Event Success: “The GPC: Becoming a Recognized Grant Professional.”

In February, the chapter hosted a panel to talk about: “The GPC: Becoming a Recognized Grant Professional.” 

The event was a great opportunity to bring grant researchers, writers, managers, and administrators who are considering the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential together to provide an informational overview of requirements for the certification. The event featured a discussion with three Washington-area grant professionals who shared their experiences in obtaining the GPC credential, and its impact on their careers. The GPC credential is recognized as the standard for professional competency and ethical practices for the field of grantmanship and is the only known grant credential that covers the full lifecycle of the grant process. The GPC examination and certification processes are administered by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI), an independent affiliate of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA).

The Panelists were: Teri Blandon, GPC, CFRE is the Vice President for Development at PAI, which advocates for women and families to have access to contraception to improve their health, reduce poverty, and protect their environment.  She has over 20 years of nonprofit experience with different types of organizations, ranging from international development to public broadcasting. She earned her CFRE in 2007 and her GPC in 2011 -- and still remembers the stress of studying and the exhilaration of passing.

Rachel Werner, GPC, PMP, Owner and CEO of RBW Strategy, has over 12 years of grants, consulting, communications, writing, strategic planning, training, and project management experience. She provides support to clients on the full lifecycle of grants activities, project management, and strategic planning. She has worked with organizations of varying size and complexity. In addition to her GPC, she has obtained a Certificate in Grants Management and is a certified Project Management Professional.

Kitty Wojcik, GPC, CGMS is the Chief Grant Officer at KWG Grant Consultants, LLC, a Washington, DC consulting firm and is a designated subject matter expert for the GPCI and National Grant Management Association (NGMA). She is one of a handful of grant professionals nationwide with both the GPC and Certified Grant Management Specialist (CGMS) credentials. She has written, reviewed, and assisted in development of private and public agency grant applications, winning more than $235 million.

ModeratorDavid Lindeman, GPC, CFRE is President of GPA’s National Capital Area chapter and is president of Global Grant Solutions in Washington, DC. He has 20 years of experience in grant development and grant writing for nonprofit organizations, securing funding from government agencies, foundations, and multinational organizations for international programs. He is Co-Editor of the Journal of the Grant Professionals Association and obtained his GPC in 2012.