grant writing an introduction

Grant Writing An Introduction

Dr. Dale BakerDr. Louise Vitiello

Overview PART I: Grant Writing Basics

Getting Started The Competitive Edge Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Grant-Writing Task Continuity

Overview PART II: Grants Available to

Districts Wellness Technology Best Practices / Innovative Programs Professional Development PDE Grants Web-Site U.S. Department of Education

PART I Grant Writing Basics

Getting Started #1: Reflection #2: Research #3: Selection

Getting Started #1: Reflection

What does your school/district NEED? What are your STRATEGIC

PRIORITIES? Search for funding for solutions to

your data-based needs/problems.

Getting Started #1: Reflection (cont’d)

NOTE: Never write a grant solely for funding purposes!

A grant is valuable only if it supports the mission and goals of your institution.

At its best, grant writing is an extension of the strategic planning process.

Getting Started #2: Research

Select a grant that addresses your needs. Thoroughly analyze grant guidelines and

requirements. Be sure the purpose of the grant program

is consistent with your identified need(s), problem(s), and solutions(s).

NOTE: This is essential to development of a high quality grant proposal.

Getting Started #3: Selection

Does the grant fit: District/School Mission, Goals and Objectives?

Administration Priorities? Existing School Programs/Other Grants?

Getting Started #3: Selection (cont’d)

Does your program design have the support of:

Administration/teachers/relevant personnel?

Parents/Students/Community? District/School Infrastructure/Expertise?


Is writing this proposal worth the time based on:

Sustainability after the grant period? Odds for funding? Preparation costs and timeline? Time needed to acquire any required

signatures (e.g., Board resolution, proposed partners/collaborators)?


Extent of grant program reporting requirements?

NOTE: There are many grant opportunities to choose from so try not to waste time writing for a grant that is not right for you.

The Competitive Edge GRANT APPLICATION NOTICE (RFP)

is primary tool for writing proposal Read the RFP THOROUGHLY with an eye

to: Applicant eligibility - who can apply? Application deadline - NEVER miss a

deadline! Award amount per grant - will determine

project scope.

The Competitive Edge Read the RFP THOROUGHLY (cont’d):

How many projects will be funded? Proposal format details (page length,

spacing, and font) and standard forms required (signed institutional assurance, required/allowable attachments).

Submission requirements (electronic or paper, # copies, delivery methods).

The Competitive Edge Understand the SELECTION CRITERIA! Study performance standards,

measures and indicators required by funder.

If possible, attend application workshop. When in doubt, call grant office! Use the SELECTION CRITERIA as the

outline for your proposal narrative. Address all SELECTION CRITERIA clearly.

The Competitive Edge Form a PLANNING / WRITING TEAM

Team may include: grant writer, parent, principal, teacher, curriculum supervisor, counselor, board member, and/or business community member.

Agree on a team leader & time frames. Give assignments for portions of

proposal. Appoint someone to read for continuity

and completeness.

The Competitive Edge Have TEAM identify/create:

Specific needs related to attaining standards of excellence.

Problem(s) and related solution(s). Research to support proposed design. A mental model for the project with

diagram flow charts.

The Competitive Edge Make connections to already-

existing program planning efforts, such as: Curriculum Committee Meetings Technology Coordinator Meetings School-Based Improvement Team Meetings

NOTE: Success of grant funded program will depend on the school community’s buy-in!

The Competitive Edge Grant Writing Process flow chart (www.epa.gov

): 1. Identify the Project 2. Research Available Grants 3. Match Grant and Project 4. Review Grant Guidelines and Application 5. Compile Grant Application 6. Assemble the Finishing Touches 7. Conduct Quality Review and Evaluation 8. Package and Submit 9. Follow Up After Award or Rejection

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Typical application selection criteria:

Grant Program Statute Novice Eligibility Need for the Project Quality of Project Design Quality of Management Plan Quality of Project Personnel Adequacy of Resources Quality of Project Evaluation Budget

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal

Use selection criteria as headings.

Address each criterion specifically and thoroughly!

