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.