Who are you? You’ re here because you care about making schools a better place for kids.

1. 2016 SRVEF Grant Workshop • Who are you? You’re here because you care about making schools a better place for kids. • Who is SRVEF? The foundation is made up of people who want to help you make the schools a better place for kids.

2. Today’s Learning Goal Increase likelihood of being funded Start with the end in mind. Learn the parts of a SMART goal. Attend to the judging criteria. Write to the application. Make it easy to read.

3. Important dates • Applications are now being accepted • September 12 - Applications due 4:00PM • October 31- Grant winners announced • December 3- Deadline for request for funds • March 3- Project outcomes due

4. Start with the end in mind.Do you want an A? • Give the scorer what s/he asks for. • Read the purpose. • Follow the guidelines. • Observe the timeline. • Pay attention to the criteria. • Provide all the requested information. • Submit your proposal in the boxes provided, but compose it offline first.

5. Do a quick write.This is only for you. • Whatidea(s) do you have for grant(s)? What do you want funded from SRVEF? • Whowill it affect? • Whenwill you implement this grant? • Data - How will you know if the grant has been successful?

6. CriteriaStart with the end in mindSRVEF’s checklist • Meets the SRVUSD framework • Goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, results oriented, time specific • Addresses student need • Innovative and/or creative • Number of students served • Long lasting impact or potential, sustainable • Aligns with Common Core

7. Criteria – meets SRVUSD framework • The SRVEF readers want to know that you are in alignment with district goals.

8. Criteria - SMART goal • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Results oriented • Time specific

9. SpecificSMART goalWhat does your project look like? Paint a mental picture for the reader. • example – “lose weight” vs. “sign up for classes 4X/week and walk 30 minutes on other days

10. MeasurableSMART goalHow will you know you’ve met your goal?What data will show the results? • example – “lose weight” vs. “my skinny jeans will zip up”

11. AttainableSMART goalDo a reality check. Is this something realistic to do? • example – “I’ll never eat dessert again” vs. “I’ll eat fruits/vegetables at 2 meals/day”

12. Results orientedSMART goalIs this helping students move toward instructional excellence? • example – name a specific software or application vs. saying you’ll use iPad apps

13. Time specificSMART goalWhat is the timeline? • example – “lose weight” vs. be one size smaller by my high school reunion in July

14. Your application • You will submit your application online. • Compose it offline. Use spell check! • Apply for a general AND/OR an elementary classroom music grant. Music grants require having the pledge of matching funds.

15. Overview • Describe your grant in student terms. Help the reader to see how your idea will affect students. • Don’t forget the timeline to help the grant reader to “see” when things will happen. • Keep it simple and straightforward. Remember the Grandma story.

16. Goals • Describe your specific goals. What do you want to accomplish? • Be specific. Help reader visualize what students (not teachers or adults) will be doing. • Reference Common Core.

17. Expenditures • Be specific – Submit a shopping list. Make it clear what you are going to purchase. • Do you have a partial funding plan? • Describe what additional funding you have already secured or plan to seek .

18. Elementary Classroom Music • Elementary classroom music grants are a different application from general grants. • Be sure to indicate where your matchingfunds will be coming from. This is required. • The SRVEF endowment committee will be helping to award these grants. • You can submit in either this category or in the general grants.

19. Evaluation • How will you know if your project is a success? • Provide data, data, data. • Talk about objective measures, results, numbers. • Give a timeline for assessment –calendar, benchmarks along the way.

20. Innovation • New or different? • Creative? • Something unusual?

21. Sharing • Newsletters • Website • Faculty meeting presentations • Professional Development days • Student presentations • PTA or foundation meetings • Assemblies • Toot your horn!

22. Reminders, tips • Plan ahead. • Follow the timeline. • Think through your idea before submitting it.

23. Reminders, tips • Be succinct. Avoid education jargon. Remember who your readers are. • Think about style –Tell a story. • Have other eyes take a look. • Use spell check. Use grammar check. • Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.

24. Last bits of advice • When you’re funded, publicize your success. • Write a thank you letter. Send student work. Send photos. Call the newspaper. Publish. • Remember - it’s never too late to say thank you.

25. Thank you! • You’re applying for a grant because you care about making schools a better place for kids. • SRVEF is here because we want to help you make the schools a better place for kids. • Now – let’s get to work!

26. Jot more notesWith the criteria in mind, look again at the grant project you’re thinking about. • What are you asking for? • Who will this project affect? • When will the project happen? • How you will assess? Data, data, data • Work on writing a successful grant!