A Case Study on Community-Based Grant Writing Training for Under-Resourced Organizations

The California Office of Emergency Services funded Philanthropy California and Gary Bess Associates to provide free grant writing training to under-resourced nonprofits and community-based organizations across the state in an effort to improve the quality of applications for funding initiatives. The intended audiences were (1) nonprofit organizations located in non-urban areas; (2) nonprofit organizations with a budget size of $1 million or less; and (3) tribal governments and tribal organizations of any location or size. This case study describes the training initiative and reports on the effectiveness of the community-based initiative in reaching its audience and whether the training increased grant writing skills and organizational capacity. Findings indicate that the project successfully reached smaller nonprofits and community-based organizations, although larger organizations also participated and benefitted. Organizations of all sizes reported an increase in knowledge about grant writing from their involvement, which positively impacted their organization’s grant development activities. Some groups reported that after their participation they had success in applying for funding and receiving awards.