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SHOW ME THE MONEY!. Writing a winning grant proposal Joy Rockenbach, Act 1220 Coordinator Arkansas Department of Education June 24, 2008. Learning Outcomes. Reasons why proposal fail Expectations of grantors Tips for success. Reasons Why Proposals Fail…. Carelessness
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SHOW ME THE MONEY! Writing a winning grant proposal Joy Rockenbach, Act 1220 Coordinator Arkansas Department of Education June 24, 2008
Learning Outcomes • Reasons why proposal fail • Expectations of grantors • Tips for success
Reasons Why Proposals Fail… • Carelessness • Sloppiness-pay attention to grammar, editing details, and specifics • Answer the questions! • Responses don’t connect to information requested • Procrastination!
Forcing failure! • Missing deadlines • Disorganized • Missing sections • Budget doesn’t compute or match work plan • Format is not followed
To ensure failure… • Rely on spell check • Go over the page limit • Fail to sign appropriate forms • Miss the deadline, ask for an extension
Example of relying on spell check… Dear Spat, I had a really food crime at the picnic in the bark. It was nice to gel together with old fiends and enjoy so much slaughter! We should so that more often. The flied chicken was malicious. Thank you for flinging it. Your Fiend, Brain
Writing bloopers! • A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. • Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch. • The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. • Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the FirstPresbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance
To ensure failure… • Rely on spell check • Go over the page limit • Fail to sign appropriate forms • Miss the deadline, ask for an extension
Expectations of Grantmakers • Write a compelling story • Grab reader’s attention • Educate the reader about YOUR problem • Use YOUR words and bring the story to life
THINK… • Gloom • Doom • Drama • Trauma
WORK PLAN • Goals—pie in the sky, where you want to BE when the grant money is gone • Objectives—SMART** • Action steps or process steps or strategies—how you will get the objectives done
SMART Objectives • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Realistic • Time bound
To maximize success… • Make sure you are eligible • Follow all instructions • Develop a check list • Use forms if they are provided • Ask a third party to edit
Success… • Get it in on time • Have the right amount of postage • Make sure you have enclosed all required forms and required number of copies
Practice application • When is the grant deadline? • How many awards will there be? • How much money will they award? For how long? • What are the deadline rules?
Continued • How many copies will you need? • Who should sign the application? • What are the page limits? Font? Margins • Will they reject your application? For what?
Continued • Is there a format? What is it? • Which component is worth most points? • What gets second? • To whom should you direct questions?