Grant Writing for Beginners: From Idea Development to Professional Submission

Course Overview

Grant Writing for Beginners is a comprehensive, step-by-step training designed to take you from having a simple project idea to confidently submitting professional, funder-ready grant proposals. This course is built for beginners and early-stage practitioners who want clarity, structure, and real-world guidance on how grants actually work.

Rather than focusing only on theory, this course walks you through the entire grant writing lifecycle—from understanding funding calls and shaping your idea, to writing persuasive proposals, backing them with data and evidence, and submitting them professionally with confidence.

By the end of the course, you will not only understand how grants work, but you will also have the skills, tools, and mindset needed to compete for funding in the nonprofit, social enterprise, and development space.

Who This Course Is For

This course is ideal for:

• NGO founders, staff, and volunteers

• Social entrepreneurs and startup founders seeking grants

• Community-based organisations and grassroots initiatives

• Early-career development professionals

• Students and graduates interested in fundraising or international development

• Anyone new to grant writing who wants a clear, practical starting point

No prior grant writing experience is required.

What You Will Learn

Throughout this course, you will learn how to:

• Understand Calls for Proposals (CFPs) and funding guidelines

• Identify the right funding opportunities and avoid poor-fit grants

• Clearly define problems, solutions, and impact in funder language

• Structure a grant proposal using standard, funder-recognised sections

• Use data, evidence, and storytelling to make your proposal convincing

• Choose and apply the right types of data (quantitative, qualitative, primary, secondary, and comparative)

• Package proposals in a clean, professional, and funder-friendly format

• Write strong cover emails that introduce your proposal professionally

• Manage the post-submission process, including follow-ups and rejections

• Build long-term relationships with funders

• Explore career pathways in grant writing, fundraising, and development

Course Structure

The course is organised into clear, progressive modules that build on one another. Each module combines video lessons, practical examples, activities, and real-world insights.

A key highlight of the course is Module 5 and Module 6, where learners move beyond writing and into professional practice:

Module 5: Telling Your Story with Data & Evidence

This module focuses on how to strengthen proposals using facts, numbers, and human stories.

Learners discover how to:

• Prove that a problem is real and urgent

• Combine statistics with storytelling to persuade funders

• Avoid common data mistakes that weaken proposals

• Turn vague statements into evidence-backed arguments

By the end of this module, learners are able to write problem statements and justifications that funders can trust and believe in.

Module 6: Submitting Like a Professional

This module prepares learners for the final and often overlooked stage of grant writing—submission and follow-up.

Topics include:

• Where and how to find grant opportunities

• Building and using a grant tracker system

• Packaging proposals professionally

• Writing effective cover emails

• Understanding what happens after submission

• Handling rejection with professionalism

• Maintaining funder relationships

• Exploring grant writing as a career or business

The module concludes by helping learners see grant writing not just as a skill, but as a pathway to income, leadership, and long-term impact.

Practical, Hands-On Learning

This course is designed to be applied immediately. Learners will:

• Rewrite weak proposal statements using real data

• Draft professional cover emails

• Build a simple grant tracking system

• Practice follow-up and rejection response emails

• Reflect on career goals within grant writing and development

These activities ensure that learners are not just watching lessons, but actively building confidence and competence.

What Makes This Course Different

• Beginner-friendly, without oversimplifying the process

• Focused on real funder expectations, not guesswork

• Combines storytelling, data, and professionalism

• Designed for the Global South and international funding context

• Delivered by a practitioner with hands-on experience in grants and funding ecosystems

Outcome & Certification Value

By completing this course, learners will:

• Understand how grant funding works from start to finish

• Be able to write and submit professional-quality grant proposals

• Avoid common beginner mistakes that lead to rejection

• Gain clarity on career and income opportunities in grant writing

• Build confidence to apply for real funding opportunities

This course serves as a strong foundation for anyone serious about entering the world of grant writing, fundraising, or development work.

Instructor

Oluwole Omojofodun
Founder, GrantsDatabase
Grant & Funding Strategist | Trainer | Social Impact Advocate