A common question on grant applications is “How will you sustain this program after the grant funding is over?” Many grant writers will want to answer glibly, “Write more grants, of course!” But, what should you really include in your answer about a sustainability plan?

In this session, presenter Julie Assel, GPC, CGMS, guides participants through the major components of the sustainability question. In addition to learning how to provide an honest answer to this question, this session highlights all the things you can tell funders about program sustainability beyond finances; such as alignment with your strategic plan, staffing plans or challenges, and alignment to the needs of the community.  You’ll also learn how to develop a more complete answer to financial sustainability that demonstrates how your organization manages fundraising for long-term program sustainability and growth.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Learn the most common mistakes when writing about sustainability
  • Learn connections between specific grant proposal requirements and sustainability
  • Learn factors impacting your organization’s sustainability plan
  • Learn the connection between awareness, education and advocacy and sustainability
  • Learn how to share your comprehensive development plan


Presented by:
Julie Assel, GPC, CGMS

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome: Let's Get Started

    2. Video: Grant Writing Basics - Demonstrating Sustainability

    3. Session Evaluation

    4. Quiz: Grants 101 - Demonstrating Sustainability

About this course

  • $25.00
  • 4 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

The trainers for these sessions are all credentialed grant professionals (GPCs) through the Grant Professional Certification Institute, Approved Trainers with the Grant Professionals Association, and/or credentialed Certified Grant Management Specialists (CGMS) through the National Grant Management Association. All of the trainings in this series align with the CGMS exam classification system and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute’s competencies and skills, and are approved for Continuing Education Units (CEU) by GPCI and CFRE International.