Program 3: GrantsGen —

Grant-Seeking and Grant-Writing

Generating Skills, Confidence, and Funding for Hawai‘i’s Nonprofits


The GrantsGen program has been the heartbeat of the Growing Capacity Project (GCP) since its inception. Nonprofit GrowthGen (NPGG) first introduced the concept in 2021 through a pilot mentorship with Bishop Museum staff, and the response from Hawai‘i’s nonprofit community was overwhelming. As NPGG continued connecting with colleagues across the islands, it became clear that professional development in grant-seeking and capacity-building skills was among the most urgent needs in the sector.


Those early conversations inspired the larger GCP initiative—leading to Programs 1 and 2—and eventually came full circle with Program 3: GrantsGen, the capstone mentoring and training experience focused on advancing fundraising capacity through hands-on grant mentorship.If you are new to learning about the Growing Capacity Project (GCP), please read this project overview before continuing.


See below for details about this IMLS-funded GrantsGen program for cultural nonprofit professionals in Hawai'i.

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Program Overview


Timeline:
The thirteen-week online program ran from January 9 through April 3, 2025, with weekly live sessions held Thursday mornings from 8:00–10:00 a.m. HST on Zoom.


The final class—structured as an in-person writing retreat—took place at Bishop Museum on April 3, 2025, followed by a celebratory cross-cohort gathering on April 4, where all three GCP programs came together to share learnings, connections, and resources.


Application Window: November 1 – December 20, 2024


Program Description:

Participants in GrantsGen explored every stage of the grant-seeking process—from idea development to submission—while receiving mentorship from experienced grant professionals and peers across the state.


Through a combination of live facilitation, guest speaker sessions, and guided peer review, participants learned to:

  • Analyze funder priorities and align them with organizational goals
  • Build compelling project narratives and justifications
  • Prepare detailed budgets, timelines, and institutional data
  • Navigate grant submission systems with confidence
  • Engage in constructive peer feedback and reflection


By the end of the program, each participant developed a complete, funder-ready proposal packet aligned with a real grant opportunity.


The cohort also built long-term connections with fellow practitioners, cultivating a community of emerging grant writers who continue to collaborate and share insights beyond the program. 
 
Program Topics


Preparing your project or program

  • Intentionality around stakeholders: who are they and what are their roles?
  • Reflection:
  • Your positionality in relation to the people and the project
  • Identifying internal thought partners (project partners)
  • Identifying external thought partners
  • Organizing your programs
  • Research basics
  • Practicing key proposal components (objectives, timelines, budgets, narratives)

Introduction to the Grants World

  • Jargon and acronyms: what do they mean?
  • Where and how to hunt for local and national grants
  • Familiarizing yourself with funders
  • Assessing fitness to the funding opportunity

Individualized Project Mentorship

  • Preparing institutional data required on your packet
  • Justifying the need for your project
  • Selling your organization’s fitness for the work
  • Tying together your objective(s) with the funder’s priorities

Submission Processes and Trends

  • Previewing the range of proposal submission systems
  • A conversation with funders
  • Providing and receiving peer review before submission
  • The mindset going into submission: hope for a positive outcome but understand how rejection can lead to future success


Program Approach

As in earlier GCP programs, participants received study-ahead materials—readings, videos, and guided reflections—to prepare for each session. During live classes, NPGG facilitators and guest speakers from across Hawai‘i led deeper discussions through breakout sessions and collaborative exercises.

Guest presenters representing a range of museums, foundations, and cultural nonprofits shared practical experiences and advice drawn from the local funding landscape.


Shareable content:

As with the other GCP programs, the live classes and some guest presenter content was recorded and made shareable

through this YouTube playlist: GrantsGen.


RESULTS


The GrantsGen cohort demonstrated significant growth in confidence, clarity, and technical skill related to grant-seeking. Participants left the program with stronger networks, ready-to-submit proposals, and new partnerships that continue to bring resources into Hawai‘i’s cultural sector.


In the first six months after the program wrapped up, at least four participants have had their proposals fully or partially funded.

Explore the Other Programs and Outcomes

Program 3 is complete!

The materials below are provided as examples

of the application process.


It took applicants an average

of 90 minutes to apply on past programs.

Be sure to review the linked materials before beginning the application.


Then, use this QR code or follow the link to submit your application.