GRANT WRITING 101Tapestry

Sol Hirsch

Captain Planet

Entergy

Toshiba

Vernier

1

SHELL

Lowe’s

Chris Campbell, NSTA District VII Director

Top Ten Tips for Writing Successful Proposals

1.) Start with a problem or need that you are passionate about. – Ask for funding for a “project” – not just

supplies or equipment. WHY?

Have adequate data to document the need- National need- State need- Local need

* Needs assessment

2

2.) Choose a funding agency that is interested in addressing that need

– Know what the “hot topics” or buzzwords are workforce development (e.g., women in STEM)

improving student literacy & student achievement

research-based strategies

environmental issues

under-resourced students

– Use the funder’s own words from the Request for Proposals (RFP) to demonstrate how your project is tied to what they want to fund

3

ExamplesToshiba Foundation; “Many successful grantees have designed projects that tap into the natural curiosity of their students, enable students to frame their own scientific questions, and incorporate the expertise of community partners.”

NOAA Environmental Literacy: “A successful project will catalyze change in K-12 education at the state, regional and national level through development of new programs and/or revision of existing programs to improve the environmental literacy of K-12 teachers and their students.“

4

3.) Work through the budget up front

– You can only do what you can pay for, i.e. don’t go overboard!

– You must know the rules and regulations – funding agency’s and your school system’s

Salaries and fringe benefits

Facilities and Administration costs (indirect costs)

Travel rules and regulations

Supplies vs equipment

Operating costs

5

4.) Make it a collaborative project

– Maximizes impact of funder’s dollars– Spreads the work around

Math plus science teachersMultiple schools or multiple districtsSchool plus business partnerSchool plus community organizationSchool plus university or community college partner

6

5.) Use simple language, tell a story

– What is our problem? – How do we know it’s a problem?– What do we propose to do to solve the

problem?– How will we know if we have accomplished

our task?– How will we share what we have learned with

others?

7

6.) Make it easy for reviewers to find what they are looking for

– Have a clear and accurate table of contents– Label sections and subsections clearly– Arrange the proposal in the requested order– Use the funder’s own words to identify what

you are trying to get across

8

7.) Have a clear and logical plan–Use graphic organizers and bulleted

lists to clarify your plan

Goals and measurable objectives

Tasks to accomplish objectives

Who will do what

Timeline

Management plan

Organizational relationship of partners

9

8.) Explain the strengths of your proposal

– Restate the strengths of the project– Explain how your solution to the problem

could serve as a model for others– Describe why you are well qualified to

accomplish the tasks you have set for yourself

10

9.) Have a well-thought out plan for evaluating and documenting the success of your project

–Who will evaluate?–What evaluation methods will be used?–When will evaluations take place?–How will the evaluation data be used?–Use OBJECTIVE and MEASURABLE

data!

11

“A written report is due every end of 9-weeks. This report is graded as a project. In this report, students are required to describe the math skills they learned and they will make a presentation of the said skill as well. Every skill learned by the whole students impacted by this project will be tied-in to the core standards. In my discretion, we will implement the skill learned to help students increase their scores on tests. High test scores means the goal has been met.”

12

Measurable Outcomes/GoalsIncreased mathematical content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge in the areas of problem solving, estimation, as well as a continued focus on measurement of area, perimeter, and volume.

80% of participants increase their scores on pre/post content tests by 10%

Increased levels of classroom implementation of standards-based instructional and assessment strategies

80% of participants demonstrate the use of at least 3 instructional strategies and 3 activities from the project

Increased levels of participation in a year-long electronic learning community (ELC)

75% of participants complete all ELC assignments

Increased ability to develop student centered and learning cycle based lessons that engage students in higher level thinking

75% of participants develop and teach a learning cycle lesson that engages students in higher level thinking

Enhancing participants’ confidence in their ability to teach mathematics in ways that help their students develop a deep understanding of the topic and improve student achievement on high stakes state exams

75% of participants report increased confidence in their ability to teach basic mathematical concepts

13

10.) Practice peer and self evaluation

– Ask peers to read the proposal and offer suggestions

– Put your proposal away for a day or two then read it as if you were a proposal reviewer by using the reviewer’s guidelines to evaluate the proposal

14

If you've been awarded a grant it's important to follow up with the funder on expectations and payment information.

– Follow district and school guidelines for deposits and purchases.

If you weren't awarded the grant, follow up with the funder (if possible) to see what might have been done differently.

15

Lagniappe!!!!!

Give yourself twice as much time as you think it will take.

Make sure all the pesky details are taken care of (signatures, recommendation letters, resumes, requested appendices, etc.)

16

Awardswww.nsta.org/awards

NSTA's Awards and Recognition

Tuesday from 9-9:50 in Winston II

Peggy Carlisle

  17

18

19

SSP Fellowshiphttp://www.societyforscience.org/outreach

2012 Fellow: Lillie Bryant, Reed Resource Center School, Shuqualak, MS

$8500 per year for up to 4 years

20

Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Research Experience for Teacher (RET)

Toshiba’s ExploraVision

Siemen’s We Can Change the World

Mickelson/ExxonMobil [grades 3-5] Teachers Academy

Project Atmosphere and Maury Project (AMS)

Disney’s Planet Challenge

SHELL Science Lab Challenge

E-Cybermission

Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for National Excellence in K-8 Science Teaching

21

Remember - it’s a COMPETITION!

Put on your game face and get after it!

22