Miner and Associates, Inc. offers six different workshops than span the range from "Grants 101" to graduate level training.
- Proposal Planning and Writing
- Computerized Grantseeking
- Judging Grant Proposals
- Rising Stars in Academia
- Advanced Grant Writing -- New
- NIH Grantseeking without Grief -- New
Current Workshop Schedule: Dates and Locations Workshop Mechanics
1. Proposal Planning and Writing
Purpose
Proposal Planning and Writing is designed for anyone looking for the fundamentals of successful grantseeking. Since many non-profit and for-profit organizations have a gap between their agency needs and financial resources, this "Grants 101" workshop develops your skills in designing successful grantseeking strategies and helps you gain confidence in your ability to win grants.
Audience
Past participants have included executive directors, agency heads, development directs, health care professionals, grant writers, special projects directors, administrators, researchers, and marketing directors.
Topics
This workshop concentrates on the practical elements of proposal planning and writing. Equally important, it directly addresses some of the major barriers to getting grants -- overcoming inexperience, insufficient time and conflicting priorities. You will be able to successfully transfer the workshop experience into your regular office routine.
Concepts
Outcomes
· Identify funding sources
· Find public and private grant
· Match your needs with sponsor interests
· Submit more winning proposals
· Convince others of your needs
· Put it all together
· Make pre-proposal contacts
· Avoid common mistakes
· Write government & foundation proposals
· Write persuasively
· Construct budgets
· Submit multiple proposals
· Design readable proposals
· Handle site visits
Participants are encouraged to bring new ideas or existing proposal drafts for impromptu critiques. If you anticipate writing future proposals, refining existing ideas, or supervising proposal writers, this workshop is for you.
What Others Say
"A terrorist bomb could have gone off in the back of the room and I wouldn’t have heard it. I was so engaged in the presentation."
"His knowledge and insight was very impressive. He was very thorough on the process. At the beginning got off to a good start with all of the links for funding. Very personable and can be reflective with his comments to pull it into questions from the participants. I also, loved the letter proposal template."
"There was excellent organization. I am a beginner and the tips and techniques presented are done in away so that I will not be overwhelmed. I knew a lot of this from previous nonprofit work, but this workshop pulls it all together."
"This workshop showed experience, good ability to convey the experience. Also, an excellent capacity to answer questions with real world examples, and good time management skills."
"Clean, concise, easy to follow for different levels. He was personable. He had wisdom, not just knowledge, and was extremely helpful. Best workshop on grant writing, never boring and well presented."
"He used lots of great examples to illustrate points. Good use of page numbers on each slide relating to the book. In the presentation he spent time to take questions, even when it felt there was no time to do so. Willing to help and answer questions on individual basis."
"This presentation easily kept my attention. Great, easy to use concepts and format for grant writing. Correlating numbers on the power point and in book was very useful."
"Open to questions personable, friendly, and funny –all or these make for good public speaking. Information was so well presented that time seemed to fly by."
"Brilliant ideas! Explained grant process very well. There were lots of ah ha moments."
"The workshop was very informative. Lots of information covered. There were great examples. Time for individual questions even though big audience. Great ending!"
"Clean, concise, easily palatable. I am new to this and I feel I now have the confidence to go out and achieve some grants to get my projects off the ground."
"Lots of concrete examples I can use within a grant proposals. He had great presentation skills- good timing of content and great sense of humor. This was an informative session which I got some information I can immediately use in the grant I am working on."
"Knew your audience, and kept our attention, interactive. Also, you kept the progression going of sharing a wealth of information about writing successful grants. WOW! This was great. Your expertise is evident. Your wisdom you have gained over the years in interacting with people was wonderful to experience and learn from."
"The tips and tricks that only come from years of experience. The Planning and Writing Guide will be an invaluable tool as I develop my grant writing skills."
Purpose
Computerized Grantseeking is a unique course, the first of its kind in the nation, that blends some advanced-level grant development strategies with the latest in computerized grant information management.
Audience
It is designed especially for people who have either taken our Proposal Planning and Writing course or a similar one. Participants should have a basic knowledge of both grants and computers and a desire to work smarter, not harder, in writing successful grants.
Topics
You will learn how to use your computer to strengthen your proposal planning and writing capabilities. You will gain new skills in using your favorite word processing program to sharpen your proposal writing skills. You will also be shown some "hidden" grant information resources on the Internet. By using popular graphical interface software, browsing the Net is as easy as "point and click."
In Computerized Grantseeking, you will learn how to use the Internet to find funding opportunities, "hot" funding topics, key words, mission statements, RFPs, information about specific grant programs, research public and private funding sources, search award information and abstracts, and much more. You will learn how to download online copies of grant proposal forms, guidelines and policy manuals.
