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Canadian Professional Grant Development

Live Online Workshop
Feb 05 - Feb 06, 2026
10:30a - 6:00p (Eastern Time)
$495.00

This two-day workshop equips Canadian grant writers, researchers, administrators, and nonprofit professionals with practical skills to succeed in today’s competitive funding environment. Aligned with the 2025 Canadian funding landscape, the training covers Tri-Council agencies, provincial funders, and foundations, guiding participants through the full grant development process, from shaping fundable ideas to writing strong proposals, budgets, and work plans. Participants also gain insight into how proposals are reviewed and scored. A dedicated session on the ethical and effective use of AI demonstrates how AI can support grant seeking and writing while maintaining compliance and professional standards. Participants leave with draft materials, practical tools, and strategies they can immediately apply.

You will learn the essentials of Canadian grant writing, such as:

  • Searching and applying for Tri-Council (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), foundation and corporate donors
  • Addressing the guidelines of proposals
  • Identifying and effectively writing the key elements of a proposal
  • Integrating each component of the grant into the final product
  • Packaging a professional grant submission
  • Ethical and effective use of AI

Dr. Maria Esformes

Dr. Maria Esformes

Dr. Maria Esformes has lectured and taught for the Grant Training Center for over ten years. In her extensive career as an academic, she taught at such institutions as Harvard University, University of Massachusetts, University of Washington, University of South Florida, and the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She was also a visiting scholar at Oxford University. Dr. Esformes has written and received major research and programmatic grants from such donors as the Mellon Foundation, Skirball Foundation, Maurice Amado Foundation, American Philosophical Society, and various government grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Science Foundation, and the Fulbright Commission.

Dr. Esformes has participated on many grant review panels for internal University grants and for government grants. Most recently she has reviewed grants for the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Dr. Esformes received her B.A. from Portland State University (Portland, Oregon), M.A. from the University of Washington (Seattle, Washington), and her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado (Boulder, Colorado).

Day 1 – Grant Seeking Government &Foundations & Core Writing Skills
All times in Eastern Time

10:30 – 11:00 am | Welcome & Introductions
11:00 – 11:30 am | Overview of Materials & 2-Day Training
11:30 – 11:45 am | Break
11:45 – 12:30 pm | Introduction to Grant Writing
12:30 – 1:00 pm | Writing Exercise: Concept Paper
1:00 – 1:45 pm | Lunch
1:45 – 2:15 pm | The Writing Process: Letters of Inquiry
2:15 – 3:15 pm | Statement of Need / Significance
3:15 – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 – 4:30 pm | Individual and Group Work: Statement of Need
4:30 – 5:00 pm | Basic Proposal Elements: Timelines & Personnel
5:00 – 5:30 pm | Basic Proposal Elements: Evaluation
5:30 – 6:00 pm | Day 1 Wrap-Up
 
Day 2 – Budgets, Review Process & AI-Enhanced Grant Development
All times in Eastern Time

10:30 – 11:00 am | Review of Day 1 & Overview of Day 2
11:00 – 12:15 pm | Core Proposal Elements
12:15 – 12:30 pm | Break
12:30 – 1:00 pm | Budgets: Foundations & Tri-Council
1:00 – 1:45 pm | Lunch
1:45 – 2:45 pm | Using AI Ethically & Effectively in Grant Development
2:45 – 3:00 pm | Break
3:00 – 4:00 pm | The Review Process
4:00 – 4:15 pm | Break
4:15 – 5:15 pm | Participant Presentations
5:15 – 6:00 pm | Workshop Summary & Next Steps

Preparing for the Workshop

Begin thinking of a project you want to develop. Having a specific project in mind will help you better understand the various proposal components presented during the course. Consider potential funders, such as Tri-Council (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), foundation, and corporate donors.

If you decide to develop a proposal during the workshop, consider how you would answer the following questions:

  1. What is the need of your project?
  2. What is the significance of your project?
  3. How will you budget your proposal?
  4. What is the timeframe of the grant you are seeking?

What You Will Need

  • REQUIRED: Computer/Tablet - PC, Mac, iOS, Android, or Windows Mobile (mobile devices may require free appstore download)
  • REQUIRED: Internet connection - This is a live webinar
  • REQUIRED: Headset, headphones, or speakers - Access to a microphone or headset allows verbal questions, otherwise questions may be asked through chat box
  • Organization or Institution Information - A brief description and/or mission statement and/or current strategic plan of your institution
  • Proposals - Current, planned, or past; funded or unfunded; requests for proposals; review or judging criteria; reviewers' comments or critiques

Click on your question below to see the answer. If this page does not answer your question, feel free to contact us.

General Questions:

Q. When should I register?
Q. How can I tell if a training session is full?
Q. When do I get information about the training I registered for?
Q. Will I receive additional assistance after the class?
Q. How can I network with the other participants?
Q. Can two of us use the online training together?
Q. Can I record/receive a recording of this training?
Q. Does the Grant Training Center offer courses with partner institutions?
Q. Can I share the materials I get with friends and colleagues?

Payment Questions:

Q. Do I need to pay when I register?
Q. What types of payments do you accept?
Q. Is U.S. currency the only type accepted?

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Grant Training Center (GTC) has the sole and absolute discretion to reschedule and cancel all workshops. In the event of such a cancellation, GTC will attempt to notify attendees two weeks prior to the scheduled workshop. If a participant has paid for the cancelled workshop and is unable to attend the rescheduled session, he/she will receive either a refund or a credit toward a future workshop. If we do not hear from the attendee within 30 days, they will not be able to receive a refund.

In no event shall GTC be responsible for travel arrangements or other costs related to or arising from workshop attendance or GTC’s rescheduling or cancellation of the workshop. Participants should contact GTC prior to making travel arrangements to ensure the workshop is taking place.

If you are unable to attend the workshop and wish to receive a full refund, GTC must be notified at least seven (7) business days prior to the start of the workshop.

If you cancel less than seven business days prior to the start of the workshop, no refund will be given. Instead, you will receive credit for a future workshop, which is valid for one (1) year. No refunds will be allowed for any future workshops once credit is issued.

Force Majeure: If a workshop is canceled due to reasons of Act of God or nature, war, riot, strike, or labor dispute, the cancellation policy will not apply and the fee will transfer to the rescheduled workshop. If participants cannot attend the rescheduled date, the registration fee can be utilized for any Grant Training Center workshop of the same cost during a period of exactly one (1) year from the date of the original workshop.

Individual Membership Cancellation: Once an individual membership has been paid and processed, members will have three (3) days to cancel for a full refund. After the three (3) day period, no refunds will be issued.

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Contact and Organization Info

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Additional Services

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Group Registration

TOTAL: $495.00