Local government agencies, nonprofits and community groups are increasingly seeking to secure outside funding sources to implement projects and grow their programs and organizations. Funding agencies and donors are increasingly requiring more thorough project evaluation and performance measurements as a condition for funding. Professionals need to effectively demonstrate that their projects will have a measurable impact.

To help grant seekers develop and position their funding proposals for success, the Virgin Islands Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. (VI RC&D), in partnership with HOVENSA and the UVI Cooperative Extension Service (CES), held an intensive, hands-on 2008 Grant Proposal Development Training on April 14-18, 2008 at the UVI Research & Extension Center on St. Croix. The training was conducted by Dr. Don Udell, Resource Development Specialist and President of Udell Consulting, Inc. Dr. Udell is a nationally-recognized trainer who has provided this service to the Territory for the past 14 years.

The 2008 Grant Proposal Development Training targeted government agencies, community groups, teachers, churches, youth groups, non-profit organizations and any other group or individual seeking funding assistance. 2008 Grant Proposal Development Training participants learned step-by-step how to craft a comprehensive, compelling proposal package. They received tactical writing tips to help them meet the challenges of differing funding guidelines and evaluate which components of their draft funding proposal need to be modified or strengthened to meet a grantmaker's requirements (click for agenda).

Dr. Udell also offered individual assistance post-class, including tailoring a proposal to a specific funding source, and will review proposals sent to him after the class to help participants put together the best proposal package possible. Each participant graduated with a Certificate of Training Completion and a group photo of the class, and has free access to the Foundation Center's Online Directory for one month to conduct funder research.

Dr. Udell and 2008 Grant Proposal Development Training participants pose in from of UVI Research & Extension Center on St. Croix.

Dr. Udell, right, explains the intricacies of finding the right funder to participants at the 2006 Grant Writing for Professionals Training.

Dr. Udell works with participants to develop proposals at a previous training on St. Croix.