Join our fall learning collaborative co-sponsored by Ohio Center for Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion. Gain valuable insights from our esteemed facilitators, Cindy Clouner, the Managing Director of HECAOD, and Jen Morel, Managing Director at the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion. Join us as they expertly guide you through the essential elements of grant writing, providing comprehensive knowledge from inception to completion. We are excited to offer participants the chance to engage in optional course assignments that will not only help them cultivate valuable skills and experience but also enhance their readiness for future grant opportunities.
Registration will grant up to two individuals from your campus or community organization access to the course materials. Through our partnership with the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion, we are able to offer this training series at no cost to campus and community professionals working in the state of Ohio. Additionally, Ohio professionals who attend the first five sessions in their entirety will receive complimentary registration to the Ohio Prevention Conference, hosted on November 16 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio professionals should complete this brief survey to see if you qualify for free access!
Live Sessions Include:

Grant Writing Essentials: How to Plan and Prepare for a Successful Proposal
September 20, 2023 at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET | Presented by Cindy Clouner & Jen Morel
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key components of a successful grant proposal, including a statement of need, project description, budget, and evaluation plan.
- Utilize various data sources, including community surveys, census reports, academic studies, and organizational records, to create a compelling statement of need for their grant proposals.
- Apply effective communication strategies to establish strong relationships with potential partners and collaborators before requesting their support for a grant project.


Understanding the Components of Grant Proposal Writing: From Components to Rubrics
October 4, 2023 at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET | Presented by Cindy Clouner & Jen Morel
Learning Objectives:
- Review the common components of grant proposals, including executive summary, statement of need, project description, budget, and evaluation plan.
- Understand how to register with the appropriate systems, such as submitting Letters of Intent (LOIs) and registering with federal and state systems, to streamline the application process.
- Follow Request for Proposal (RFP) guidelines and formatting requirements to ensure their proposal is compliant and competitive.
- Write effective letters of support that showcase partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders and community members.


From Vision to Action: Crafting Powerful Goals & Objectives for Grant Success
October 18, 2023 at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET | Presented by Cindy Clouner & Jen Morel
Learning Objectives:
- Develop clear and measurable goals and objectives for their grant proposals that align with their organization’s mission and funder’s priorities.
- Develop appropriate logic model


Budgets & Timelines: The Keys to Successful Grant Proposals
November 1, 2023 at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET | Presented by Cindy Clouner & Jen Morel
Learning Objectives:
- Create realistic budgets and compelling budget narratives that accurately reflect the scope and impact of their proposed project.
- Develop detailed timelines that align with the project’s objectives and ensure that they meet the funder’s deadlines.


Two Sides of the Same Coin: A Dual Perspective on Grant Evaluation
November 19, 2023 at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET | Presented by Cindy Clouner & Jen Morel
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the difference between process and outcome evaluation and when to use each method.
- Discuss the most commonly used methods for collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
- Understand the importance of scoring rubrics in grant proposal evaluations and use them to guide their writing process.


Grant Proposal Review: Insights from Reviewers’ Perspectives
November 29, 2023 at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET | Presented by Cindy Clouner & Jen Morel
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key elements that funders typically look for in grant proposals, such as alignment with the funder’s priorities and strategic objectives, clear outcomes and impact measurement, and realistic budget and timeline.
- Understand how funders evaluate proposals based on criteria such as feasibility, innovation, sustainability, and scalability, and how these criteria may vary across different types of funders (e.g., government agencies, private foundations, corporate philanthropy).
- Learn tips and best practices for crafting a compelling grant proposal that effectively communicates the organization’s mission, goals, and programmatic approach, while also addressing the funder’s specific interests and requirements.
- Engage in a dialogue with a panel of funders from diverse backgrounds and sectors, and gain insights into their decision-making processes, priorities, and challenges when reviewing grant proposals.


Become a member of the Higher Education Center to access the live and recorded sessions of this learning collaborative and the entire library of HECAOD learning collaboratives. Memberships start at $150 annually.