• The Certified Grant Writer® Credential may be renewed by earning 30 CGW Renewal Credits during the period of validity or within the one-year grace period after the expiration of the credential.  The grace period may not be extended beyond one-year.  
• CGW Renewal Credits are only awarded by American Grant Writers Association.    
• The first renewal credential will be issued for a 5-year period of validity. 
• The second renewal credential will be permanent.

Professional Development Activities to earn CGW Renewal Credits:
 
Note that all activities must be completed during the valid period of the credential or the one-year grace period. 
 

• Attending an AGWA Grant Conference. The next conference will be in July 27-29, 2023.  LINK.  Renewal Credits will be issued only for sessions attended.  1 Renewal Credit is awarded for each 50-minute session attended  and documented.  May be repeated for a total of 30 Renewal Credits.
  • Present a Session at an AGWA Grant Conference. 
    • Presenters earn 5 Renewal Credits for each 50-minute session presented if ...
    • the CGW is a registered conference attendee,
    • the CGW provides an electronic PowerPoint presentation on a USB drive to the Conference Emcee 5 minutes prior to the session, 
    • the CGW provides a paper handout on the topic to each session attendee (beginning 2021 conference), and
    • the maximum length of ice-breaker (or fun activities) during the 50-minute session is limited to 3 minutes.
    • May be repeated for a total of 10 Renewal Credits; 5 Renewal Credits maximum per conference.
  • Serve as a Panelist at an AGWA Grant Conference 50-minute Session. 
    • Panelists earn 2 Renewal Credits per session. 
    • Must be a registered conference attendee and must have valid credentials at time of conference.
    • May be repeated for a total of 4 Renewal Credits; 2 Renewal Credits maximum per conference..
  • Serve as an AGWA Grant Conference Emcee. 
    • Emcee earns 5 Renewal Credits per conference. 
    • Must be a registered conference attendee to earn Renewal Credits.
    • Duties include Introducing Speakers, Manage LDC Projector and computer, LCD Remote, and Microphone,  Thank speakers at end of each session.
    • May be repeated for a total of 10 Renewal Credits; 5 Renewal Credits maximum per conference
  • Serve as Registration Desk staff at AGWA Grant Conference. 
    • Registration Desk staff earn 2 Renewal Credits per conference. 
    • Must be registered conference attendee to earn Renewal Credits.
    • Set up AGWA Desk in foyer, assist conference attendees with registration, collect Evaluation Forms and CGW Renewal Documentation forms at end of both days
    • May be repeated for a total of 4 Renewal Credits; 2 Renewal Credits maximum per conference
  • Photographer at AGWA Grant Conference. 
    • Photographer earns 5 Renewal Credits per conference
    • Using AGWA camera take photos of registration, each speaker, informal shots of attendees, and formal group photo.
    • Must be a registered conference attendee to earn Renewal Credits. 
    • May be repeated for 10 Renewal Credits; maximum 5 Renewal Credits per conference..
• Certificate of Completion for AGWA’s online courses
  • Grant Management – 5 Renewal Credits
  • Starting the Grant Consulting Business – 5 Renewal Credits
• Presenting a Grant Researching, Proposal Writing, or Grant Management Workshop to any organization.  (Note that teaching a course at a university or school is not eligible)
  • The workshop must be at least 2 hours in length. 
  • 5 Renewal Credits per presentation. 
  • May be repeated for a total of 10 Renewal Credits, however the second presentation must be different content.
  • Documentation must be provided at the time of renewal. Acceptable documentation is Promotional Literature or an Agenda prepared by the Organization that is hosting the presentation.  Documentation should provide the Title of Presentation, Presenter Name, Name of Organization Hosting Event, Date of Event, Location and Time of presentation.   
• Write an article for the AGWA Newsletter.
  • Topic must be pre-approved by AGWA. 
  • Article must comply with AGWA article publication guidelines. Articles must be original works. 
  • 1 Renewal Credit per article.  Renewal Credit awarded upon article publication by AGWA
  • May be repeated for a total of 5 Renewal Credit.
  • Certified Grant Writer Exam Online.
• • Pass all 5 section of the exam again to earn 20 CGW Renewal Credits.
  • May be taken for the first renewal or the second renewal, but not both the first and second renewals.
• Lead Grant Writer or Sole Grant Writer of a letter, proposal, or application that won a Grant Award
  • Only competitive grant competitions are eligible.
  • Foundation or Corporate Grants (competitive)
    • Provide Documentation of Letter, Proposal or Application that was submitted
    • Provide a Letter from the grant applicant signer on Applicant's letterhead stating that the CGW was the sole grant writer or lead grant writer for this submittal.  Grant must be submitted during the valid period on the CGW credential.
    • Provide Award Documentation from Funder with dates and amount of award.  Minimum grant award eligible for Renewal Credits is $10,000 annually. (Cannot combine several grants to meet $10,000 minimum award) Grant award must be during valid period or grace period on the CGW Credential.
    • 2 Renewal Credits.  May be repeated for a total of 4 Renewal Credits.
  • Government Grant Awards (State or Federal competitive grants)
    • Provide Documentation of grant application that was submitted.
    • Provide a Letter from the grant application signer on the Applicant's letterhead stating that the CGW was the sole grant writer or lead grant writer for this submittal.  Grant must be submitted during the valid period on the CGW Credential
    • Provide Award Documentation from Funder with dates and amount of award.  Minimum grant award eligible for Renewal Credits is $25,000 annually.  (Several grants cannot be combined to meeting the $25,000 award minimum)  Grant award must be during the valid period or grace period on the CGW Credential.
    • 2 Renewal Credits.  May be repeated for a total of 4 Renewal Credits.

If the Grace Period has Expired

• The member may start the CGW process over.
• The member may purchase the CGW Review and Exam for expired CGWs.  It may be purchased on the Marketplace page.
• Membership must be active when the CGW Review and Exam is purchased and the CGW Review and Exam is attended.
• Note that once the member passes the CGW Exam, s/he must renew the CGW credential in 5 years, and renew again 5 years later to earn a permanent certificate.
• PDPW course materials  are available for purchase; only current or expired CGWs may purchase these materials as preparation to take the CGW exam again.

Please e-mail your question(s) to Customer Service.  Email:  CustomerService@AmericanGrantWriters.org

Question:  If a CGW earns more than 30 CGW Renewal Credits during the valid period of the current credential, may the extra credits over 30 be carried forward to the 2nd renewal?   Answer:  No, the extra credits over 30 do not carry foward.  The reason is that the Guidelines state the CGW Renewal Credits must be earning during the current validity period.

Question:  If I registered for a conference, attended, but forgot to turn in Documentation forms, may I still get CGW Renewal Credits?  Answer:  No, CGW Renewal Credits are only awarded to registered attendees who turn in the Document Form at the end of each conference day.

Question:  I've lost my CGW Certificate. May I get another copy.  Answer:  Yes, it can be reprinted and mailed to you as long as you purchase the reprinting fee on the Marketplace page and the credential is still valid.  A certificate that has expired, or during the grace period, may not be reprinted.