Building Your Grant Calendar

Beginning February 3rd: Loving Venti is offering “Building Your Grant Calendar”:

“Nonprofit fundraising is getting harder.

Competition for grants is rising. Funder priorities are shifting. Community needs continue to grow. While we can’t control many of the external circumstances nonprofits are navigating, we can control how we organize our work, focus our time, and make decisions.

Building Your Grant Calendar is a hands-on, in-person workshop designed to help small-to-medium-sized nonprofits create a clear, strategic, and sustainable system for managing grant fundraising — so you can work smarter, not harder.

Is This Workshop Right for You?

This workshop was designed around real scenarios we see nonprofits experience every day. If several of these feel familiar, building a grant calendar may be exactly what you need.

You’re Always Reacting to Grant Deadlines

You often hear about grant opportunities at the last minute. Decisions feel rushed, submissions feel stressful, and strong opportunities are sometimes skipped simply because there isn’t enough time. A grant calendar helps you plan ahead instead of constantly reacting.

Grant Knowledge Lives in One Person’s Head

One person — often the Executive Director — knows which grants are recurring, which funders to revisit, and what’s pending. If that person is unavailable or overwhelmed, everything slows down. A grant calendar creates shared visibility and institutional memory.

You’re Unsure What Grant Funding to Expect

When budgeting or planning programs, it’s hard to estimate grant revenue. You don’t know what’s likely, what’s pending, or when decisions may come. A grant calendar helps you see your pipeline and plan with greater clarity.

Board Updates Feel Stressful or Incomplete

Your board asks for grant updates, but pulling together a clear picture takes time. Information is scattered across emails, spreadsheets, and notes. This workshop includes a grant calendar with an automated board report that makes updates easier and more consistent.

You Can’t Tell What’s Working

You’re writing grants, but you’re not sure which funders are the best fit, where you’re seeing returns, or how to improve year over year. A grant calendar allows you to track outcomes and evaluate patterns over time.

Your Grant Process Feels Messy or Disconnected

You may be using multiple spreadsheets, email folders, or informal systems that don’t quite work together. Building a centralized grant calendar simplifies your process and reduces duplication.

You Want to Grow Without Burning Out

You see opportunities to expand funding, but capacity is limited. You don’t want to do more grant writing — you want to do better grant writing. A grant calendar helps you prioritize opportunities that align with both mission and capacity.

You’re Planning for Staff or Leadership Transitions

As roles shift or new people join the organization, it becomes clear how much knowledge lives in individuals rather than systems. A grant calendar supports smoother transitions and continuity.

You’re Launching or Expanding Programs

New programs often require new funding sources, timelines, and coordination. A grant calendar helps align fundraising with program planning instead of scrambling after decisions are made.

You Want to Work More Intentionally

You’re tired of feeling behind. You want clarity, focus, and a realistic plan that supports your mission — not another tool that adds stress. A well-built grant calendar becomes a foundation for intentional fundraising work.

What You’ll Learn

In this workshop, you will:

• Build your customized grant calendar in Google Sheets using Loving Venti’s template
• Conduct effective grant research using the free Charity EZ platform
• Automate board reports and track progress in real time
• Learn how to prioritize grant opportunities based on alignment and potential return

Between sessions, participants will research and add at least 10 foundations to their grant calendar.

Workshop Structure

• Two In-Person Training Sessions (3 hours each)
• One Virtual Cohort Q&A Session
• One Virtual Individual Coaching Session per nonprofit

Coffee and snacks are provided. Participants are encouraged to support Sherman Phoenix businesses during the optional lunch hour.

Who This Workshop Is For

This workshop is designed for small-to-medium-sized nonprofits, especially organizations where one or two people manage grant fundraising — often the Executive Director.

No matter your experience level, this training focuses on building systems that are realistic, practical, and sustainable.”