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Need for the Project

(= foundation of your proposal) Decide which RESEARCH - facts or statistics

- best support rationale for the project. Use Local, State and National DATA to

substantiate need. Utilize National and Regional census data (

www.census.gov) through the American Fact Finder for statistics on population, education, income.

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Need for the Project (cont’d)

Administer attitudinal surveys to assess valuable perceptions data.

Analyze students’ academic achievement levels using PSSA scores for all students and relevant sub-groups; grades; district measures, etc.

Indicate level of services available at school and in community.

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Need for the Project (cont’d)

State your proposed solutions to the problems identified.

State anticipated consequences of your proposed project as related to improving achievement, improving teaching, improving community activities, etc.

The need statement should be COMPELLING and leave the reader sympathetic toward your problem and convinced of the need for this solution.

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Project Design

State Project Goals and Objectives. Address Stated Needs. Specify:

Who? What? When? Where? How Much?


Management Plan

Timeline Management team Likelihood of project success based

on institutional and/or partners’ expertise/capacity to manage project


Project Evaluation Clear, measurable performance goals Quantitative and qualitative measures Process to collect/report data to funding

agency Process to report to local stake-holders Formative and summative assessments Measurement/reporting timelines


CLEARCLEARCLEARCLEAR BENCHMARKSBENCHMARKSBENCHMARKSBENCHMARKS

REALISTICREALISTICREALISTICREALISTIC

MEASUREABLEMEASUREABLEMEASUREABLEMEASUREABLE

Project EvaluationProject Evaluation


Budget Adequate to support proposed

activities Reasonable costs NOTE: All costs must be tied to

project objectives and activities that are all described in application narrative.

Grant Task Continuity How will grant-writing tasks be

picked up when someone leaves? Team Approach to grant proposal

development Clear project management plan True buy-in by school administrators

and other stakeholders

PART II Grants Available to Districts

Wellness Grants

PANA Mini-Grants Pennsylvania Advocacy for Nutrition

and Activity recognizes and rewards schools for making a commitment to improve nutrition and physical activity. Provides resources, templates, trainings, and mini-grant funding for schools to make healthy changes. http://www.panaonline.org/

Wellness Grants PDE Food & Nutrition Grants

Afterschool Snack Program; Child and Adult Care Food Program; Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program; National School Lunch Program; School Breakfast Program; Special Milk Program; Summer Food Service Program.

Contact: Vonda Fekete 1-800-331-0129, Ext. 33538; [email protected]

See: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/site/default.asp

Technology Grants Classrooms for the Future

This integral part of the commonwealth’s high school reform agenda is designed to modernize teaching and learning through use of advanced technology. Contact: Holly Jobe at [email protected] or by phone at (717) 214-9393

http://www.edportal.ed.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=475&&level=1&css=L1&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true

Technology Grants Department of Community &

Economic Development Some DCED programs apply to schools

engaged in community education efforts.

For information about specific programs, contact: 866-466-3972 or check the “funding & program finder” at http://www.newpa.com/default.aspx?id=15.

Technology Grants E-Fund School Grant Program

(Act 183 of 2004) Apply via the e-Grant system. http://www.pde.state.pa.us/ed_tech/c

wp/view.asp?Q=110337&A=169

See also: www.newpa.com/broadband Due: October 24, 2008

Technology Grants E-Rate

Discounts for eligible schools and libraries for telecommunication services, Internet access, and internal connections. Contact Julie Tritt Schell at [email protected] and/or see the PA E-Rate website: http://www.e-ratepa.org/

Technology Resources Technology Plan is required for most

state/federal funding for technology. See: E-Tech Planner -

http://www.etechplanner.org/ Keystone Technology Integrators -

http://www.edportal.ed.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=431&&level=1&css=L1&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true

Getting to One - http://www.gettingtoone.org/

Best Practices / Programs Teaching and Learning grants (on PDE e-

Grant system): All are closed to new applicants for the 2008-09 school year. Science: It’s Elementary - Contact Geri

