Grant applications are a time-consuming process for applicants, but they can be equally time consuming for funders. Just as applicants may be overwhelmed by instructions, guidelines, requests, Letters of Intent, and multiple copies of paperwork, the person reviewing applications is confronted with the same workload. We complied some items that rank high on funders’ lists of frustrations.
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Applying for grants is an important strategy for teachers and educators in cash-strapped schools and underfunded classrooms. However, funders have ramped up requirements for grant applications. At times, it seems almost impossible to compile all of the information in the right way and according to funders’ wishes. Continue Reading
Finding funding involves a lot of brainwork. Once you find a suitable foundation that supports your proposed projects, you also need to find new and innovative ways to describe your proposal according to the funder’s areas of interest. Sometimes it is difficult to determine exactly what it is a foundation is looking for in a grantee. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could stop in and discuss your proposal or establish a real-life relationship with someone at the foundation? Community foundations offer an excellent opportunity to forge in-person connections. Continue Reading
The grant application process can be long and tedious for both the applicant and the funder. Just as applicants face indistinct guidelines, requests for seemingly endless numbers of signatures and copies of paperwork, and unreasonable character counts, funders face their own unique set of challenges and annoyances. Here are 10 things that annoy funders and how you can avoid them. Continue Reading
The Power of the 501(c)(3)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally treats public schools as government entities that are exempt from federal income tax. As such, they can apply for and receive certain grants. But they often confront constraints—lack of time, absence of person power, and in some cases, restrictive fundraising regulations—that prevent them from going the grant-writing route for financial support. A PTA can be a tremendous help on this front. Continue Reading
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