Best Online Grant Courses

Grant writers help nonprofits and educational entities secure the funding they need to operate at an optimal level. If you’re interested in learning how to draft proposals that get results, consider an online course. If you already work in the field and want to soar your skills to new heights, a grant course can also benefit you.

There are options for all skill levels and budgets and you can get started today.

Quick Look: Best Grant Courses 

Here’s a sneak peek at Benzinga’s top picks: 

• Grant Writing: How to Write Nonprofit Grants for Beginners by Udemy
• Grant Writing for Nonprofits and Freelance Writers by Udemy
• Grant Writing Basics for Beginners: What You Must Know Before You Start Writing Grants by Skillshare
• Grant Proposal by the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology 
• Sharpen Your Grant Writing Skills with Killer Goals and Objectives by Skillshare
• Grant Writing for Education by LinkedIn Learning
• Win More Grants by Becoming Grant Ready by Udemy
• 9 Reasons Grant Applications Are Rejected – and How to Fix Them by Skillshare
• Grant Professional Certification (CPC) Exam Prep by Udemy 

What Makes a Grant Course Great?

How do you know which options are worth your time? The best grant courses exhibit these characteristics. 

Led by Seasoned Professionals 

Does the instructor have a track record of success in the grant-writing world? How many of the instructor’s proposals were funded? Is the instructor well-versed in grants to convey critical concepts in a way that’s easy to understand? These are just a few questions to ask when evaluating course instructors. Take a look at the instructor’s biography and reviews from past and current students to gain more insight.

Includes Supplementary Resources 

You want a grant course that offers bonus material to help you fully grasp the vital concepts. Check out real-life simulations, assignments, quizzes and articles as you evaluate your options. 

Self-Paced 

Only consider self-paced classes that allow you to work through the material when it’s convenient. This is really important if you’re new to grants or it’s been a  while since you took a continuing education course — you may need to spend more time on some lessons than others.

Our Top Picks

We’ve scoured the web to bring you our top selections. They’re from leading online learning providers like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and Udemy. 

Here are the courses listed by skill level — beginners, intermediate and advanced students. We’ve also included a description and enrollment fee with each option to facilitate the decision-making process. 

Grant Courses for Beginners

Start with these courses if you’re new to grant writing. 

1. Grant Writing: How to Write Nonprofit Grants for Beginners by Udemy 

Who it's for: Beginners

Price: On sale 

Learn the mechanics of grant writing in this introductory course from Udemy. You’ll discover strategies used by the professionals to identify grant opportunities, draft up proposals that get noticed and apply with ease. 

Grant Writing: How to Write Nonprofit Grants for Beginners caters to aspiring grant writers and nonprofit employees who want to expand their knowledge. It is led by seasoned grant writer and Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) Stephanie Tanner.

Here’s a look at the syllabus: 

• Getting Started
• Finding a Grant
• Writing the Grant
• The Revision Process
• After Submission 

Register today for full lifetime access to 1 hour of on-demand video, 8 articles and 6 downloadable resources. You will also receive a certificate of completion when you reach the finish line. 

Enroll now. 

2. Grant Writing for Nonprofits and Freelance Writers 

Who it's for: Beginners

Price: On sale 

Grant Writing for Nonprofits and Freelance Writers explores what it takes to write a winning proposal that gets your organization funded. 

This Udemy bestseller is a viable option for new and small nonprofits who have a tough time forging relationships with donors. It’s also ideal for freelance writers who want to explore the world of grant writing and possibly expand their offerings. 

Instruction is provided by nonprofit and public policy strategist Tim Whitney. He dives the lessons into 4 core modules: 

• Think Like a Funder
• The Boilerplate
• Finding Foundation and Government Funders
• Successful Applications from Start to Finish

It only takes a few minutes to sign up and you’ll get instant access to 1.5 hours of on-demand video and 35 downloadable resources. You can enroll with confidence knowing the course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied for any reason. 

Enroll now.

3. Grant Writing Basics for Beginners: What You Must Know Before You Start Writing Grants by Skillshare 

Who it's for: Beginners

Price: Free

Ready to dive into grant writing but don’t know where to start? Consider this introductory course from professional grant writer Teresa Huff will show you the ropes.

Grant Writing Basics for Beginners: What You Must Know Before You Start Writing Grants features the following video lessons: 

• Introduction – Common Questions 
• What is a Grant? 
• Grant Readiness
• Top 10 Myths About Grants 
• Where to Find Grants
• Sections of a Grant
• Developing Your Grant Projects
• Application Submission and Awards
• Think Like a Reviewer
• Conclusion and Course Project 

Students also complete a project to apply their knowledge in a practice setting. This is an effective way for you to gain invaluable experience and receive feedback that will help you improve as you embark on your grant writing journey. 

Upon completion, you will possess grant writing exercise that can be applied right away in your role at a school or nonprofit. You will also have the skills and knowledge to launch your own grant writing business. 

There’s no cost to enroll if you sign up for a Skillshare trial.

Enroll now. 

Intermediate Grant Courses

Have some grant writing experience and want to expand your knowledge? These intermediate courses are worth considering. 

4. Grant Proposal by the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

Who it's for: Intermediate students

Price: On sale 

Offered by the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology,  this intermediate course teaches you how to draft proposals that garner the attention of funders. 

