Best institutions to study Grantsmanship
A program that prepares individuals to develop and write grant proposals to support an organization or cause.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 5 Grantsmanship students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0502, a specialization of Business/Corporate Communications (CIP 52.05), and leads most directly to the Fundraisers occupation (BLS SOC 13-1131).
About Grantsmanship programs
A program that prepares individuals to develop and write grant proposals to support an organization or cause. Includes instruction in identifying grant opportunities, developing an effective proposal, budget justifications, and developing a working relationship with the funder.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Grantsmanship program, part of the Business/Corporate Communications field, is designed to equip individuals with the skills necessary to develop and write effective grant proposals. This program focuses on identifying grant opportunities and building relationships with funders to support various organizations and causes. It is ideal for those looking to pursue a career in fundraising or related fields.
Students in the Grantsmanship program will learn essential skills such as writing, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework covers topics like budget justifications, proposal development, and effective communication with potential donors, preparing graduates for real-world fundraising challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Grantsmanship graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Grantsmanship completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 5 |
CIP 52.0502 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 1 institutions for Grantsmanship, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 54% | — |
Offered in 1 states
Where Grantsmanship graduates come from. Each state links to all Business/Corporate Communications programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 5 | Indiana University - Indianapolis5 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-1131, Fundraisers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Grantsmanship program often find careers as fundraisers, with an average annual wage of $66,490. The job outlook for fundraisers is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.3% and approximately 10,200 annual openings. A typical educational requirement for these positions is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0502
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fundraisersprimary SOC 13-1131 | $72,550 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~10,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Editors SOC 27-3041 | $77,920 | +0.6% Little or no change | ~9,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Technical Writers SOC 27-3042 | $90,390 | +0.9% Little or no change | ~4,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Fundraising Managers SOC 11-2033 | $125,470 | +4.2% About as fast as average | ~3,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Grantsmanship programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
- Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
- Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
- Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
- Create or update donor databases.
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
Tools and technology used
Other Business/Corporate Communications specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Business/Corporate Communications (CIP 52.05).
Common questions
What credential do I earn upon completion?+
You will earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
Currently, there is one college offering this program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, and active listening.
What careers can I pursue after this program?+
You can pursue careers as fundraisers, editors, or technical writers.
What is the CIP code for Grantsmanship?+
Grantsmanship is CIP 52.0502 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Business/Corporate Communications (CIP 52.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to develop and write grant proposals to support an organization or cause. Includes instruction in identifying grant opportunities, developing an effective proposal, budget justifications, and developing a working relationship with the funder.
How many institutions offer Grantsmanship programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Grantsmanship graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 5 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Business/Corporate Communications graduates.
How much do Grantsmanship graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Fundraisers occupation, which Grantsmanship most directly leads to, pays a median of $72,550 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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