Top 10 Reasons to Seek External Funding for Your Projects

1. Grant WritingWayne State University Elizabeth Broughton May 13, 2005

2. Top 10 Reasons to Seek External Funding

3. 10. To accomplish a major project that interests you. • 9. Achieve recognition and enhance your reputation in the profession. • 8. Generate new resources for students. • 7. Budget relief for decreasing funds. • 6. Show me the $$$.

4. 5. Possibly add personnel. • 4. Fun. • 3. Increase autonomy. • 2. Develop transferable skills. • 1. Social responsibility.

5. Introduction to Grant writing • So, what is grant writing??

6. Historical information about Grants • Philanthropy (foundations) have touched the lives of nearly every American.

7. 8 P’s for Successful Grant writing (Bauer, 2003) • Pro-Active • Plan • Promote Your Goals • Pre-determined Goals • Pre-select sources of support • Pre-proposal contact • Persistent • Polite

8. Discussion • What is your experience with grant writing? • What is your knowledge of grant writing? • Are there negative aspects of grant writing?

9. Assigned • Websites • http://www.npguides.org/index.html • http://www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html

10. ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR?

11. Overview of the Proposal Process • 1. Pre-proposal activities • 2. DEVELOP A CLEAR PROGRAM PLAN • 3. RESEARCH FUNDERS THOROUGHLY • 4. TARGET YOUR PROPOSALS CAREFULLY • 5. WRITE A CONCISE PROPOSAL • 6. Managing the grant • 7. Evaluating and reporting results to funder

12. Pre-proposal Activities • What do I mean by pre-proposal activities?

13. Preparing to write (pre-proposal activities) • A group or individual proposal. • Start piles of information that may be useful--note previous slide regarding research. (demographic data, program ideas, articles from journals, newspaper clippings, program data, and past proposals) • Organize-computer • Develop a timeline (check funding guidelines) • Have work materials handy

14. Research (pre-proposal activities) • What is the nature of the phenomena (problem)? • Gather data on the nature of it. • Determine who is affected by it. • Find out who else has tackled it.

16. Fundable Items • Fellowships • Seed money--model demonstration grant • Instructional materials • Training and educational programs • Community service activities • Institutional activities • Course/curriculum development • Research • Collaborative projects • Travel • Conferences • Sabbatical • Equipment

17. Sources of Grant Money • Federal Government (Grant guidelines) • State/local Government (Grant guidelines) • Independent Foundations (A letter) • Corporate Foundations (A letter) • Community Foundations (A letter)

18. Types of Grant (funding) Proposals • Letter of intent (see if your idea matches funding agency) • A 1-2 page proposal (usually to foundations and corporations) • Grant guidelines • Format is detailed and long (state and federal) • Agency provides an application form

19. Websites • The Foundation Center • http://www.fdncenter.org • Federal government • http://www.grants.gov • State government • http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/ • http://www.michigan.gov

20. Grant Proposals • Competitive--Federal • Non-competitive—Title III • Contract

22. Developing an idea (need or responding to a problem) • Does it address a real need or problem? • What kind of impact will it have? • WHAT is the problem? (ONLY 1) • WHAT evidence do you have that this is a real problem? (literature, statistics, test scores, your own research) • WHO is affected by the problem? • WHERE does the problem exist? • WHEN do you plan to take on the project? • HOW do you plan on solving the problem?

23. Developing a Proposal Plan • Once you have an idea, develop a plan (Carlson, 1995)---Just map it out… • Understanding of the problem • Brainstorm solutions • Identify solutions • Indicate expected results and benefits • Tasks to accomplish solution • Resources needed (personnel and nonpersonnel) • Reassess solutions • Reassess results and benefits • Outcome measures

24. General Sections in a Proposal • Cover letter (optional, depending on agency) • Summary (one/two paragraphs, sometimes limited by agency) • 1.Introduction • 2.Need Statement • 3.Objectives/goals or outcomes • 4.Methods • 5.Personnel • 6.Evaluation • 7.Budget • 8.Future Funding strategies

25. Section of a proposal • INTRODUCTION • Explain who you are, your organization, how many years of existence.

26. Section of a proposal • NEED STATEMENT (or problem statement) It is a thoughtful explanation of the need or problem existing in the community or organization in which the proposal provides a partial solution

27. To hone your problem statement • Define it. • Clarify it • What national, state, local statistics can support your problem. • Connect with an agency • Example: a need is water-aerobic exercise pool for senior citizens.---improving the health of senior citizens--what is the health data for senior citizens, number in community, and why water aerobics

28. Other concerns to address problem • What are the details of the problem and what kind of factual information is available on the problem? • Who is affected by the problem? • Who else is working on the problem and with what kind of success.

29. Topics • Goals and Objectives • Methodology or Program Activities • Key Personnel

30. Goals are ambitious broad statements

31. Objectives are steps or actions taken to reach the goal or goals

32. Methodology or Program Activities

33. Key Personnel or Personnel

34. Budget • Program Evaluation • Management

35. Program Evaluation • Process • Summative

36. Management of a Grant • “Be careful what you wish for….”

37. Overcoming Proposal Block • Take it piece by piece, don’t be overwhelmed. • Outline sections before writing. • Brainstorm each section with others. • Start with easiest section. • Write, and edit, re-edit, re-edit, re… • Take breaks • Any other ideas to overcome proposal block????