Professional Certification for Grants Managers, Where We Stand: An Update from the Collective Knowledge Committee
liaison: Bonnie Rivers

During its strategic planning process in 2005, the Board of the Grants Managers Network (GMN) decided that the organization should investigate the feasibility of a professional certification program. In 2006, a certification subcommittee representing both the membership and board was established.  Since early 2007, the group has been working with Dr. Joan Knapp, a consultant experienced in developing certification programs for professional associations.  In an April 2007 presentation to the board, Dr. Knapp outlined a process of exploring feasibility that included a series of “go/no go” decision points.  It was determined that the first step should be a certification orientation with GMN board members to provide them with an understanding of the program’s fundamental issues, resource requirements, and success factors.  In the intervening year, the group has worked on the second step: drafting a program description and conducting market research.

The subcommittee has utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods in conducting the market research.  Ten focus groups were held in four GMN regions; each included facilitated discussion around a brief program description and a series of related questions.  The materials were fine-tuned over the course of the effort to reflect participant feedback and, as the data accumulated, to shift the focus toward gaps in our understanding.  Using the qualitative data gathered in the focus groups, the committee developed an online survey, reflecting the range of views heard in discussions with grants managers.  The purpose of the survey was to gather quantitative evidence capturing the varying concerns and viewpoints of grants management professionals.  The survey yielded 325 complete responses – about 30% of GMN membership.

Significant conclusions from focus groups and survey results:

1. GMN members strongly support development of a certification program.  35% of respondents said they would definitely pursue certification, while 47% indicated that pursuit was probable. Although there were varying levels of support by respondents, the subcommittee found no basis for limiting the target audience to particular subgroups within GMN.

2. The current program description of what a certification program should entail reflects the common views of GMN members.  While concerns were expressed about particular aspects of the program description, a majority of survey respondents and focus group participants were supportive of the concept of a full professional certification program as opposed to more limited certificate programs. 

3. The certification subcommittee has a good read on members’ perceived benefits, motivations, and concerns related to certification.  The most common concerns among members were about employer and industry recognition of the certification and the ability to reach agreement on a detailed curriculum.  There is general agreement on the broad subject areas that should be included in a body of knowledge.

The Certification Market Research Report was presented at a well-attended session (60+) at the GMN annual conference in Chicago and the full report has been posted in the GIGI library.  The subcommittee continues to explore the viability of establishing a certification program for grants managers and, as an outcome of its work to date, will now consider mapping a body of knowledge for our profession.  Beyond the development of a certification program, such a body of knowledge could inform regional and national conference programming, provide source material for future updates to the Best Practices manual and serve as a basis for GMN’s online library and next-generation knowledge community.  This next phase of exploration is critical (and exciting) because the level of rigor and collective input will determine the product’s validity, perceived value, and benefit to the grant-making field.  New volunteers were found at the conference and the committee is looking for even more!

Any questions or offers to volunteer should be directed to one of the subcommittee’s co-chairs:  Chad Gorski (gorskic@hhmi.org) or Joe Behaylo (jbehaylo@sorosny.org).

Acknowledgements

The certification working group became active following the 2006 GMN annual meeting.  The following have been core members of the group:

Joe Behaylo
Ignacio Estrada
Lourdes Inga
Kelly Kleppe

The following GMN members have been instrumental in the market research activities undertaken during the last year:

Almeta Corbin
Stephanie Duffy
Sue Fulton
Kerri Hurley
Adam Liebling
Janice Opalski
Orneata Prawl
Javier Sanchez
Rebecca Van Sickle
Cristina Yoon