Fall is always an exciting time for schools -- new programs, renewed hope. And what would fall be without a glitch or two? Like the new, promising program that’s just getting off the ground... that you already realize is not properly funded. You know you’ll get good results from the program as it stands, but not nearly as good as you could get with some additional funding.
The solution?
Apply for a grant.
Not next semester.
Not next month.
Apply this week!
Don’t let a program that could really make a difference to your students falter because of a few thousand dollars that you can get with a few hours of intensive grant writing.
It’s not that unusual for a good program to be underfunded. A program might look well funded on paper during the planning stages, but you don’t really know how popular or successful that program will be until it gets started. You may have so many students show up for a new after-school tutoring program that you need five teachers to accommodate everyone instead of three. You may find that you that you need math manipulatives for a new elementary school math program that you thought weren’t necessary during planning. We once started a piano lab for our students in middle school and had to add both keyboards and class periods to take care of the huge interest.
Often you don’t even need a large amount of money. Sometimes an extra $3,000 to $5,000 can make a tremendous difference in the results you get from the program. For that kind of money, educators often tap into grant programs offered by local retail outlets such as Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, or Home Depot when those companies' programs match the school’s needs. Local foundations are another excellent source for this type of grant money. For larger, longer-term money, you may want to look for state or federal grants to support your program. Of course, getting state or federal grant money is usually more involved; it takes longer to complete the application and to receive the money if you are successful in winning the grant.
So here’s the plan for the rest of the semester:
--- Start looking closely at any program in your school that you feel could be very successful but is, at present, underfunded.
--- Calculate the amount of money you need.
--- Immediately begin searching for grants that fit the needs of your program.
--- Apply for at least two or three grants to be sure you get most of the money you need.
--- Start today.
Let me add one word of encouragement: For some strange reason, educators are not applying for as many grants this fall as they have in the past. They may be discouraged by the current economic climate, or they may simply be applying for fewer, larger, federal grants. Whatever the reason, your chances of getting your grant application funded have increased. If you start applying now, you can avoid a rush of applications that always come at the beginning of a new semester. Again, your chances of winning grant money are better right now than ever before!
Grant Name: Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s TYLENOL® National Child Care Teacher Awards™.
Funded by: Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation & Children’s TYLENOL®
Description: Recognizing the need to raise the status and visibility of quality child care, the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation (TLLCCF) created the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s TYLENOL® National Child Care Teacher Awards™. These awards acknowledge the critical role of child care teachers in providing quality early care and education. Child care teachers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are invited to apply. Fifty teachers are selected for their commitment and dedication to the children they serve. Of the top ten recipients, one is selected to receive the Helene Marks Award. As part of the application process, each applicant is asked to design an enhancement project for the children in their classroom illustrating the educational, social, and emotional benefits from the project. A committee of early childhood educators and specialists review the applications. Award recipients receive $1,000 - $500 for the teacher's personal use and $500 to implement the project. An award ceremony takes place each spring in Pennsylvania - hotel and transportation are provided for the recipients. The event celebrates the best and the most dedicated of our child care teachers.
Program Areas: Early Childhood
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School
Proposal Deadline: 12/4/09
Amount: $1,000.00
Telephone: 610-992-1140
Website: http://www.tllccf.org/pr_nccta.php
Availability: All States
Grant Name: Allen Foundation Health Education Grants
Funded by: Allen Foundation, Inc.
Description: The Allen Foundation Grants are limited under the terms of the foundation's charter to projects that primarily benefit programs for human nutrition in the areas of health, education, training, and research. Priorities Include: To make grants to fund relevant nutritional research. To support programs for the education and training of mothers during pregnancy and after the birth of their children, so that good nutritional habits can be formed at an early age. To assist in the training of persons to work as educators and demonstrators of good nutritional practices. To encourage the dissemination of information regarding healthful nutritional practices and habits.
