Description

KNN and Grant Ready Kentucky are proud to present this two-day grant workshop. 

This training provides a practical, step by step foundation in grant writing designed for small, rural, and under resourced organizations, guiding participants through the full lifecycle of a competitive grant proposal from readiness to submission. 

The training covers grant fundamentals, writing style and clarity, how to read and respond to grant solicitations, and detailed instruction on every major proposal section including the statement of need, implementation plan, evaluation, budget, sustainability, and abstract, while emphasizing alignment with funder priorities and review criteria. Participants also learn how to plan projects strategically before organizing proposals, identify funding opportunities, build partnerships, strengthen competitiveness, manage logistics, and responsibly use AI as a support tool for drafting and review, with real world examples and federal grant guidance used throughout to reinforce best practices and reviewer expectations.

Event details: 

• Lunch will be provided on both days (You are welcome to bring your own coffee and breakfast.)
• Participants should plan to bring a laptop to follow along with course materials
• Dates: Wednesday, February 25 and Thursday, February 26 
• Times: 9am - 4pm ET each day, with check-in opening at 8:30 am each day

Day One will cover: 

• Introduction & Basics: Writing Style, AI in Grant Writing, Proposal Planning
• Key Proposal Sections: Need/Problem, Implementation Plan (Logic Models, Outcomes, Objectives, Methods), Timeline, Evaluation
• Understanding Grant Guidance

Day Two will cover: 

• Budgeting
• Abstracts
• Sustainability
• Finding Funding Opportunities
• Partnerships
• Making It Competitive
• Grant Ready Kentucky is proud to host the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development for a Q&A on the new state GRANT match program. Learn how to leverage federal funding to strengthen your Kentucky community.

Here's what past participants are saying: 

“This was one of the most practical and well-paced trainings I’ve attended on the grant writing process. Whether you’re brand new to grants or looking to sharpen your skills, this workshop offers valuable tools and guidance, especially for navigating competitive grant applications. Highly recommend for any teams seeking funding for new initiatives.” - Audrey Harper, Ed.D., Green River Regional Educational Cooperative

About the instructor: 

An educator in grant writing since 2016, Melissa is among only 14 individuals in Kentucky to earn the Grant Professional Certification from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, marking her as a pioneer within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). She is also an Approved GPA Trainer.  Her ability to secure funding is demonstrated by her success in obtaining almost $50 million through federal, state, and private foundation grants.

Before her tenure at the college, Melissa was the Director for Aging Programs in Perry County, where she significantly increased program funding, tripling resources through her grant writing and fundraising efforts. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from Morehead State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education at the same institution.  Melissa has been married to Kevin Vermillion for 37 years and is a proud mother to two adult children, Rebekah and Alex. Her extensive experience and dedication continue to drive her commitment to advancing grant readiness and resource accessibility for under-resourced organizations throughout Kentucky.