Thanks to You, the Grant Professionals
Written by: Erica Preston
It’s exciting that it’s another International Grant Professionals Week. And it’s fitting that my schedule is full of updates to our grants curriculum that I’m working on with our internal team to push out. Last Friday, I pushed out a list of eight courses that are hitting the classroom late winter/early spring. It’s about making sure you have the best content.
This process also makes me appreciate our cadre of instructors even more. I have the privilege of working with people who have 10, 15, 20, and even 40+ years of experience. Whenever I have a question on a nuance reading of the Uniform Guidance, I’m usually only minutes away from an opinion. And usually several opinions. It gives me comfort that you’re in the hands of experienced practitioners and grant professionals.
I also want to express my appreciation to you, our students and readers. I, like many of you, am the accidental grant professional. I saw myself going forward more in some sort of project management or marketing trajectory. Then one project assignment led to many more on various grant programs. And wouldn’t you know, those project management skills have come in handy over the years.
So take a moment to appreciate yourself and your peers. The grants management specialists, program officers, and “other” professional who met the request to manage or write a grant when you were on desk duty. You’re part of a great community of collaborators making a difference in your communities all over the world.
With that in mind, take a moment to see if there are grant professional meetups in your area, or other upcoming professional meetings. Visit the GPA and NGMA calendars to learn more.