We designed this course for anyone who is new to USAID proposal development. That includes field staff who are working on proposals for the first time, home office administrative teams looking to add value to proposals, technical specialists who want to translate their knowledge into proposals, new BD team members, and anyone from an implementing partner new to USAID.

During this multi-session course you will watch 30-60 minutes of instructor videos for each module at your own pace and then join online Q&A with the instructors. You'll be part of a cohort of peers from the industry to keep you on track and learn together.

Learn the fundamentals of preparing for USAID proposals, reading and reviewing solicitations, outlining and preparing your technical and cost volumes, and the core regulations and requirements that guide the entire process. 

Incredibly helpful

This workshop was incredibly helpful as a Program Associate working at a small USAID Contractor. The workshop gave me the necessary basics to assist on Business Development efforts, and then some. The value adds from the presenters helped me to understand the proposal writing and capture process even more through tips and tricks used by the presenters that they gained through many years of industry experience. The examples and exercises also improved my understanding of the concepts through relevant and realistic scenarios that highlighted what a real BD effort is like.
Watch Intro Video

Welcome to BD 101

a message from one of the course designers

What to expect

You'll have lifetime access to all content, including future cohort Q&A discussions, which are great for refreshing knowledge and networking.

  • Brief, detailed, practical videos, 5-25 minutes long, that you watch at your own pace

  • Exercises, quizzes, and handouts to reinforce learning concepts

  • Templates, checklists, and tools to download and use

  • Regular Q&A sessions with the instructors and your cohort

  • Access to an online community of Keylime Academy alumni

  • Certificate recognizing your completion of the course

Instructor(s)

Jacey Spratt

Jacey Spratt a senior facilitator, trainer, and certified career and leadership coach with 17 years of experience in the international development industry. In 2016, she founded Same Page Consulting through which she has partnered with 20 organizations to help them define their vision, mission, and strategy; ascertain capacity building needs; and identify performance gaps and solutions. Before this, Jacey spent three and a half years as a business development training professional at Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI). Prior to DAI, she worked at Chemonics International for ten years where she designed and facilitated management and leadership courses and facilitated large-scale retreats, strategy, work planning, team building, and training of trainers sessions. She oversaw a 45 course business development curriculum to build staff capacity and led the development of Chemonics’ first worldwide online ethics curriculum.

Katie Gentic

Katherine Gentic is a contracts, compliance, cost/pricing, and operations/project management specialist with 15 years of experience in the USAID industry. She is the founder and CEO of Akiri Consulting LLC, a woman-owned small business that advises small businesses, NGOs, local subcontractors and prime implementing partners alike in USAID compliance, procurement, cost and pricing, and contracts/project management issues. She has been a trusted resource in the USAID industry for training and mentoring junior-, mid-, and senior-level employees in understanding the nuances of government contracting, interpreting regulations and contract terms/conditions, and creating compliant yet outside-the-box solutions to complex project implementation issues.

Sarah Steller

Sarah is a business development expert with 10 years of experience who began her career at Chemonics on project management and new business teams. Through her work on dozens of USAID proposals she mastered the proposal development process from capture through final production. Sarah is a sought after mentor and advisor on USAID proposals for capture, proposal management, and writing. In addition to her experience with USAID proposals researches and documents best practices in local economic development and entrepreneurship for think tanks, academia, and practitioners. Beyond working on dozens of winning proposals, she has supported clients in developing their long-term BD strategies and proposal systems and tools.

Curriculum Preview

    1. What to expect in this course

    2. How Live 'Ask the Expert' Zoom Sessions Work

    1. Module 1: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Module 1: Section 1 | The USAID Project Cycle

    3. Module 1: Section 2 | Award Types

    4. Module 1: Section 3 | Proposal Team Roles

    1. Module 2: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Module 2: Section 1 | Understanding USAID Priorities and Strategies

    3. Module 2: Section 2 | Finding New Opportunities

    4. Module 2: Section 3 | Capture and Pre-Positioning

    5. Module 2: Wrap-up

    1. Module 3: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Module 3: Section 1 | Reading and Analyzing a Solicitation

    3. Module 3: Live Demo | How to Review an RFP

    4. Module 3: Live Demo | How to Review an RFA

    1. Module 4: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Module 4: Section 1 | Anatomy of a Typical Technical Volume

    3. Module #4: Section 2 | Other Types of Technical Volumes

    1. Module 5: Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Module 5: Section 1 | Analyzing the RFP

    3. Module 5: Section 1 | Exercise Solution

    4. Module 5: Section 2 | Setting Up Your Cost Volume

    5. Module 5: Section 2 | Exercise Solution

    6. Module 5: Section 3 | Building Your Budget

    7. Module 5: Section 3 | Exercise Solution

    8. Module 5: Best Practices and Wrap-Up

About this course

  • $800.00
  • 52 lessons
  • 6 hours of video content

Can we get access for our whole team?

You can get a license for your entire team to access BD 101. It's a popular way to give your staff around the world access to high quality learning opportunities.

Reach out for a quote