huge undertaking.
‍Project implementation hiccups: Part of grant management is ensuring the successful implementation of the project or program that the grant is funding. Delays to the project timeline, unexpected financial needs, and staffing challenges are all project implementation-related obstacles you might need to navigate during the grant management process.
‍Monitoring and Reporting Impact: Along with the many compliance guidelines that you need to follow, most funders also require reports demonstrating the impact of the program or project that they’ve funded. Monitoring each grant’s stated goals, creating reports on their impact, and tracking their deadlines can be a heavy lift.
Pro Tip: Instrumentl’s grants calendar can help you keep track of all of your grant-related deadlines in one place. Check it out below!
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Grant Management Has a Learning Curve
It’s true—grant management comes with a learning curve, especially for new grant writers who are just stepping into the field.
For those new to the game—and even those with more experience—this curve might require spending some time familiarizing yourself with key concepts, such as:
Understanding the intricacies of compliance
Navigating various reporting requirements
Strategic planning for effective project implementation
The good news is that with the right resources and tools at your disposal, the grant management learning curve can be successfully conquered. It’s a journey, but one that ultimately leads to expertise and confidence in managing grants successfully.
Is Grant Management Similar to Project Management?
Grant management and project management, while distinctly different, share a common foundation that seasoned nonprofit grant writers can appreciate. ‍
Both grant management and project management entail meticulous planning, budgeting, and timelines.
It’s possible, and even likely, that you will find that your expertise in project management naturally complements your skills in grant management, as both disciplines require strategic planning and a commitment to achieving defined objectives.
It’s important to remember, however, that despite these similarities, expertise in project management does not replace having a solid grant management skill set.
Check out the table below for a breakdown of the key differences between project management and grant management:
Aspect
Project Management
Grant Management
Purpose
Achieve specific project goals.
Distribute funds for specific activities or programs.
Timeframe
Defined start and end date with a project lifecycle.
Ongoing with multi-year durations for grants.
Funding Source
Project budgets funded by project owner or sponsor.
Grants funded by foundations or government agencies.
Stakeholders
Project team members, clients, and relevant parties.
Grantors (funding agencies or organizations) and grant recipients.
Monitoring and Control
Emphasizes progress monitoring, risk management, and adjustments to stay on track.
Focuses on compliance monitoring, financial tracking, and reporting to grantors.
From books to webinars to blogs, there are countless grant management resources you can learn from. In the following section, we have curated a list of the best nonprofit grant management training available for you to check out.
Networking forums where you can connect with other grant professionals
These trainings and learning courses are offered both virtually and in-person across the country, providing you with countless options that you can take advantage of.
NGMA even offers two annual training conferences each spring where you can spend several days learning in person with other grant professionals! One of these conferences focuses on the Grants Management Body of Knowledge (GMBoK), which is designed to provide grants professionals with a comprehensive resource to navigate grants management.
Udemy
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Udemy offers a Grants Management 101 course that you can access online. There is a cost associated with this course ($54.99) and when you purchase the course, you get access to:
1.5 hours of on-demand training videos
40 downloadable resources
Full lifetime access to the content
A certificate of completion
The content of this course is broken down into short, digestible segments that are all less than 30 minutes long. The screenshot above shows you how the content is organized and segmented.
Instrumentl
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Instrumentl is a one-stop-shop grants research, management, and tracking platform that also offers a robust catalog of training resources to help you get up-to-speed on all things grant management.
Let’s dive into some of the resources that Instrumentl offers.
Free Webinars: Instrumentl offers a ton of free courses on various topics, including:
All of these webinars are free and cover topics that are integral to understanding the entire grant management process.
E-Books & Guides: There are countless e-books and guides that you can access through Instrumentl that will help you learn how to strategically prospect, track, and manage your grants from start to finish. Topics include:
On-Demand Courses: If you prefer to learn by watching, this is for you! Instrumentl also offers a library of on-demand courses led by industry experts that you can take advantage of—many of which touch on the topic of grant management.
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Blog Articles: Instrumentl’s blog might just end up being your very favorite resource!
There are countless articles and guides you can read through on a number of topics…including grant management! You can filter your search results by topic or peruse the entire library. Whatever your approach, you’re sure to learn a lot!
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It’s pretty clear: although there are countless places where you can learn about grant management, Instrumentl definitely stands out. With a comprehensive library of free learning opportunities, there’s no better place for you to pursue nonprofit grant management training.
Wrapping Up: The Next Steps
Understanding the nuances of nonprofit grant management is not just beneficial but essential for the success and sustainability of any nonprofit organization.
This article has hopefully shed some light on the significance of grant management, emphasizing its pivotal role in securing funding, ensuring compliance, and driving impact.
While grant management poses a learning curve, the wealth of available resources, including Instrumentl, certainly paves the way for success.
After reading this article, you should be well-equipped to embark on your own grant management journey. Best of luck!
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