Greetings!
Tricia and I conducted our first Two Day Grant Writing Retreat in Lancaster, CA. I was blown away by the work effort of everyone involved and the seriousness with which they pursued funding for their "dream" projects.
 | | Dr. Drew pictured with participants in recent Two Day Grant Writing Workshop. |
One of messages I got from the workshop was a powerful reminder of how I once had nothing at all going for me except for my ability to write (without rewriting) one day and then edit my copy the next. On that simple foundation, I've helped charities win millions in grant funding and made my own contributions to the political science and historical literature. Below, I'll share some more of the simple ideas and practices which have made the greatest difference for me as a grant writer and as a grant writing consultant. For my YouTube video documenting the Two Day Grant Writing Retreat, click here.
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Using the Rhythms of the Grant Writing Process to Your Advantage
One of the magical things about grant writing is that I learn about the grant, the agency and the issue in question only as I write the grant.
 | | Participants at Two Day Grant Writing Retreat work on drafting the introduction to their grants. |
In my experience, when I put my ideas on paper those ideas then to deas improve and become more persuasive. For example, I've often found that in the process of writing something down, I start noticing - more carefully - that the actual evidence in front of me may not match the thesis that originally inspired me to write down an earlier assertion.
If I had not been writing out my ideas, I would have lost the opportunity to subject my own thoughts to thorough, painstaking review.
I noticed a similar process happening during our recent Two Day Retreat on Grant Writing in Lancaster, CA. Often, I saw how the projects that the participants were discussing changed - for the better - over the process of writing their ideas down. In some cases, the participants switched their projects entirely after they got a more realistic idea by putting their basic thoughts on paper.
The same changes happen to me as I write too - even though I do not talk about it very much with my clients.
In my writing, for example, I like to take the ideas I have written about at the very end of my grant proposal - after my idea has improved - and then seed that new information (or inspiration) back into the body of the document - particularly at the very beginning of the document.
As a young student, I wasted a lot of time by trying to create a perfect beginning for my paper before I even understood where I was heading intellectually. As one of my favorite professors once said: "I don't even know what I'm thinking until the seventh or eighth draft."
My strategy is two dive in and write without doing and rewriting until the morning of the next day. This simple strategy keeps me productive and undermines my tendency to be a very slow perfectionist. |
The Value of Collecting Copies of Winning Grants - Visualizing Success
 | | Dr. Drew's Two Day Grant Writing Retreat includes samples of winning grants. |
In the past, I hesitated to provide copies of existing winning grants to participants in my grant writing workshops.
My view, after all, was that the best way to win a grant was to follow the funder's directions. Since most of the funders have different requirements, I thought the best thing to do was to encourage a careful reading of the funder's own application requirements.
(I have also provided students with copies of winning grants through e-mail, just never in a classroom setting.)
In the new Two Day Grant Writing Retreat, however, I was startled at how much close attention participants gave to these winning grants. In some cases, for example, they were startled that a full grant proposal to the Weingart Foundation only required about four pages of single spaced material. Many of the students, to my surprise, indicated that they were startled at how easy grant writing was once they saw a few real grants face-to-face.
Accordingly, I may have underestimated the value of looking at a grant even if that example will not really be helpful in applying for all the other grants out there. I will be making changes in future classes to benefit from this insight. |
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The Nine Greatest Pathways for Profiting from Grants: How to Get the Resources You Need from Corporate, Foundation, and Government Sources
Description: This is a 45-page, bound copy of The Nine Greatest Pathways for Profiting from Grants by award-winning author, trainer, and consultant John C. Drew, Ph.D. The booklet gives you state-of-the-art information on how to get started in obtaining government benefits, scholarships, individual grants, and Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans. It gives you directions on how to start-up your own non-profit organization or how to establish yourself as a grant writing consultant. Finally, it provides effective tips for winning federal funding for both non-secular and faith-based organizations. "The booklet includes the contact information and websites I wish I knew about when I started grant writing," says Dr. Drew.
Regular price: $34.00 (includes $30.00 for the booklet and $4.00 for shipping and handling).
In-class price: $30.00
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Upcoming Drew & Associates Workshops in California
The best way to sign-up for one of our workshops is to contact the hosting college or institution directly by telephone. In many cases, you can quickly enroll on-line through their websites.
For everyone in the Antelope Valley waiting to take my Fundraising Fundamentals course, your time has come. Thanks to a special initiative by the great staff at Antelope Valley College, I'll be teaching my Fundraising Fundamentals class from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011.
