Before I even began seeking out internship opportunities, I knew that I needed to prioritize those offering experiences in planning and writing grant proposals. Grant writers and coordinators are highly sought after in both public and private sectors, which can provide a viable career path for those with liberal arts backgrounds. When I began this internship in June, one of my first projects was seeking out grant opportunities on behalf of the Walton County Heritage Association. Not only would this give me valuable career experience, but it could possibly help secure additional funding for the WCHA’s mission in preserving and promoting Walton County’s history.
Through my research, I identified several grant opportunities, ranging from federal grants through the National Endowment for the Arts to local grants through the St. Joe Foundation. After conferring with my supervisor, we decided to pursue the General Programming Support Grant from the Florida Department of State. We believed that since this grant had a wide range of applications, it would be a good fit for the needs of this organization. If the application is accepted, the funds secured from this grant would go toward buying equipment that would allow the WCHA to expand its digital programming through interpretive videos and a publicly available database of our collection. We would also be able to start updating the brick and mortar museum exhibits through improved signage. While pursuing a state level grant for a first time grant proposal is ambitious for both myself and this organization, we decided it would be a valuable experience for everyone involved, even if our application is not successful.
This project was by far the largest undertaking I took on for this internship. Before even beginning the application, identifying grant opportunities and constructing a proposal budget took several days of work over the course of a few weeks. Finalizing the written components of the application took an additional two weeks. Finishing this grant proposal was a highly collaborative effort between myself, my supervisor, and the WCHA leadership. It was a long and strenuous process with multiple unforeseen obstacles and moments of frustration, but pushing through and making it to the finish line was incredibly rewarding. Regardless of the Department of State’s decision on our application, I am proud to have taken part in the WCHA’s first major grant proposal.
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