Grant Writing Basics

1. Grant Writing Basics A presentation on the basic elements of grant proposal writing and an overview on how to find information about grant resources.

2. Grants Assistance Unit • a unit of Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs • provides technical & grant grooming assistance, etc. • assists applicants in preparing proposal budgets, board reports, etc. • offers grant writing workshops

3. Other Services Provided: • searches, monitors, and screens funding opportunities • publishes Grants Alerts on LAUSDnet, District Communications System, Spotlight, United Teachers, etc. • maintains a resource library • mails and bundles proposals to funders • others

4. Grants Assistance Unit 1999-2000 Staff: • Erick Mata, Director • Michelle Brenner, Coordinator • John Ralles, Specialist • Ed Trimis, Specialist • Malinda Sebastian, Financial Aide • Rita Alvarado, Admin. Secretary • TeNesha Moseley, Computer Office Oper. • Lois Pride, Office Assistant

5. Grants Assistance Unit Info.: • 450 North Grand Avenue, Room A-413 Los Angeles, CA 90012 • Phone: (213) 625-6395, -6596, -6597 • Hotline: (213) 625-6390 • Fax Number: (213) 613-0862

6. Grants Assistance Unit URL : • Grants Assistance Unit Web site address: http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/ offices/instruct/grants/

7. GAU’s Recent Accomplishments: • Increased funding through grants, over $80 million • Expanded grants Web site • Increased articulation among district offices and schools and others • More service oriented-approach

8. The Funding Development Process: Needs Assessment Project Development Funding Source Identification Proposal Writing Program Implementation (if funded) Monitoring and Program Evaluation Sustainability

9. LAUSD’s 1998 Mission Statement: • The teachers, administrators, and staff of the Los Angeles Unified School District believe in the equal worth and dignity of all students and are committed to educate all students to their maximum potential. • Adopted by the Board of Education in 1998

10. Opening Activity: • Write what you think your school, department or grade-level’s instructional vision/mission is. • Read your statement to the group. • Discuss its implications on the District’s mission. • What resources exist to help your school carry out this mission? • What resources does your school need to realize it?

11. Develop a plan to address an aspect of the school mission… • Plan: • -What • -Who • -Why • -When • -How

12. How can grant funds help? • Discuss in groups

13. Where do you go from here? • Form grant teams • Search funding opportunities • Develop/Continue partnerships • Match your school priorities with the Superintendent’s Goals and Objectives • Match district/school goals with funders’ • Submit proposals • Implement programs

14. Funding Sources: • Federal • State • Local • Foundations • Corporations • Individuals, etc.

15. Categories of Giving • Public: (supported by tax revenues) • Private: (philanthropic giving by foundations, corporations, bequests, and individuals)

16. Federal Grants • Funds available nationwide… • In 1980: approx. $ 40 billion • In 1995: approx. $ 75 billion

17. Federal Sources: • U. S. Department of Education • U. S. Department of Commerce • Environmental Protection Agency • U. S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Develop. • Announcements/notices found in the Federal Register, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Internet, etc.

18. State Sources: • California Department of Education (CDE) Some Examples of CDE Grant Programs: Academic Volunteer & Mentor Service California Public Schools Library Prot. Digital High School

19. Local Sources: • Los Angeles County Office of Education as administrators of State grant programs • City of Los Angeles (EX: Proposition K) • Los Angeles Educational Partnership • School Districts

20. Foundations: • Foundation Directory- a catalog of nonprofits under IRS code 501c(3) • Usually give $ to nonprofits • LAUSD is tax-exempt but currently DOES NOT have a Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code designation except for its Adult Division

21. Philanthropic Giving: • In 1995: approx. $ 135 billion • In 1997: approx. $ 143.5 billion • Source: Giving USA

22. Four Basic Private Sources: • Foundations • Corporations • Bequests • Individuals

23. Private Sources’Categories of Giving: • Religion • Health • Human Services • Education • Humanities • Public Benefit • International/Environment

24. Solution: • partnerships with nonprofits with 501c(3) like PTAs, community-based organizations (CBOs) • partner becomes the fiscal agent while schools still receive the services • CBOs as “conduits”

25. Foundations in the U.S. • over 45,000 foundations in the U.S. • but majority give modest-to-small $$$ • required to give out 5% of assets per year to organizations • required to disclose grantees & amounts on IRS tax return (990-PF) • require recipients to be tax-exempt under Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code

26. For each Foundation listing, read about the organization’s: • field(s) of interest • history of giving • range of giving • limitations • contact information • others

27. The Foundation Directory • provides information on over 7,000 foundations with assets of $2 m or higher, or gives $200,000 or more • published annually (over 2,000 pages) • cost: around $ 200 per copy • to order, call 1-800-424-9836 • but GAU has one; other libraries have it too

28. Nonprofits under Section 501c(3) • eligible to receive grants (operating fdn.) • give funding sources favorable tax incentives • are “corporations…organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes” (IRS Code of Reg.) • in 1995, over 575,690 nonprofits

29. Isn’t LAUSD tax-exempt? • yes, but it is not a nonprofit organization under Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code • donations made to LAUSD are deductible under Section 170/IRS Code • see Bulletin No. 66 (Sept. 1, 1994)- Business Services Division

31. Corporations: • often used as a way to pilot new projects • very selective & specialized • public relations for the corporation • check first with administration, district staff, etc. before proceeding

32. Individuals, etc.: • philanthropists • through personal connections • through fundraisers, boosters, etc. • through parents, business/community members, etc.

33. Key terms: • Proposal • Request for Proposal (RFP) • Request for Application (RFA) • nonprofit • tax-exempt • grant team • fiscal agent

34. Who makes up a grant team? • Researchers/historian/statistician • “Idea” people/stakeholders • Writers/editors • Budget developer • Proofreader • Application coordinator/timekeeper • Others?

35. Is there a match... • between the school need and the funder’s field(s) of interest ,and does the proposed program align with the Superintendent’s Objective and Goals? And school/dept/ grade-level mission/vision?

36. Elements of a Proposal • Abstract • Program Narrative: • Needs Assessment • Goals/Objectives/Activities • Evaluation • Budget Summary • Budget Narrative • Letters of Support/Other Attachments

37. Regardless of the type of grant... • Focus on your district/school/dept./grade educational mission and vision • Avoid asking for stuff like computers; instead focus on why you need computers to provide a service to your clients: the students • Highlight how your proposed project will help advance your mission/vision

38. Let’s Review! • What’s a proposal? • Why is it important to match school priorities with those of funders’? • Why is it important to have a grant team? • Why are partnerships crucial? • How can you find potential funding sources?

39. Thank you... • For additional assistance, call the Grants Assistance Unit (GAU) at (213) 625-6395 or • Visit GAU’s Web Site via LAUSDnet: • www.lausd.k12.ca.us --- click “offices”

40. How can parents, business, and community partners help local schools? • Join school grant teams • Provide human and fiscal resources • Provide advocacy to the project