THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
CERTIFICATION IN
Institutional
Grant Capital Strategy™
The national credential for professionals who design, structure,
and deploy institutional funding strategies.
NOT GRANT WRITING CERTIFICATION. CAPITAL STRATEGY CERTIFICATION.
CERTIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
GRANT STRATEGIST (CIGS)™
The Certified Institutional Grant Strategist (CIGS)™ designation represents a new class of professional—one trained to operate at the intersection of funding, strategy, and capital architecture.
CIGS™ professionals are trained to:
- Design institutional funding strategies
- Structure capital across multiple funding sources
- Navigate federal, state, and philanthropic ecosystems
- Align funding with institutional growth objectives
This is the evolution of the profession—from grant writer to capital strategist.
A CREDENTIAL THAT DEFINES A MARKET
Most professional certifications validate skills.
This one defines a discipline.
The CIGS™ designation is the national benchmark for:
Institutional funding expertise
Grant capital strategy
Public funding navigation
Similar to how the CFA defines finance or the PMP defines project management, CIGS™ establishes the professional standard for funding strategy.
BUILT FOR PROFESSIONALS RESPONSIBLE FOR CAPITAL ACCESS
GRANT PROFESSIONALS
& CONSULTANTS
NONPROFIT EXECUTIVES
& PROGRAM DIRECTORS
UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT
& RESEARCH TEAMS
MUNICIPAL & STATE
FUNDING MANAGERS
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
ADMINISTRATORS
INFRASTRUCTURE & ENERGY
PROJECT DEVELOPERS
If your role involves accessing or deploying funding—this is your strategic credential.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
The Architecture of Institutional Funding
FEDERAL & PUBLIC
FUNDING SYSTEMS
Understanding how capital flows through federal and state programs
CAPITAL STACKING
STRATEGY
Combining grants with tax credits, debt, and other funding sources
INSTITUTIONAL
FUNDING DESIGN
Aligning funding strategies with organizational objectives
SECTOR-SPECIFIC
PLAYBOOKS
Funding strategies for:
Cities, healthcare systems, universities, nonprofits, and infrastructure projects
EXECUTION
FRAMEWORKS
From opportunity identification to funding deployment
A STRUCTURED PATH TO CERTIFICATION
TRAINING PROGRAM
Comprehensive instruction in institutional grant capital strategy.
CERTIFICATION
EXAMINATION
Assessment of strategic, technical, and applied knowledge.
CREDENTIAL AWARDED
Designation: Certified Institutional Grant Strategist (CIGS)™
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Ongoing learning to maintain certification and stay current with funding systems.
PROGRESSIVE LEVELS OF MASTERY
LEVEL I
Certified Grant Strategy Associate (CGSA)™
Foundational understanding of funding systems and strategy.
LEVEL II
Certified Institutional Grant Strategist (CIGS)™
Full certification in institutional funding strategy.
LEVEL III
Senior Institutional Funding Strategist (SIFS)™
Advanced leadership in large-scale capital strategy.
THE ADVANTAGE
Certification changes how you are positioned.
As a CIGS™ professional, you:
- Operate at a strategic level—not administrative
- Command higher-value engagements
- Work directly with institutional decision-makers
- Access larger funding opportunities
- Gain visibility through the national registry
This is not a skill upgrade. It is a professional elevation.
INCLUDED IN THE
NATIONAL REGISTRY
All certified professionals are eligible for inclusion in the National Registry of Certified Grant Capital Strategists™.
National visibility
Institutional discovery
Direct access to funding opportunities
PROGRAM INVESTMENT
Certification includes training, examination, and credentialing.
*Institutional pricing and cohort programs available.
INSTITUTIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
Equip your organization with a standardized funding strategy framework.
LEARN ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS →
UNIVERSITIES
GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES
HEALTHCARE
SYSTEMS
NONPROFITS
INFRASTRUCTURE
ORGANIZATIONS
THIS IS WHERE THE PROFESSION EVOLVES
Grant funding represents one of the largest sources of capital in the United States.
Yet the profession responsible for accessing it has lacked standardization—until now.
The Certified Institutional Grant Strategist (CIGS)™ designation
defines the future of institutional funding strategy.
