76-766 Grant and Proposal Writing
9–12 units, Carnegie Mellon University
How do writers persuade organizations to fund ideas, support academic research, approve projects, or adopt proposed solutions? This course examines how proposals function in nonprofit organizations, academic research settings, public agencies, and business environments. Students analyze real proposals to understand audience expectations, evaluation criteria, and funding guidelines, then develop their own proposals tailored to specific opportunities and organizational contexts. Students will produce grant applications, academic research proposals, organizational analyses, business proposals, or other funding and approval documents aligned with their disciplinary or professional interests. Coursework emphasizes defining problems, articulating measurable goals, presenting evidence, and justifying budgets and timelines in clear, compelling language. For Professional and Technical Writing majors, the course strengthens advanced persuasive writing, strategic document design, and client-centered communication skills; for students in other disciplines, it provides practical experience developing research proposals, seeking funding, and advocating for projects in academic, nonprofit, corporate, or public-sector environments.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Fall 2026
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