Grant Writing Courses: Which Training Delivers Results?
We evaluated seven grant writing training programmes. Here's which courses are worth your professional development budget.
Courses Reviewed
| Provider | Duration | Price | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSC: Grant Application Skills | 1 day | £265 | Beginner-Intermediate |
| NCVO: Winning Bids | Half day | £145 (members) | Beginner |
| CharityComms: Grant Writing | 3 hours | £95+VAT | Beginner |
| Coursera: Grant Writing (Duke) | 4 weeks | £39/month | Beginner-Intermediate |
| Udemy: Grant Writing Bundle | Self-paced (8hrs) | £19-£89 | Beginner |
Detailed Reviews
1. DSC: Mastering Grant Applications - £265 (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Format: Full day in-person or online live
Strengths
- • UK-focused, current guidance
- • Practical exercises with feedback
- • Experienced trainers
- • Includes templates/resources
Weaknesses
- • Expensive (£265)
- • Limited follow-up support
- • One-size-fits-all approach
Verdict: Best comprehensive one-day training. Worth investment if employer paying.
2. NCVO: Winning Bids & Proposals - £145 (⭐⭐⭐½)
Format: Half-day online
- ✓ Good introduction for beginners
- ✓ NCVO member discount (£195 non-members)
- ✓ Covers basics well
- ✗ Too short for depth
- ✗ Limited practical exercises
Verdict: Solid starter course, but won't make you expert.
3. CharityComms: Grant Writing Masterclass - £95 (⭐⭐⭐)
Format: 3-hour webinar
- ✓ Affordable
- ✓ Good for refreshers
- ✗ Very basic content
- ✗ Limited interaction
- ✗ No follow-up materials
Verdict: Fine for absolute beginners on budget, but limited value.
4. Coursera: Grant Proposal (Duke University) - £39/month (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Format: 4-week self-paced online course
Course Structure:
- • Week 1: Understanding grant landscape
- • Week 2: Developing proposals
- • Week 3: Writing compelling narratives
- • Week 4: Budgets and evaluation
- ✓ Excellent content quality (university-level)
- ✓ Self-paced flexibility
- ✓ Affordable (complete in 1 month)
- ✗ US-focused (some UK translation needed)
- ✗ No live instructor feedback
Verdict: Best value for thorough self-directed learning.
5. Udemy: Grant Writing Bundle - £19-£89 (⭐⭐½)
Format: Pre-recorded video lectures
- ✓ Very cheap
- ✓ Lifetime access
- ✗ Variable quality (instructor-dependent)
- ✗ Often outdated content
- ✗ No UK-specific courses
Verdict: Hit-or-miss. Check reviews carefully before purchasing.
What You Actually Learn
| Skill | DSC | NCVO | Coursera |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funder research | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ |
| Application structure | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ |
| Persuasive writing | ✓ | ~ | ✓✓ |
| Budget development | ✓✓ | ~ | ✓ |
| UK-specific guidance | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✗ |
Our Recommendations
Best Overall: Coursera Grant Proposal (£39)
Excellent depth, flexibility, value. Only downside is US focus (easily adapted).
Best UK-Specific: DSC Grant Applications (£265)
If budget allows, most comprehensive UK-focused training available.
Best Budget Option: NCVO Winning Bids (£145)
Half-day commitment, solid introduction, UK-relevant content.
Alternative: On-the-Job Learning
Courses provide frameworks, but real expertise comes from practice:
- Free resources: Funder guidance documents often better than courses
- Mentoring: Shadow experienced grant writer (1 day = more value than course)
- Practice: Write 10 applications > take 3 courses
- Feedback: Request detailed funder feedback after rejections
Final Verdict
Best Value: Coursera Duke University Course (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
£39 for comprehensive, university-quality training beats expensive day courses. Invest saved £200+ in grant software or professional review instead.