Annual Grants Management Update 2026
- Start: December 11, 2025 7:30 am
- End: December 12, 2025 4:45 pm
Make sure you understand how to navigate recent changes affecting grant-funded organizations. Join your fellow grant professionals to learn about the latest developments during the 2026 edition of the Annual Grants Management Update. The training returns to the greater Orlando area on December 10-11, 2026.
Grants management challenges continue to evolve for both recipients and subrecipients. The 2026 Annual Grants Management Update’s theme of navigating change for sustained success reflects this reality. The Annual Grants Management Update will explain key policy shifts and administrative changes in 2026 as well as emerging issues for 2027. When you attend this year’s training, you will learn about the most important developments that grant-funded organizations must know not just to stay in compliance but also to thrive in the current operating environment.
During the opening session, you will learn about recent (and proposed) changes to the Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Guidance and other urgent legal matters. The first day of the training will also discuss writing stronger grant proposals with better goals and objectives, maintaining high performance without burnout, and preparing for successful single audits. On the second day of the training, in the morning, you will learn how to implement effective internal controls and how to better use technology to improve productivity. The afternoon sessions will return to the theme of compliance, starting with a highly interactive discussion of real-world ethics for grant professionals. Then, during the closing session, you learn about procurement standards and best practices under the Uniform Guidance. This once-a-year training will offer two full days of practical information to help all types of grant-funded organizations and grant professionals successfully navigate today’s challenges.
By attending the Annual Grants Management Update, you will learn about the latest developments in grants management and how to remain in compliance with evolving requirements while preparing for continued success. However, seating is extremely limited for this exclusive training. Make your plans now to attend the Annual Grants Management Update in greater Orlando, Florida, on December 10-11, 2026.
TOPICS
During this year’s conference, our expert presenters will help you navigate recent changes and ongoing challenges for grant recipients and subrecipients. In addition to explaining the latest developments, the Annual Grants Management Update will include practical sessions to help grant-funded organizations develop better proposals, implement effective internal controls, become audit ready, and use technology to improve productivity. At this year’s training, you will learn about the following:
- New developments affecting the field of grants management;
- Recent and proposed changes to the OMB’s Uniform Guidance;
- Preparing for a successful Single Audit Act audit;
- Developing and maintaining a system of effective internal controls;
- Writing stronger grant proposals with better goals and objectives;
- Sustaining high performance under pressure without burnout;
- Smarter ways to use technology to increase personal productivity;
- Avoiding ethical problems as a grants management professional;
- Uniform Guidance procurement requirements and best practices; and,
- Answers to frequent compliance questions about Federal awards.
The Annual Grants Management Update 2026 will discuss these important topics and more. During this two-day event, you will learn how grant-funded organizations can meet current challenges and continue to thrive. You will also have opportunities throughout the event to ask your individual grants management questions.
AGENDA
This year’s Annual Grants Management Update is scheduled for December 10-11, 2026, in warm and sunny metropolitan Orlando. Please note the cancellation deadline for this event is 5:00 pm EST on November 6, 2026. The planned agenda (subject to change) for each day of the training is as follows:
Day One (Thursday, December 10, 2026)
Sign-in for the Annual Grants Management Update at the registration desk before the first session.
Learn about recent developments and key changes affecting the field of grants management during our annual opening session. Attorney Brian Tipton will review the year in Federal grants management and offer a preview of 2027. This dynamic session will discuss evolving policies and priorities as well as their effects on the grant-funded community. You will also learn about other key administrative and legal developments, including significant court decisions and updates to the Uniform Guidance. You will not want to miss this insightful analysis of today's hottest topics in grants management. Following this session, you will be able to outline major developments and changes in Federal grants management during 2026 and what they mean for your organization.
Enjoy a 15-minute coffee break between the morning sessions.
Learn to write more competitive grant proposals. This session will focus on one of the most commonly misunderstood components of proposal writing: goals and objectives. Instructors with over 55 combined years of grant writing and fundraising experience will lead attendees through a series of interactive exercises and discussions about creating goals and objectives, which form the blueprint for measuring program success. You will learn the quickest ways to formulate specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time-bound (SMART) objectives. You will also learn about the differences between goals and objectives and how to develop objectives that accomplish your stated goals. After completing the session, you will be able to outline how to create goals and objectives that strengthen grant proposals.
Meet and share a meal with your fellow attendees during our networking luncheon. The luncheon will feature a buffet with a selection of entrees and side dishes as well as salad and dessert.
In today’s fast-paced work environment, even the most committed professionals can find themselves overwhelmed, drained, or stuck in survival mode. In this interactive session, Dr. Jessica Houston will equip you with practical tools to help them stay grounded, focused, and results-driven even in high-pressure environments. You will learn about self-leadership and sustainable high performance to shift from surviving to thriving.
