The plenary session will involve an insightful discussion on Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and its use in grant development. A.I. is an emerging technology shaping grant professionals’ research, writing, and strategic planning. It is known to be an innovative solution to time constraints in developing a proposal, but—as with all new technology—it’s also creating a lot of anxiety! As this new technology emerges, grant professionals need to understand how various A.I. software works and how to use it ethically and productively. Our panel will discuss how A.I. technology will shape the grant writing and research process and provide insight regarding how grant professionals can embrace and evolve with A.I.

All too often, community college grant professionals see program activities disappear after initial grant funding ends. In this interactive workshop, participants will gain an understanding of current research in program sustainability and then apply that knowledge using evidence-based tools to plan, assess and promote grant-funded program sustainability at their colleges.

Today’s grant writers need to creatively develop proposals that leverage partnerships to engage funders while meeting goals. Who are your unique partners, and what do they bring to the table that will help you increase your funding opportunities? In this session, we will look at ways to create grant-related partnerships. The purpose of this presentation is to enable participants to look at ways to leverage unique grant-related partnerships to increase funding success rates with private foundations and funders. The presenter will walk participants through their process of developing unique grant-related partnerships between higher education, local community groups and non-profits, corporations and even local government. The presenter will showcase real examples of partnerships that have enabled their institution to expand student impact and increase success.

Are you looking to develop a comprehensive grants training curriculum for your institution? You are in the right place! Grants Academy is a robust suite of concise video modules that deliver practical how-to lessons to potential grant writers and managers. The curriculum covers grant planning and writing, management, and compliance. The Grants Academy blueprint will show you how to successfully develop a similar resource at your institution. Learn what resources you will need and develop your customized action plan to hit the ground running. Participants will leave with an evidence-based step-by-step process to guide curriculum development, stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, implementation, and evaluation of the training program.

The Dallas College Advancement & Development Division (A&D) is revolutionizing grant program support. A&D's innovative "wrap-around services" create a robust grant ecosystem, empowering stakeholders from proposal development to program implementation. These services include compression planning, a grant recognition program, comprehensive administration support, strategic sponsorship guidance, a centralized data hub, a grant metrics dashboard, sustainability planning, a grant clinic for troubleshooting, and compliance assistance. This session will explore these services in detail, highlighting their benefits and adaptability for sponsored program success.

The U.S. Department of Education Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students notice inviting applications was released on November 5, 2021 and was due a month later on December 6, 2021. This case study will describe how Montgomery College’s Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs mobilized to make a thoughtful “go-no go” decision to apply and wrote the application from scratch while onboarding a new team member. The award came through with a start date six months prior to the proposal start date, adding to the pressure. Moreover, the case study will highlight the perspectives of a panel of team members about the development and implementation of the grant.

Do you want to build your capacity to bring more Federal dollars to your institutions? Do you have a passion for federal grants and how transformative they can be for our faculty, staff, and students? Come learn about the CASE Federal Funding Task Force and how we advocate for more federal funding to come to community colleges, while strengthening our own abilities as grant professionals to write and manage successful federal grant proposals.