This Autumn Quarter, Dr. Lisa Dush will be teaching WRD 526 Grant & Proposal Writing, where graduate students can learn about developing grant and funding materials both theoretically and practically. By collaborating with local nonprofit organizations, students develop the ability to create specialized documents seeking funding. I checked in with Dr. Dush, who shared some key perspectives on what students can expect from WRD 526.
Course Goals and Learning Outcomes
Regarding her goals for the course and what students can hope to learn, Dr. Dush shared, “My primary goal for the course is to give students a situated experience of grant research and grant writing. The course partners with several nonprofit organizations, so that students can learn how to do grant research and grant writing in an authentic context.”
When I was in WRD 526 Grant & Proposal Writing Autumn Quarter 2023, my team of students partnered with a nonprofit organization providing trauma-informed and evidence-based treatments to Black communities in the South and West sides of Chicago dealing with gun violence and mass incarceration. It was a transformative experience for me, not only because I could feel the palpable importance of my work, but because of the partnership we were able to forge between our team and the nonprofit organization Founder and Executive Director. Working in the authentic context that Dr. Dush described shaped my experience and left me feeling better equipped to handle the “real-world” of grant writing outside of the university setting.
Dr. Dush continued, “Additionally, I want students to better understand the rhetorical situation of grant writing—why funders give money away, what expectations they have for applicants, and what the proposal review context looks like.”
As I became better equipped to understand the rhetorical situation of grant writing and funding as a mechanism of social change, I realized that I could use my writing abilities to tap into a source of power. Writing with a high-stakes purpose like funding a meaningful organization inspired me to recontextualize how money, power, and writing are interconnected.
A Space of Discovery: Dr. Dush’s Inspiration for the Course
I asked Dr. Dush what sparked her interest in teaching WRD 526 Grant & Proposal Writing. She shared that starting with her PhD dissertation research, she has worked with nonprofit organizations throughout her career—continuing into the teaching and research she currently does at DePaul. She notes that “most nonprofits write grant proposals—it’s an important genre for the profession and has always struck me as one that those who want to work in or with nonprofits should learn. Additionally, grant writing is quite under-researched in my field of professional and technical writing, so it feels like a space of discovery.”
Course Structure and Major Projects
Explaining the structure of the course, Dr. Dush said, “We begin by learning about the broad genre of proposals, focusing on the structural and rhetorical similarities between different proposal types, like grant proposals, conference proposals, and business proposals. Then we split off into teams of 3 or 4 students, with each team paired up with a local nonprofit organization, to do grant research and writing for those nonprofit partner organizations. Students do individual writing and research tasks for their nonprofit partner organization, like grant research with the Foundation Directory Online and writing letters of inquiry (LOIs). At the end of the term, students can either write a full grant proposal on behalf of their partner organization or write a proposal for their own purposes.”
I chose to write a full grant proposal on behalf of my partner organization. Culminating my work throughout the quarter to understand key grant writing concepts, the nonprofit partner organization, proposal design principles, and writing skills, my final proposal was a testament to my growth over the quarter. Having entered the class knowing nothing about grant writing and leaving the class with a full proposal tailored to a certain funder, I felt proud of my profound growth and new skill set.
Course Readings
Dr. Dush shared, “We use a good, practical textbook, Howlett and Bourque’s Getting Funded: The Complete Guide to Writing Grant Proposals. I also assign a lot of shorter articles, on topics ranging from how to understand a Form 990 to the ethical complexities of grant writing and the philanthropic sector more broadly. Last year’s readings and assignments are available on this page.”
Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Wrapping up her thoughts about the course and what she’d like future and prospective students to consider, Dr. Dush illuminated that “the course is great for getting hands-on work with a nonprofit partner that both benefits that partner and gives you ‘real’ deliverables that attest to your experience with grant writing. You’ll get a say in which organization you’re partnered with, so there’s often a chance to work with an organization whose work really motivates you. Also, we’ve had success over the years with getting organizations invitations to submit proposals or funding through the LOI and proposal writing that students do.
Since this is a required course for the Strategic Writing and Advancement for Nonprofits graduate certificate (SWAN), you’ll often be in class with students from the School of Public Service (studying Nonprofit Management or Public Policy). The course also typically attracts students from English and Environmental Studies. This variety of students makes for a great opportunity to learn from and make connections with students beyond WRD.”
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Enroll now on Campus Connect! Add WRD 526 Grant & Proposal Writing to your plans and learn how you can use your skills to make a concrete difference in the world.