3-part series: Getting your organization grant-ready

Getting grant funding isn’t just about writing a great proposal—it’s about making sure your organization is truly grant-ready from the start. That’s why FreeWill and Grant Ready Kentucky are teaming up to bring you a free, three-part webinar series designed to help your nonprofit build a strong foundation for grant success.

In these 90-minute sessions, hosted by Melissa Vermillion, Chief Strategy Officer at Grant Ready Kentucky, you’ll learn how to assess your organization's grant readiness, craft a compelling case for funding, and develop a rock-solid implementation plan that funders will love. Whether you're new to grants, seeking new ways to diversify your funding, or looking to improve your strategy, these training sessions will give you actionable steps to boost your funding potential.

• Session 1: Are You Grant Ready? – Tuesday, March 4 at 12pm ET
• Session 2: Granting Your Wishes – Thursday, March 20 at 12pm ET
• Session 3: Crafting a Compelling Needs Statement – Tuesday, April 1 at 12pm ET

Save your spot today and take your grant-seeking skills to the next level!

You can learn more about each of the sessions below.

Session 1: Are You Grant Ready? - Tuesday, March 4th at 12pm ET

Winning grants isn’t just about writing a strong proposal—it’s about making sure your organization is truly grant-ready. In this session, we’ll walk through the key elements nonprofits need to set themselves up for success, from identifying funding needs and assessing eligibility to building a strong team and gathering the right documentation. We’ll also cover how to manage grants after they’re awarded, including financial tracking, reporting, and compliance. Whether you're new to grants or looking to sharpen your approach, this session will give you the tools to strengthen your grant-seeking strategy.

Session 2: Granting Your Wishes -  Thursday, March 20th at 12pm ET

A great idea isn’t enough—you need a clear, structured plan to bring it to life. This session will break down how to create a strong grant implementation plan that sets your nonprofit up for success. We’ll cover how to craft clear goals, set measurable objectives, and define the impact of your work to reassure funders that your project is both feasible and meaningful. You’ll also learn how logic models can help you map out your plan, making it easier to communicate your vision to funders. By the end, you’ll have a framework to turn your ideas into fundable, actionable projects.

Session 3: Crafting a Compelling Needs Statement – What’s the Problem? - Tuesday,  April 1st at 12pm ET

Your needs statement is one of the most important parts of your grant application—it’s where you make the case for why your project matters. In this session, we’ll walk through how to craft a compelling and data-driven needs statement that grabs funders’ attention. We’ll also cover common mistakes, like being too vague or focusing only on organizational needs instead of community impact. By the end, you’ll know how to use evidence and storytelling to make your funding request stand out.

About Melissa Vermillion

Melissa Vermillion is the Chief Strategy Officer at Grant Ready Kentucky, a nonprofit committed to enhancing grant readiness and capacity-building across the Commonwealth. With a rich background in higher education and community services, Melissa has dedicated over 14 years to Hazard Community and Technical College, where she served as Director of Grants and Contracts and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Planning and Research.

An educator in grant writing since 2016, Melissa is among only 12 individuals in Kentucky to earn the Grant Professional Certification from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, marking her as a pioneer within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). Her ability to secure funding is demonstrated by her success in obtaining almost $50 million through federal, state, and private foundation grants.

Before her tenure at the college, Melissa was the Director for Aging Programs in Perry County, where she significantly increased program funding, tripling resources through her grant writing and fundraising efforts. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA from Morehead State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education at the same institution.  Melissa has been married to Kevin Vermillion for 36 years and is a proud mother to two adult children, Rebekah and Alex. Her extensive experience and dedication continue to drive her commitment to advancing grant readiness and resource accessibility for under-resourced organizations throughout Kentucky.