Grant Writing 101 with Karen Servas

Join us as we welcome one of our region’s most respected and accomplished grant writers, Karen Servas. Karen brings a powerful blend of strategic insight and real-world, “boots‑on‑the‑ground” expertise. She will walk us through her top 10 grant writing tips, offering practical guidance on crafting stronger proposals, developing compelling programs and budgets, and improving overall grant competitiveness. This is an invaluable opportunity to learn from one of the region’s foremost experts in funding development.

When: April 2, 2026

Where: Intermission Modesto, 1301 J St, Modesto

Lunch, Networking & Announcements 12:00-12:15, followed by the presentation.

AFP membership not required.

AFP Members may bring a guest free of charge once each year.

AFP Members: $25.00
All others: $35.00

Lunch is included.

Please register using PayPal, or email afpyosemite@gmail.com by March 31, 2026, 4:00pm

• If you cancel 48 hours or more before the meeting, you will receive a full refund for any prepaid registration.
• If you cancel less than 48 hours before the meeting, your payment is non‑refundable.

• Once per calendar year, you may transfer a prepaid registration to another meeting.
• You must RSVP for the future meeting and request to use your transfer within 48 hours of the new meeting.
• If the new meeting is a higher price, you will be expected to pay the difference. If the new meeting is a lower price, AFP Yosemite will refund the difference.

• If you RSVP without payment and fail to cancel at least 48 hours in advance, you will:
• Be billed for the meeting or
• Use your one-time annual transfer (if available).

• You may designate someone else to attend in your place.
• If the substitute is a non-member, the additional $10 non-member fee will apply.

• Walk-ins are welcome, but food is not guaranteed. Preregistered attendees receive priority.
• Walk-ins will be charged the meeting rate.

About the Speaker:

Karen Servas

Karen Servas currently serves as the Funding Development Manager for Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, where she leads a team of three grant managers and one grant analyst overseeing an $85 million federal and state grant portfolio.

 

With 23 years of experience providing funding development services—including grant writing, management, and strategic planning—to nonprofit and public agencies across California, Karen brings a unique perspective shaped by her extensive experience as both an agency and community leader. She has deep expertise in program and budget development, program implementation, outcome measurement and evaluation, and grant management best practices.

 

Karen’s “boots-on-the-ground” approach allows her to work closely with agency leaders and partner organizations to identify, secure, and strategically invest grant funding, ensuring that resources effectively advance stated outcomes and serve underserved individuals and families. Since 2010, she has successfully secured nearly $197 million in grant funding for agencies in the San Joaquin Valley.



Full participation in Grant Writing 101 is approved for 1.25 CFRE CEU credit in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.