Grant Project

1. Grant Project Why Write? Getting it done! www.rapides.k12.la.us/lacue06

2. Why write a grant? • Fund a solution to a problem • New project • Innovate and improve current practice • Supplement existing programs

3. Before you write, consider: • Determine existing needs. Begin the proposal writing process by asking a set of essential questions to determine existing needs. • What will kids need to improve and assist in learning? • What will teachers need (training, equipment, supplies, etc.)? • What will administrators need? • What will parents and community members need? (Getting Started With Grant Writing,” Gary Carnow, www.schoolastic.com, 2005)

4. When developing your solution: • Pinpoint your needs, brainstorm ways to solve the educational problems proposed by your needs. Develop your ideas and explore: • Is your idea innovative or has it been tried elsewhere? • Is your idea consistent with the latest research? • What local resources are available to assist you? • Are there others who would be interested in cooperating with you to form a consortium (community, university, or another school district)? • Are there specialists in educational fields to help you identify successful projects and leading-edge thinking in the problem area you are exploring? (Getting Started With Grant Writing,” Gary Carnow, www.schoolastic.com, 2005)

5. Focus on student outcomes! • Grantors don’t fund “stuff.” They fund viable solutions to real educational problems! • The items purchased are simply part of the resources needed to effect a solution. • Write EVERY goal around student outcomes! • Write EVERY evaluation measure around student outcomes! • Activities and processes may involve “stuff” but should ALWAYS point to……..

6. Student Outcomes!

7. Grant Sections • Clearly identify each section • Title • Concept / Exec. Summary / Context • Need/Problem • Goals, Objectives, Activities • Project Description • Timeline/Action Plan • Budget • Evaluation

8. Title • Make the title short and relevant • Use clear and non-technical language

9. Concept/Exec Summary/Context • Introduces your project • Creates initial interest • Introduces your organization • Who you are • Participants (demographics) • No more than a few paragraphs • Project introduction is best written last • Includes complete demographics, participants served and brief improvement statement

10. Need / Problem • State in terms of student need • Clear statement of problem to be overcome with project • Well founded evidence of need/problem and solid research • May relate need to demographics • Factual information/research must be directly related to problem • Possibly the most important section

11. Goals, Objectives, and Activities • State in terms of student outcomes • “Stuff” should never be a goal • Specific benefits and end result of project • Directly related to need/problem statements • 1-3 goals, 1-3 objectives, 1-3 activities, all connected and related to need • Measurable items, success criteria, and statements of measure should be included

12. Sample Goals, Objectives, Activities • TopScoring High School Math Department Goal – “50% of students who did not test at the minimally proficient level on the 8th grade Spring LEAP test will test proficient or better on the Summer re-test”. • Objective #1: Develop resources to assist classroom teachers. • Activity 1: Teachers will do an item analysis on the LEAP focusing on the types of questions students most frequently missed. They will create a resource binder activites relating to their findings from this test. The problems and activities are aimed at supplementing regular classroom instruction. • Objective #2: Provide peer tutoring in math to identified students. • Activity 1: Students will register to be a teaching assistant in a math classroom during the school day. Teachers will interview interested students for their academic levels and willingness to commit to the program. They will have the option of helping in a Math Resource, Boxermath, Math Tutorial, or Algebra I class.

13. Project Description • Opportunity to give details of project and justify expenditures • Tasks that will be accomplished with funds • Well constructed, with solid ties to context, problem/need, goals, and action plan • Indicates that project will solve need

14. Timeline / Action Plan • Table format • Actions directly related to goals • Includes actions, specific dates, and responsible party

15. Budget • Budget specific and strongly tied to goals • Line item for each expenditure • Description, cost, relationship to goals/activities • Each item justified • Too much detail is better than too little • Group like line items • List any “in-kind” or “matching” funds

16. Evaluation • How will you determine success • What will be different as a result of project • Clear method of measure and data collection, • Clearly indicate which goal/objectives are measured, • All goals/objectives measured • Expand on criteria and method of measure from Goal section

17. Sample Evaluation Statement • The success of the Junior Career Days will first be evaluated by the English 11 teachers (see goal 2). All students will receive grades for their cover letters, resumes, and thank you letters. No student will get credit for any of these assignments though, unless they have been mailed to the interviewer. The student’s peers and the teacher will peer edit these pieces of writing before they receive a final grade from the teacher.

18. Sample Evaluation #2 • The second form of evaluation for this unit is the feedback from the interviewers themselves (see goal 3). Each interviewer will be sent a packet which will include an evaluation form for the student’s performance on the interview, the cover letter, and the resume. When the interviewer is finished with their meetings for the day, they will be asked to report to the main check in room, and there they will be asked to fill out an evaluation form for each of the students that they interviewed

19. Funding Source • Identify funding source • Make sure source matches project • Be sure to follow guidelines exactly

20. Hints From Reviewers • These are two quotes from people who review grant proposals: • "If I can't understand the title, then I don't fund it." Whitney Tilt, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation • If you haven't told us what you want by the end of the third paragraph, chances are you're not going to get it." John West, Phillips Petroleum Foundation

21. More Hints • The following quotes are taken from The Foundation's Center's "Guide to Proposal Writing." What the Funders Have to Say." • "Be thorough in your preparation and research before attempting to initiate contact with a funder." • "Statistics are important, but can be confusing. Use them when they set the stage and give a context for the project." • "Ideas need to stand out. If the format of the proposal helps accomplish that, then it is O.K. But fancy fonts and layout don't carry much weight in and of themselves." • If it is clear, concise, to the point, everything should be there without having to look for it. There should be meat on the bones but no fat."

22. More Hints • “Start with clarity and no fluff. I remember one proposal that was just bullet format. It was clear, succinct and to the point. For a literary point of view, it was dull, but programmatically, it was clear and precise." • "We like to see more, rather than less, information is the budget. We want to see how our money will be used, how it will fit into the whole picture." • "What makes me crazy is an organization ignoring our guidelines.“ • "Don't try to pull the wool over our eyes. Be honest and straightforward."

23. When looking for funding…. • Make friends with neighbors • Look for non-profit (foundations) • Match need with funding agencies • Look at big-givers (“4 Innovative Ways to Locate Money for Your District,” Scholastic Administrator, retrieved 2006, http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=7425

24. Sources • Hints- Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/msieopen.htm (2005) • www.k12grants.org • http://www.scholastic.com/administrator/funding.htm • http://www.yscal.org/resources/assets/TipSheets.pdf • http://www.education.smarttech.com/subscribe • (Interactive Educator E-Magazine) • Sources • www.cdwg.com/bigdeal • Seek local funding first - foundations, businesses, industry, utility companies.