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| Re: Opinions on Grant Professional Certified (GPC) Credential
Posted by Tony Poderis   on 7/1/2010, 10:30 am, in reply to "Opinions on Grant Professional Certified (GPC) Credential"
VIP Poster | Message modified by user Tony Poderis 7/4/2010, 1:07 pm
Sara: I hate to see any good question go unanswered, especially here on PNDTalk.
Never one to be at a loss for words (perhaps to the distress of some), and seeing that about 50 folks viewed your message, and at the risk of being accused of calumny by professionals with initials following their names, and the organizations which charge money to give them, I say that that such a “credential” will, of course, not hurt, but I believe it will do little, if any, good for the time, effort and expense involved and expended.
Getting a certificate of accreditation is a good thing, but in my opinion it will mean little, if anything, when seeking a job as a grant proposal writer. The dreadful word “experience” carries the day a great deal, but even more important is the upfront presentation of your best writing samples.
While the degree/certificate will be appreciated, there are other far more important factors which are not always taught in courses to make one effective in carrying them out, but which will be considered and demanded by development employers. No matter the initials following a grant professional writer’s name, were I looking for such a person, I would want writing samples, and to know that she or he is at home in carrying out the following process:
--- Through interviews and other means, gather information that will easily allow him/her to grasp the concept of a project or program for which funding is sought as defined by the person responsible for carrying it out.
--- Acquire and maintain sound knowledge and understanding of the organization, and use that knowledge and understanding to better comprehend all projects and programs for which grants will be sought and to recommend the seeking of grants.
--- Research grant-making organizations and analyze them to identify likely funding sources for specific projects and programs.
--- Compile, write, and edit all grant applications exhibiting strong expository writing skills and a high-level command of grammar and spelling.
--- Review the budget of a project or program for which funding is sought and make recommendations to better present it to grant-making organizations.
--- Develop individual grant proposals in accordance with each grant-making organization's preferences and follow exactly each grant-making organization's guidelines.
--- Keep in contact with grant-making organizations during their review of a submitted grant application in order to be able to supply additional supportive material.
--- Manage the process of supplying progress reports when required by a grant-making organization that has funded a project or program.
Any grant writer I hired was expected to carry out the above duties well. Professional credentials alone would never guarantee that she or he could do so.
Best fund-raising wishes,
Tony
Tony Poderis
http://www.raise-funds.com
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