Grant Writing for Nonprofits
Go from blank page to funded application. Learn to decode RFPs, frame compelling needs, build realistic budgets, and write outcomes narratives that actually win grants — with AI as your co-writer.
Who This Course Is For
Nonprofit Staff & Directors
You know your mission inside out but dread staring at a blank grant application. This course gives you a repeatable system.
First-Time Grant Writers
Never written a grant before? Start here. Every step is broken down so you can follow along with a real or practice RFP.
Experienced Writers Who Want Speed
You know the craft but want to cut drafting time in half. Learn to use AI for research, budgets, and narrative review.
What You'll Build
By the end of this course, you will have a complete, review-ready grant application — or the reusable templates to produce one quickly for any future RFP.
- A decoded RFP — Understand what the funder actually wants, including the unwritten criteria
- A compelling needs statement — Backed by real data and beneficiary stories
- A program design with logic model — Clear theory of change connecting activities to outcomes
- A realistic, defensible budget — With narrative justifications that pass scrutiny
- An outcomes narrative — Numbers turned into proof of impact
- A polished final draft — Assembled, AI-reviewed, and revised
Course Structure
Understand the Landscape (Lesson 1.1)
Orient yourself: who this course is for, what makes grant writing hard, and how to frame your organization's context before you write a word.
Decode the RFP (Lesson 1.2)
Learn to read between the lines of any Request for Proposals — the stated criteria, the hidden priorities, and the evaluation rubric funders actually use.
Frame the Need (Lesson 1.3)
Write a needs statement that makes reviewers feel the urgency. Combine quantitative data with real beneficiary stories.
Design the Program & Budget (Lesson 1.4)
Build a logic model, create a line-item budget that adds up, and avoid the red flags that get applications tossed.
Prove Your Impact (Lesson 1.5)
Turn scattered program numbers into a coherent outcomes narrative that shows your organization delivers results.
Assemble & Review (Lesson 1.6)
Put all the pieces together, run an AI-powered review against the RFP criteria, and revise until the application is airtight.
Take It Forward (Lesson 1.7)
Walk away with reusable templates, a grant-writing toolkit, and a plan for your next application.
How It Works
This is a learn-by-doing course. You download the course folder, open it in Claude, and say start lesson 1.1. Claude teaches you interactively — you read a brief explanation, immediately practice the skill, and get feedback before moving on.
No videos. No quizzes. Just real grant-writing practice with an AI co-writer guiding you through every step.
Time commitment: About 2-3 hours total. Each lesson is 15-25 minutes. You can stop and resume anytime.
Prerequisites
You'll need a Claude Pro or Max subscription to use Claude with the desktop app's Cowork features.
- Claude Desktop App (opens in a new tab) installed
- Claude Pro ($20/mo) or Max subscription
- The course materials (free download)
- Optional: a real RFP you're working on (or use the practice one included)