One of the most important yet difficult features of a grant application is providing the data that supports your proposal, your need, and your goals. Whether the funder asks for demographic data, school population, and information on target audiences, or background data, it is crucial to know where to look for the right numbers. We have compiled a number of resources for data collection that is essential to your proposal: Continue Reading
To establish a prosperous relationship with a funder, communication is an important factor. You want to make sure the funder receives all of the information they require from you after you received your grant and during the application process. But you also want your funder to be a good communicator and be concise about what they expect from you. Continue Reading
Writing grant applications requires time and effort, which a lot of educators do not have enough of. Many schools cannot afford to have a person or a whole department dedicated to writing applications. For time-strapped educators trying to find funding for school and classroom projects, it can be even more frustrating when funders require extensive documentation in the application. Continue Reading
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
In Part I of this two-part article, I reviewed the first two elements in the formula for creating the perfect grant application: A Proven Need + An Innovative Idea. In Part II, I’ll review the last two elements: A Written Plan + A Superhero Funder. All together, these elements create a Measurable Change for the Better! Continue Reading
If you don’t know a lot about grant writing, you’re in good company. Over the course of my years as a grant writer, many of the educators I’ve worked with have admitted they don’t know what makes a “good” proposal and what constitutes a “bad” one. I use the following formula for laying the groundwork for a fundable grant proposal. Continue Reading
A year ago, we published a blog listing a number of reasons to hire a professional grant writer. The decision to hire a professional should always be a careful one because there are both positives and negatives to consider. Here are a few reasons to consider waiting to hire a professional writer. Continue Reading
I began my career in the nonprofit sector in the mid-1980s at a small art museum in Austin, Texas. First working as a volunteer, I eventually moved into half-time, then full-time employment. The organization was kind enough to fund my participation in a grant-writing workshop hosted by The Grantsmanship Training Center in Los Angeles, California, for which I will always be grateful. During that weeklong, intensive course I gained a thorough understanding of how to organize my thoughts, and to compose a comprehensive written document designed to secure funding from a potential donor. At the time, I had just completed my master’s degree in nineteenth century American art, so I was adept at academic research and writing. But The Grantsmanship Training Center helped me hone my writing skills into a more marketable product. Continue Reading
Each year, the United States Department of Education (USDOE) awards multiyear, multimillion-dollar competitive grants.* Their purpose is to support implementation of the department’s targeted educational priorities. Has your school district decided to apply for one of these?
If it has, your team will devote hundreds of hours putting together a proposal. When your application is submitted, it will literally go on trial by jury. Your proposal will be judged by a jury of peer-reviewers who will scrutinize and grade your application—and like all juries, they will look at the evidence. 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
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