Fermilab Leadership Institute Integrating
Internet, Instruction, and Curriculum

November 17, 1999 CHAINLInC

Grant Writing

Many of you have expressed interest in grant writing. Some of you have already received grants; others have your best instructional idea ever! How do you get the extra resources to make it become a reality? Get a grant! Yes, you can do it! Join us from 6:00 - 7:30 CST on channel one. We have arranged time for sharing and questioning.

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Guide to Getting Grants - Guide to Grant Givers - Larger List of Grant Givers

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Guide to Getting a Grant

I. Design the Project

• Get together a "project team"
• Research what is already out there
• Consider your options
• Focus your project ideas
• Prepare a talking paper
  1. Indentify needs
  2. Establish goals and objectives
  3. Consider options
  4. Create project outline
  5. Plan evaluation from the beginning.
  6. Develop rough budget

II. Identify Funders

Create the match - they have the resources, and you have the project they want to support!

The Guide to Grant Givers provides a starting point to find grantors who have a presence on the Web. K-12 educators can also find support through local foundations, PTA's and civic groups. Grants may not always provide money -- sometimes they provide equipment, materials, etc.

Read the Request For Proposals (RFP) thoroughly. Do you qualify? Does it match your goals? Can you meet the submission deadline? Your project must be responsive to the RFP!

When you find a potential funder, find out as much as possible about the funder.

Then, get in touch. Describe your project. Does it fit the RFP? Develop a personal relationship. If it is not already available, ask for a list of grantees. Ask if you can read successful applications with similar goals.

You may be requried to submit a pre-proposal to detemine if the funder is interested.

Contact grantees for advice.

Tips:

• A telephone call may get you a grant depending on the source.
• First time RFP's often get fewer responses so your chances of receiving a grant may be improved.
• Be aware of submission deadlines. Allow a couple weeks for thinking, writing, revising and final preparations.
• View critical comments as an opportunity to improve -- not necessarily as rejection.

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III. Write the Proposal

Play by their rules! Your proposal must establish your credibility to administer grant and conduct the program. Why you instead of someone else?

Always submit the proposal with a cover letter addressed to an individual. It should not be attached to the proposal.

Create standard descriptive information on the district that you can use in all proposals.

Typical Components:

• Title page, if required (name, address, phone, date, submitted to)
• Abstract/Summary - need, goal, participants, synopsis of activities, request
• Introduction - who you are
• Problem/Need - Make the case that the need exists to do what you propose. Describe needs assessment. Support with current references, state and national standards, etc.
• Project Description/Action Plan
  • Objectives with measurable Outcomes/Results
  • Activities/Methods - Program activites must be related to/enable the program goal(s) to be accomplished.
  • Timeline
• Evaluation - process and product, related to objectives/outcomes
• Budget, with narrative if required, realistic/cost-effective, descriptive of program, accurate, include in-kind contributions.
• Appendices, letters of support and/or attachments.

Tips:

• Clearly label each section of the proposal.
• Address each area required in the RFP in order by name.
• Supply enough detail for someone who is NOT familiar with your school/district.
• Strictly adhere to any word limits!
• Make it easy to read.
  • Be succinct - short sentences and short paragraphs.
  • Use a single font, headings, doublespace.
  • Use bullets for lists.
  • Write in active voice, third person.
  • Do not use would, could, should; Use will.
  • Depending on source, do not use educationese.
  • Avoid any handwriting.
• Clarify any budget questions with grantor before you submit the proposal.
• Let it rest for a day or two and then read it again to see if it still makes sense. Find a critical friend to read it for content, clarity and feasibility. You will also need someone to proofread everthing including the budget.

Additional information:

• A Proposal Writing Short Course by The Foundation Center. Written for non-profits but contains useful process information for K12 educators.
• Proposal Writing - Links compiled by Pacific Bell Education First

Resources in Fermilab's Teacher Resource Center

Bauer, David G., Educator's internet funding guide: Classroom Connect's reference guide for technology funding, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1997.

Bauer, David G., Successful Grants Program Management, Classroom Connect, Lancaster, PA, 1994.

Ferguson, Jacqueline, Grants for Teachers: A Guide to Federal and Private Funding, Capitol Publications Inc., Alexandria, VA, 1993.

Funding Sources for K-12 Education, 2nd Edition Oryx Press, Phoenix, AZ, 1999.

Karges-Bone, Linda, Grant Writing for Teachers, Good Apple, Carthage, IL, 1994.

Securing Funding for Educational Technology, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Harcourt Brace School Publishers, Orlando, FL, 1995.

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