GCTE PRESENTATIONFEBRUARY 6, 2009

Introduction to Grant Writing

Grant Terms

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 addressed, 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.

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.

Some initial guidelines

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

Guidelines to ensure you write a good proposal

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.

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.

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.

Elements often found in a Proposal

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

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.

3.Supporting materials: these are determined by the particular proposal.

4. Signaturesfrom important people—specified in the RFP.

Some final thoughts

Do exactly what the RFP asks. This is not a creative writing project; rather, it is the presentation of a creative project.

Don’t leave out anything.Be on time.Don’t overstate what you’ll do.Expect the process to take twice as much

time as you allot—especially the process of getting signatures and submitting.

Some material borrowed from www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting and from Robert P.Lowman’s presentation at KSU.

Some Good Teacher Grants:Sites for Information on Multiple Grants

Teachers Count: http://www.teacherscount.org/teacher/grants.shtml

Teachers’ Network: http://www.teachersnetwork.org/grants/

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

Kids in Need Foundation: http://www.kidsinneed.net/grants/

Teacher Tap: http://www.eduscapes.com/tap/topic94.htm

Grants continued. . .

Obama Government Grants: http://www.2009obamagovernmentgrants.org/?gclid=CIq934fnwZgCFRKAxgodPVsC0w

AFT Tools for Teachers: http://www.aft.org/tools4teachers/funding.htm

GCTE Teacher Minigrants:

http://www.gcte.net/ContestsClasses/Grants/Minigrants.htm