Program Areas: General Education, Health/PE
Recipients: Public School, Higher Education, Other
Proposal Deadline: 12/31/2009
Amount: $5,000.00 - $90,000.00
Telephone: 989-83205678
Website: http://www.allenfoundation.org/
Availability: All States
Grant Name: Finish Line Youth Foundation
Funded by: Finish Line Youth Foundation Grants
Description: Finish Line Youth Foundation focuses funding on organizations that provide opportunities for youth participation in the following areas: Youth athletic programs – Community-based programs addressing active lifestyle and team building skills. Camps – Established camps with an emphasis on sports and active lifestyle, especially programs serving disadvantaged and special needs kids.
Program Areas: Health/PE
Recipients: Public School, Higher Education, Other
Proposal Deadline: 12/31/2009
Amount: $1,500.00 - $5,000.00
Website: http://www.finishline.com/store/youthfoundation/guidelines.jsp
Availability: All States
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
You Should Be Applying for Grants Now!
While your school's grant-writing program should have you applying for grants throughout the year, early fall is the best time of the year to apply -- especially this year, when school budgets are lagging so far behind needs. So, as many people's thoughts turn to the school football season, fall should be the time when all educators' thoughts turn to the lucrative grant-writing season. This year, you should plan to "gear up" early and submit at least two or three grant applications by the end of fall.
Why is the fall season "grant season"?
Fall is a great time to focus on grant writing for several reasons. First, more grants are available to schools in the fall than at any other time of year. Even though it is true that competition for these grants is stiff, so many grants are available (for such large amounts of money) that every school with needs should be filing several applications. Remember, billions of dollars in grants are given to schools every year. If you don’t apply, some school somewhere else will be getting your share of this money. Why should your school be left out?
Second, you have had the entire summer and early fall to review, digest, and analyze test scores and other relevant data from last school year. It is imperative that you use this data to prove that your school needs this grant money more than other schools that apply. You can collect data throughout the year to use in other applications, but the data from the previous full year is in the very best position to support most grant applications.
Third, the grant money you apply for in the fall will impact results throughout the current school year. Applying for grants during the second semester is fine, but that money can rarely be used to impact the education of your students during this school year. Fall grant money is often distributed in late fall and certainly by the start of the new semester. The key is to apply for grants that will bring in money as soon as possible so that it can have the greatest impact on your students as quickly as possible.
It is not difficult to get schools to agree that they need money. It’s not even difficult to get educators to agree that they should be writing more grants than they do. The most difficult job I have is convincing educators to get started now -- this month, this week. Sure, I know that school is in session, and there are at least a thousand things you need to do, but there is nothing you can do right now that will impact student learning more than gathering grant money to help you fund key programs above and beyond those the bare-bones budget supports.
Remember:
1) You need to apply for grants in the fall because more grants are available at this time than at any other time of the year.
2) You need to have excellent data from the previous semester and/or school year to support your applications.
3) The grant money you receive will have a direct impact on student learning in the current school year.
Those three strong reasons for applying for grants in the fall should motivate you to start searching for grants today. You’ll get the grant money -- or some other school will. Don’t your students deserve your very best effort?
Grant Name: PreK-6 Classroom Research Grants
Funded by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Edward G. Begle Fund
Description: The purpose of this grant is support and encourage classroom-based research in precollege mathematics education in collaboration with college or university mathematics educators. For 2010–2011, grants with a maximum of $6,000 each will be awarded to classroom teachers* currently teaching mathematics at the grades PreK–6 level. The research must be a significant collaborative effort involving a college or university mathematics educator (a mathematics education researcher or a teacher of mathematics learning, teaching, or curriculum) and one or more grades PreK–6 classroom teachers.
Program Areas: Math
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School
Proposal Deadline: 11/13/09
Amount: $6,000.00
Website: http://www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=1330
Availability: All States
Grant Name: Exemplary Reading Program Award
Funded by: International Reading Association
Description: The Exemplary Reading Program Award recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs at all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school). Its purpose is to call the public’s attention to outstanding programs in schools throughout Canada and the United States. Each participating state and province can choose one winning school a year. All public, private, and parochial schools in the United States and Canada are eligible for the award provided the state or province in which the school is located has an Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee currently in place to judge program applications from that state or province, At least one faculty or staff member of that school is a current IRA member
Program Areas: Reading
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School, Faith-based
Proposal Deadline: 11/15/09
Amount: $500.00
Website: >http://www.reading.org/association/awards/professional_exemplary.html
Availability: All States
Why is the fall season "grant season"?
