Grant-Seeking 101: Funding

Level: Undergraduate

Division: The New School for Public Engagement

School: School of Undergraduate Studies

Department: Humanities

Course Number: NHUM 1101

Course Format: Workshop

Location: NYC campus

Permission Required: No

Topics:

• Fundraising & Development

Description:
How can you translate an “idea” into a fundable initiative? This course introduces students to the various components of funding proposals that might be submitted to foundations, corporations, or individual donors. Students learn how to prepare proposal narratives and budgets and how to critique grant proposals. Students gain proposal writing experience from day one: on the first day of class, students are asked to identify an idea they want funded and in the five course sessions they work on writing a proposal based on their idea and on identifying potential funders. “Fundable Projects” could come from nearly any field and take any form. For instance, one student might want to design a program of art workshops to be taught at local junior high schools; another might hope to create a rooftop garden at a nearby hospital; and a third might aim to establish a model for technology recycling programs that can be adapted for use in apartment buildings throughout the city. The professor will meet with students at least once individually to give them feedback on their proposals. Tips for making each section of a proposal stronger are disbursed throughout all five class meetings.