BEMIDJI, Minn. — Nate Dorr will provide an overview of grant writing basics during a noon Brown Bag Lunch program Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation, located at 3801 Bemidji Avenue North.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a bag lunch for the one-hour session, which begins at noon and is free to the public.

Dorr will outline essential elements of the grant writing process and will also describe the key parts of a six-week grant writing course he has scheduled in January. That six-week course will address topics such as funding parameters, grant sources and writing tips in greater detail.

“Grant writing is basically the ability to apply financial skills, evaluation skills, statistics, persuasive writing and technical writing to a project, and being somewhat passionate about the organization you are working for,” Dorr explained.

“Grant funding is critical for nonprofit organizations and grass root efforts. In the past decade or more, government has cut spending on many social, environmental, workforce, and similar programs. Instead, they often contract out these services and offer grants to nonprofits with knowledge of what might work locally.”

Individuals responsible for the grant process within area organizations would benefit from the December 10 session, as would employees of businesses that partner with nonprofits in seeking grant resources.

Dorr, a regional analyst with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, analyzes trends in employment, wages, industry sectors, demographics and other factors of the northwest Minnesota economy. Over the last six years, he has used his background in youth programs, low-income organizations, the economic sector and workforce development to write grants. He is currently a volunteer grant writer for the proposed Bemidji skate and bike park.

He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota, and has held positions with the Minnesota Community Action Association, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Legislature and the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs in Minneapolis.

The session is part of free training and informational presentations offered by the CRI each month. A full schedule can be found at http://www.cri-bsu.org/BrownbagSeries.html. For more information, contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; toll free, (888) 738-3224; email, cri@bemidjistate.edu; or at http://www.cri-bsu.org.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Dec. 10 – noon – 1 p.m. – Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation Brown Bag Lunch training session on grant writing. Presenter: Nate Dorr, regional analyst, Minn. Dept. of Employment and Economic Development. Location: CRI; 3801 Bemidji Ave. N.; Bemidji, Minn. Cost: free; participants encouraged to bring a lunch. For information: (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3224; http://www.cri-bsu.org.