Grant Writing Made Easy

Obstacles To Successful Grant Applications  No Training in Grant Writing  Complicated RFPs  Short Application Timelines  No Dedicated Grant Personnel  No Systems for Grant Writing

Significant Problems For School Districts  Identifying External Sources of Funding  Building Level Application Requirements  No Systems for Grant Writing  Finding Individuals to Write Grants  Finding Time to Write Grants  High Failure Rate  Rich Get Richer

A Four Stage Model for Writing Successful Grant Applications “Grant Success” School-Based Grant Writing

Four Stages to Successful Grant Applications  Stage One: Prewriting Tool Development  Stage Two: Team and Vision Building  Stage Three: Writing and Editing  Stage Four: Budget, Assurances, Signatures and Submission

Stage One: Prewriting Tool Development 1. Create RFP Action Summary Page 2. Create Grant Writing Guide 3. Create Vocabulary Highlight Page 4. Post Grant Writing Guide online

Action Summary Page  Include due date  Countdown to submission  Goals of grant  Application style requirements  Grant funding contacts and s  Check for prior notification requirement  List restrictions on funding

Grant Writing Guide  Create a Word document  Organize template like RFP sections  Use the same Sections and Headings  Include all RFP demands for content in appropriate Section  Include all evaluation criteria for each Section next to appropriate Section  Post Guide in online culture

Vocabulary Highlight Page  Identify key terms from the RFP  Goal Statements  Individual Section Text  Evaluation Criteria/Rubrics  Enlarge terms, boldface, print and paste near computer screen.  When in doubt, use the RFP vocabulary

Stage Two: Team and Vision Building 5. What is your team’s vision for the grant? 6. Who needs to be involved and when? 7. Is the grant something that is desirable and can be done? 8. What are current resources and needs? 9. Does the grant support district and building Continuous Improvement Plans?

Stage Three: Writing and Editing 10. Assign the grant a name: Project Inspire 11. Write using the “Grant Guide” 12. Align people with grant sections 12. Use “Vocabulary Highlight” page 13. Post “Action Summary Page” 14. Consider learning styles of evaluators

Writing and Editing 15. Link the goals to objectives 16. Link objectives to actions 17. Embed graphics in text (if you can) 18. Be creative with names and features 19. Organize actions into timelines

Writing and Editing 20. Use Action Plan for Evaluation Plan 21. Use Action Plan for Budget and Budget Narrative 22. Group edit using large screen projection and laser pointers 23. Shorten sentences for clarity

Writing and Editing 24. Constantly check grant text against evaluation criteria in Grant Template 25. Create Abstract or Summary from cut and paste grant text 26. Remove section requirements from grant template document 27. Make final text attractive and easy to read

Stage Four: Budget, Assurances, Signatures and Submission 28. Assign budget to “budget skilled” team member 29. “Ghost write” letters of support 30. Create a “false floor “ due date 31. Request feedback if not funded 32. Submit improved grant somewhere else

More Writing Tips  Avoid personal pronouns  Use numbering/listing style: 1);2);3)  Create white space for clarity and emphasis  Indent for emphasis  Let the document “rest” to catch errors

More Writing Tips  Group edit with your best word processor team member running the computer  Use “Phases” to describe implementation strategy: Phase One: Infrastructure  Widen grant appeal with “features”  Link vision with goals with strategies with actions with budget with evaluation (one goal at a time all the way through)

Gaining Consensus  Create a PowerPoint from the Grant Action Summary and Guide  Show PowerPoint to colleagues  Discuss RFP goals, grant goals, funding opportunities and limits  Show the same PowerPoint again after funding is approved

Dr. Douglas Brooks, Ph.D. Miami University Director, Partners In Learning