Join us for Mastering Grants: From Finding Funds to Powerful Proposals, brought to you by The Oregon Coast Visitors Association and Siuslaw Vision. This year’s workshop expands on past success with new, hands-on learning opportunities, practical tools, and timely insights – including how to use AI effectively and ethically in the grant writing process.

Designed for nonprofit professionals, board members, and community volunteers, this workshop will provide practical knowledge to help you develop competitive, ethical grant proposals – and better understand what funders are really looking for. We’re excited to welcome Zack Martin, founder and owner of Tactical Adaptability Group and AI expert, who will be leading a session on using AI in an effective and ethical way to support the grant writing process. We welcome back Susy Lacer, Grant Professional Certified, who will be leading a session on grant prospecting. Jesse Dolin of the Oregon Coast Visitors Association will invite us to “think like a funder,” and will host a round table forum and Q&A session with our presenters. And Miles Phillips, with Oregon Sea Grant and Oregon State University Extension will share briefly about how to work with OSU Extension to help move your community tourism ideas forward.

This year’s event features a series of focused sessions, each including a presentation followed by ample time for questions, discussion, and real-world application. Please bring your tablets/laptops for the AI session if you want to get hands-on with the tools.

Workshop Session Topics

Smarter Grant Writing: Using AI Effectively & Ethically – presented by Zack Martin, Tactical Adaptability Group

Curious about how AI can support your grant writing process, but not sure where to start? This session will introduce key AI concepts and guide participants through creating a simple, practical tool to help streamline proposal development. Learn how AI can assist with outlining, drafting, and refining content – while keeping the human story and impact at the center. Walk away with strategies to save time, strengthen your proposals, and use AI in a thoughtful and ethical way.

Find the Funders: Grant Prospecting – presented by Susy Lacer, Grant Professional Certified

Your organization is grant ready, you’ve identified the need, and you’ve designed a project that will address that need - now how do you find funding to accomplish the work? This session will provide an overview of where to look for potential grant funding sources, how to determine solid funder:project alignment, tips on creating an annual grants calendar, and considerations for which sources to pursue first.

Think Like a Grant Reviewer: Presenters Round Table Forum & Q&A – led by Jesse Dolin, Oregon Coast Visitors Association

What makes a grant application stand out to funders? This interactive forum will offer insights from the funder’s perspective on why some proposals rise to the top. Learn what reviewers are really looking for, common strengths of successful applications, and pitfalls to avoid. Bring your questions and gain valuable, real-world perspective to strengthen your future proposals.

Working With Extension: Using Grants to Move Community Tourism Ideas Forward – presented by Miles Phillips, Professor of Practice with Oregon Sea Grant and Oregon State University Extension

This brief talk explains how grant writing is part of the university and Extension system and how communities can partner with Oregon Sea Grant and OSU Extension to strengthen outdoor recreation and tourism grant proposals. Miles will outline practical ways to collaborate with Extension as a project and funding partner.

How You Can Participate:

Participants are encouraged to bring questions, share experiences, and engage with both presenters and peers. Whether you are new to grant seeking or looking to strengthen your existing skills, you’ll leave with actionable strategies and greater confidence. Please bring your tablets/laptops for the AI session if you want to get hands-on with the tools.

Networking Opportunities:

Enjoy a provided lunch with informal networking. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, share ideas, and build relationships within the local nonprofit community.

Following the event, join us for happy hour — enjoy appetizers, drinks, conversations, and beautiful ocean views from Driftwood Shores Conference Center!

Event Location:

This workshop will be held at Driftwood Shores Resort & Conference Center, offering a comfortable oceanfront setting for learning, collaboration, and connection.

Caretaker stipend: If you need a stipend towards child care or elder care so you can attend the event, please reach out to vision@siuslawvision.org.

About Our Presenters & Hosts

About Susy Lacer, GPC: Since 2004, Susy has completed and assisted with successful proposals to private and corporate foundations, and local, state and federal funding programs. These awards have supported youth organizations, libraries, economic development agencies, businesses, museums, port districts, municipalities, social services, the arts, schools, health care, and more. Her work focuses on rural communities.

Susy earned the Grant Professional Certified credential in 2011; she is one of only nine people in Oregon to hold a GPC. This accredited credential recognizes proficiency in standards comprising demonstrated achievement, tenure in the profession, education, and a commitment to service for public and private philanthropy. The credential is offered by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, Inc., an affiliate of the Grant Professionals Association. Members of the Association adhere to a Code of Ethics and are committed to serving the greater public good by practicing the highest ethical and professional standards.

About Zack Martin, Tactical Adaptability Group: Zack gained experience in AI engineering and product management at an early-stage "AI for data analytics" tech startup. Prior to that, he worked in operations and supply chain strategy at a Fortune 100 retail company.

Zack has consulted for small-to-medium size businesses, startups, and nonprofit organizations and facilitated multiple in-person and virtual workshops on how those organizations can implement AI responsibly and effectively. His focus is always on delivering value, and preserving the unique talents of humans while tasking AI with the mundane. Zack’s consultancy, Tactical Adaptability Group, helps people make strategic and tactical decisions and specializes in helping people get things done with emerging technology.

About Jesse Dolin, Oregon Coast Visitors Association: Jesse Dolin is the Destination Developer for the Central Coast region, where his family has lived for multiple generations. He formerly served as the Economic Development Catalyst for the City of Florence, where he worked to bring economic opportunities to the Florence community. His role at OCVA has allowed him to expand upon that work and continue building relationships, while at the same time working on initiatives that preserve and conserve the natural environment.

About Miles Phillips, Oregon State University: Miles Phillips is a Professor of Practice with Oregon Sea Grant and Oregon State University Extension, leading the Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Program and working with rural and coastal communities on tourism and recreation development.

The Oregon Coast Visitors Association is a coast-wide organization dedicated to creating an enriched experience for all. Through practices focused on stewardship, inclusion, and cultural respect, we inspire visitors and support local industry by promoting a healthy, collaborative tourism network. https://visittheoregoncoast.com

Siuslaw Vision convenes, catalyzes, and connects individuals and organizations who want to improve quality of life for people living in the Siuslaw region of Western Lane County Oregon. We help people implement locally-owned solutions that address community-identified goals. Siuslaw Vision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting our Siuslaw region’s community-led Vision — please talk to us about how your donations help support our work! https://siuslawvision.org

Mastering Grants: From Finding Funds to Powerful Proposals

Learn What Funders Look For, and How to Deliver It