Beginner
Grant Fundamentals
What a grant actually is, how to find the right one, and how to read eligibility criteria without missing red flags.
- What is a grant?
- Where to find grants
- Understanding eligibility
- Common rejection reasons
Learning Hub
Grant Writing & Proposal Mastery
Everything you need to go from a vague project idea to a competitive, fundable proposal — written by people who have actually won EU grants.
Concept Notes
Concept Note Training
The 2-page document that decides whether you're invited to submit a full proposal. Learn the structure that wins.
- Problem statement
- Objectives & SMART results
- Activities & methodology
- Budget outline
Advanced
Full Proposal Writing
Logical frameworks, monitoring & evaluation, budget justification, and the executive summary that hooks evaluators.
- Executive summary
- Logical framework (logframe)
- Budget & cost justification
- M&E and risk matrix
Downloadable Templates
Battle-tested concept note, full proposal, logframe, and budget templates in DOCX/XLSX. Free to use; attribution appreciated.
UN-focused · Members only
- 📄 UN Concept Note Template (2 pages, .docx) Unlock
- 💶 UN Project Budget Worksheet (multi-year, .xlsx) Unlock
Included with Premium Membership ($50 lifetime) or Learning Monthly ($10/month).
Webinars & Workshops
Monthly live sessions on writing winning proposals for Horizon Europe, LIFE, Erasmus+ and more. Recordings available to Premium members.
- 🎥 Writing competitive Horizon Europe proposals
- 🎥 Erasmus+ partnerships that get funded
- 🎥 Budget defense: avoiding common rejections
Step-by-step
UN Concept Note Checklist
Work through each section with concrete completion prompts. Tick items as you go — your progress is saved automatically on this device.
UN Concept Note Checklist
Step-by-step prompts for every section. Progress saves to this device.
Overall progress: 0 / 680%
The first page reviewers see. Most UN concept notes are scored partly on whether this is complete and consistent with the call.
Template & budget downloads are included with Premium or Learning Monthly.
Advocacy & Resource Mobilisation
Political Lobbying Grants & Fundraising Tips
How to secure funding for advocacy, policy influence and civic campaigns — and how to diversify income beyond a single donor.
Political Lobbying Grants
Most donors restrict partisan activity, but fund non-partisan advocacy, policy research, citizen engagement and democratic-governance work.
- Target the right funders: Open Society Foundations, NED, EED, EIDHR, Sigrid Rausing Trust, Luminate, Ford Foundation, Mott Foundation.
- Frame the work: use "policy advocacy", "civic education" and "evidence-based reform" — not "lobbying a party".
- Build a Theory of Change: map decision-makers, allies, blockers, and the policy window you're aiming for.
- Comply with local rules: register as a lobbyist where required (EU Transparency Register, UK, US LDA) and disclose foreign funding.
- Show measurable influence: policy briefs cited, amendments adopted, coalition members, media reach.
Fundraising Tips That Work
Practical habits that separate organisations who raise money consistently from those stuck chasing the next call.
- Diversify income: aim for no single donor above 30% of your budget — mix grants, individual giving, earned income and core support.
- Build a donor pipeline: track prospects in 4 stages — identify, cultivate, solicit, steward.
- Lead with impact, not need: donors fund solutions and results, not desperation. Show what changes because of their money.
- Cultivate before you ask: 7+ touchpoints (reports, invites, calls) before a major ask outperforms cold proposals.
- Steward relentlessly: thank within 48 hours, report on outcomes, invite donors into the work. Retention is cheaper than acquisition.
- Use recurring giving: a monthly donor is worth 6–8× a one-time donor over their lifetime.