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Grant Writing Made Simple. Using US Department of Education (USDOE) Criteria September 13, 2012 Henry J. Findlay, Professor & Director Continuing Education Program Tuskegee University findlay@mytu.tuskegee.edu ; (334 ) 724-4316. The Writing Process.
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Grant Writing Made Simple Using US Department of Education (USDOE) Criteria September 13, 2012 Henry J. Findlay, Professor & Director Continuing Education Program Tuskegee University findlay@mytu.tuskegee.edu; (334) 724-4316
The Writing Process • Watch your writing – avoid ambiguous words • Be kind to the reviewers • Write a good document that sells your idea • Use logical transitions to create better flow of thoughts and ideas
The Importance of the Introduction • Your Introduction should create interest in the reader/reviewer • It lays out the board foundation that leads to the rest of the proposal
Pre-Planning Worksheet (Writing the Introduction of the Project) • Can you think of an illustration, or some startling statistics that can set the tone for your project? • 2. Can you give at least three (3) reasons why the problem you have chosen is important and valid?
The Need for the Project • Use a funnel approach (general to specifics) • Start with the generalized problem as it occurs in the community • Move to the conditions which make this a problem • Outline current resources that address this problem and identify gaps in those resources • Identify how your proposal will fill these gaps
I: The Need – USDOE Criteria • The need represents the reason behind your proposal • The need specifies the conditions you wish to change • Supported by evidence drawn from your experience, statistics provided by authoritative sources, and appropriate literature review
Supporting Data for Your Proposal Education Status: graduation rates, dropout rates, test scores, reduced lunch rates, etc. Social Conditions: violence, gang related activities, drugs and substance abuse Economic Conditions: business and industries, poverty, unemployment, etc.
The Need --UDOE Criteria • Clearly provide sufficient details as to how the proposed project will help meet the needs of the community/school • Cite in a convincing manner the factors that place the constituent at risk
The Need : USDOE Criteria (Contd.) • What are the specific gaps or weaknesses (services, infrastructure, etc. • How will the project remedy the risk factors identified in the need
Grant Writing Made Simple - • Project Purpose, Goals and Objectives • What specific goals are you trying to achieve? • What measurable milestones will you reach in meeting those goals? • How will you and the funder know that you are making progress towards your goals?
Some Key Action Words in Stating Goals and Objectives To reduce To investigate To identify To provide To select To assess To examine To increase To design To create To describe To establish To explore To estimate To distinguish To develop To compare To improve
Writing Goals and Objectives Goal Defined: For the purpose of grant writing, a goal describes how you want the community or institution to be with funds received. (Achieving a goal requires a change in the way the community or institution will look or feel) Example of a Goal: To reduce the drug and substance abuse usage in the Marysville Community.
Writing Goals and Objectives Objective Defined: A measurable statement of direction that the program is expected to accomplish within a specific timeframe. Example: To reduce the rates of drug and substance abuse usage in Maryville Community System by 10%, each year for three years.
2. Rationale/Significance for the Project (USDOE Criteria) • What problems do you hope to solve as a result of carrying out this project? • 2. What will the results mean to the practitioner in a specific field (education, community, etc.)? • 3. Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or interventions?
2. Rationale/Significance for the Project (USDOE Criteria) • 4. Will results influence educational, economic, social policy decisions? • 5. What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed project? • 6. How will results of the project be implemented, and what innovations will come about?
2. Rationale/Significance for the Project (USDOE Criteria) • 7. What can happen to society, events, theories, practices, or some programs, if the project is not funded? • 8. Conclude your rationale with a persuasive statement that would convince a reviewer that this project is worth funding.
3. Project Design – (USDOE Criteria) • Goals, objectives, and outcomes clearly stated and measurable? • The design is appropriate and will successfully address the needs of the target population • The proposed project establishes linkages with other agencies and organizations providing services to the target population • The proposal clearly describes the activities to be provided by the project and elaborate on how goals and objectives are measurable
3. Project Design – (USDOE Criteria) • Describe the activities and the specific roles to be played by each partner • Activities should be tailored to address the specific needs of project participants to achieve desired outcomes • Letters of commitment or memoranda of understanding that clearly indicate the role and capacity of each partnering organization
3. Project Design – (USDOE Criteria) • 4. Describe the activities and the specific roles to be played by each partner • 5. Tailored activities to address the specific needs of project participants to achieve desired outcomes • 6. Letters of commitment or memoranda of understanding that clearly indicate the role and capacity of each partnering organization
4: Quality of Project Services (USDOE Criteria) Strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment to underrepresented, based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability Appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services Entities demonstrate support for the project
4: Quality of Project Services (USDOE Criteria) Up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice Services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice among the recipients of those services
4: Quality of Project Services (USDOE Criteria) Lead to improvements in the achievement of students as measured against rigorous academic standards The likely impact of the services to be provided by the proposed project on the intended recipients of those services Lead to improvements in the skills necessary to gain employment or build capacity for independent living
4: Quality of Project Services (USDOE Criteria) Involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for maximizing the effectiveness of project services Involve use of technology, as appropriate, and the leveraging of non-project resources Proposed project are focused on those with greatest needs
5: Quality of Project Personnel (USDOE Criteria) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or principal investigator The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of project consultants or subcontractors
6: Adequacy of Resources (USDOE Criteria) • 1. Are the facilities adequate to carry out the project? • 2. How will resources and personnel be allocated to the various project tasks and activities? • 3. How will existing resources contributed by partners be used to help carry out project activities?
