10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing

Build a grant-ready boilerplate in just 3 weeks!

What is 10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing?

Through structured, interactive sessions, 10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing helps nonprofits develop a robust, reusable set of narrative content that addresses the core questions funders ask about mission, programming, outcomes, and operations. Participants will draft and refine content that can be adapted for local, state, and federal funding opportunities.

Why Develop a Boilerplate?

Most grant applications ask the same core questions. A boilerplate—a set of pre-written, adaptable responses—gives your organization a clear foundation to draw from when completing applications. With this in place, your team can:

Respond to opportunities quickly and confidently
Staff, board, and partners can all work from the same writing foundation, reducing confusion and duplication
Lay the groundwork for multi-year funding
Prevents loss of critical language and data when staff turnover happens
Strengthen competitiveness while reducing burnout

November 2025 Schedule
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Monday, November 3
Wednesday, November 5 (virtual)
Monday, November 10
Wednesday, November 12 (virtual)
Monday, November 17
Wednesday, November 19

In-Person Location: Nevada GrantLab

What to Expect

Over the course of three weeks, participants are introduced to the 10 Building Blocks framework and guided step-by-step in developing a program-specific grant boilerplate. In-person sessions provide deep-dive instruction and interactive learning, while virtual sessions offer continued support in a small group setting. This hybrid learning experience, paired with opportunities for independent writing between sessions, ensures you’re not just absorbing information but actively applying it to create usable content for your organization.

By the end of the program, you’ll walk away with a complete draft of your boilerplate, a structured system to organize grant materials, and practical tools and templates to strengthen your work. You’ll also have the option to take your draft even further with one-on-one support from a grant writing expert.

Acknowledgment: The 10 Grant Building Blocks used in this training were adapted from original materials developed by LaQuetta M. Shamblee. We are grateful for her contribution to the field and for allowing us to use this framework as part of our learning experience.

Tuition

Please don’t let financial concerns prevent you from applying to our 10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing program.

We are deeply committed to making our capacity-building programs accessible to all. Thanks to the generosity of our funding partners, any nonprofit professional who is accepted into our 10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing program can participate at no cost.

That said, if you or your organization are in a position to contribute toward the cost of participation, your support will help us extend this opportunity to even more local nonprofit leaders. Each 10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing seat is valued at $1,500.

What are the Next Steps?

If you are interested in participating in our 10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing program, click the button below to apply.

What you'll need to submit a complete application:
✅ Your organization's IRS 501c3 letter
✅ Letter of Support, printed on letterhead, and signed by your supervisor, endorsing your participation in our 10 Building Blocks for Proposal Writing program and supporting your time commitment away from your regular duties (a helpful template can be found here).
✅ Writing Sample optional (e.g. a grant proposal you've authored or co-authored, boilerplate you've drafted)

Applications for the November 2025 session close October 15th. Seating is limited.

Questions? Dr. Alee Moore can help.