Winning Grants
for Your School
3 Steps to Grant Proposal Writing
1.Have a Great Idea
2.Find the Right
Funder
3.Plan a Good Project
4.Follow the Rules
Learning Outcomes
1
• Plan appropriate classroom grant projects
2
• Discover the different types of grants
3
• Learn to write the basic components of grants
4
•Prepare a project profile
5
•Recognize qualities of a well-written grant
What Do You Want to Achieve?
How will the world be a better place?
…Or the district, your school, or even
your classroom
What are the long-term benefits to the
school and community?
You are about
to find your
Fairy
Godmother!
Is This Project Grant-Worthy?
You apply for a Money Tree. I want a Dollar Factory. I think
the Franklin Foundation will give us both of them.
Then we can get anything we wan!
Is This Project Grant-Worthy?
Is project an original solution to a real need?
Is it a new project that won’t supplant what is
happening?
Can it be accomplished in a set time period?
Is This Project Grant-Worthy?
Is the need critical for your students, school, or the
district?
Is it based on Common Core Curriculum Standards?
Is its need rooted in your School Improvement Plan or
FSSD’s TSCPP goals?
Does your principal support your grant as a priority?
Is This Project Grant-Worthy?
Consider these Budget Issues as you plan
Can it be accomplished with the money already
available?
Would it be better to fund it through school
fundraisers?
Is there a required match of money or in-kind funds?
Can we support it when funding ceases or drop it if
funds are cut?
Is This Project Grant-Worthy?
“Your challenge is to tailor the
funding source’s goals and interests
to your needs and purposes. Think
of your proposed project idea in as
many ways as possible.”
Will your idea “catch” this funder?
Unique
Cost Effective (# who
receive services / $$$)
Capacity Building
Self-Sustaining
What Obstacles Might You
Encounter?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How much work is involved in
preparing a proposal?
It depends on
how many
reliable hands
are raised!
Writing a Grant Proposal as a Team
Use a Team to Develop your Idea
• Teachers
• Administrators
• Parents
• Students
• Community Members
• Community Agencies
Writing Will Involve Just a Few
Who Should be on Your Team?
Always
• People Who Will Champion
Your Cause
• Principal
• Me
• Finance Person – School
Bookkeeper or District Level
• Obstacle – Overcomer!
Project Specific
• Grade Level Teachers
• Subject Matter Teachers
• Central Office Personnel
–
–
–
–
–
–
Technology
Federal Projects
ELL/Special Needs
Transportation
School Counselors
Coordinated School Health
Ethical Grant Writing
• Be open and honest in all dealings with donors.
• Provide accurate information to the donor about
your organization.
• Use the funding awarded for the purposes intended.
• Spend funding only on essential items for
accomplishing project objectives.
• Use funding during the grant period indicated by
the funder.
• If you need to extend the grant funding period, get
the funder’s written consent.
Prepare a Project Profile
Idea Check
Is the need critical?
Does the need come from your SIP or FSSD
TCSPP?
Does your project have support?
Are the long-term benefits worthwhile?
Finding Funders for Classroom Grants
Google searches
Internet groups
Finding Funding Newsletter
“Somebody” knows about a grant
Foundation Center Online
Center for Nonprofit Management CDs
Who is Good Partner/Funder
Look on your way to school
Check yellow pages – or virtual equivalent
Who cares about what your project will do
Who cares about who your project will serve
Consider partners who have services, not just $$$
Working with Funders
Ask questions answered in their
materials
DO
NOT
Be a pest! Keep the grantmaker
informed, but be respectful.
Add the grantmaker to your mailing
list for standard information
Feel entitled to their money.
Partnerships are a Plus!
Finding Funding
Demonstrate Need
Provide Match
Encourage Participation
Sustainability
Partnerships are a Plus – for them, too!
What makes FSSD special
What makes your school great
How will the project reflect well on THEM
Are school parents involved in partner organization
What do partner and you have in common
Partnerships – What’s in for Them
Good News Awards
Newspaper Article
Recognition on Web Site
Recognition on Programs/Published Materials
Plaques on Donations
Is this the Right Funder?
Do they have the same interests as you?
Do they fund public schools?
How are their finances?
Do they fund in this area?