Miller [email protected] (717) 783-6746 College and Career Counseling Program

– Lee Burket [email protected] (717) 787-5530 Project 720 – Pennsylvania’s High

School Reform Initiative - Edward Vollbrecht [email protected] (717) 787-8913

Best Practices / Programs Accountability Block Grant (ABG) Funds effective educational practices and

initiatives to improve student achievement. Supports in-depth implementation of

improvement strategies and allows districts to select from a breadth of programs to meet the specific learning needs of their students.

www.pde.state.pa.us/abg

Best Practices / Programs 21st Century Community Learning

Centers Program Academic, artistic, cultural enrichment for

children Broad array of activities to complement

regular academic programs Literacy and other educational services to

families of participating children Carmen Medina, [email protected] Bureau of Community & Student Services (717) 783-6464

Best Practices / Programs E-Grants System enables submission of

grant applications & reports via Internet : Adult Basic & Literacy Education Career and Technical Education Major Federal Programs Special Education/Early Intervention Safe and Drug Free Schools Call (717) 783-6686 or e-mail

[email protected] for help

Best Practices / Programs PDE Grants list

PDE presents information on various types of grants from across the agency by program area

State and federal grants available to the Commonwealth are also presented

Many program descriptions include hot-links to other important related areas of the PDE web site.

http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/cwp/view.asp?a=85&q=112507&pde_internetNav=|&pp=12&n=1

Best Practices / Programs PDE Grants include:

Adult Basic & Literacy Education Alternative Education Assessment and Accountability Career and Technical Education Charter Schools Commonwealth Libraries Dropout Prevention Education Mentoring


Educational Technology ELECT (Education Leading to

Employment/Career Training) Food and Nutrition Health, Safety, and Physical Education Homeless Children and Youth Learn and Serve America Major Federal Programs (Title I through Title

V) Migrant Education


Postsecondary/Higher Education Pregnant and Parenting Teen Refugee Students Regional Summer Schools of Excellence Safe Schools School Improvement Special Education

Best Practices / Programs Other Education Related Grants

and Funding Information This site lists links to a wide range of

grant opportunities for grants of all sizes and on many topics relating to education.

http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/cwp/view.asp?A=85&Q=78592

Professional Development Governor's Institutes

A series of summer professional education programs sponsored by PDE

Designed to insure creation of challenging learning environments in the Commonwealth’s public, private and non-public schools

Contact Becky McHugh (717-783-9260) or see http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=102406

U.S. Department of Education Forecast of Funding Opportunities

Recent & anticipated program competitions Actual or estimated submission deadlines In form of charts organized according to

the Department's principal program offices http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-

forecast.html

U.S. Department of Education Principal Program Offices:

English Language Acquisition… Education Sciences Elementary and Secondary Education Safe and Drug Free Schools Innovation and Improvement Postsecondary Education Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Vocational and Adult Education

Other Resources SchoolGrants has links to

Grant Opportunities, Grant Writing Tips and Links, News, Sample Successful Proposals, Links to other online resources. See: www.schoolgrants.org/

Through the Eyes of the Grant Reviewer What happens to your proposal after you submit it

to the grantor? What kinds of simple things can you do that will help make your proposal more competitive? http://www.schoolgrants.org/newsletter2.htm

Other Resources Nine Secrets of Successful Proposals

In March/April 2000 edition of Foundation News and Commentary www.foundationnews.org

Grant and Program Planning Sylvie McGee/All For A Good Cause – 1995 http://www.seanet.com/~sylvie/grants.htm

Grant Writing by Melissa Kelly http://712educators.about.com/cs/

grantwriting/a/grantwriting.htm?p=1 Grant Match Rubric

http://712educators.about.com/cs/rubrics/l/blrubricgrant.htm

You can do this!!!!!

If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.

Contact Information Dr. Dale Baker, Creative Educational

Service Specializing in Public, Charter & Private Schools Consultation, Goal Setting, Strategic Plan

Development, Board Retreats, Curriculum Update, Instructional Strategies

63 Longwood Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 Phone / Fax: 717-691-4744 E-mail: [email protected] www.creativeeducationalservice.com

Contact Information Dr. Louise Vitiello

Grant Writer Phone: 610-504-5238 (cell) E-mail: [email protected]