Roadmap: Write a Winning Program Proposal

1. Roadmap: Write a Winning Program Proposal

2. This is what the map looks like when you first start. …. But it will get better.

3. Identify the RFP Example: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/ Open Society Institute Invites Innovative Thinkers to Confront Global Challenges The new fellowship will provide journalists, activists, academics, and other professionals with a stipend and networking opportunities while they work on Open Society-themed projects.... Posted on April 8, 2008 Deadline: Rolling Philanthropy News Digest

4. Learn from the RFP Supported Projects Expectations Support 1. Budget 2. Institutional Support 3. Institutional Commitment Application Process Selection Process Contact Information

5. Project Purpose Match the RFP Where do you want to be when the grant is over? How do you get there? (steps) The answer establishes the Goals and Objectives

6. Measureable Objectives How do you know what is working? How will you know when you reach your goal? How will you know if you don’t? How will you prove you accomplished anything? Measureable Objectives

7. Where do we start?Budget – How much money do we need?vsPlan- What are we going to do?

8. Outline a Plan for Each Year Write your Roadmap down. Annual objectives are destination strategies, your journey to your destination (goal). Off-road and Detours If you meet your annual objectives, you will meet the grant objectives.

9. Objectives Don’t be afraid. Create measureable numbers and percentages. Example (not measureable): Increase pass rates on licensure exams for nursing program graduates. Example (measureable) By September 2010 increase the licensure exam pass rates of Our College nursing program graduates by a minimum of 10% compared to 2007 baseline data.

10. Strategies How you reach your objectives. 1. Identify pilot group from 2008 graduating class of nursing program August 2007. 2. Purchase 50% of computer lab equipment and software by September 30, 2007. 3. Complete exam preparation curriculum by September 30, 2007. 4. Pilot curriculum with of 2008 graduating class November & December 2007. 5. Students take practice exams in December 2007.

11. Strategies 6. Evaluate the pilot, comparing results to 2007 baseline data. 7. Modify the curriculum based upon evaluation. 8. Pilot modified exam preparation curriculum January and February 2008. 9. Students take practice exams in April 2008 10. Compare pilot data with exam pass rates for individual and group success, January 2009.

12. Needs Section This is the hook, the section that shows reviewers your Roadmap. State what is “too high” or what is “too low”. Example: the percentage of freshmen students who fail four courses is too high. When you state the problem this way, the objectives become obvious. “To decrease the percentage of freshmen students who fail four courses from 42 % to 30 %.”

13. Needs Section Avoid problem statements that declare the "the lack of " or "the need for" the solution you are proposing for funding. Example: "the problem with our academic programs is a lack of (or need for) student services outside the classroom. We propose an activity to establish those student services."

14. Needs (Project Description) Give back the RFP Use their headings Where RFP gives the purpose of the solicitation, quote it.

15. Needs (Project Description) Bad data is good data You need the $ but you’re a very good investment State your institutional, local, state, and regional successes.

16. L.A.C.E. L-Literature Review A-Authorities C-Colleges (models) E-Experience

17. Budget and Narrative Complete presentation by Dr. Coggins at 1 p.m. this afternoon. All expenses have to be justified and related to the objectives. Every budget item must be explained, down to how many reams of paper you will buy with THEIR money, and why you need to buy the paper.

18. Budget and Narrative Explain where your numbers come from. Use formulas. Example: 15 doohickeys per experiment @ $10/doohickey x 10 experiments/year x 10 students = $15,000

19. Evaluation (presentation this afternoon by Krista Schumacher) Pre and Post surveys are only a small part. Formative and Summative Progress charted from Baseline Data

20. Evaluation 1. What do stakeholders want to know? 2. What do you want to know? 3. What other requirements are there? 4. What Questions Should I Ask? 5. What is the Best Way to Collect Information? 6. What kind of information has been collected before and is already available? 7. What instruments and methods might you use?

21. Evaluation 8. What constraints do you have (e.g., time, money, permission, distance)? 9. What instruments are already available? Are they practical and realistic? Are they reliable and valid? 10. What instruments need to be created? 11. What is the timeline and who is responsible? 12. What knowledge will be needed to analyze the data? Adapted from: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (1998). University of Washington, Office of Educational Assessment

22. Submission Electronic—Make sure you have fulfilled all your responsibilities at least two weeks before the deadline. All federal agencies require some proposals to be submitted online. Submit early, electronically or not. Deadlines are posted at least 30 days in advance. If you wait until the deadline date, you might miss it.

23. Submission The Voice of Experience: Keep your proposal at least one page shorter than the maximum allowed. Check off the components of your proposal as they are completed. Make sure your font, margins, type size are within required parameters. Resist the urge to change a major component at the last minute. Your carefully constructed tapestry will fall apart if you pull a thread to change the pattern.

24. Thank You You’re through the maze and your roadmap marks the way. Questions?