Certificate Programs for Grant and Fundraising Professionals

Are you looking to break into the grant or fundraising profession? Do you have some experience in these areas but need to build credentials? Whether you are looking to learn the basics, or solidify existing skills, certifications and certificate programs are a good way to bolster your knowledge and resume at the same time. They require far less investment of time and money than a degree program, yet enable you to walk away with concrete, marketable job skills. After all, the one thing nonprofits will always need is help in securing funding.

If you are looking into certificate programs for grant proposal writing and fundraising, here are some ideas to get you started. We have divided these into two categories: exam-based professional certifications and learning opportunities that offer certificates.

Exam-Based Professional Certifications

Grant Professionals Certification Institute

The Grant Professionals Certification Institute® (GPCI) administers the nationally recognized Grant Professional Certified® (GPC) credential to grant professionals who meet eligibility requirements and successfully demonstrate proficiency in the required competencies. The GPC is the first professional credential for individuals working in the grants field to be recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). 

In order to sit the exam, candidates must meet eligibility requirements through a points system based on their education, experience, professional development, and community involvement. The exam itself includes a writing component and a multiple choice section aimed at assessing the candidate’s skills and competencies in the grants profession. Skills tested include, but are not limited to, developing a grant application, program and project design, grant research, organizational development, and ethical practice.

Those interested in the exam should first take the online eligibility survey. Additional information on the exam registration process is available on the GPCI website.

Certified Fund Raising Executive

The Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification is aimed at “experienced fundraising professionals aspiring to the highest standards of ethics, competence, and service to the philanthropic sector.” The CFRE certification process, which consists of a written application and a written examination, is designed to assess knowledge and skills in best practices in ethical philanthropic fundraising. Getting certified is one way that fundraising professionals may be able to improve their career opportunities and earning potential, while staying on top of the latest trends in the fundraising field.
Potential candidates must first complete the online application to establish whether they are eligible to sit the exam. Eligibility is determined by a points system based on the candidate’s recent participation in educational programs, professional practice, and professional performance. Successful applicants will then be emailed an Authorization to Test notice.

The CFRE Examination covers the following domains: 1) Current and Prospective Donor Research; 2) Securing the Gift; 3) Relationship Building; 4) Volunteer Involvement; 5) Leadership and Management; and 6) Ethics, Accountability, and Professionalism. Applicants can download the Candidate Handbook to learn more about the eligibility requirements, exam content and registration, and resources to aid in exam preparation.

Benefits of Professional Certifications

• Increased Job Opportunities: Certification shows that you have the ability to create effective grant proposals, which can lead to work possibilities in the charity, education, government, and healthcare sectors.
• Higher Salary Potential: Certified grantwriters typically earn higher wages than their uncertified counterparts.
• Professional Credibility: Obtaining a recognized grantwriting certification strengthens your resume and makes you more appealing to potential employers or clients.

Online Learning Opportunities Offering Certificates and CEUs

The Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Center has a long and storied reputation for training individuals in the art and science of grant proposal writing. They offer several training programs throughout the year, each of which includes a certificate of completion for successful participants.

The Grantsmanship Training Program covers the fundamentals of getting funded, including program planning, utilizing research tools, drafting compelling proposals, and establishing partnerships. The Program combines training, exercises, reading, and group work over the course of five days. Those with less time to spare may choose to take Essential Grant Skills, which teaches the basics of crafting a successful grant proposal in just two days.

GrantStation

GrantStation is widely known for helping grantseekers secure funding by maintaining extensive databases of funders and hosting live webinars on a range of grant-related topics. GrantStation’s newest offering is a self-paced video course titled “Turbocharge Your Grantwriting Skills.” Participants walk away with a solid understanding of how to draft a grant proposal from beginning to end.

Turbocharge Your Grantwriting Skills includes seven complete units with five hours of short, detailed video lessons breaking down every section in a typical grant proposal. Users receive downloads, examples, and other resources to streamline the proposal writing process based on best practices.

Spark the Fire Grantwriting Classes

Spark the Fire Grantwriting Classes teaches online proposal writing courses using a brain-based learning approach that combines group video classes with on-demand learning material. Their flagship course is the online Certificate in Grantwriting, which teaches participants how to write each section of a grant proposal along with other valuable skills. Examples of topics covered include determining organizational readiness, budget development, prospect research, and building relationships with grantmakers. The course includes individualized assistance in developing a grant proposal for a specific nonprofit organization.

Those selecting the Executive Certificate in Grantwriting option will also benefit from two coaching sessions. For entrepreneurial individuals, the Certificate in Grantwriting can be bundled with The Business of Freelance Grantwriting course.

University of Georgia Grant Writing Certificate Program

The University of Georgia’s Grant Writing Certificate Program is an online, cohort-based program with asynchronous activities and live online sessions to enable both novice and experienced grant professionals to improve their grantwriting skills and take their career to the next level. Topic areas covered by the course include, but are not limited to, letters of intent, analyzing requests for proposals, program development, the essential components of grant proposals, and how to approach each section.

American Grant Writers Association (AGWA) Grant Writing Certification

The American Grant Writers Association (AGWA) offers a learning opportunity for grant professionals of all experience levels who want to write proposals for nonprofits, education or healthcare institutions, or tribes.

The AGWA course goes over the grantwriting process in detail, from identifying possible sponsors to preparing and submitting winning grant proposals. It includes instruction on writing grant proposals to foundations and corporations and delves into the complexities of applying for government awards.

Grant Professional Salary Expectations

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay of technical writing experts is about $80,050 a year, including grantwriters. The amount of money that they can make is between $70,000 and $100,000 per year depending upon the organization, location, and the grantwriter's experience and certification.

Freelance grantwriter pay depends on the writer’s competencies, how much experience they have, and how intricate the grant proposal is. This can go from $50 an hour up to $150 an hour, with years of experience being a prerequisite. A certification proves you know what you’re doing and you’ll be able to make more money by providing evidence you have the skills and knowledge to secure grant funding.