About Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes
Professional Development Training for Leaders of Change
Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes has provided high-quality courses in grant writing, nonprofit management, and leadership since 2013. Known for delivering highly interactive, hands-on study, the course uses brain-based learning to help students reflect deeply on connecting new information to previous knowledge. This results in a deep understanding of the content for strategic application. Classes are taught nationally to nonprofit, government, educational, and tribal organizations and professionals.
The organization was founded by Allison Jones (formerly Shirk). Allison began writing grants in 2000 and has a master’s degree in adult education. She is devoted to teaching and provides highly interactive, student-centric learning experiences. Allison is a grant writing professor at Western Washington University, Evergreen College, Seattle Central College. She formerly taught for the Falmouth Institute. She is an approved grant writing trainer by the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI), and Certified Fundraising Executives (CFRE). Allison consults for the Grant Professionals Association, Instrumentl, 501 Commons, Washington Nonprofits, the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, the Idaho Nonprofit Center, the Montana Nonprofit Association, and the Puget Sound Grantwriters Association. She is a columnist for Candid.org and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Anthropology to advance the field of knowledge where philanthropy and culture connect.
View my LinkedIn Profile.
Speaking Engagements
Foundant Technologies Webinar (2024)
GPA Webinar (2024)
Midwest GPA Regional Conference Speaker (2023)
Instrumentl Webinar (2023)
Instrumentl Grant Summit (2023)
Montana State Nonprofit Conference Speaker (2023)
Idaho State Nonprofit Conference Speaker (2023)
Southwest Texas GPA Regional Conference Speaker (2023)
ILearnLive Speaker (2022)
Midwest GPA Regional Conference Speaker (2022)
AFP Advancement Northwest Annual Conference Speaker (2022)
Washington Nonprofits Annual Conference Speaker (2022)
Instrumentl Webinar (2022)
Foundant Technologies Webinar (2022)
Nonprofit Association of Oregon Advanced Grant Writing Learning Cohort (2021, 2020)
Montana Nonprofit Association Annual Conference Speaker (2021)
Idaho Nonprofit Center Regional Conference Speaker (2021, 2022)
Travel Oregon Webinar (2021)
Idaho Nonprofit Center Advanced Grant Writing Learning Cohort (2021)
Washington Nonprofits Specialized Training, Grant Readiness (2021, 2020, 2019)
Kitsap Center for Nonprofit Excellence Annual Conference Speaker (2020)
Idaho State Fire Commissioners’ Association, Annual Conference Speaker (2019)
Puget Sound Grantwriters Association Annual Conference Speaker (2013)
Puget Sound Grantwriters Association Specialized Training, Freelance Grantwriting (2013)
Membership and Advisory
4Culture, Grant Review Panelist, Site Reviewer
501 Commons, Trainer, Affiliate
Association of Fundraising Professionals, Member
Certified Fund Raising Executives, Certified Trainer
Foundant Technologies, Trainer
Grant Professionals Association, Certified Trainer, Affiliate, Mentor
Grant Professional Certification Institute, Certified Trainer
Idaho Nonprofit Center, Trainer, Affiliate
Instrumentl, Trainer
Montana Nonprofit Association, Trainer and Affiliate
Nonprofit Association of Oregon, Certified Trainer, Affiliate
Nonprofit Association of Washington, Trainer, Affiliate
Puget Sound Grantwriters Association, Board Member (2003-2006), Trainer, Member
School’s Out Washington, Grant Review Panelist
Willamette Valley Development Officer’s Association, Member
My mom was a social worker who spent her life fighting for social justice. She instilled in me a deep sense of empathy for others and a lot of fight to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. I have followed in her footsteps. I have worked to protect children in foster care, immigrants and refugees, persons experiencing homelessness, and individuals with serious mental illnesses. I have also protected habitat and wildlife, made sure children had a place to play, and much more...
I started out as my mom did - working directly with those in need. Then I learned about the power of philanthropy.
I learned that by using the power of the pen, combined with the spark of hope, I could write grant proposal that compelled others to give money to support good causes.
At first I wrote thousand-dollar grants to support grassroots work.
Then I learned to write ten-thousand dollar grants to support programs and small capital projects.
I went bigger and wrote hundred thousand dollar grants to support regional-level nonprofits and program development.
Then I learned to write grants for multi-million dollar capital campaigns.
And finally, I learned how to write multi-million dollar grants that changed whole systems.
And that's when I realized that by learning to write grants, I could actually help change the world. I could make a difference on a larger scale than I ever thought was possible.
View my professional profile on LinkedIn.
Writing a winning ten thousand dollar grant is NOT THAT DIFFERENT than writing a multi-million dollar grant. With a little practice, patience, and persistence, you can do it!
I started Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes because I believe we need more people like you to SPARK THE FIRE of philanthropy. I love teaching people how to write grants. I love meeting new people and hearing about your amazing work. And I especially love hearing from my students that they just got a grant to fund something they care deeply about and can now do more good work in the world.
I invite you to contact me with any questions you have. Invite me to come to teach in your community. Let me know how I can be of service to you. Together, we can make a difference!
Let's Get Started
Interested in working together? Here's my contact info.
spark the fire grant writing
allison Jones
2896 Live Oak Road
Cuero, TX 77954