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NCTE@CSU GrantWriting

Grants are funds given by an organization, government department, corporation or trust often (but not always) to anonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. There are huge varieties in grants; they range on levelsof compliance, proposals, submission guidelines, money awarded (amounts, loans vs. donations, etc.) & tax laws. The

grant writing process is the proposal or application to the potential funder. Many require specific forms in addition tocover letters & project proposals. Grants.gov

Should you start with the project idea & without a funding source?

Or, should you begin by finding a possible funding source & then create a project to match?

Consider the advantages & disadvantages of each perspective. Brainstorm a list of ideas & look for funding sources &also examine the possible sources & see if your ideas can be modified to fit the requirements. Consider mapping it out. Ifyou break down the project into needs & components, you can receive funding from various sources.

Writing a grant takes a lotof time & effort. Consider involving others (teachers, administrators, etc.).

Beyond the obvious goal of wanting money, you need to create a concrete project that shows a positive impact on yourstudents.

The goal should be learner-centered. Rather than focusing on what the teacher will do, discuss & considerhow the project will impact the learning environment.

Make sure you have research & strategies to back up the need for the grant.

Stay consistent in your writing, the need, solution, project & requirements all need to match.

Choose a topic that is unique to your school/communitydoing so makes it easier to involve your administration,students & community.

Consider creating a catch phrase, acronym or logo that could draw attention to your project.

See what local companies & organizations are willing to help before applying for the bigger govt. & company grants

After you have determined a possible funding source, there will be specific guidelines. Follow them very closely. Somefunding sources are interested in very specific parts of the grant (e.g.: why would you use the companys specific productcompared to another brand).

Put your grant into context by developing a scenario. Use examples, make the project interesting & concise

Answer how you can see the students/staff evolving based on the grant & provide testimonials.

Incorporate student work in various areas (logo, cover letter, pictures, student generated examples, etc).

Pick a few concrete examples to share with readers. Be as specific as possible using as few words as possible.

Build on success. Readers like to see a history of success. Show the good in your program already but also show howthe grant will make it even better. Talk about your dedicated staff & supportive administration. Reassure them theirmoney will be well spent.

Write short, concise statements that cover exactly what you need to say. Use formatting to your advantage (decent sizedfont, 1 margins, bullet lists, charts, timelines, etc.).

Works Cited: Also see resource list for additional works cited & consulted.

-Government websites: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/data/award/gahelp.html & http://www2.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml- AmeriCorps: http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/apply/national.asp-National Endowments for the Humanities: http://www.neh.gov/grants/index.html-Blogging on Grants: http://www.schoolgrantsblog.com/state-grants/

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1. Cover Letter: 1 page. Provide an overview of the school, purpose & reasons for amount of $ showing how theproposal furthers the grant makers mission, goals & matches the requirements. Use school letterhead.

2. Cover Sheet: 1 page. Include a case statement & summary listing the most important areas of proposal. Summarizeall key information. Include applicant contact information, purpose of request, need/problem, objectives,methods, total project costs & amount of $ requested. If grant application/proposal is long include a table ofcontents

3. Narrative: 10-20 pages. Including the following areas:Problem statement (3-5 pages): Address the specific situation, problem & opportunity, target population (school,

student & community demographics)Program Goals & Objectives (2-3 pages): Show outcomes in measurable & realistic terms. Include description,

performance, process & product. Show tangible results.Methodology (5+ pages): Describe the process in a rational, direct & chronological description. Restate the

problems & objectives, give a clear description of scope & sequence, & include a timeline.Evaluation (1-2 pages): Justify how effectiveness & evaluations will be met in relation to objectives. Include

options for modifications.

4. Budget: (variable) Clearly delegate costs to be met by funder & other funding sources. Show expenses in

column form that is consistent with the narrative. Do not include miscellaneous costs, but include volunteers &donations (sparingly) on a separate page within this section.

5. Qualifications: 1-2 pages. Describe the applicant(s), qualifications for funding & establish credibility. Demonstratethe means & methodology to solve the problem within the specific time & amount of $ frame. Include theevidence & support of successes in the past. Show activities, statistics, strengths/accomplishments & the numberof people included along with their qualifications

6. Conclusion: 1 page. Present a brief, concise summary that states the case, problem, solution sources & possiblefunds.

7. Appendices: (variable). Generally includes IRS letter/information, certificates, etc. Also lists directors of

program(s)/school staff involved, financial statements, lists of current funding sources & uses,community support, letters of endorsements & recommendations, commitment letters from staff, administrators& community, diagrams, works cited, resumes of key people involved.

Non-Profit Guidelines &Sample Proposals

http://www.npguides.org/

Scholastic Articleshttp://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=83http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4173

Government Grants http://www.grants.gov/

National EducationAssociation Grants

http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/

Public Education Network http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp

NCTE(subscribe to theEnglish Journalfor additional resources)

http://www.ncte.org/grants/http://www.ncte.org/second

Colorado Dept. of EducationResources on Grants

http://www.cde.state.co.us/edtech/grants.htm

Database for PreviouslyAwarded Grants

http://www2.ed.gov/fund/data/award/grntawd.html