Strategic Grant Planning 2026
General Information
Total duration: 30+ hours of content + 3 months of optional private mentoring
Format: 100% asynchronous online (includes videos, templates, forums, and private mentoring)
Language: English
Certification: Grant Writer Lab / International Fundraising Academy
Launch date: November 10, 2025
Investment
Investment Option 1: USD 250
Methodology: Self-study version (without mentoring)
Includes: 100% asynchronous access, downloadable materials, digital certificate.
Access to exclusive bonus: AI Prompt Pack for Fundraisers 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“20 professional prompts for analyzing calls for proposals, filtering eligibility, drafting paragraphs, and evaluating proposals with AI without violating copyright.”
Investment Option 2: USD 500
Option: Premium Version (3 months of private mentoring)
Includes: Self-study + 3 personalized sessions (1 per month), review of the 2026 plan, personalized feedback.
ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE BONUS: AI Prompt Pack for Fundraisers 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“100 professional prompts for analyzing calls for proposals, filtering eligibility, drafting paragraphs, and evaluating proposals with AI without violating copyright.”
EXCLUSIVE HIGH-VALUE BONUS: How to apply for European Union (EU) calls for proposals ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Objectives
Guide teams and professionals in the third sector in developing their 2026 annual fundraising plan, through a step-by-step process that integrates context analysis, donor mapping, strategic planning, and a realistic application schedule.
Demystify the application process for international grants, including donors such as:
· European Union (EU)
· US Government (USGov)
· GIZ / German Cooperation
· LUXDEV / Luxembourg Cooperation
· Multilateral agencies and global funds
· Global private foundations (Grantmaking Foundations)
· Nordic and European non-EU cooperation
· Regional development banks and funds
· Corporate philanthropy and impact investing
· Regional networks and thematic funds
Transfer knowledge, best practices, and immediately applicable tools to shorten the learning curve vs. practical application.
Contents
Topic I: Grant Diagnosis 2026
Main objective: Evaluate current strengths and weaknesses in fundraising.
Deliverable: Self-assessment + Institutional maturity checklist.
Topic II: Strategy Definition 2026
Main objective: Formulate SMART objectives and fundraising goals aligned with institutional mission and priorities.
Deliverable: Fundraising Strategy Canvas.
Topic III: Opportunity Radar 2026
Main objective: Identify and prioritize strategic donors according to eligibility, thematic focus, and region.
Deliverable: Radar + Customized mini database.
Topic IV: Designing the Annual Application Plan
Main objective: Develop the schedule of proposals, dates, and responsible parties.
Deliverable: Editable 2026 Grant Calendar.
Topic V: Plan Management and Monitoring
Main objective: Incorporate metrics, dashboards, and AI tools to monitor progress.
Deliverable: Basic dashboard or Power BI/Excel template.
How to apply for European Union (EU) calls for proposals
Special Module
Special Module
How to apply for European Union (EU) calls for proposals
General objective
To provide participants with the tools to identify, interpret, and correctly apply for European Union calls for proposals, understanding their funding mechanisms, eligibility criteria, and proposal structure.
Specific objectives
- Understand the main EU cooperation and financing instruments for for international programs and projects.
- Correctly interpret a standard call for proposals.
- Master the application formats and practical guides (concept note, full application form, budget form, logical framework).
- Prepare an EU-ready draft proposal, aligned with the evaluation criteria (relevance, design, sustainability, cost-effectiveness).
Contents
Main contents
1. Introduction to the EU funding system
- How EU international cooperation works.
- Main programs:
- EuropeAid (INTPA y NEAR)
- NDICI – Global Europe (2021–2027)
- Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, EU4Youth, EU-LAC Fund, among others.
- Thematic priorities: governance, environment, gender equality, human rights, sustainable development, innovation.
2. Identification and analysis of calls for proposals
- Where to look for calls for proposals (Funding & Tenders Portal, EU Delegations).
- How to read key documents:
- Guidelines for Applicants (GfA)
- Annexes & Application Pack
Critical elements:
- Overall/specific objective
- Geographical and thematic priorities
- Eligibility requirements (NGOs, consortia, countries)
- Minimum/maximum budget and co-financing.
3. Preparation of proposals (EU format)
- Structure of the proposal: Concept Note → Full Application.
- Relevance of the action.
- Design of the action: intervention logic, logical framework, activities, indicators.
- Sustainability and management.
- Detailed budget (Annex B – Budget).
4. Evaluation and scoring criteria
- Official EU criteria:
- Relevance (30 pts)
- Design of the Action (25 pts)
- Sustainability (15 pts)
- Cost-effectiveness (10 pts)
- Capacity of the Applicant (20 pts)
- Tips for achieving high scores.
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them.
5. Strategy for EU consortia and alliances
- How to identify European or regional partners.
- Memoranda of understanding and leadership roles.
- Networking platforms: Capacity4Dev, EU-LAC Digital, Devex, Funding & Tenders Partners Search.
HAND-ON ACTIVITIES
Activities
- Guided analysis of a real EU call for proposals
(Funding & Tenders Portal: ejemplo Global Gateway, Erasmus+, NDICI).
→ Participants will identify requirements, budget, and eligibility criteria. - “Relevance” workshop: writing two paragraphs justifying the action (with peer review).
- Mini EU Logical Framework exercise with SMART indicators and sources of verification.
- EU Concept Note template to be completed during the workshop.
Materials and templates included
- Practical guide: “How to read an EU call for proposals step by step”
- Editable Concept Note template (Word)
- Simplified EU budget template (Excel)
- Eligibility and evaluation criteria checklist (PDF)
- Visual guide: “From Concept Note to Full Application” (PowerPoint)
- Glossary of EU terms
Practical application project
“Simulated EU 2026 call for proposals”
Each participant or team will choose a real call for proposals and will prepare:
- Complete Concept Note (max. 3 pages)
- Executive Summary
- Mini Budget
→ Final assignment evaluated using a rubric (1–4 levels).
OPTIONAL BONUS
- Power BI template / Dashboard for EU calls for proposals 2026, with filters by country, sector, and amount.
- AI prompts for:
- Summarize Guidelines for Applicants.
- Extract key requirements.
Generate project ideas aligned with EU priorities.
Get in touch with us
Questions?
E-mail: mvidea@grantwriter-lab.com
Grant Writer Lab
Schedule
Abre hoy | 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. |
