Students in Marika Seigel’s HU3629 Grant Writing course have begun the long process of seeking funding for various local organizations and businesses. The class not only details the grant writing process with class readings and exercises, but also offers the students a unique opportunity to get real life job experience.
Community members who needed help from the class presented their ideas, projects, and goals to the students.
The students, in groups, chose who they want to work for, and will be collecting data, budgeting, doing literature reviews and research, and applying for grants on behalf of the client.
At the end of the semester the groups will have written actual grant proposals, intended for submission to foundations.
Local clients include: BHK Child Development Center, HERCULES (Husky Emergency Response Coalition Under Law Enforcement Supervision), KBIC Ojibwa Language Preservation, Copper Harbor Trails Club, Finlandia University’s Fiber and Design program, K-SNAG, and PANK magazine.
With the help of students from this course, two years ago the Copper Country Humane Society was successfully granted money for its spay and neuter program.
The grant, which is renewable, is still a huge asset for the Humane Society. Marika hopes to see more organizations get funding this year.
“The groups this semester are very local and self contained; I’m hoping to see some positive results,” she says. If the groups do not get successful funding, their work will still be greatly appreciated by the organizations.
“The companies can still use the proposals the students have written for future grant applications,” says Marika. “This is a great opportunity for students to get experience working with the real world, which can be trickier than classroom work, and polish their technical writing skills. It’s really great to be able to help out the business – and our community.”

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