Series: The Main Street America Institute is excited to offer a special Intro to Grant Writing webinar series! In partnership with Grant Ready Kentucky, this four-session virtual webinar series covers every stage of the grant-seeking process — from assessing your grant readiness and building strong partnerships to crafting compelling proposals and creating actionable project plans. Led by expert instructor and grant writing professional Melissa Sesco Vermillion, GPC, MBA, each session is packed with practical tips, real-world examples, and interactive learning to boost your confidence and skills. Whether you’re new to grant writing or seeking to sharpen your expertise, you’ll gain the tools and insights needed to secure funding and drive your mission forward. Join us and turn your grant-writing goals into funded realities!
Session 3: A compelling problem statement is the foundation of successful grant applications. This webinar will guide you through defining community challenges clearly and effectively, emphasizing why your organization’s need for grant funding should be about more than just money. Learn how to describe target populations, identify root causes, and back up your claims with data-driven evidence. Through real-world examples, including a case study on the affordable housing crisis, you’ll gain practical insights to strengthen your grant proposals and make your organization’s mission impossible to ignore.
Instructor: Melissa Sesco Vermillion has extensive experience with state and federal grant writing as well as a particular interest in assisting rural nonprofits and communities achieve their goals. She has successfully written grant applications securing over $50 million in grant funding from public and private funders, and serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Grant Ready Kentucky.