About the Facilitator

Spark the Fire Grantwriting Classes uses brain-based learning methods in highly interactive sessions to teach professionals to write and manage grants. In each of our trainings, participants receive a workbook and participate in problem-based and case-based discussions that build from
students’ current knowledge. The result is that participants will learn more deeply and move knowledge to long-term memory.

Established in 2003, Spark the Fire Grantwriting Classes has helped more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations increase funding through grantwriting. Referenced by participants as “the best grantwriting class I have ever taken,” Spark the Fire Grantwriting Classes is proud to use brain-based learning research as the basis for our trainings.

Allison Jones (formerly Shirk) is the founder of Spark the Fire Grantwriting Classes. She is one of only twenty-five approved trainers in the country for the Grant Professionals Certification Institute and is an approved trainer of the Grant Professionals Association. She is a grantwriting professor at Western Washington University, Evergreen College, and Seattle Central College. Allison speaks at nonprofit conference across the country and has 23 years of experience in grantwriting and nonprofit management. She is devoted to teaching and provides highly interactive, student-centric learning experiences. Allison is also a columnist for Candid.org's blog.

Sponsored by Nonprofit Practices Institute in partnership with Thriving Together NCW.