Concepts
Outcomes
● Computerized Grant Hardware
● Reduce time spent preparing grant proposals
● Computerized Grant Software
● Increase the number of proposals you can submit
● Crucial grant Internet sites
● Target your proposals to sponsors who share your values
● Researching funding sources
● Expand your competitiveness in the grants arena
● Grant award information
● Work smarter, not harder
● Sites for sample proposals
● Expand your initial draft in class to a final draft
● Word processing shortcuts
● Indentify new grantseeking trends
You will leave class with an up-to-date list of Web address on a disk that you can use on your home or office computer.
What Others Say
"Your talent in the computer area of being able to convey information to those of use PC challenged people in a clear, concise, easy to understand format without making us feel ignorant was great.
"This was the best grant class I have ever taken. In fact, it was the best course in any non-profit subject I have ever attended."
"The instructors did an excellent job bridging the gap between different computer skill levels."
"I was most impressed with the continuous and new tips provided for searches every time I though the list had been exhausted."
"Thank you for having a computer copy as well as a hard copy of the materials. It was nice to reference the information without leaving the website."
"The class was exceedingly informative in terms of both technical content and how to use the Internet to help simplify the grant writing process."
"I loved all of the information. What a valuable resource! I am extremely thrilled that I signed up for this course."
Purpose
Judging Grant Proposals shows you -- firsthand -- what reviewers really look for. It helps you increase the quality, competitiveness, and persuasiveness of your grant proposals via a simulated proposal review process. You will experience the grants process from the sponsor’s point of view.
Audience
This workshop is for anyone who wants to know what happens to their proposals AFTER they are submitted so they can write more persuasive proposals BEFORE they are submitted.
Topics
You will learn the differences in reviewing proposals in mail or panel reviews. Each type of review has significant implications for proposal writers. Reviewers judge proposals in different manners and you’ll review proposals just like actual reviewers. Prior to the workshop, you’ll receive several proposals, sponsor application guidelines, and reviewer’s evaluation forms. You’ll be asked to read, evaluate and rate each proposal, recommending an action for or against funding.
These same proposals will be reviewed individually, in small groups and in class as a whole. Typically, different reviewer reactions emerge, depending on the conditions under which the proposals are reviewed. After the panel review sessions are complete, the participants then pull together the many implications those reviews had relative to writing their next proposal.
Concepts
Outcomes
· Types of reviews
· What turn reviewers "on"
· Types of reviewers
· What turns reviewers "off"
· Reviewers' evaluation forms
· How much detail to include in proposals
· Public vs. private review differences
· Criticality of pre-proposal contact
· Strategies reviewers use
· Persuasive writing strategies
· Common reviewer concerns
· Persuasive document design strategies
· Avoiding submission snafus
· Improved time management
Participants leave this workshop with a list of specific things they will do differently as they write their next proposal.
What Others Say
"Excellent presentation skills and knowledge of information. Entertaining as well as educational. the Miners really kept my attention. No clockwatching at all."
"The instructors did a great job of balancing the class comprised of people with wildly different skill levels. I will send my entire staff to your next workshop."
"This is the best presentation of educational material I have experienced."
"Awesome! Very practical with excellent, realistic ideas that I will put into practice tomorrow."
"Great time, well worth the money."
"Lots of ideas and tips; best grant writing class I've ever attended."
Purpose
Rising Stars in Academia provides a small group of dedicated faculty scholars with an intensive grant writing experience.
Audience
The Rising Stars Workshop of 10-12 faculty scholars is designed exclusively for up and coming faculty scholars who have fire in their belly, passion for their projects, and a commitment to success. These faculty scholars may have written grants in the past; successful or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the commitment to writing their best grant ever.
Topics
In this workshop, we take their commitment and ideas and lead them through the process of successful grantseeking. We begin by critically examining their proposal ideas. Often, those ideas can be refined to ensure a better match with sponsor needs. Next, we help flesh out the details of the idea from its needs, through methods, evaluation, and dissemination. From this conceptual framework, we provide extensive one-on-one coaching as participants write, revise, and edit persuasive proposal sections. Finally, we offer suggestions on how the proposal might be adapted to other grantmakers.
Concepts
Outcomes
· Refine & broaden your fundable ideas
· Write persuasive proposal narratives
· Match your needs with sponsor interests
· Edit effectively in four steps
· Identify essential proposal components
· Write for different reviewer reading styles
· Construct your need statement
· Garner internal & external support
· Persuasive proposal writing strategies
· Craft a persuasive proposal budget
· Common proposal errors
· Manage compliance forms
· Importance of proposal appearance
· Complete a working draft
The outcome of the all-day workshop: “Rising Stars” leave with a successful proposal ready for submission as well as a clear understanding of the proposal planning and writing process.