How many grants will they award?
What size organization do they usually fund?
What size project do they usually fund?
Remember the Golden Rule.
Review the Funder’s Guidelines
Eligibility
Funding Goals & Priorities
Deadlines
Recheck Specifics
Notification Date
Award Range
Proposal format
Evaluation Process
Contact Person
Submission Requirements
Prepare a Project Profile
Consider these as you search for a funder
Is your idea a direct match with the funding agency's
priorities?
Is there a good likelihood of getting funded?
Is there enough time to develop a program and proposal?
Four Types of Proposals
Good Idea – Good Proposal
Good Idea – Bad Proposal
Bad Idea – Good Proposal
Bad Idea – Bad Proposal
Types of Funders
Federal – Safe Schools/Healthy Students
State – LEAPs After School
Corporate –Teach Every Colleague How
Individual – gail mcdaniel
Federal Funding
Grants for Big Money
Read RFP (Request for Proposals)
Follow Directions
Plan Ahead
Usually Must Collaborate with Others
State Funding
Often Flow-Through
Make Sure FSSD Qualifies
Follow Directions
Can Be a District or Classroom Level Grant
Do NOT Begin to Plan Without District
Corporate & Individual Funding
There may be an RFP or may not
You may be able to talk directly to funder
Amounts vary significantly
The ease or complexity may vary
Types of Applications
Federal Grant
Small Corporate Grant
Mini-Grant
Letter Proposal
Creativity is not talent…
It’s a way of operating.
1.Space
2.Time
3.Time
4.Confidence
5.Humor
John Cleeves
Where Can You Get Ideas???
• You already have one!
• Your students
• Conferences
• Online
• Other staff
• Networking
• Professional journals,
newspapers and books
Writing is 90%
procrastination &
30% panic!
Focus
Identify major needs
Identify key project components
Plan for your target population
Identify main theme or component of
project
Narrow your focus – grade level,
attendance, academics, social-emotional
Limit ideas to areas of highest need
Is it Hard to START?
1. Start with the Budget!
You already KNOW what you want to
buy!
You will need it for any proposal.
2. Plan activities with a timeline
beginning with the end
Budget
Many funders begin
reviewing here
Explain everything
Tells the story as
well as Project
Design
No room for surprises
Only include what is allowed
Salaries – include Social Security,
Medicare, and Teacher Retirement.
Technology –
infrastructure
check for adequate
Budget
Only include what is allowed
Don’t Spend New Money
When a match is
required
Use In-Kind Costs
Use the Value of Volunteer Time
In Tennessee it’s $19.42*
Salaries – include Social Security,
*www.independentsector.org
Medicare, and Teacher Retirement.
Budget
The more details the better
Itemization is
Your Friend!
Salaries – include Social Security,
Medicare, and Teacher Retirement.
Technology – give specs and vendor
Travel – include why, and all specifics
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/
21287
Budget
Describe how items will be
shared across teachers and
classes
Show you’re
spending their
money wisely
• A COW will serve the
entire team
• Specify schedule plans,
so they know you’re
serious
Great for expensive items!
Helps improve your
cost/student ratio!
Is it Cost Effective?
Show them Your
Project’s Real
Value
Method or Activity
Estimated Cost
Numbers Served
Cost per Student or Teacher
Advantages and
Disadvantages of the
Project’s Method
Prepare a Project Profile
Include everything you will need for
the project
Include only things necessary for
project
Plan for total project, but it’s fine to
ask funders for only a portion
Check your math
Basic Grant Components
Abstract
Needs
Goals and Objectives
Project Design
Evaluation
Sustainability
Dissemination
Budget
Needs Based on Gaps
What exists now
What could be
What is real
The present situation
How many students
are at this stage
The Goal
GAP
The desired state of
affairs
The level of
achievement
Need
Where you begin.
Do it WITHOUT making the
school district look bad
Make it real.
What’s wrong?
It’s not just about you.
It’s not just about stuff.
Make it personal.
Give it zing!
Need
Condition you want to change
Objective evidence of problem
Scope & magnitude of problem
Why do you
need funding?
