Grant Writing Basics

A presentation on the basic elements of grant proposal writing and an overview on how to find information about grant resources.

Grants Assistance Unit

a unit of Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs

provides technical & grant grooming assistance, etc.

assists applicants in preparing proposal budgets, board reports, etc.

offers grant writing workshops

Other Services Provided:

searches, monitors, and screens funding opportunities

publishes Grants Alerts on LAUSDnet, District Communications System, Spotlight, United Teachers, etc.

maintains a resource librarymails and bundles proposals to fundersothers

Grants Assistance Unit 1999-2000 Staff:

Erick Mata, DirectorMichelle Brenner, CoordinatorJohn Ralles, SpecialistEd Trimis, SpecialistMalinda Sebastian, Financial AideRita Alvarado, Admin. SecretaryTeNesha Moseley, Computer Office Oper.Lois Pride, Office Assistant

Grants Assistance Unit Info.:

450 North Grand Avenue, Room A-413 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: (213) 625-6395, -6596, -6597Hotline: (213) 625-6390Fax Number: (213) 613-0862

Grants Assistance Unit URL :

Grants Assistance Unit Web site address: http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/

offices/instruct/grants/

GAU’s Recent Accomplishments:

Increased funding through grants, over $80 million

Expanded grants Web siteIncreased articulation among district

offices and schools and othersMore service oriented-approach

The Funding Development Process:

Needs Assessment

Project Development

Funding Source Identification

Proposal Writing

Program Implementation

(if funded)

Monitoring and Program

Evaluation

Sustainability

LAUSD’s 1998 Mission Statement:

The teachers, administrators, and staff of the Los Angeles Unified School District believe in the equal worth and dignity of all students and are committed to educate all students to their maximum potential.

Adopted by the Board of Education in 1998

Opening Activity:

Write what you think your school, department or grade-level’s instructional vision/mission is.

Read your statement to the group. Discuss its implications on the District’s

mission.What resources exist to help your school carry

out this mission?What resources does your school need to

realize it?

Develop a plan to address an aspect of the school mission…

Plan:-What-Who-Why-When-How

How can grant funds help?

Discuss in groups

Where do you go from here?

Form grant teamsSearch funding opportunitiesDevelop/Continue partnershipsMatch your school priorities with the

Superintendent’s Goals and ObjectivesMatch district/school goals with funders’Submit proposalsImplement programs

Funding Sources:

FederalStateLocalFoundationsCorporationsIndividuals, etc.

Categories of Giving

Public: (supported by tax revenues)Private: (philanthropic giving by

foundations, corporations, bequests, and individuals)

Federal Grants

Funds available nationwide…

In 1980: approx. $ 40 billionIn 1995: approx. $ 75 billion

Federal Sources:

U. S. Department of EducationU. S. Department of CommerceEnvironmental Protection AgencyU. S. Dept. of Housing & Urban

Develop.Announcements/notices found in the

Federal Register, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Internet, etc.

State Sources:

California Department of Education (CDE)Some Examples of CDE Grant Programs:Academic Volunteer & Mentor Service California Public Schools Library Prot.Digital High School

Local Sources:

Los Angeles County Office of Education as administrators of State grant programs

City of Los Angeles (EX: Proposition K)Los Angeles Educational PartnershipSchool Districts

Foundations:

Foundation Directory- a catalog of nonprofits under IRS code 501c(3)

Usually give $ to nonprofits LAUSD is tax-exempt but currently

DOES NOT have a Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code designation except for its Adult Division

Philanthropic Giving:

In 1995: approx. $ 135 billionIn 1997: approx. $ 143.5 billion

Source: Giving USA

Four Basic Private Sources:

FoundationsCorporationsBequestsIndividuals

Private Sources’Categories of Giving:

ReligionHealthHuman ServicesEducationHumanitiesPublic BenefitInternational/Environment

Solution:

partnerships with nonprofits with 501c(3) like PTAs, community-based organizations (CBOs)

partner becomes the fiscal agent while schools still receive the services

CBOs as “conduits”

Foundations in the U.S.

over 45,000 foundations in the U.S.but majority give modest-to-small $$$required to give out 5% of assets per

year to organizationsrequired to disclose grantees &

amounts on IRS tax return (990-PF)require recipients to be tax-exempt

under Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code

For each Foundation listing, read about the organization’s:

field(s) of interesthistory of givingrange of givinglimitationscontact informationothers

The Foundation Directory

provides information on over 7,000 foundations with assets of $2 m or higher, or gives $200,000 or more

published annually (over 2,000 pages)cost: around $ 200 per copyto order, call 1-800-424-9836 but GAU has one; other libraries have it

too

Nonprofits under Section 501c(3)

eligible to receive grants (operating fdn.)give funding sources favorable tax

incentivesare “corporations…organized and

operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes” (IRS Code of Reg.)

in 1995, over 575,690 nonprofits

Isn’t LAUSD tax-exempt?yes, but it is not a nonprofit

organization under Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code

donations made to LAUSD are deductible under Section 170/IRS Code

see Bulletin No. 66 (Sept. 1, 1994)- Business Services Division

Corporations:

often used as a way to pilot new projects

very selective & specializedpublic relations for the corporationcheck first with administration,

district staff, etc. before proceeding

Individuals, etc.:

philanthropists through personal connectionsthrough fundraisers, boosters, etc.through parents,

business/community members, etc.

Key terms:

ProposalRequest for Proposal (RFP)Request for Application (RFA)nonprofittax-exemptgrant teamfiscal agent

Who makes up a grant team?

Researchers/historian/statistician“Idea” people/stakeholdersWriters/editorsBudget developerProofreaderApplication coordinator/timekeeperOthers?

Is there a match...

between the school need and the funder’s field(s) of interest ,and does the proposed program align with the Superintendent’s Objective and Goals? And school/dept/ grade-level mission/vision?

Elements of a Proposal

AbstractProgram Narrative:

Needs AssessmentGoals/Objectives/ActivitiesEvaluation

Budget SummaryBudget NarrativeLetters of Support/Other Attachments

Regardless of the type of grant...

Focus on your district/school/dept./grade educational mission and vision

Avoid asking for stuff like computers; instead focus on why you need computers to provide a service to your clients: the students

Highlight how your proposed project will help advance your mission/vision

Let’s Review!

What’s a proposal?Why is it important to match school

priorities with those of funders’?Why is it important to have a grant

team?Why are partnerships crucial?How can you find potential funding

sources?

Thank you...

For additional assistance, call the Grants Assistance Unit (GAU) at (213) 625-6395 or

Visit GAU’s Web Site via LAUSDnet:www.lausd.k12.ca.us --- click “offices”

How can parents, business, and community partners help local

schools?

Join school grant teamsProvide human and fiscal resourcesProvide advocacy to the project