Many people have great ideas about ways to improve their communities but turning those ideas into reality often requires funding. Grant writing is one of the most effect ways to secure resources that support positive community change. But how do you start? Where do you turn? One of the easiest ways is to familiarize yourself with the core fundamentals of grant writing and one of the fastest ways to do that is to take a training course.
For many years, SDSU Extension Community Vitality’s “Writing Your Future” grant writing workshop has helped community leaders, nonprofit organizations, local governments, volunteers and aspiring free-lance grant writers build the confidence and skills needed to pursue grant funding. Feedback from participants highlighted a desire for more hands-on work time and deeper training on the grant writing processes.
In response, the Community Vitality team is excited to introduce an enhanced grant writing workshop based on Purdue University Extension's nationally recognized “Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing” curriculum bringing an expanded, evidence-based approach to South Dakota communities. The program builds on the strong foundation of “Writing Your Future” while offering a more in-depth, step-by-step interactive learning experience. The curriculum has demonstrated strong outcomes in improving participant confidence and grant submission success and has been adopted by Extension programs in multiple states.
While the name and format are changing, the program's purpose remains the same – to help empower South Dakotans to secure resources that strengthen their communities. One of the most significant changes participants will notice is the workshop structure. “Writing Your Future” was designed as a one-day foundational training that introduced participants to grant writing basics, including understanding grant opportunities and where to find evidence to support your needs. The new “Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing” expands that learning experience into a two-day workshop serving as a great skill builder for both the beginner or intermediate grant writer.
Participants will arrive at the first session with a project idea and leave with a proposal outline and practical resources to continue developing their application. The first day also includes dedicated instruction on creating budgets, developing evaluation plans and establishing project timelines. Between sessions, which are scheduled approximately two to four weeks apart, participants will work on drafting their proposals.
The second session focuses on proposal review and refinement, strategies for identifying funding opportunities, navigating the grant process, and building relationships with funders. Participants will also benefit from a panel discussion featuring representatives from funding organizations. This panel has long been a valued component of SDSU Extension's grant writing training and will continue to provide participants with direct insights from funding professionals.
Whether seeking funding for community development initiatives, nonprofit programs, public services, or local improvement projects, participants will leave the workshop with a stronger understanding of the grant writing process and a solid draft proposal that can be further developed for submission. More importantly, they will gain practical knowledge, tools, and confidence they can immediately apply to real-world projects.
By combining a nationally recognized curriculum with local expertise and South Dakota-specific funding perspectives, the new workshop offers an even stronger learning experience for both first-time and experienced grant writers. Most importantly, it is designed to help communities turn good ideas into reality with projects that make a lasting difference. Register today for our upcoming Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing workshop. For more information contact Chase Moon or Kellie Kolb.
Sources
- Purdue Extension Community Development. (2026). Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing. Purdue University Extension.
- North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. (2026, July 1). Grant Writing Program Helps Indiana Communities Find Funding. Purdue University.