Fall is a great time to focus on grant writing for several reasons. First, more grants are available to schools in the fall than at any other time of year. Even though it is true that competition for these grants is stiff, so many grants are available (for such large amounts of money) that every school with needs should be filing several applications. Remember, billions of dollars in grants are given to schools every year. If you don’t apply, some school somewhere else will be getting your share of this money. Why should your school be left out?
Second, you have had the entire summer and early fall to review, digest, and analyze test scores and other relevant data from last school year. It is imperative that you use this data to prove that your school needs this grant money more than other schools that apply. You can collect data throughout the year to use in other applications, but the data from the previous full year is in the very best position to support most grant applications.
Third, the grant money you apply for in the fall will impact results throughout the current school year. Applying for grants during the second semester is fine, but that money can rarely be used to impact the education of your students during this school year. Fall grant money is often distributed in late fall and certainly by the start of the new semester. The key is to apply for grants that will bring in money as soon as possible so that it can have the greatest impact on your students as quickly as possible.
It is not difficult to get schools to agree that they need money. It’s not even difficult to get educators to agree that they should be writing more grants than they do. The most difficult job I have is convincing educators to get started now -- this month, this week. Sure, I know that school is in session, and there are at least a thousand things you need to do, but there is nothing you can do right now that will impact student learning more than gathering grant money to help you fund key programs above and beyond those the bare-bones budget supports.
Remember:
1) You need to apply for grants in the fall because more grants are available at this time than at any other time of the year.
2) You need to have excellent data from the previous semester and/or school year to support your applications.
3) The grant money you receive will have a direct impact on student learning in the current school year.
Those three strong reasons for applying for grants in the fall should motivate you to start searching for grants today. You’ll get the grant money -- or some other school will. Don’t your students deserve your very best effort?
Grant Name: PreK-6 Classroom Research Grants
Funded by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Edward G. Begle Fund
Description: The purpose of this grant is support and encourage classroom-based research in precollege mathematics education in collaboration with college or university mathematics educators. For 2010–2011, grants with a maximum of $6,000 each will be awarded to classroom teachers* currently teaching mathematics at the grades PreK–6 level. The research must be a significant collaborative effort involving a college or university mathematics educator (a mathematics education researcher or a teacher of mathematics learning, teaching, or curriculum) and one or more grades PreK–6 classroom teachers.
Program Areas: Math
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School
Proposal Deadline: 11/13/09
Amount: $6,000.00
Website: http://www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=1330
Availability: All States
Grant Name: Exemplary Reading Program Award
Funded by: International Reading Association
Description: The Exemplary Reading Program Award recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs at all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school). Its purpose is to call the public’s attention to outstanding programs in schools throughout Canada and the United States. Each participating state and province can choose one winning school a year. All public, private, and parochial schools in the United States and Canada are eligible for the award provided the state or province in which the school is located has an Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee currently in place to judge program applications from that state or province, At least one faculty or staff member of that school is a current IRA member
Program Areas: Reading
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School, Faith-based
Proposal Deadline: 11/15/09
Amount: $500.00
Website: >http://www.reading.org/association/awards/professional_exemplary.html
Availability: All States
Friday, October 16, 2009
Consistency Is the Key
It is not unusual for schools to want or need grant money. Unfortunately, there’s a huge difference between wanting and actually receiving grants. The key to getting grant money -- and to keeping it coming -- is consistency. In the paragraphs that follow, I will identify three key areas where consistency counts when it comes to grants and grant writing.
First, to earn grants you must consistently assess school programs to identify weak or problem areas. You can’t do that just once a year or several times in one year and then stop. Assessment must be regular and ongoing. Some programs garner poor results from the start. Others may be successful for a while and then falter. It goes without saying that every program you use, whether it relates to reading, math, science, after-school, service learning, music... must be regularly assessed to ensure you’re reaching the goals you set. If you don’t do that, you won’t know you have problems and you won’t have the statistical documentation you need to successfully apply for grants.
