Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Grant Writing (Face-to-Face)

AA 6210-01

Course: AA 6210-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: TA
CRN: 10002

Course Description

Students will become familiar with the process of grant research, writing, and compliance. Students will have the opportunity to apply theory into practice as they identify real-world organizations in need of funding, locate potential funding sources (including government, corporate, and foundation grants), write grant proposals, and submit those proposals to the funding organization. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Arts Administration students only

Required Texts

Storytelling for Grantseekers: A Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising (2nd Edition) by Cheryl A. Clarke (Jossey-Bass, 2009).

Learning Outcomes

AA6210 has 5 Learning Outcomes that build upon the Learning Outcomes of the Arts Administration Program, the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration, and the College of Performing & Visual Arts, as well as the Mission and Vision of Southern Utah University. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have gained:
  1. A familiarity with all aspects of grant writing, from research through compliance. 
  2. The tools necessary to effectively communicate the granting needs of nonprofit organizations.
  3. An understanding of the different types of granting organizations, including those at individual, local, state, and federal levels.
  4. The ability to apply scholarly theory directly into professional practice.
  5. The skills to identify and critically examine current issues as they relate to grant writing.

Course Requirements

Class work is broken down into 4 areas: Contribution, a Grants Briefing, a Grant Proposal Project, and two Experiential Learning Projects.
  1. Contribution [20%]: Students are expected to come to class prepared and to actively contribute to discussions on both the assigned readings and Grants Briefings (see below). This means students are taking an active role in the course: engaging in the conversation and being respectful of the other students and the instructor. Students should add (or contribute) to the educational and collaborative atmosphere of the class. This should be an organic, collaborative, and insightful process. Remember, contribution is not necessarily about having the right answers. It is simply allowing for Critical Thinking, trying out new ideas and positions, and helping others consider all sides of an issue. 
  2. Grants Briefing [10%]: Students are required to lead a class discussion on a grants-related news topic once during the semester. Students not leading the discussion are expected to have read the source material and contribute to the discussion, getting points for such participation as part of the weekly Contribution grade. The assigned student must:
    1. Choose a recent (within the last two years) news article, blog entry, video, etc., that deals with grant writing (or general fund development) in the arts,
    2. Share the source material (and questions to think about while reading) with the class by the Friday before the assigned week as a comment in the GB Discussion Forum, and
    3. Facilitate the discussion on the GB during the assigned class period.
  3. Grant Proposal Project [30%]: Students will choose a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization* for which to write one full grant proposal. Drafts of individual parts of the proposal will be due throughout the semester as they relate to current class discussion. The grant proposal for this "Focus Organization" will include an Executive Summary, Organization Information, Statement of Need, Project Description, Budget, and Conclusion. Further information, examples, and formatting instructions are found in the individual assignment sheets throughout the modules for Weeks 06-10, and the GPP assignment sheet in the module for Week 11. 
  4. Experiential Learning Projects [40%]: Students will apply grant writing theory directly into practice through work on two (2) Experiential Learning Projects. These projects, done for nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, can include (but are not limited to): writing a grant proposal, performing an "Are You Grant Ready" assessment, researching funding opportunities, creating a grant writing strategic plan, filling out a Grant Compliance Report, etc. The ELPs are chosen by the student and approved by the instructor. Upon completion, the (1) Deliverable (for example, a database) and the (2) Narrative (a paper explaining/reflecting on the process of the project) is submitted here in Canvas. Further information, examples, and formatting instructions are found in the ELP assignment sheets in the module for Week 14. 
*Students can use the same 501(c)(3) organization for the Grant Proposal Project and the Experiential Learning Projects if they so desire, as long as there is no overlap. More information can be found in the assignment sheets for each assignment.

Course Outline

Each class period will normally consist of two types of assessments weekly: (1) a discussion on the assigned Readings and Grants Briefing, and (2) written assignments(s) as related to the Grant Proposal Project and/or the Experiential Learning Projects.
Course Assessment Table
Assessment / Course Outcome
Readings / 1, 2, 3
Grants Briefing / 1, 2, 3, 5
Grant Proposal Project / 1, 2, 3, 4
Experiential Learning Projects / 2, 4, 5

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All assignments and readings are expected to be completed by the due date/time listed on Canvas. Students earn credit by completing the assignments in the same time frame given every other student in the class.
  • Contribution: Since the weekly Contribution grade is based on conversing with your fellow students, full points cannot be made up when absent. Students can make up some of the missed points, but must make arrangements for such with the instructor. 
  • Assignments: For written assignments turned in to the instructor, ten percent (10%) will be deducted for each 24-hour period past the deadline. This means that no assignment will be eligible for points if it is more than ten (10) days beyond the due date.
In the event of circumstances preventing a student from completing an assignment on time, the student should let the Instructor know before the due date, obtaining approval for a deadline extension. Such extensions are up to the discretion of the instructor. 

Attendance Policy

There is no traditional attendance policy for this course. Students are simply expected to come to class each week prepared and to actively contribute. Along with assignments, exams, and presentations, this 'active contribution' is part of the student's grade. 

