1. Key Strategies for Writing an Effective Grant Ernest H. Johnson, Ph.D. NCCAT Faculty Johnsone@nccat.org Mobile 919-740-6978

2. Purpose of the Brain The purpose of the brain is for you… TO BE RIGHT. At all costs… Even if it means losing or ignoring info…

3. Definition A linear arrangement of multi-sensory recordings of successive moments in the here and now. Function To function according to its Self…or whoever it considers its Self to be. Purpose To be right…at all costs. Being right means surviving.

4. It’s impossible not to believe what you see about the Grant writing process, but it is equally impossible to see what you don’t believe about the grant writing process.

6. Objectives 1. Identify Some Important Preliminary Steps 2. Identify the key components of effect educational grant proposals. 3. Recognize the difference between effective and ineffective grant proposals. 4. Identify strategies that contribute to the development and submission of well written grant proposals. 5. Understand what grant proposal reviewers are looking for.

7. Preliminary Steps 1. Create a Working Title and Abstract of The Project (150 word Description) 2. Elevator Talk (30-45 second description) 3. Determine Who is Writing the grant 4. Identify and Search Grant Sources 5. Identify Due Dates that are At Least 3 Months in the Future 6. Identify a Person or Two who Will review and Critique the Proposal 30 Days before the Due Date 7. Let the actual project, numbers, and reasons for pursuing the project speak for themselves. Avoid loaded language and keep things simple.

8. What does a good grant proposal do? 1.„Demonstrates the value of the proposed educational activity. 2. Specifies appropriate educational goals and objectives. 3. Presents the best methods for achieving these goals. 4. Develops a feasible evaluation plan. 5. Links objectives, methods and evaluation plan. 6. Presents realistic administrative plans and budget. 7. Sells the reviewer on the importance of your idea. 8. soundness of your approach and ability to pull it off.

9. What does a good grant proposal do? 1.„Demonstrates the value of the proposed educational activity (What is the educational need?) 2.„ Specifies appropriate educational goals and objectives (What are the educational objectives?) 3.„ Presents the best methods for achieving these goals (Does the design match the goals?) 4.„ Develops a feasible evaluation plan (How will you know you’ve met your objectives?) 5.„ Presents realistic administrative plans and budget (What needs to be done in order to deliver this education?)

10. So, where to start…. 1.„Preparation 2.Develop components *Statement of need *Goals and objectives *Methodology/Design *Evaluation plan *Budget *Information about your Organization 3. Tying it all together

11. Preparation 1.„Define your project *Define the scope of work to focus your funding search *Determine the broad project goals 2. Identify the right funding sources *What have they funded in the past *Contact the funders, where appropriate *Acquire proposal guidelines *Know the submission deadline 3. Determine personnel needs To Conduct Project

12. Identify The Right Funding Sources 1) Ask teachers who have received grants in the past. 2) Contact Your District Office for Help. 3) Research Local/Regional Businesses. 4) School Funding Source 5) Research Crowd Funding Sites 6) Specific focus on the donor - tailor proposal to aligns with the donating foundation’s goals and values. 7) Follow grant proposal guidelines (50% to 70%) are submitted incompletely.

13. Identify The Right Funding Sources Local/Regional Businesses School Funding center, http://www.schoolfundingcenter.info/ Research Crowd Funding Sites, www.gofundme.com ((this is the Best))

14. Identify The Right Funding Sources Local/Regional Businesses 1.Write a letter (1-page) with the approval of your principal – Set meeting and Hand Delivery it! 2.Include a clear statement of problem (e.g., we want 400 journals for the students and cost to solve the problem (400 x $10 = $4,000) 3.Statement about what will be lost today, tomorrow and in the future if students don’t get the journals. 4.Statement about what the students and company will Gain.

15. Identify The Right Funding Sources Local/Regional Businesses 5) At Meeting – Inquire about whether workers have students in school. 6) Point out how time at work will be lost when employees (parents) have to go to schools for meetings because their child got in trouble. 7) Point out how drug use and pregnancies among students and crimes in the community (shoplifting at their store; daughters being harassed, etc.) might go up if you don’t get the journals. 8) Get personal with person(s) you are meeting with – how would you feel if you child was victimized

16. Statement of Need (What is it?) An effective statement of need: 1.„ Describes the target population to be served (learners) 2.„ Defines the problem to be addressed (practice gap) 3.„ Describes the situation in terms that are both factual and of human interest (scope of practice) 4.„ Does not make any unsupported assumptions (evidence) *Includes quantitative and qualitative documentation and supporting information 5. „ Relates to the purposes and goals of your organization (mission)

