Writing a Successful Grant Proposal
Brianna Smith, RD
Highline Public Schools
Nutrition Services Manager
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Objectives
� Identify key elements of successful grant writing
� Learn to write proposals that meet goals of grant
� Essential components of strong proposals
� Equip YOU to identify, write and receive grants!!
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Overview
� Highline Grants
� Grant Considerations
� Essential Grant Components
� Lessons Learned
� Keys to Success
� Grants & Resources
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Types of Grants
� Federal
� United States Dept. of Agriculture
� National Institute of Health
� Centers for Disease Control
� Foundation
� Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
� American Dietetic Assoc. Foundation
� Organization/Company
� American School Health Association
� National Dairy Council
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Highline Public Schools
� Burien, WA
� 30 School Sites
� Ethnically Diverse
� 80 Nationalities
� 70 Languages
� 58% Free & Reduced
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Grants in Highline
� Hidden Valley “Love your Veggies”
� General Mills “Champions for Healthy Kids”
� American School Health Association (ASHA)
� USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
� Meals for Kids Grant
� STEPS to a Healthier US
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Hidden Valley “Love your Veggies”
� $15,000 > 07-08’, $10,000 > 08-09’
� Salad Bar, Nutrition Education
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American School Health Association
� 2 years, > $10,000/year
� Training & Capacity Building for Coordinated School Health
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USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
� 4th year recipient, $66,000 > 07-08’
� Salad bar, mid-day snacks, family nights
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Meals for Kids Grant
� $18,756 > 07-08’
� Equipment-Ameripak Packing Machine for salads, summer program, etc.
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STEPS to a Healthier US Project
� 5 Years� School Health Coordinator
� Health Education
� PE Education
� Staff Wellness
� Nutrition Coordinator� Nutrition Education
� Nutrition Services
� Year 5 Consultant� Coordinated School Health Program
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First Steps…
� What are YOU passionate about?
� Where do you feel that improvement could occur? Identify existing need!
� How is your idea unique and different?
� Who will your idea benefit and what will it contribute?
� How will this idea meet the funders goals and objectives?
� WHO is going to implement the program?
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First Steps…
� What are you passionate about???� Health & Well-being of Students
� Physical Activity, Special Dietary Needs, Nutrition Education, Coordinated School Health
� Quality of School Meal Programs
� Breakfast Participation, Food Safety, Classroom to Cafeteria Connections, Staff Training, etc
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First Steps…
� Where do you feel that improvement
could occur?
� THE NEED- Chinook Middle School
� GREAT need of PE curriculum & equipment
� Limited nutrition education
� Strong student interest in culinary careers
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First Steps…
� How is your idea unique and different?
� Student Nutrition Advisory Committee
� Community Partnerships
� Staff and Family Involvement
� Multiple Players
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First Steps…
� Who will your idea benefit and what will it
contribute?
� Students- Increased knowledge, improved attitudes, improved skill, leadership building and behavior change!
� Staff- Role modeling, increased knowledge, improved attitude and behavior change!
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First Steps…
� How will this idea meet the funders goals
and objectives?
� General Mills Champions Grant
� PE Focus - Curriculum & Enhanced Equipment
� Nutrition Focus- Increase Nutrition Education
� Empower Students – Student Nutrition Advisory Council
� RD Involved- My time and planning
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First Steps…
� Who is going to implement the program?
� Build a Team
� Physical Education Teachers
� School Nurse
� Family Support Liaison
� Registered Dietitian
� WSU Extension
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Before Writing the Grant
� Obtain Grant Proposal Guidelines
� Are you eligible?
� What is involved in grant application process?
� When is the submission deadline?
� Does the timing of funding meet your needs?
� Get District Approval!!
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Common Grant Components
� Organization Information
� Organization History
� Mission & Purpose
� “Educate Every Student & Expect Excellence”
� “Eat Healthy, Grow Strong”
� Demographics
� White-37.3%, Black-13.9%, Asian-21.3%, Pacific Islander-2.1%, and Hispanic-25.4%.
