Are You Grant Ready?

Originally presented live at the 2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit.

 

Melissa Vermillion, EdD, MBA, GPC examines the essential elements organizations need in place before applying for grants. The presenter defines grant readiness — the organizational capacity to implement projects and manage grants effectively — and outlines the key steps involved: identifying funding needs, assessing eligibility, developing a detailed project plan, and gathering required documentation. The session covers building a strong grant team and establishing community partnerships, the differences between private foundation and federal grant requirements, and managing grants post-award including compliance, financial management, and reporting. Participants will leave with a practical self-assessment framework for determining their organization’s current grant readiness.

Learning Objectives

1. Define grant readiness and explain the core components an organization needs in place before applying for grants, including planning, documentation, staffing, and basic systems.

2. Distinguish between private foundation and federal grants in terms of eligibility, application complexity, compliance expectations, and funding and reporting processes.

3. Assess an organization’s internal capacity for grant management by identifying required policies, roles and responsibilities, partner commitments, and project management practices.

4. Identify the financial and governance prerequisites for pursuing larger grants, including budgeting and tracking practices, reimbursement readiness, audit considerations, board readiness, and key registrations.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This knowledge-based activity will award 1.00 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number:

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 0526KBML-H7.5-UKCEOPS2026

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 1.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, UK HealthCare CECentral is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. UK HealthCare CECentral maintains responsibility for this course.

    Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clinical continuing education credit(s).

  • 1.00 Certified Community Health Work
    This training is approved by the Office of Community Health Workers Program to provide 1.00 continuing education unit(s) for Certified Community Health Workers.
  • 1.00 EMS (Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services)
    The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) certifies that this educational activity is designated for 1.00 KBEMS contact hour(s). Approval Number: KBEMS-2026-UKHCCE-0002
Course opens: 
07/26/2026
Course expires: 
06/15/2029
Part of: 
2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit: Enduring Sessions
Rating: 
0

Brief Session Outline:

This session focuses on the essential elements organizations need to prepare for successful grant applications. The presenter will define grant-readiness — the organizational capacity to implement projects and manage grants effectively — and outline the key steps involved: identifying funding needs, assessing eligibility, developing a detailed project plan, and gathering required documentation. Topics include building a strong grant team and establishing community partnerships; understanding differences between private foundation and federal grant requirements; managing grants post-award, including compliance, financial management, and reporting; and identifying the financial, staffing, and governance prerequisites for pursuing larger competitive grants.

Melissa Vermillion, EdD, MBA, GPC – Chief Strategy Officer, Grant Ready Kentucky

CHES Continuing Education Category I hours have been applied for and are pending approval by WKU’s CHES Continuing Education Program Review Committee.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This knowledge-based activity will award 1.00 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number:

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 0526KBML-H7.5-UKCEOPS2026

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 1.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, UK HealthCare CECentral is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. UK HealthCare CECentral maintains responsibility for this course.

    Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clinical continuing education credit(s).

  • 1.00 Certified Community Health Work
    This training is approved by the Office of Community Health Workers Program to provide 1.00 continuing education unit(s) for Certified Community Health Workers.
  • 1.00 EMS (Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services)
    The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) certifies that this educational activity is designated for 1.00 KBEMS contact hour(s). Approval Number: KBEMS-2026-UKHCCE-0002
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