Funding sources, RFP practice, and SMART objectives — the fundamentals of a fundable proposal.

Every strong proposal starts with the same two questions: where is the money, and what is this funder actually asking for? This session walks through the real landscape of funding sources and gives you hands-on practice reading an RFP — the funder's own document spelling out what they'll fund and how to apply — before you write a single word.

What you'll learn

• The real range of funding sources: government and corporate grants, university partnerships, individual donations, and earned revenue.

• How to read an RFP and pull out every hard requirement before you start drafting.

• What actually makes an application stand out: storytelling, evaluation strength, program innovation, financial stewardship, and organizational infrastructure.

• How to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives, with a real worked example.

• Practical tips for writing goals and objectives reviewers can actually score.

Who it's for:  Nonprofit staff, program leads, and anyone new to grant seeking who wants a clear-eyed view of where funding comes from and how to compete for it.

Format:  Virtual workshop with live RFP practice.

Every open RFP (Request for Proposal) looks like an opportunity until you're three days into a draft and realize the fit was never really there. This session teaches you how to size up a funding opportunity quickly by reading a funder's real priorities, matching them honestly against your organization's mission and track record, and knowing when to walk away from a stretch fit before it costs you the week.

What you'll learn

• How to read a funder's priorities, past awards, and language for real signals of fit, readiness, and eligibility.

• A quick framework for scoring an opportunity before you commit hours to it.

• When a stretch fit is worth pursuing anyway, and when it's a trap.

• How to pass on the wrong opportunity without burning the relationship for next time.

Who it's for:  Anyone who has spent a week writing an application, then not heard back and wants a faster way to know a funder is worth their time before they start.

The AI Grant Writing Workshop covers the whole method in 30 minutes. This session slows down and goes deep on one section at a time — needs statements, program design, evaluation plans, budget narratives — using the same active-voice, no-placeholder approach, with more time to work on your own draft live.

What you'll learn

• A deeper pass on drafting each core proposal section with AI: the needs statement, program design, evaluation plan, and budget narrative.

• How to keep every section pointing back to the same numbers and logic, so the proposal reads as one connected document instead of stitched-together parts.

• Live practice drafting from your own project, not a sample.

Who it's for:  Anyone who's taken the AI Grant Writing Workshop (watch the recording here) and wants hands-on time on the sections that take the longest to write.

You don't need a developer to turn a good idea into a working tool. This session shows you how to use AI to build something real — a tracker, a calculator, a simple internal app — starting from nothing more than a plain-language description of what you need.

What you'll learn

• How to describe what you want an app to do in plain language AI can build from.

• A live build, start to finish, of a simple working tool.

• What's realistic to build this way — and when you still need a developer.

Who it's for:  Anyone with an idea for a tool who has never written a line of code.

National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a vital touchpoint for centering our health, our stories, and our collective future. On March 30, we invite the NCCU community to an evening of transparency and mission-driven dialogue.

This event is designed to foster a supportive environment to discuss the realities of HIV prevention, the power of advocacy, and the clinical progress toward a cure.

We are moving away from the podium to host a facilitated "Story Circle" featuring Humberto Orozco, LaToya Murchison, and Rachel Burdorf. Our featured guests, who members of the UNC CARE Community Advisory Board at the HIV Cure Center, will share the pivotal moments that led them to HIV advocacy and research, offering their perspective and experience from years on the front lines of community health.

The “Story Circle” will offer a dedicated, "no-judgment" space to address the practicalities of sexual health with clarity and evidence-based information. Some of the topics to be discussed include:

• Navigating HIV testing and PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) within modern relationships.

• Fostering agency and empowerment in sexual health decision-making.

We will also explore the distinction between long-term treatment and remission, the ethics of clinical trials, and why diverse representation is non-negotiable for medical equity.

Whether you are seeking advice on supporting a peer, information on the safety of research participation, or ways to get involved in advocacy without burnout, our guests will be there to provide direct, informed answers.

To ensure a productive space for all attendees, we have established the following agreements: Mutual respect, confidentiality, and a commitment to no judgment. Whether you plan to speak or listen, your presence contributes to a healthier community.

This event is co-sponsored by UNC CARE Community Advisory Board, UNC HIV Cure Center, NCCU Student Center, NCCU Women’s Center, and RAICES Hispanic/Latino Student Organization

Date: March 30
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Partners: Curated Clinical, NCCU Student Activities Center, NCCU Women’s Center, Raices Latino Student Organization
Featured Guests: UNC CARE Community Advisory Board Members:

• Humberto Orozco

• LaToya Murchison

• Rachel Burdorf

Theme: Real Conversations: Women, Relationships, HIV Prevention & the Future of Cure Research

Register to Attend Below