Drawing on years of leadership development and work with Fortune 500 organizations, Dr. Houston will provide a practical framework for managing competing demands, leading through complexity, and building systems that support both performance and well-being. Key takeaways for attendees include:
• The CORE Method, a framework for managing high-stakes priorities without burning out.
• How to lead yourself before you can effectively lead others or serve your stakeholders.
• Practical strategies for sustaining performance in high-pressure environments.
• How to build resilience that supports long-term success, not just short-term survival.
Enjoy light snacks and beverages during this 30-minute break between the afternoon sessions.
Is your organization prepared for a successful Single Audit Act audit? Make sure that your organization is audit ready heading into 2027. Experienced auditor Keith Hundley will explain current requirements under the Single Audit Act, the OMB's Uniform Guidance, and the annual Compliance Supplement, as well as best practices for audit preparation. This session will provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of the audit process and offer practical advice for having a successful audit. You will also learn about common Single Audit findings and how to remedy them before fieldwork begins. After attending this session, you will be able to list the requirements and elements of a Single Audit Act audit.
The first day of the training will conclude at 4:45 pm on December 10, 2026.
Sign-in for the second day of the 2026 Annual Grants Management Update before the morning sessions. Note: if you signed-in for the event on the first day, you do not need to sign-in with the registration desk today.
Make sure that your organization has the necessary tools to design and implement effective internal control systems for today's world. Join Certified Public Accountant and experienced auditor Keith Hundley as he explains the requirements and best practices for internal controls in a discussion featuring current, real-world examples. This session will explore the elements of a robust internal control environment aligned with the Uniform Guidance’s five components of internal control. Attendees will learn about the basic framework and strategies needed to reinforce compliance and prevent fraud. You will also learn about common control activities as well as their strengths and weaknesses. After this session, you will be able to list the components of an effective internal control system, recognize common control activities, and outline the process to design your organization's own system of controls.
Enjoy a 15-minute coffee break between the morning sessions.
Are you interested in using technology to increase your productivity? By attending this session, you will learn about productivity boosting technology that you can use at work (and home). Dr. Caroline Coker Coursey will introduce you to new and proven apps, devices, techniques, and hacks that have nothing to do with Artificial Intelligence. Learn how to leverage these technologies and tips to be more productive without becoming overwhelmed. Following the session, you will be able to list at least ten ways to use technology to increase your professional and personal productivity.
Get out and explore the numerous local lunch options on your own during this extended, 90-minute break between our morning and afternoon sessions. For today's lunch break, attendees are "on their own."
Learn the most common unethical situations related to grant management. This session is fast-paced and includes an entertaining bingo-style format for attendees to track situations and their resolutions on customized bingo cards. Learn the importance of grant ethics in your work, while having a bit of fun on your quest to be the first to claim BINGO!
Enjoy beverages and light snacks during this 30-minute break between the afternoon sessions.
When making purchases for Federally funded programs, failure to follow the procurement standards in the OMB's Uniform Guidance can be costly. Learn how to make purchases the right way during this 90-minute session led by attorney Brian Tipton. This session will explain the procurement standards, including recent changes, as well as best practices for purchasing using Federal financial assistance. You will learn about conditions for competition, provisions to limit waste, conflict of interest requirements, factors in contractor selection, acceptable methods for procurement, and contract types and provisions. After attending, you will be able to identify the current requirements for procurement transactions under Federal financial assistance awards and subawards.
The 2026 edition of the Annual Grants Management Update will conclude at 4:45 pm on December 11, 2026.
When you attend the Annual Grants Management Update, you will learn how to navigate important developments affecting all types of grant-funded organizations. You will learn about changes to key policies and guidance as well as legal and accounting developments. Following the training, you will be able to:
- Describe at least three recent changes affecting grant-funded organizations;
- Outline the Single Audit Act audit process from the auditee’s perspective;
- Define SMART goals in relation to writing grant proposals;
- List internal control requirements for grant-funded organizations;
- Outline strategies for maintaining high performance without burnout;
- Identify at least three ways to improve productivity using technology;
- Describe three ethical challenges for grants management professionals; and,
- Recognize the procurement standards under the OMB’s Uniform Guidance.
AUDIENCE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
The Annual Grants Management Update 2026 is intended for all members of the grant-funded community. This includes governing body members, officers, executives, management, fiscal staff, program staff, and all other grants management professionals. The complete course is recommended for a total of 14 hours of CPE in the field of specialized knowledge (government and nonprofits). The experience level for this training is update. Although no specific educational background is required to attend, it is recommended that attendees have at least one year’s experience working with (or serving in a governance role involving) grants or other financial assistance. No additional prerequisites are required and no advance preparation is required.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Caroline Coker Coursey brings over two decades of invaluable experience at the intersection of law, technology, and innovation to the table. With a rich background as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, she seamlessly transitioned into pivotal roles within prestigious law firms, corporate entities, and an esteemed university research program.