Instructor Feedback & General Q & A

The instructor commits to grading and giving feedback on assignments within five business days of the due date, and responding to emails within two business days. Assignment review begins after the submission deadline.
There is an open, ungraded discussion forum students can utilize to ask general questions related to the course. Students can navigate to that forum via the home page, or can follow this direct link: General Q&A Discussion Forum. Please note: These questions are visible to everyone, so if a question deals with grades or other personal matters, please email the instructor directly. Question about the Arts Administration Program in general can be asked in the Arts Administration Student Hub. If you do not have access to the Hub yet, please contact your Advisor.

Classroom Climate

Students are expected to model good Expedition Behavior (as defined by the National Outdoor Leadership School) in all course activities in any class in the Arts Administration Program. Expedition Behavior "encompasses actions that serve the health and function of a group or community when working together toward common goals." Principles of Expedition Behavior include:
  • Mission: Serve the mission (Course Description) and goals (Course Outcomes) of the group.
  • Concern: Be as concerned for others as you are for yourself.
  • Dignity & Respect: Treat everyone as you would be treated.
  • Support: Support leadership and growth in everyone.
  • Kindness: Be kind and open-hearted.
  • Organization: Do your share and stay organized.
  • Help: Help others but don’t routinely do their work.
  • Integrity: Model integrity by being honest and accountable.
  • Concise: Say yes and deliver, or say no clearly if you cannot or will not do something.
  • Constructive Resolution: Resolve conflict in a productive manner.
This class is intended to test higher-level cognitive abilities. You are expected to be active in your learning and think, question, problem-solve, and debate information presented in class. The instructor will do their best to create an environment in which expressions of uncertainty, conjecture, and alternative or competing views can be freely shared. The same is expected of students. Remember, there is a big difference between debating and attacking. The latter will not be tolerated and the instructor reserves the right to excuse from discussions any student who compromises this preferred class climate. As we navigate unscripted challenges, please be flexible and extend grace and kindness to the instructor, to classmates, and to yourself. We are in this together and we are all doing our best.

Additional Arts Administration General Syllabus Statements

AA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY: The use of AI (artificial intelligence) programs is allowed in Arts Administration courses within the parameters outlined below.
  • AI may be used in written assignments submitted directly to the instructor. Remember, AI cannot do all your writing for you. It can, however, be a tool for you to use if you can harness and proficiently utilize this technology ethically and responsibly. For example, using AI to help organize your thoughts, create outlines, or to help proofread your papers is a perfectly acceptable application.
    • GRADING: The same minimum standards will be in place for each written assignment, no matter if you are using AI in your writing process or not. Assignments that fail to meet the minimum rubric requirements specified will be graded as such. Please note that many assignments in this program will ask for your personal analysis, opinion, experience, and may also ask you to incorporate in-class discussion elements. AI cannot do any of those things effectively. As a result, choosing to use AI may ultimately not be the most efficient use of your time, so you should always carefully consider whether or not you want to use it.
    • ACCURACY: AI is prone to writing factually incorrect statements, inventing fake quotes from real sources, and inventing entirely fake sources. It is your responsibility to double-check that any AI-assisted work you submit is free from these errors, verifying information before submitting it. Work containing factual errors or fictitious quotes/sources will be graded accordingly.
    • CITATIONS: If you use AI in your writing, it must be cited. As there is no penalty for using AI appropriately, so there is no benefit to lying about or trying to conceal your use of AI in this class. Concealing or lying about your use of AI is akin to plagiarism and will result in your assignment receiving a zero. 
  • AI may NOT be used in activities that require direct personal participation or presentation. AI may be used to brainstorm, refine, or proofread, provided the final participation or presentation itself is created and delivered by the student.
    • DISCUSSION FORUMS: These forums are conversations between you, your classmates, and the instructor. As such, we expect you to come to these discussion forums as your authentic self.
    • PRESENTATIONS: Presentations are intended to reflect the student’s own voice, presence, and engagement with the material. Students may not use AI to generate or deliver presentations on their behalf. This includes, but is not limited to, AI-generated voices or AI-produced video content.
AA GRADE POLICY: In compliance with the SUU Graduate Policy regarding grades (Policy 6.62), students enrolled in an Arts Administration Graduate Program (MFA or MA) are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, AA graduate students will not receive credit for a course where they achieved less than a 2.0 (C). Please see the current Arts Administration Program Graduate Student Handbook and Policy 6.62 for further information. Students in Arts Administration courses, but not part of one of the two AA degree tracks (MA or MFA), are still beholden to Policy 6.62, but should also be aware of any grade policies within their own graduate programs. Grading Scale:
A = 100 % to 94%
A- = 93% to 90%
B+ = 89% to 87%
B = 86% to 84%
B- = 83% to 80%
C+ = 79% to 77%
C = 76% to 74%
F = 73% to 0%

AA MISSION STATEMENT: The Arts Administration Program develops graduates who advocate for the arts while balancing administrative systems with the creative process in an effort to ensure the artistic integrity and economic sustainability of arts and culture organizations. 
AAAE STANDARDS STATEMENT: The Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE) represents college and university graduate and undergraduate programs in arts administration. AAAE, the accreditation-equivalent body for the Arts Administration Program at SUU, has set forth national standards by which the SUU AA Program abides, informing all curricular decisions within the Program. For more information on these standards or AAAE, visit www.artsadministration.org.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.