What Others Say
"I learned more from this one-day than my entire graduate studies that included grant writing."
"Thanks for an incredibly satisfying learning adventure."
"I would recommend this course to anyone even thinking of doing a grant. Information can be utilized as you walk out the door, certainly the next day at work. Wish I'd had this course 10 years ago."
"This is a very energetic, all encompassing program. It is content aggressive and well organized"
"Excellent presentation! Both presenters were informed and interesting. Learned some extremely helpful techniques and they both made the presentation move smoothly."
Advanced Grant Writing
Purpose
Advanced Grant Writing is designed for individuals with a basic knowledge of grantseeking who now want to acquire the skill set used by professionals. If you’ve written grants before, but want to expand you skills, this workshop is for you.
Audience
Past participants have included executive directors, agency heads, development directs, health care professionals, grant writers, special projects directors, administrators, researchers, and marketing directors.
Topics
This workshop concentrates on the practical elements of an integrated approach to planning and writing. You will learn what you need to know before developing a complete grant application. You will participate in a mock review of an actual proposal, which will help you write more persuasively. You will discover discrepancies between application guidelines and reviewer’s evaluation forms. You will spend time drafting your own proposal and receive individual coaching on it.
Concepts
Outcomes
During the workshop, you’ll learn about…
Afterwards, you’ll know how to…
· The RFP Analysis Process
· Design reviewer-friendly proposals
· The Persuasion Intersection
· Write persuasive proposal narrative
· Brainstorm fundable ideas
· Determine the review conditions for your next
proposal
· Matching your needs to sponsor priorities
· Write for different reviewer reading styles
· The proposal review process
· Creative a persuasive proposal budget
· The importance of the first draft
· Garner support for your proposal internally
and externally
· Documenting the frequency and severity of your
problem/need
· Recast your proposal for different sponsors
· Document design strategies
· Complete a draft that is “good-to-go”
With this workshop, you will be given a copy of Models of Proposal Planning and Writing, the only available “graduate level” book on successful grantseeking. You will leave the workshop armed with an arsenal of advanced persuasion techniques. Although it is not required, considering bringing a few tools that will help you get the most out of the workshop, including, your best proposal ideas, target grant announcements or Requests for Proposals, an electronic or hard copy of existing or draft proposals, a copy of your mission statement, business cards for networking, a highlighter, and a flash drive, if available. If you need to write winning proposals, this workshop will help you – in the words of Emeril Lagasse – “kick it up a notch.”
What Others Say
"Although this course was advertised as a proposal writing workshop, the training on research skills and techniques is worth five times what you charge."
"The training was great. It have me a hands-on ability to be creative and let all thoughts come out without having to feel dumb."
"This course is an eye-opener for unlimited opportunities for grant writing. It provides insight and clarity."
"Thanks for the personal attention and the patience."
"I am so glad you went through the nuts and bolts of things."
"Thanks for all the examples of writing and the writing session."
NIH Grantseeking without Grief
Purpose
NIH Grantseeking without Grief is an all-day hands-on grant workshop exclusively designed for individuals wishing to increase their competitiveness at NIH. It assumes you have a basic knowledge of grantseeking and now want to acquire the skill set used by professionals. If you’ve written grants before, but want to expand you proficiency this workshop is for you.
Audience
This workshop exclusively targets basic and applied researchers and clinicians who want to gain a competitive edge with research (R series), training (T & F series), career (K series), and program project/center (P series) grants.
Topics
This workshop concentrates on the practical elements of an integrated approach to planning and writing NIH grants. You will learn what you need to know before developing a complete grant application. You will drill down on the major components of most NIH proposals: Abstract, Specific Aims (including refining scientific questions), Background and Significance, Research Design and Methods, You will learn about common proposal pitfalls. You will participate in a mock review of an actual NIH proposal, which will help you write more persuasively. The topics are equally applicable to clinicians and basic scientists.
Concepts
Outcomes
During the workshop, you’ll learn about…
Afterwards, you’ll know how to…
·The RFP Analysis Process
· Design reviewer-friendly proposals
· The Persuasion Intersection
· Write persuasive proposal narratives
· Brainstorm fundable ideas
· Determine the review conditions for your next proposal
· Matching your needs to NIH priorities
· Write for different reviewer reading styles
· The NIH proposal review process
· Creative a persuasive proposal budget
· The importance of the first draft
· Garner support for your proposal internally and externally
· Documenting the frequency and severity of your problem/need
· Recast your proposal for different study sections
· Document design strategies
· Resubmit proposals initially declined
You will leave the workshop armed with an arsenal of advanced persuasion techniques, sample NIH proposals, and guidelines to help traverse the NIH grants gauntlet. The Workshop Presenters are experienced NIH proposal writers, reviewers, and trainers of NIH personnel. Although it is not required, considering bringing a few tools that will help you get the most out of the workshop, including, your best proposal ideas, target grant announcements or Requests for Proposals, an electronic or hard copy of existing or draft proposals, business cards for networking, a highlighter, and a flash drive, if available. If you need to write winning proposals, this workshop will help you – in the words of Emeril Lagasse – “kick it up a notch.”