Armed with a robust academic foundation in electrical engineering and computer science, Caroline has continually gravitated towards intricate technical realms throughout her illustrious career. Her expertise spans across a spectrum of intellectual property and corporate law, with a keen focus on navigating the complexities of emerging technologies.
Caroline’s professional repertoire boasts negotiations with industry titans and spearheading agreements with some of the globe’s leading technology conglomerates. Notably, she has been a guiding force in advising on cutting-edge domains such as artificial intelligence, while demonstrating her acute understanding of both legal intricacies and technological advancements.
Amanda Day, GPC, is a national trainer and speaker. With 20+ years of grant prospect research, writing, and management experience, she has the knowledge, know-how, and stories to keep every workshop participant engaged and better prepared to succeed in the grants profession. She is well versed in federal and private grant funding, having begun her career serving as a grants administrator for local government agencies. She’s secured and managed over $20 million in federal grant funding. Along with Kimberly Hays de Muga, Amanda is cohost of Fundraising HayDay, a podcast about grants and such, and co-founder of HayDay Services, a grant and fundraising training company. Amanda was awarded the Grant Professionals Distinguished Fellow Award for 2024.
Kimberly Hays de Muga, GPC, is an expert trainer and coach. She brings more than 25 years of fundraising experience that includes raising more than $100 million from individuals, foundations, corporations, and local, state, and federal funding for nonprofit agencies in the education, health, and human service sectors. Kimberly’s experience includes Development Director at the Frazer Center, Senior Manager for Foundation and Corporate Relations at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and Senior Grant Writer for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation. She co-authored “Preparing for the GPC Exam: Earn Your Grant Professional Certified Credential.” Along with Amanda Day, Kimberly is cohost of Fundraising HayDay, a podcast about grants and such, and co-founder of HayDay Services, a grant and fundraising training company.
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW, is a nationally recognized keynote speaker, author, and university professor. Named one of the Top 50 Global Speakers by Real Leaders Magazine, she has spent more than 12 years delivering high-energy sessions to professionals across healthcare, corporate, education, and mission-driven organizations in over 30 states as well as internationally. Her work sits at the intersection of self-leadership, sustainable high performance, and personal wellbeing. Dr. Houston helps individuals and organizations recognize that the way they are currently pursuing success may be costing them more than they realize.
Keith Hundley is a CPA and partner with Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC (CRI), and has over twenty years of experience in private industry and public accounting. Keith is a part of the firm’s governmental services and nonprofit practice recognized throughout the South for its knowledge of auditing standards and business practices. Keith specializes in providing audit, tax and consulting services to nonprofits, as well as federal, state and local governments. Keith regularly serves as a continuing education leader for CRI as well as a certified facilitator in the CRI Leadership Academy. Keith is an active member in the American Institute of Certified Accountants (AICPA) and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA), and is a 2011 inductee to the Troy University Accounting Hall of Honor.
R. Brian Tipton is a practicing attorney with more than two decades' worth of experience working with nonprofits, governmental units, and other grant-funded organizations across the United States. Currently, Brian is Managing Director with Tipton KPCL Law, in metro Atlanta, Georgia, where he heads the firm's tax-exempt and grant-funded solutions practice. He is a summa cum laude graduate of the Louisiana State University and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University. Brian regularly represents grant-funded entities of all types in the areas of regulatory compliance, audits, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, and litigation. Brian also consults with organizations on governance, human resources, programmatic, and corporate matters, and develops and presents training programs for nonprofits and grant-funded organizations.
The Annual Grants Management Update 2026 will will be held in greater Orlando, Florida, at the Embassy Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista South. The Embassy Suites is a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel conveniently located just minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort. Rooms are available for special group rates starting at the current Federal per diem rate of just $110 per night (plus applicable tax). These special rates are good for December 9 through 11, and for three additional nights before and after the conference subject to hotel availability. Hotel rooms can be booked by calling the hotel directly at 1-407-597-4000. Please provide group code “FGR” to the reservations agent to receive the discounted rate. However, the easiest way to reserve your room is online by clicking on this hotel reservations link. Please note that the “event dates” shown on the hotel reservations page are the default dates for reserving a hotel room and are not the dates that training sessions will be held (which are December 10-11, 2026). If making your reservations online, remember to adjust the date range on the booking site for the dates of your individual stay. The room reservation cut-off date is November 18, 2026 (or until the block is exhausted). Because of the small number of rooms available, we advise making your reservations as soon as possible.
Register now for the Annual Grants Management Update 2026 because registration spaces are limited and last year’s update sold out early. Please note that the cancellation deadline for the conference is 5:00 pm EST on November 6, 2026.