High School

High school courses in English, journalism, and creative writing will help you develop your written communication skills. Courses in history and the humanities in general also are useful as background reference, and a solid background in mathematics and business will help you feel comfortable dealing with budgets and other financial documents.

Postsecondary Training

A survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals reports that 95.4 percent of respondents held a college degree; of this group, 42 percent held a masters degree or higher. Grant coordinators and writers can have any of several kinds of educational backgrounds. Some study liberal arts, some have business degrees, and some have studied in management training programs. Others have degrees in grant writing.

Regardless of your educational background, you will need the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing. Much paperwork is involved in applying for a grant; the funding agencys instructions must be followed precisely, and the proposal must state the institutions goals and objectives in a clear and persuasive way.

Certification

Colleges and universities offer certificates in grant writing, fund-raising, and related areas. For example, New York University offers a professional certificate program in fund-raising that covers various topics, such as the structure of nonprofits, how to protect and be accountable to donors and the public, understanding federal laws that affect nonprofits, and the communication tools used in the field.

Other Education or Training

Several organizations sponsor intensive workshops and seminars on grant coordination, grant writing, and fund-raising. For example, the Association of Fundraising Professionals offers a Fundamentals of Fundraising Course that covers an overview of fundraising, developing an integrated fundraising program, building & sustaining relationships, securing the gift, and best practices, among other topics. The association also offers a Leadership Academy. The Grantsmanship Center webinars that help grant coordinators and writers with proposal writing and other aspects of their jobs. The center also offers training programs: The Grantsmanship Training Program, Essential Grant Skills, Grant Management Essentials, and Competing for Federal Grants. The American Grant Writers Association and The Giving Institute also provide continuing education opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

The American Grant Writers Association awards the certified grant writer designation to applicants who have demonstrated excellence in grant researching, proposal writing, budgeting, and professional ethics. The credential is designed for grant writers who are employed by nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, schools, and government agencies. Contact the association for more information.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) offers the certified fundraising executive designation to professionals who meet education and experience requirements, pass an examination, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. This voluntary certification must be renewed every three years. The certification program is administered by CFRE International. The AFP also offers the advanced certified fundraising executive credential. Contact the organization for more information.

There is no licensing requirement or specific test that grant coordinators or writers must pass to work in the field.

Students should obtain as much experience as possible in the field by participating in summer internships and part-time jobs—ideally assisting with a grant application project. Additionally, previous experience in entry-level fund-raising positions is required.

Most grant coordinators learn their work on the job. Experience in the workplace helps the coordinator locate the best sources of grants funding and learn the best ways to pursue those sources. For example, if the ideals of a foundation match the intent of the grant coordinators agency, an ongoing relationship may develop between the agency and the foundation. The grant coordinator learns about these connections in the day-to-day work.

Grant coordinators must be detail oriented and have good administrative skills. Good communication skills are essential. They work with a wide range of people and must express themselves easily. Coordinators direct and supervise others, so they must be comfortable in management situations. They should be able to influence and persuade others, including their associates and foundation employees. The more grant coordinators and writers understand about the operations of the foundations that they will be applying to, the more successful they will be in writing the grant proposals and securing the requested funding. Grant coordinators and writers must also work well under pressure. There are deadlines to meet, and the responsibility for meeting those deadlines falls squarely on their shoulders. The financial pressure on an organization that does not receive an expected grant can be enormous, and the grant coordinator may bear the responsibility for the loss.