Successful Fuel Up To Play 60 Grant Writing Tips and Tactics

1. Successful Fuel Up To Play 60 Grant Writing Tips and Tactics Presenter Jennifer Hoffman School Marketing Coordinator

2. Empowerment Why am I doing this training? Why should anyone apply for a grant? Empowerment Empowerment

3. First things First... Know your funder…ADA Mideast is Ohio Dairy Farmers We are a regional dairy promotion organization funded by approximately 3,300 dairy farmers in Ohio. ADA Mideast is dedicated to improving the nutritional status of the community and serves as the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council, a leader in dairy nutrition research, education and communication since 1915. Advocating Child Nutrition Because of our expertise in nutrition science and the school environment, the ADA Mideast is an integral part of a nationwide movement through Action for Healthy Kids to address the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes at school. www.ohiodairyfarmers.com www.drink-milk.com

4. Fuel Up to Play 60 Goals Increase access to and consumption of low-fat, fat-free dairy whole grains, fruits and vegetables (nutrient rich foods) Increase access to and participation in 60 minutes of physical activity each day Vision Engage and inspire youth to take control of their health and wellness. Healthy eating and physical activity can help their learning and academic achievement — which is important now and in the future!

5. Put yourself in the funders shoes… Think about it. Why they are providing money for this issue? What are their goals and objectives? What might success look like for them. How will your program FILL THE GAPS? What need have they identified? Who is their Target Audience? How will your project meet their guidelines and fit their priorities? How will you evaluate/benchmarks? How will you use the funding to create a program that will become self-sustaining and preferably, replicable by other schools. How can the program be expanded next year

6. Dream Big

7. Setting Yourself Apart Maximizing Resources - creating partnerships that are mutually beneficial. What resources does your school already have that you can use for free? Meeting and event space, computer access and communication methods (e.g., school announcements, newsletters, newspapers and websites). Be sure to ask your principal or school administration if there are any additional resources you can use. How can you help the school nutrition staff? introduce yourself and the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. Find out how you can work together to make the program a success. Remember that these folks are very knowledgeable about nutrition and that they can serve a variety of roles in the program, from helping to plan the Healthy Eating Plays to speaking to students, families and community members.

8. Setting Yourself Apart • Do the project with the people you will be helping, not to them. Participants must regard the project as valuable and must be ready to work with you. • Invest in the project. One of the most precious resources of any organization are funds and manpower. An organization that is willing to dedicate these to the proposed project, this signals a legitimate priority. • Plan for sustainability. Reassure the funder that your group will continue to support and build upon the proposed project so that the project does not “die” once the funding is discontinued. Seed-money means that we should plant our seeds and nurture them so that they can eventually survive without us. Projects that only live if grant money is continually provided are not likely projects the community wants or needs.

9. Setting Yourself Apart • Highlight the potential for broader impact. Ideally, the project would have the power to change public policy and transform major systems. Even if your vision is not this large, the project should still have the potential to work in more than one place, for more than a few people. • Cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders. To truly build effective partnerships that endure, work together and communicate on an ongoing basis to share ideas and approaches to problems. The relationship requires mutual trust, honesty, and clarity. • Describe a program for change, not a list of wants. Have a detailed plan that describes exactly where you are going and exactly how you will get there. Be specific about broad goals, measurable objectives, and quantified outcomes.

10. Setting Yourself Apart • Pinpoint areas where funding for Fuel Up to Play 60 might help fill the gaps. • What will you do to spread the word about your activities, and how much will that • cost? • Can you find adults or older students to volunteer to work with you and your • students • What equipment will you need? Will you borrow it or purchase it?? • Do you need to reward students for participation? • How will you know it’s working?

11. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it Condense with rich detail language and let details convey the project’s worthiness rather than depending on empty adjectives. Each component – from the plays through the budget – must be specific.  Active Verbs For a powerful and energetic proposal, avoid passive verbs – was and were – that hide the agent of action.  Avoid static verbs that lack movement: am, is, are, be, being, been, had, have, has, do, did, does, could, should, would.  Replace overused verbs (get, went, put) with more precise active verbs. (see list) Use declarative rather than conditional verbs. Avoid the words if, could, and might. Instead, boldly declare that the gift will create a positive outcome. Use language describing an investment, rather than a gift. Be explicit on the benefits for the school and community. Avoid dwelling on problems. Make sure that the challenges do not sound insurmountable. Focus on opportunities that result from the challenges your organizations faces. Focus on the cost-benefit ratio. Clarify how grant dollars will be maximized through a frugal budget, how the grant will leverage other funding, and how the benefits will be long-reaching and long-term

12. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it achieve allow analyze announce appeal apply assemble assess assist balance become begin believe belong bring change choose clarify coach combine compare compose conclude connect constitute contain contrast coordinate creates decide define demonstrate depend design develop diagnose differ direct discuss distinguish educate elevate engage ensure entail envision equal establish evaluate excel exemplify exhibit experiment explain extend find focus form give help hinders identify illuminate illustrate implement include indicate inform inspire instruct intend introduce invent invest investigate involve know lack lead learn maintain make manage modify motivate move negotiate need observe occur offer operate organize perform plan portray prepare prevent produce prohibit promote provide pursue realize receive recognize refine reflect rely remain remind report research restore result return require reveal review sample search send show signal specify start state suggest support survey synthesize taught teach tend test translate try understand use validate  verify wish work write wrote

13. The Applicationwww.FuelUpToPlay60.comProgram Advisor DashboardFunding Opportunities

14. The BBNS (Boring, But Necessary Stuff) Prerequisite check list, contact and school information blah blah blah

15. Demographics Amount requested (must match the budget outline and follow budget limits) Funds should not be used for operating expenses, registration fees or other regularly occurring expenses, ensure the funder that if successful, this program can/will be continued without grant funds Remember, most funders don’t want to adopt you. Funding is designed to help you create something. .

16. Student Participation % will be first of measureable goals Specifically outline HOW STUDENTS take LEADERSHIP ROLE PLAN and IMPLEMENT

17. Specifically outline HOW OTHER STUDENTS IMPLEMENT PARTICIPATE Specifically outline HOW PEERS will be engage Detail the PLANS for promotions, social networking and/or events

18. Measure stakeholder support To bring together the key wellness, nutrition and physical activity experts in the school These are the key players Buy-In is necessary for success

19. Measure the scope of other adult s involvement Parents, Teachers, Community stakeholder The more the better, more support means less work Each time an adult signs up as a supporter, your school earns more chances to win rewards. Specifically outline BOTH Healthy eating component (Highlight what will lead you to the dairy outcome) Physical activity component (how will you use the BTFE Family Fitness night to achieve PALA

20. HOW WILL THE FUNDS HELP YOU increase (address EACH point) • Awareness of the importance • of HE/PA • Access to/Consumption of • all healthy foods(esp. DAIRY) • Opportunities for/ • participation in physical • activities • Sustainable changes • Detail tracking measures, • Where are you starting… • Detail Detail • Detail!!

21. Previous FUTP60 funding may not prevent you from receiving additional funding. • However, additional funding will only be considered • the next funding period • the new application outlines a plan that will expand the current program and include new dairy outcomes

22. Outside funding will not prevent you from receiving FUTP60 funding. As a matter of fact, it may actually help you, as matching Funds or “In-Kind” shows commitment on your part and ability to maximize resources Now is your opportunity to brag about previous successful projects, personal connections and commitment to this project

23. Follow all budget guidelines • Make sure: • All items are put in the correct categories • All items in budget categories are referred to in your application narrative • Items are listed in detail in each category • Include the funding source for items that are mentioned in narrative but do not appear on the budget list • Double check for consistency between the project description, budget narration, and budget line items.

24. Follow all budget guidelines • Make sure: • All items are put in the correct categories • All items in budget categories are referred to in your application narrative • Items are listed in detail in each category • Include the funding source for items that are mentioned in narrative but do not appear on the budget list • Double check for consistency between the project description, budget narration, and budget line items.

25. The fine print Read it all, completing the application correctly is as important as any test!

26. The fine print Funding terms must be followed Check other terms for must’s and don’ts

27. The fine print A few more ‘do-not’s And a few ‘must’s

28. Related Links Funding Application Form Click on this link to download a paper version of the application form in PDF format. http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/documents/Application_Form.pdf Eligibility and Guidelines Funding opportunities for Fuel Up to Play 60 are competitive and are awarded based on the quality of your application. As you develop your funding application, you should be aware of the eligibility rules, the judging criteria and the funding guidelines. http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/documents/Funding_Opportunities.pdf Funds in Action How have other schools used funds to support their Fuel Up to Play 60 activities? If you want some examples to jumpstart your thinking, download Funds in Action. Here you’ll find examples based on specific Plays, or action strategies, schools have implemented. http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/documents/Funds_In_Action.pdf School Wellness Investigation The Fuel Up to Play 60 School Wellness Investigation will help you collect information about the current nutrition and physical activity environment in your school – and identify opportunities to make it even better. A completed School Wellness Investigation is required by schools applying for Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60. http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/swi/menu.php Planning Tools These planning tools can help you get organized and implement your Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Plays. Use the templates to request donations, volunteers , organize a fundraiser and survey and poll your students. You’ll find many tools to customize your program. http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/tools/planning-tools.php

29. What’s in it for you? Rewards: A legacy of serving A successful campaignHelping others Creating sustainable changes Online digital rewards FUPT60 and NFL Gift Certificates Student Ambassador Program

30. Call Me.Call Me.Then, call me again!614-890-8022You can thank me later 