Writing Grants

From the desk Carol C…

Writing grants always seemed like such a daunting task to me.  The only ones I knew anything about were federal ones where the application was long and required an enormous amount of documentation.  Then a local grant from the Winston Salem Foundation came across my desk.  I decided to fill it out and ask for a set of multicultural books for my library.   I didn’t receive the grant, but I learned more from this experience than I would have thought.  Though I’m not a professional, I’ll share what I’ve learned about writing grants.

Look online for grants.  Google education grants, and see what that brings up.  Then put a topic on the search line along with the word “grants”.  One example:  “social studies grants”.   If there are too many results, then narrow your search with words like “elementary, special education, staff development.”

Find out the organization’s purpose for the grant.  It seems obvious, and with some grants it is.  With others it’s actually difficult to decipher exactly what the organization wants to fund.  Many grant applications never get to the first round as they are for something the grant doesn’t cover.  I’ve had to cross off several grant opportunities because they would not fund what I needed.

Call the contact person listed on the grant if you have any questions.  Most of the time these contact people are happy to answer a few brief questions.  They are not too keen on answering, “Do you think I’ll get it?”.  They are more apt to answer, “How many applications do you normally receive requesting this grant?”.  I’ve always found these contacts to know exactly what the money will and will not cover.  It’s worth the call!

Be prepared to write a narrative or abstract about your request.  This section was the hardest for me to write.  I wanted to be passionate, professional, and clear about my proposal.  It was harder for me than I thought it would be.  After a draft or two, I would give it to another person (usually a teacher) to read and critique.  This proved to be extremely helpful.  Then I would go back and rewrite the proposal with the teacher’s suggestions in mind.  Usually I went through this process two or three times before I was satisfied with my final draft.

Your objectives should be measurable.  If you have data which will support your request and be used to show growth at the end of a project, then include it.  You can use surveys as a measurement.  However, you must be clear about how you will use them to measure the results.

Show you are receiving money from other sources, too.  Many organizations look favorably upon requests which list other sources of monetary support.  It shows your commitment to funding this project.  It shows its importance to you.  The money may come from the PTA, school, donation, or you.  It doesn’t have to be a large amount.  It just needs to show you have put effort into funding the project.

If at first you don’t succeed try, try again.  As I said in my opening, I wasn’t awarded my first grant request.  I tried again though the next year and received it.  This gave me the confidence to write other grants to other organizations.  I constantly told my students the only way to learn is through failure.  Being successful every time doesn’t grow your learning.   I had to take my own medicine.

The tips above are just a few which helped me become a better grant writer.  There are many places on line which provide even more hints and advice.  Be careful not to get overwhelmed by the wealth of information.  Start with a small grant and reap big rewards.