17. Strategies for Statement of Need „ The statement of need = your opportunity to make the case „ *Present and interpret the facts and evidence to support he need for the program you are proposing. „ *Use relevant data to establish the significance of the problem. „ *Don’t make sweeping or unsupported statements „ *Directly relate the problem to the proposed solution. „ *Specify: What the target audience needs to learn and why. „ Be clear! „ *Grantors want to clearly see the necessity of your program – draw the conclusions for them, don’t make them figure it out themselves! „

18. Goals and Objectives What’s the difference? „ Goals General and provide an overall understanding of t he strength of the project „Describe what the project wants to accomplish „Specify tasks to be carried out in the project „Describe how the tasks will affect the problem Objectives „ More specific „ Emphasize learning, impact on learner *Should be outcomes, not tasks *Identify the measurable outcomes of Project

19. Strategies for Goals and Objectives Don’t confuse the two… Goals „ *Provide sufficient detail for the reviewer to determine that the activities will have an impact on the problem. „ *Include the time in which the objectives will be accomplished. Objectives „ *Specific and measurable! „ *Written in terms of change in practice, when applicable.

20. Methodology/Design -What is it? In this section of the proposal 1.Describe how the project will “look” *What are the components? „ *How do they fit together? 2. Describe the educational methods and why they were selected. 3. List the activities that you will undertake to accomplish your objectives. 4. Provide the framework of the tasks. 5. Identify required resources. „

21. Methodology/Design -What is it? Educational Design vs Project Management „ Educational Design 1. Utilize the opportunity to tie the educational decisions to the target audience and statement of Need. „2. Identify adult education approaches being utilized „ 3. Describe how you will support the translation of knowledge into practice

22. Methodology/Design -What is it? Educational Design vs Project Management „Project Management 1. Use the framework to emphasize your organization’s capabilities in successfully implementing the project. 2. Include a timetable, if appropriate. 3. Be sure to identify all required resources, Including: „ *Personnel, materials, and other key resources; Include a timetable, if appropriate. „ *Provide a rationale for the role of each resource identified in the project.

23. Evaluation Plan - What is it? 1. Describe how the outcome of the project will be evaluated. „2. Explain the criteria for judging the success of the project & provide a complete evaluation design. *Identify what will be evaluated. „*Describe the information that will be needed. „*Describe where information will be obtained. „*Indicate the instruments that will be used to get information. „*Describe the intended analysis. „ *Describe how results will be reported and utilized. „ *Summarize the evaluation section as necessary.

24. Strategies For The Evaluation Plan 1. Include all supporting facts and justification to validate the proposed project. „ 2. Tie the evaluation back to the statement of need. „ 3. Emphasis to the effects and benefits of the organization’s project to strengthen its worth for Funding. „ 4. Identify any unique aspects of evaluation plan. „ 5. Again, be explicit!

25. b udget – What Is It? Budgets are more than just cost projections. „ They are also a window into how projects will be implemented and managed. „ Well-planned budgets reflect carefully thought out projects. NOTE: Ask for What You Need!

26. Strategies for Budgets Be practical: base your estimates on reality and don’t “pad” the numbers. *Include a “contingency” line to cover the unexpected Costs. „ Be sure to include only what the grantor will fund. *Refer to grantor guidelines „ Be complete: *carefully anticipate costs for all aspects of the project, including content and implementation. „ Offer options, if appropriate. „ Be prepared to reconcile expenses afterwards. dgets are more than just cost projections. „ They are also a window into how projects will be implemented and managed. „ Well-planned budgets reflect carefully thought out projects. NOTE: Ask for What You Need!

27. Strategies for Information about the Organization * Structure „* How your structure contributes to the project * Accreditation status „* Types of accreditation held, any special status held (ex: exemplary or commendations) * Experience in type of project *Example of outcomes of prior similar projects *Publications from your organization * Background / experience of staff *Highlight educational and experiential background of key personnel * Functions available within organization *How you will handle functions not available within organization

28. Tying it all together

29. The Review Process What do reviewers look for? The proposal format „1. Well organized and well written. „ *Table of Contents „ *Headers and sub-headers to make it easy to read and follow „2. Specific description of how the proposed project will achieve activity goals and objectives. „ *Is it responsive to the Call for Proposals (if any)? „3. Written to communicate the enthusiasm and commitment of the educators to the topic at hand.

30. The Review Process What do reviewers look for? The proposal Content „1. Clearly identifies an important need (gap), coupled with fresh insight into how to approach it. „ 2. Clearly links the needs, goals, objectives, evaluation and budget. 3. Demonstrates the requestor knows the fields: „„ *Content*Accreditation/certification „ *Education*Project management 4. Outlines a feasible work plan supported by an appropriate budget.