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Common Grant Components
� Explain Problem/ Need
� Description of Problem
� 23% of Washington Youth are obese, 36% are overweight
� 55% of 3rd-6th falling behind in science scores & 34% of students falling behind in math.
� 70% Free/Reduced Lunch
� What you want to do
� Increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption
� Increase Nutrition Education
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Common Grant Components
� Narrative� Target Audience
� Student & Staff of Seahurst Elementary School
� Projected People Reached� 536 Students, 39 staff
� Your Proposed Program & Timeline� Salad bar-new fruits and veggies
� Marketing Campaign
� Part time wellness coordinator
� Describe planning you have already done
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Goals & Objectives
� Goals are General
� To make cafeteria - classroom connections to support nutrition education
� Objectives are Specific (SMART)
� Increase fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school students
� If your objectives are a numeric goal or statistic, make sure it is doable (i.e. Increase fruit and vegetable consumption by 15%)
� Be Realistic!
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Common Grant Components
� Outcomes� What will change about the situation as a
result of your project?
� Needs to be MEASURABLE!
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Common Grant Components
� Budget� Direct project expenses
� Cost of materials, curriculum, food, equipment, etc
� Administrative expenses
� Salaries, planning, etc
� Cost-Benefit Analysis
� Matching Funds
� “In-Kind" shows commitment on your part
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Common Grant Components
� Other Funding Sources
� Team Nutrition Grants, Other partnerships, etc.
� Sustainability
� Is this program replicable?
� Evaluation
� Should be DIRECTLY from the outcomes you stated (i.e. consumption, attitude, knowledge)
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Budget your Time
Solid partnershipsSolid partnerships CommunicateCommunicate
Innovative Innovative
projectprojectDefine your Define your
budgetbudget
80% Planning Project 20% Writing Proposal
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Relationships with Funders
� They are our Partners!� Build a Relationship
� Be Courteous
� Respect their Time
� Know their Interests
� Discuss Opportunities
� Follow Up
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ALWAYS…
� Follow grant application instructions
� Respect word counts, page limits
� Include necessary attachments
� Be succinct and well organized
� Proof read, proof read, proof read!
� Submit your proposal on time
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Weak Proposals
� Don’t follow directions
� Have lots of errors
� Lack coordination and partnerships
� Late submission
Pitfalls
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What if you don’t get the grant?
� Follow Up- Ask:
� Any hints to increase success next time?
� Any other funders recommended?
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Lessons Learned
� Build a Team- Share the work!
� Identify Champions
� Determine Staff Capability
� Communicate, Communicate!
� Meet the Funders Needs- be familiar with their areas of work and goals
� Know what you are getting into!
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Keys to Success
� Be Innovative…Think outside of the box!
� Maximize Resources-Create partnerships that are mutually beneficial
� Read Successful Grants- Utilize “best practices” from other districts
� Try to create win-win situations for funder and grantee
� Start small!
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Available Grants
� General Mills Champions Grant
� http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx
� Hidden Valley Love your Veggies
� http://www.hiddenvalley.com/loveyourveggies.php
� TEAM Nutrition Training Grants
� http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/grants.html
� US Potato Board
� http://www.healthypotato.com/healthEducators.php?id=11
� National & State Dairy Council Breakfast Grants� http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/nationaldairycouncil
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Available Grants cont…
� Go, Go Girls� http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=fkIWLgP3G&b=107774
� School Nutrition Foundation� http://www.schoolnutrition.org/
� Action for Healthy Kids (National & State)� http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/
� American Dietetic Foundation� http://www.adaf.org
� Robert Wood Johnson Foundation� http://www.rwjf.org/
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Grant Writing Resources
� Successful Grant Writing Tips � http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips/more_tips2.htm#Nine%20Secrets%20of%20Succe
ssful%20Proposals
� Proposal Short Course
� http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html
� Grant Writing Tips & Examples� http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips.htm
� Grant Writing Guides� http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips/more_tips2.htm#Managing%20Your%20Grant
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Questions?
Brianna Smith, RD
Highline Public Schools
Nutrition Services Manager
206-433-2209