The Art of Grant Writing: Learn to Write Successful Grants to Purchase Technology for Your

ClassroomBy Michael Guynes

July 22 and July 23, 2014

Grant: An award given to an organization or individual to support a project described in a proposal submitted to a sponsor.

RFP (Request for Proposal): Guidelines for grant submission. Includes the topic to be adressed, methods to be used, results desired, product to be delivered.

Grants.gov: A web-based portal through which most applications to federal grant programs are submitted

Grant Terms

Facilities and administrative costs (indirects) – Overhead expenses incurred by funding agency (school district) in the administration of the funded project for which most sponsors reimburse the institution at a fixed percentage of project costs.

Inkind – Contributions from institutions, personnel, and other entities that support the project.

Grant Terms Continued. . . .

The most important element in grant writing is to be well aware of your audience–and then, write for that audience. Grant writing is about convincing people who have money to give away that money.

Think from the money-holder’s perspective. Would you give someone money without some assurance of competence and ability to follow through on the proposed project?

Some Initial Guidelines

Conduct thorough Research over Ideas – It is best to plan early and be patient with the

process.◦ Talk to colleagues, administrators and friends in

the education profession◦ Meet with people who have the products that you

desire and have them explain to you all of the benefits of using the product.

◦ Look up information on ideas through the internet, library or at a store about the products that you wish to include in your proposal.

Brainstorming

Define your project. Think of thesis-statement like openings. Let the readers know from the very opening statement what your goals and objectives are and specify how you will direct the work to meet the goals.

Pick the right funding sources. Don’t try to get a high school reading improvement plan funded under a social studies proposal designed to fund projects for elementary students.

Guidelines to ensure you write a good proposal

Contact funders. These folks are used to having potential grant writers call them. They are there to help you decide if their RFP is good for your proposal. When you contact them, have your idea written out so you don’t waste time getting to your point. Also, be open to their suggestions and be willing to alter some of your ideas—if you can—so your grant ideas more closely align with the funder’s needs.

Guidelines to ensure you write a good proposal continued. . . .

READ THE RFP SEVERAL TIMES to know whether your proposal will fit the call. This step, while tedious, is not to be ignored. Not only will you be sure your project fits the funder’s needs, but you’ll also be familiar with the requirements for writing the proposal.

Guidelines to ensure you write a good proposal continued. . . .

1. Narrative: Usually, this section will include the project purpose, measurable objectives, and a logical reason the proposal should be funded. It will also include the funding:

◦ how you will accomplish your goals and objectives,◦ a description of the work,◦ an outline of activities,◦ a description of the personnel who will be involved—

including their credentials,◦ how the project will be evaluated,◦ a timeline for the project, and ◦ how you will evaluate your findings

Elements often found in a Proposal

2. Budget: Include everything. Don’t feel you must spend the maximum allowed, but don’t under budget either. Be reasonable in your expectations, and don’t ask for more than is allowed. Consider writing a grant for 1/3 of the money allowed to increase your chances of winning a grant.3. Support materials: these are determined by the particular proposal.4. Signatures from important people—specified in the RFP.

Elements often found in a Proposal continued. . . .

Be persistent – It may take writing a few grants before you win one.

Do exactly what the RFP asks. This is not a creative writing project.

Proofread the proposal and then have two other colleagues proofread the proposal as well.

Be on time. Don’t overstate what you’ll do.

Some Final Thoughts

Expect the process to take twice as much time as you allot—especially the process of getting signatures and submitting.

Write thank you letters to the donors of the grant money when you win.

Submit a professional looking project summary and include pictures in it. Check with your school’s registrar regarding permission on use of student pictures.

Volunteer time at the donor’s fundraiser.

Final Thoughts continued. . . .

Some material borrowed from Dr. Jim Cope and Dr. Carol Harrell’s Presentation at NCTE Conference Presentation in 2009.

Most school districts have education foundations that fund thousands of dollars in grants for classrooms use school wide initiatives and for furthering your education. For DISD teachers and staff, we have the Denton ISD Public Education Foundation.Be sure to write a grant and submit it to your

school district’s education foundation.

Some Good Teacher Grants: Sites for Information on Multiple Grants

Teachers Count:http://www.teacherscount.org/teacher/grants.shtmlTeachersCount is a 501©(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to raise the status of the teaching profession and provide resources to the eduation community. Teacher’s Network:http://www.teachersnetwork.org/grants/IMPACT11Grants Teachers Network helps teachers make the most of innovative and creative ideas by awarding them grants to package and disseminate their ideas to other interested teachers, who then adapt and tailor them to their own classrooms.

Some Good Teacher Grants: continued

Kids in Need Foundation:◦ http://www.kidsinneed.net/grants/◦ Kids in Need Teacher Grants provide K-12

educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The Kids in Need Foundation helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource – our nation’s teachers.

Homeroom Teacher:◦ http://www.homeroomteacher.com/teacher_grants

.html◦ Hosts lists of teacher grants from other sites.

Some Good Teacher Grants: continued