I started out just looking for a basic grant writing 101 guide and was surprised to find so many resources available for free, even classes and full text books.

Even if you eventually hire a consultant or purchase training material, these resources will provide a good introduction to the basic terminology and concepts of grant funding. I’m sure there’s plenty of tips for experienced grant seekers too!

(Links will open in a new window)

1. Proposal Outline This outline describes the seven basic components for a grant proposal. From the Resource Development Initiative, a collaboration of the United Way of Palm Beach County and Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.

2. Grantseeking Basics The four steps in the grant writing process. Provided by the Minnesota Council on Foundations, based on their popular and time-tested grantseeking courses and materials.

3. The Only Grant-Writing Book You’ll Ever Need by Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox. Published by Carroll & Graf Publishers in 2003, you can read the book in its entirety through Google Books preview.

4. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grant Writing by Waddy Thompson. The printed version of this book (available for purchase online and off) includes a CD. You can preview and read the entire text through Google Books.

5. Don Griesmann’s Grant Opportunities a frequently updated list of grants, delivered by email or online and hosted by CharityChannel.

6. Proposal Writing Basics A free 60 minute class that provides an introduction to the grant process for new proposal writers. Available in Atlanta, Cleveland New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

7. Proposal Budgeting Basics This free class covers an essential component of any grant proposal, the budget. Available in Atlanta, Cleveland New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

8. Foundations and Their Role in Philanthropy A free online course offered by The Foundation Center. This course is intended for anyone who wants to know more about foundations, their giving, and their role in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.

9. Getting Ready for Foundation Fundraising A free online course offered by The Foundation Center. Covers the organizational elements for non profits who intend to apply from grants from foundations.

10. Introduction to Fundraising Planning Another free online course offered by The Foundation Center. Provides an overview of the process of strategically thinking through the components of a fundraising plan, which would include grants and other sources.

11. Black Sheep Fundraising: Rethinking Major Gifts for Your Stigmatized Nonprofit by Jay Mendell. The author offers a free download of this book on his website. Jay S. Mendell is professor of nonprofit management at Florida Atlantic University, where he teaches graduate courses in grantwriting and major gifts fundraising.

12. Anatomy of a Grant Proposal by Richard Lambert of The Idea Bank. This 15 page report based upon the author’s workshops, provides descriptions and tips for each of the key components of a grant proposal.

13. Advocacy Funding This 36 page guide discusses the strategies for funding advocacy, something that foundations may be cautious about, but that is crucial to the mission of many non profit organizations. This is one of several free reports provided by GrantCraft, a project of the Ford Foundation. The reports are designed for foundations not grantees, but may offer insight into the perspective of funders.

14. Non-profit Guides are free Web-based grant-writing tools for non-profit organizations, charitable, educational, public organizations, and other community-minded groups.

15. A to Z Grantwriting In this free monthly newsletter professional grantwriter and grantwriting instructor Linda Vallejo includes many new grant opportunities, listed by category.

16. Sample Proposals View sample foundation and federal grant proposals from consulting firm, Colorado Grants.

17. Free Guide to Plain English If your proposal is too wordy or jargon filled it might not get read. Make sure your grant proposal is written in plain English with this free chapter of the book Editing and Proofreading by Tim North of Scribe Consulting.

18. The Secrets of Their Success This free 9 page report from the Grantmanship Center includes 7 pointers from experienced grantseekers. Learn from those who have “been there done that!”

19. US Census Data includes information needed for grant proposals and community needs assessment. The Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Tool Kit has organized data that may be useful to non profits. There are other resources that can be accessed from the US Census Bureau home page.

20. Grant Proposal Checklist Print out this three page checklist to be sure that your proposal has all the needed information. Provided as a free resource from Grant Writers Online.

This post is part of the Grant Writing article series:

1. 8 Keys to Grant Strategy Success by Robert P. Stewart
2. 20 Free Grant Writing Resources for Non-Profits by Sandra Sims
3. Building Relationships with Foundations by Sandy Rees
4. Secrets From A Grant Reviewer by Katie Krueger

You can find additional links for grant databases and other resources on the grants page in the directory.