This lesson provides an overview of the grant writing course. It introduces learners to the challenges and strategies of grant writing for community-oriented businesses, and outlines the course's structure across all eight chapters. Each chapter addresses specific aspects of grant writing, from understanding funding needs to submitting applications.

This first chapter provides an overview of grant writing, highlighting common challenges and effective strategies for overcoming them. It explains grants as non-repayable funds, details the application process, and emphasizes the importance of adhering to guidelines and targeted use of funds in the context of business growth and development.

Chapter 2 focuses on the initial step in the grant writing process: identifying a need for business funding and support. It guides participants through a process of strategic thinking about business issues, selecting one primary challenge to address, and considering necessary changes and support. The chapter concludes with an activity encouraging participants to apply these concepts to their business scenarios.

Chapter 3 addresses the second step in the grant writing process: preparing for grant applications in advance to mitigate last-minute stress. It highlights the strategy of priming the environment for effective grant writing, recommending the assembly of common documents typically requested in grant applications. The chapter concludes with an activity that involves using a preparation checklist to review and organize these necessary documents.

Chapter 4 discusses crafting answers for frequently asked questions in grant applications. It addresses essential questions about business specifics, entrepreneur expertise, and financial plans, including sources of income and the intended use of grant funds. The chapter provides a downloadable template to help organize and brainstorm responses, aiming to streamline the application process and assist in evaluating the suitability of a grant for the business's needs.

Chapter 5 of the grant-writing course offers strategies for finding suitable grants, focusing on government and private funding sources, including corporation and foundation grants. It highlights various search methods such as government websites, social media, and specialized platforms like Grant Watch. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of ensuring grant requirements align with the business's specifics and geographical location.

Chapter 6 teaches the vital skill of close reading grant applications, focusing on thoroughly understanding eligibility and grantor requirements to avoid common mistakes. It highlights the importance of examining all application aspects, such as guidelines, deadlines, and funding details, to ensure the grant aligns with the business's needs.

Chapter 6, Part 2, continues the focus on close reading, specifically for start-up grant applications. It details a process of critically analyzing a grant application to determine eligibility and whether the grant meets the applicant's needs. The chapter uses a sample start-up grant to demonstrate how to identify important details and potential red flags within the grant's outline and eligibility criteria.

Chapter 6, Part 3, focuses on analyzing growth grant applications for small businesses, highlighting the importance of a detailed review to ensure both eligibility and alignment with business growth needs. Using a sample grant, the chapter demonstrates how to critically assess the grant’s details, stressing that a thorough understanding is crucial for determining if the grant is a suitable fit for the business's specific objectives.

Chapter 7 of the grant-writing course focuses on the essential task of writing the grant application. It offers practical examples for transforming initial ideas into effective grant answers and highlights the critical role of thorough proofreading to avoid common errors. The chapter concludes by encouraging careful preparation and review of grant responses to ensure successful application submissions.

Chapter 8 concludes the grant-writing course by outlining the steps after grant application submission, including implementation, reporting, and acknowledging funders. It emphasizes understanding and learning from grant rejections, and advises strict adherence to application guidelines. The chapter wraps up with an offer of a free 30-minute consultation for course participants, providing personalized assistance in the grant writing process.

This workshop offers a detailed guide on grant writing, uniquely incorporating the use of ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to streamline the process. It covers essential steps like identifying business needs, document preparation, finding and analyzing grants, and writing effective applications. The workshop is tailored to be accessible and practical, focusing on leveraging the latest AI tools to make grant writing more efficient for small business owners.