Intro to Grant Writing Webinar Series - FULL Series (all 4 Sessions!)

Overview:

The Main Street America Institute is excited to offer a special Intro to Grant Writing Webinar series! In partnership with Grant Ready Kentucky, this four-session virtual webinar series covers every stage of the grant-seeking process—from assessing your grant readiness and building strong partnerships to crafting compelling proposals and creating actionable project plans. Led by expert instructor and grant writing professional Melissa Sesco Vermillion, GPC, MBA, each session is packed with practical tips, real-world examples, and interactive learning to boost your confidence and skills. Whether you're new to grant writing or seeking to sharpen your expertise, you’ll gain the tools and insights needed to secure funding and drive your mission forward. Join us and turn your grant-writing goals into funded realities!

Session 1: Is Your Organization Grant Ready? Thursday, February 6th from 3 - 5 pm ET

Join us for an engaging webinar designed to help your organization assess its grant-readiness and build a solid foundation for successful funding applications. Led by Melissa Vermillion, Chief Strategy Officer at Grant Ready Kentucky, this session covers essential steps like defining project goals, researching grant opportunities, building a strong team, and ensuring compliance. You’ll leave with practical tips, valuable resources, and a clear understanding of your strengths, gaps, and needs to position your organization for grant success. Don’t miss this chance to take your funding strategy to the next level!

Session 2: Find Success with Collaboration Thursday, February 13th from 3-5 pm ET

Designed for those new to grant writing and partnership development, this session breaks down the essentials of building strong collaborations for successful grant applications. Learn practical strategies for finding the right partners, fostering mutual trust, and navigating financial and project roles with confidence. Whether you're in the non-profit, public, or private sector, you’ll walk away with actionable tips to broaden your impact and boost your grant-seeking success!

Session 3: How to Define the Problem Thursday, February 20th from 3 - 5 pm ET

A compelling problem statement is the foundation of successful grant applications. This webinar will guide you through defining community challenges clearly and effectively, emphasizing why “We NEED Grant Funding” should be about more than just money. Learn how to describe target populations, identify root causes, and back up your claims with data-driven evidence. Through real-world examples, including a case study on the affordable housing crisis, you’ll gain practical insights to strengthen your grant proposals and make your organization’s mission impossible to ignore.

Session 4: Turning Ideas into Actionable Outcomes Thursday, February 27th from 3 - 5 pm ET

Transforming great ideas into funded projects requires a clear and actionable implementation plan. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to set meaningful goals, craft SMART objectives, and align outcomes with funder priorities. We’ll break down essential components like logic models, timelines, and action steps, helping you create a roadmap that showcases your project’s potential. By the end, you’ll know how to demonstrate measurable impact and turn your organization’s vision into reality.

Member Pricing for Full Series (all 4 webinars): $325 - Use code FULLSERIES2025 at checkout. Members will be verified.

Non-Member Pricing for Full Series (all 4 webinars): $375

Note: This is an interactive webinar series, not a course.

Credit: Completion of the full Intro to Grant Writing Series (all four webinars) counts toward MSA’s new certification pathway. This means that both new and current MSAI participants can receive credit toward certification.

Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your registration, please email msai@mainstreet.org. Penalties apply.

About the Instructor: Melissa Sesco Vermillion, GPC, MBA

Chief Strategy Officer at Grant Ready Kentucky

Melissa Vermillion has extensive experience with state and federal grant writing as well as a particular interest in assisting rural nonprofits and communities achieve their goals. She has successfully written grant applications securing over $50 million in grant funding from public and private funders, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Development Administration, Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization Program, State of Kentucky, Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Appalachian Regional Commission, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA), U.S. Department of Education Trio Programs, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, and James Graham Brown Foundation.

Learn more about Grant Ready Kentucky: https://www.grantreadyky.org/