Grant Proposal is co-facilitated by Elena Bazanova, director of the language training and testing center and Varvara Sosedova, Ph.D. It consists of 4 modules: 

• Ready to Start
• Ready to Count and Demonstrate
• Ready to Write
• Ready to Submit and Implement 

Each module includes video lectures and supplementary readings to facilitate your comprehension of the material. You will also complete a series of quizzes to test your knowledge and identify areas you are well-versed or need to spend more time before moving forward in the class.

Enrollment is free. Expect to spend 17 hours working through the course material.

Enroll now. 

5. Sharpen Your Grant Writing with Killer Goals and Objectives by Skillshare

Who it's for: Intermediate students 

Price: Free

Sharpen Your Grant Writing Skills with Killer Goals and Objectives is the perfect fit for nonprofit board members, staff and volunteers who want to level up their skills. You will discover a simple but proven formula to establish more effective goals and objectives when writing grant proposals. 

It is a component of the Grant Writing Basics series from Teresa Huff and includes 8 video lessons: 

• Introduction 
• Goals and Objectives: What’s the Difference?
• Why Use Goals and Objectives in Grants?
• When and Where to Use Goals and Objectives
• Formula for Writing Goals and Objectives
• Examples of Goals and Objectives
• Get Your Hands Dirty – Practice and Course Project
• Conclusion and Next Steps 

Enrollment is free with a Skillshare trial. 

Enroll now. 

6. Grant Writing for Education by LinkedIn Learning 

Who it's for: Intermediate students 

Price: Included with the monthly membership 

In a little under 2 hours, you will learn how to identify viable private and governmental funding opportunities for educational causes, draft exceptional proposals and impress reviewers. 

Grant Writing for Education comprises 4 primary segments: 

• Before You Start Writing
• Understanding the Request for Proposal (RFP)/Solicitation 
• Anatomy of a Grant Proposal 
• Common Mistakes 

Lessons are taught via video lectures. You will also be tasked with taking 4 chapter quizzes to assess your comprehension of the material. 

The course is facilitated by experienced grant writer and award-winning professor Karl Kapp. He holds a doctorate of education in instructional design from the University of Pittsburgh.

Enroll now. 

Advanced Grant Courses

Seasoned grant writing professionals will find these courses useful. 

7. Win More Grants by Becoming Grant Ready by Udemy 

Who it's for: Advanced students 

Price: On sale

Tired of writing grant proposals that don’t get results? This course will show you how to craft proposals that get noticed and win awards. 

Win More Grants by Becoming Grant Ready features 11 lectures condensed into 1 hour of on-demand video and 1 downloadable resource. It is facilitated by experienced grant professional Michele Boyer.

Here’s what you can expect to learn in the course: 

• Make Your NPO Grant Ready
• Competing for Funding
• Proposal Reviews: What Funders Look For
• Profile of a Grant Ready NPO
• Win More Grants by Becoming Grant Ready Course Download
• Checklist #1: Your Organization
• Checklists #2 and 3: Your Scope of Service and Service Area
• Checklist #4: Purpose of Funds
• Checklist #5: Your Grants Management System
• Course Review and Assignment(s)

Take advantage of the discounted enrollment fee by signing up today. 

Enroll now. 

8. 9 Reasons Grant Applications Are Rejected – and How to Fix Them by Skillshare

Who it's for: Advanced students

Price: Free

Are you a grant professional that’s faced rejection after rejection? If you’re fed up and want different results, consider this advanced course. It’s also a part of the Grant Writing Basics Series from Teresa Huff. 

Like other offerings in the series, it includes several video lectures to bring you up to speed. Below are the 12 lessons included in the course:

• Introduction 
• Problem 1: Geographical Spread
• Problem 2: Money Ran Out
• Problem 3: Outside the Scope 
• Problem 4: Poor Design
• Problem 5: High Risk, Low Capacity
• Problem 6: Persuade Me
• Problem 7: Coordinate Efforts
• Problem 8: Shotgun Approach
• Problem 9 Changing Trends 
• Bonus Lesson: Past Awards Search
• Conclusion: Course Project and Next Steps

Grab a free seat in this class by signing up for a Skillshare trial. 

Enroll now. 

9. Grant Professional Certification (GPC) Exam Prep by Udemy 

Who it's for: Advanced students

Price: On sale 

Grant Professional Certification (CPC) Exam Prep will prepare you to pass on the first attempt. You will receive world-class instruction from grant professor Phil Johncock. He has over 30 years of experience in the field and boasts a success rate of 94 percent, with over 60 proposals funded to date. 

It features 5 hours of on-demand video, 10 minutes of on-demand audio, 2 articles and 77 downloadable resources to ensure you get the most from your online learning and CPC exam prep experience. 

The following topics are covered in the course: 

• Overview: Orientation and GPC Exam Registration 
• GPC Competency 1: Funder Research 
• GPC Competency 2: Organizational Development/GrantSeeking 
• GPC Competency 3: Program and Project Design
• GPC Competency 4: Effective Grant Applications
• GPC Competency 5: Post-Award Grant Management
• GPC Competency 6: Ethics
• GPC Competency 7: Professionalism
• GPC Competency 8: Relationship-Building 
• GPC Competency 9: Writing Convincing Cases for Funding
• Final Thoughts 

Register today for a price that can’t be beaten. 

Enroll now. 

Find the Right Grant Course for You

Take the first step toward learning the art of grant writing or advancing your skills. Our recommended courses are well worth the investment and can position you for a rewarding entry-level role or career advancement opportunity.