This class will not be cancelled for any reason. Fundraising Fundamentals provides charities with knowledge of how to tap into the big money available from individual donors for capital campaigns and special projects. It features my blunt, straightforward, time-saving insight and the lessons I've gained from over 22 years of experience as a fundraising professional trained in asking for money face-to-face.
In addition, I'll also be teaching my Grant Writing Fundamentals workshop at Antelope Valley College from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011. This class will be filled with practical, no nonsense advice and best practices on how to benefit from rapidly speeding up the process of research grant possibilities - including federal funding - and speeding up the process of writing grants in high volume. For those of you who want to go into greater detail in grants and how to profit from them individually, I highly recommend that you attend my Grant Writing Intermediate course at Antelope Valley College on from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2011. Gavilan CollegeTel: (408) 852-2801 Gavilan College Community Education I'll be returning to Northern California to teach my Grant Writing Fundamentals class at Gavilan College from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2011. My brother Tom and his family live in nearby Hollister, CA so it is always a special treat to come up and visit with them. Glendale Community College Tel: (818) 240-1000, ext. 5678
I'm teaching Grant Writing Fundamentals from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2011. We'll be in one of my favorite classrooms, Room 225 on the Garfield Campus. My family is from Glendale so it is always a pleasure to return to this wonderful community. A second session of Grant Writing Fundamentats will be conducted from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2011. Imperial Valley CollegeTel: (760) 355-6166 Imperial Valley CollegeI'm trying a new project with the staff and faculty members at Imperial Valley College. I'll be teaching my standard Grant Writing Fundamentals workshop between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on January 27, 2011. This will be a special program only for staff and faculty members employed by the College.
I'll be teaching my Grant Writing Fundamentals Class in a special one-day Saturday session on 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on March 12, 2011.
Los Angeles Harbor College
Tel: (310) 233-4450
I'll be teaching the all day, 9-5 p.m., Grant Writing Fundamentals course at Los Angeles Harbor College on February 12, 2011. This is a slightly longer class which will provide more opportunity to work on grant applications in class and to read and review sample grants. Orange Coast College Tel: (714) 432-5154 I'll be teaching Grant Writing Fundamentals from 9-4 p.m. on Saturday, February 5, 2011. Since this is my birthday, you can expect some extra surprises during the class.
Also, I will be doing my first two-day grant writing retreat to be sponsored by a community college at Orange Coast College from 9-4 p.m. on March 28 & 29, 2011. The retreat is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday so that it will be especially easy to access for non-profit and government employees who have responsibility for grant writing chores.
The program is actually more of a three-day retreat, by the way, because it will include some homework assignments designed to help you make maximum use of your scarce time.
Santa Ana CollegeTel: (714) 564-6594 I'll be teaching Grant Writing Fundamentals from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on February 25, 2011 and March 4, 2011 at Santa Ana College. This is an excellent facility and the course has become very popular with employees of Orange County who work nearby. |
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Drew & Associates is a management consulting firm that assists its clients in the fields of grant writing, fund raising, survey research, and program evaluation. Drew & Associates benefits clients by providing immediate access to research on over 10,000 corporate and private funders through the Foundation Center in New York. |
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Would You Like to Have Dr. Drew Speak at Your Upcoming Event?
Dr. Drew is available as a motivational speaker. He is represented by Five Star Speakers & Trainers. Click here for more information on booking Dr. Drew at your next event. |
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Join Dr. Drew on a 7 Night Cruise to Alaska on June 17, 2011
Tricia and I want to invite you to join us on a once-in-a-lifetime, cruise to Alaska. We will be teaching and entertaining along side three other extremely polished speakers as part of a new program called "Ignite the Magic in You." For the details regarding this cruise aboard the Celebrity Infinity, please click here.
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Check Out Dr. Drew's Social Networking Site for Grant Writers
Dr. Drew has set up a special social networking site just for grant writers. Please check it out and leave your own comments.
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Hear Dr. Drew Read on Grant Writing
Below, Dr. Drew is reading out loud the first few pages of Chapter One of A Really Great Booklet on Grant Writing. 
In this segment, Dr. Drew is reading the first few pages of Chapter Two of A Really Great Booklet on Grant Writing.
In this segment, Dr. Drew is reading one of the most important ideas from Chapter Three of A Really Great Booklet on Grant Writing.
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Follow Dr. Drew's Newest Ideas Through His Blog
This is the blog where Dr. Drew is experimenting with new technology designed to speed up the grant writing and research process.
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Dr. Drew on Grants