What Others Say
"This workshop provided a great overview of NIH as well as specific tips in proposal drafting. Very informative."
"Course was comprehensive, lots of valuable tips, built my capacity to understand and work with NIH proposals."
"The material covered got me excited to get started."
"Extremely pertinent to my needs."
"I liked looking at real examples of grants."
"Mock study section is great."
"Very hands on, concrete ideas. A day well spent."
"Very useful, especially the last hour on collaborations."
"Your ability to accommodate so many specific participant questions is amazing."
When Miner and Associates was founded in 1992, we established one principle for which we have held steadfast, namely, we only go where we are invited. We are not grant "circuit-riders." We are grateful for the 100s of invitations we have received throughout the United States and even internationally. Some of our workshops are open to the public; others restrict attendance to members of the sponsoring organization. A few organizations even request that we NOT announce publicly an upcoming workshop for them. Here, then, is our current public schedule.
Date Location
Workshop --------------------------------------------------Upcoming Workshop------------------------------------------------ August 21, 2009 Milwaukee, WI
Medical College of Wisconsin
Enrollment Closed
Proposal Planning and Writing Sep 17, 2009 Chicago, IL
College of Lake County
Contact: Susan at 847-543-2994
Proposal Planning and Writing Sep 18, 2009 Chicago, IL
College of Lake County
Contact: Susan at 847-543-2994
Computerized Grantseeking Sep 25, 2009 New Orleans, LA
Tulane University
Enrollment Closed
Proposal Planning and Writing (AM)
Non-NIH Grantseeking (PM)
Sep 26, 2009 New Orleans, LA
Tulane University
Enrollment Closed
NIH Grantseeking (AM)
Individual Consultations (PM)
Sep 29, 2009 Milwaukee, WI
Donors Forum of Wisconsin
Contact: Suzanne at 414-270.1978
Seeking Stimulus Funding: Ask the Expert Nov 19, 2009 Kansas City, KS
Midwest Philanthropy Conference
Enrollment Closed
Grantseeking without Grief Dec 3, 2009 Waukesha, WI
Waukesha County Technical College
Contact Jessica at 262-695-6576
Proposal Planning and Writing Dec 4, 2009 Waukesha, WI
Waukesha County Technical College
Contact Jessica at 262-695-6576
Computerized Grantseeking Jan 15, 2010 Milwaukee, WI
Donors Forum of Wisconsin
Contact: Suzanne at 414-270.1978
Collaborative Grantseeking without Grief Mar 18, 2010 Chicago, IL
College of Lake County
Contact: Susan at 847-543-2994
Proposal Planning and Writing Mar 19, 2010 Chicago, IL
College of Lake County
Contact: Susan at 847-543-2994
Computerized Grantseeking Mar 25, 2010 Yaoundé, Cameroon (West Africa)
ICT for Africa
Enrollment Closed
International Grantseeking
Most workshops typically last a full day, 9:00am to 4:00pm. We bring a laptop that plugs into your PowerPoint Projector. You have options on workshop handouts: (1) We can provide you with a copy of our PowerPoint presentation one week in advance of the workshop, allowing you sufficient time to prepare copies for participants. (2) For the Proposal Planning and Writing Workshop, some agencies prefer to purchase our book and use it as a handout. (3) Some organizations distribute PowerPoint copies to our workshop participants but invite those interested to purchase either or both of our books. Participants should have comfortable chairs and a table to take notes. Morning and afternoon breaks are scheduled as well as a one-hour lunch, noon to 1:00pm. It is helpful, but not obligatory, that we receive a list of the participant names, organizational affiliations, and, when appropriate, departmental affiliations as well. This information helps us tailor our workshop presentations to audience special interests. Speaking of "tailoring" workshops, we have a broad experience base and can customize grant workshops for particular interests. In the past, we have custom-made workshops for university faculty, child care specialists, first responders, stem cell researchers, and government finance officers, among others. Additionally, we have tailored workshops to specific funding agencies, when desired, e.g., NSF, NIH, NEH, or Non-Governmental only. Finally, we welcome participant evaluations of our workshops: use your own evaluation form or we can supply one if you will click here.