Writing your first grant—or your first good grant—can feel overwhelming. This free, beginner-friendly workshop is designed to clarify, make the process more approachable, and make it more manageable.
Led by Vonnie Trumble, program officer at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County and student in the nonprofit management program in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, this interactive session is ideal for new grant writers and nonprofit leaders who want to build confidence and capacity.
While the workshop will briefly touch on Community Foundation grants, the primary focus is on grant-writing and grant-management skills that apply across funders. Participants will walk through how to prepare for a grant, assess organizational readiness, shape a clear and compelling proposal, and identify funders that are a good match for their work.
You’ll also learn practical ways to track multiple proposals, manage deadlines, and report outcomes with clarity and confidence. Along the way, participants will be introduced to tools and resources for identifying funding opportunities at the local, state, federal, and foundation levels.
This session is hands-on, practical, and designed to meet you where you are—whether you are brand new to grant writing or stepping into it as part of a broader leadership role.
As part of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, The Learning Center provides training and resources that help nonprofits that serve Elkhart County grow their capacity and deepen their impact. This workshop builds on that commitment by offering practical tools and inclusive approaches to strategic planning.
Please limit participation to four people per nonprofit organization.
About our speaker
Vonnie Trumble is a program officer focused on kids and families for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. In that role, she reviews grant applications for the Kids and Families Committee. She started at the Community Foundation in the fall of 2018 as an associate program officer for the development team and developed programming for The Learning Center. Vonnie has a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Hope College, and is currently pursuing a master’s in nonprofit administration at the University of Notre Dame. She has been the regional director for Women in Community Service Inc., the state coordinator for Dynamic Educational Systems, a substitute teacher at several schools, and has served on a number of nonprofit boards. Vonnie is also proud to be a part of 100 Women Who Care. She and her husband, Scott, have three adult children. She enjoys spending time with them, as well as reading, running, and traveling.