6: Adequacy of Resources (USDOE Criteria) • 4.Are costs reasonable in relation to the anticipated outcomes? • Are costs reasonable in relation to the project design? • Do you have a detailed budget showing the proposed cost for each major budget category ? • 7. Budget narrative describing each budget item in sufficient detail and determines the reasonableness of each item?
Budgeting • Budget • Budgets must be prepared for each year of the project, and a cumulative budget must also be prepared for multiple year projects • All budget line items must be justified and supported by narrative • List all budget categories (personnel, program costs, equipment, travel, etc.)
Budgeting (Contd.) • Use bids and estimates whenever you can to get them - more detail is better than less • Do not pad your budget (competent reviewers will know the cost of goods and services) • Include all sources of support - including volunteer time, donated space and borrowed equipment • Calculate salaries and wages & fringe benefits
Budgeting (Contd.) • Budget • Calculate & Administrative or Indirect Costs • Include statement regarding each participant’s role and responsibilities • summer salary/release time • List of equipment being purchased along with costs • Remember budget justification or • Adhere to sponsor regulations (provided in Guidelines)
7: Quality of Management Plan (USDOE Criteria) • Describes the extent to which the management plan includes clearly defined responsibilities, time lines, and milestones (indicators) for accomplishing the project activities • Is the management plan adequate to achieve the objectives of the proposed project in a timely manner? • Describe the management plan to include a management structure • Provide a timetable for completing each objective
7: Quality of Management Plan (USDOE Criteria) 4. Are the objectives, participants, events, beneficiaries and anticipated results clearly spelled out? 5. Does the project address the issue of planning for sustainability after the grant period?
8: Quality of Project Evaluation (USDOE Criteria) • Describes the extent to which the proposed evaluation methods are adequate to evaluate the project • 1. What is the evaluation framework?( Logic Model, CIPP Model, etc. ) • 2. Are performance measures clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project? • Are both formative and summative measures included in the evaluation design? • Does the evaluation design include both quantitative and qualitative measures?
8: Quality of Project Evaluation (USDOE Criteria) • 5. Is there a table (Chart) that summarizes the goals, objectives, measures, indicators, and outcomes? • Are benchmarks for monitoring progress toward the project included? • 7. Have you used Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) as indicators of success?
8: Quality of Project Evaluation (USDOE Criteria) 8.Have you included a qualified external evaluator and stated his/her qualifications? 9. Have you included types of data to be collected, the methodology, data analysis, and dissemination of the results to include stakeholders?
8: Quality of Project Evaluation (Contd.) • 10. How will you know whether you are achieving your goals and objectives? • 11. What will you measure to evaluate your progress? • 12. What records and information will you keep to allow you to measure your progress?
What Reviewers Look for: • Was the outline in RFP/RFA followed • Is the proposal relevant and has merit? • Are the goals and objectives achievable? • Quality experience/infrastructure to carry out the project • Is the Budget reasonable? • Does it include an evaluation plan? • How will you measure outcomes and impact?
General Check List to Determine Merit of Application • Objectives are clear, adequate and appropriate • Procedure/approach is innovative, clearly described, suitable and feasible • Expected results are clearly stated, measurable and achievable • Proposed extension leads to measurable, documented changes in learning, actions or conditions of a target group • Key personnel roles are clearly defined • Key personnel have sufficient expertise
Managing a Funded Project • Set up separate account • Advertise and hire quality individuals • Only authorized expenditures allowed • Keep accurate records • Write your interim reports • Attend director’s meetings as deemed necessary • Conduct appropriate evaluations • Make your purchases in a timely manner • Dealing with no-cost project extension • Submitting Final report