Demographics, geography
Relate to mission and goals
Focus on who will be served
Consequences of inaction
Prepare a Project Profile
Begin with the problem this grant will solve
Stick to the problem(s) this grant will solve
Consider its causes
Use local (even school) statistics
Use real statistics
Use compelling language
Goals
How will you
know you won?
Unreachable in the short
term
The ultimate result you
want
Broad-based for the
project, not the school
Probably not in a letter
request or mini-grant
Objectives
Specific
Measureable
Make sure they are
SMART
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound
Prepare a Project Profile
What specific outcomes do you intend to
achieve as a result of your project?
Define a solution
Tie this back to your Need or Problem
Because we’re schools, it will probably
include students
Objectives can be outcome-based or
process.
Prepare a Project Profile
Process Objective – To establish two
classrooms for young children with
challenging behavior by September 2005
that meet the Tennessee state education
and child care requirements.
Outcome Objective – To increase faculty
and student participation for breakfast and
lunch at all eight school cafeterias by 5% by
June 2011.
Project Design Timeline
Put in chronological order
Assign dates – beginning, ending,
ongoing
Indicate person responsible
Include early plans for sustainability
Include volunteer
engagement/recognition
Include evaluation
Project Design
Purpose of the project
This is what it’s all
about.
How will you make it
happen
Start with your objectives
Project Design
Develop your plan step
by step
This is what it’s all
about.
Develop a timeline
Who will do what
What resources are
needed
Project Design
Who will benefit
This is what it’s all
about.
How will you know you
did well?
Sum it up in 2-3
sentences
Prepare a Project Profile
These are your Action Steps.
You can state this in bullets or
paragraphs.
Your audience is the funder.
Evaluation
Make it measurable – Hint
(use your objectives)
How will you know
you got there?
Match it to your Goals and
Project Design
It should flow naturally after
your Project Design.
*BIG Project = Federal Grant
For a BIG project*, you’ll need
an outside evaluator
Prepare a Project Profile
Turn your Needs and Objectives
into and Evaluation Plan.
Make sure it meshes with your
Project Design.
Sustainability
Rarely required
Always good to include
How will you
continue without
“their” money?
Don’t promise what you can’t
deliver
Equipment may need to be
repaired or replaced
Professional development
Consider charging fees
Sustainability
A funding plan that is heavily
dependent on grant funds
will be considered weak
Be Specific!
List the sources of income
and amounts
State which resources are
committed, pending, or to be
requested
Letters of commitment from
partners
Dissemination
Rarely required
Always good to include
More
More bang
bang
for their
their buck!
for
buck!
Describe how you will
share information
Newsletters
On site
Website
Conference
Prepare a Project Profile
How can you incorporate
Sustainability and
Dissemination?
If they are not required they
often impress a funder by
showing how they get more
Bang for their buck.
Abstract
Only one page!
Just get to the point
Never include your need.
You write it last.
Reviewers read it first.
A Well-Written Grant
Is specific to the funder
Addresses questions in the RFP
Keeps the
reviewers
happy
Flows from one component to the next
Presents a well-reasoned case
Passes the 7-11 test
Has no spelling or grammar errors
Is sent well in before you need the funding
Why You Will Get Funded
You followed directions
You’re addressing an important issue
You’re an expert in this area
Winners!!!
You have a great plan
You’ve done your homework
Your leadership is committed to it
Your proposal is a great fit
Why You Won’t Get Funded
You need money - - you’re going
broke
You have good intentions
Not Winners
You want to provide service
You’ve never done this before
You didn’t show you have
support
An Easy-to-Read Grant
Is written in the active voice
Uses charts, graphs, white space,
headers
Has numbered pages if more than 2
Keeps the
reviewers happy
Uses numerals for measurements
and fractions
Has 1”margins on all sides
Uses concise sentences
Is written from the reader’s
perspective
Proofreading Tips
Let it rest 24 - 36 hours
Change font type or increase size
Scan from right to left when editing
Separate text into single sentences
Read text out loud
Edit for one potential mistake at a time
Need Help?
I’m here for you!
Connie McKee
289-0814
mckee0304@comcast.net
Learning Outcomes
1
• Determine appropriate classroom grant projects
2
• Learn the different types of grants
3
• Learn to write the basic components of grants
4
•Prepare a project profile
5
•Recognize qualities of a well-written grant