Second, to win grants you must consistently search for the grants that align with your school's needs. Grants are not all announced at the first of the year or the start of the school year. New and updated grant information is announced on a daily basis. If you are not routinely (and consistently) monitoring grant sources, you’re going to miss some of the very best grant opportunities. You should look for grants on a weekly basis, or at the very least once a month, because many grants have fairly short deadlines.
Third, you must consistently apply for grants. Winning grant money is a numbers game. The more quality grant applications you put in the mail or send via the Internet, the greater your chances of winning grant money. Send in just one application and you may or may not be awarded grant money. Send in five applications and your chances have improved dramatically. Apply for ten grants and you’re almost assured of getting at least some grant money.
There has never been more grant money available. Consequently, there has never been a better time to apply for grants. And the best way to ensure that your school gets its share of this grant money is to be consistent.
First, to earn grants you must consistently assess school programs to identify weak or problem areas. You can’t do that just once a year or several times in one year and then stop. Assessment must be regular and ongoing. Some programs garner poor results from the start. Others may be successful for a while and then falter. It goes without saying that every program you use, whether it relates to reading, math, science, after-school, service learning, music... must be regularly assessed to ensure you’re reaching the goals you set. If you don’t do that, you won’t know you have problems and you won’t have the statistical documentation you need to successfully apply for grants.
Second, to win grants you must consistently search for the grants that align with your school's needs. Grants are not all announced at the first of the year or the start of the school year. New and updated grant information is announced on a daily basis. If you are not routinely (and consistently) monitoring grant sources, you’re going to miss some of the very best grant opportunities. You should look for grants on a weekly basis, or at the very least once a month, because many grants have fairly short deadlines.
Third, you must consistently apply for grants. Winning grant money is a numbers game. The more quality grant applications you put in the mail or send via the Internet, the greater your chances of winning grant money. Send in just one application and you may or may not be awarded grant money. Send in five applications and your chances have improved dramatically. Apply for ten grants and you’re almost assured of getting at least some grant money.
There has never been more grant money available. Consequently, there has never been a better time to apply for grants. And the best way to ensure that your school gets its share of this grant money is to be consistent.
- Consistently assess the needs of your school.
- Consistently search for grants that match closely with your school’s needs.
- Consistently apply for those grants over the coming weeks and months.
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant
Funded by: Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation
Description: The Fall 2009 cycle is open for the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation Toolbox for Education grant program. Through the program, Lowe's will donate a total of $5 million to U.S. public schools and public school parent teacher groups at more than one thousand public schools. For the 2009-10 program, Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation will increase its focus on basic one-time project needs. Any individual nonprofit public K-12 school or parent group associated with a nonprofit public K-12 school is eligible to apply. Parent groups (PTO, PTA, etc.) that are applying must have an independent tax ID number and official 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. Groups that do not have 501(c)(3) status should apply through their school. Applicant school must be more than two years old. Preschools are not eligible. The program prioritizes funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored. Grants may be requested for amounts between $2,000 and $5,000.
Program Areas: Facilities/Maintenance, Health/PE, Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School
Proposal Deadline: 10/16/09
Amount: $2,000.00 - $5,000.00
Website: http://www.toolboxforeducation.com
Availability: All States
Funded by: Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation
Description: The Fall 2009 cycle is open for the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation Toolbox for Education grant program. Through the program, Lowe's will donate a total of $5 million to U.S. public schools and public school parent teacher groups at more than one thousand public schools. For the 2009-10 program, Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation will increase its focus on basic one-time project needs. Any individual nonprofit public K-12 school or parent group associated with a nonprofit public K-12 school is eligible to apply. Parent groups (PTO, PTA, etc.) that are applying must have an independent tax ID number and official 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. Groups that do not have 501(c)(3) status should apply through their school. Applicant school must be more than two years old. Preschools are not eligible. The program prioritizes funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored. Grants may be requested for amounts between $2,000 and $5,000.
Program Areas: Facilities/Maintenance, Health/PE, Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School
Proposal Deadline: 10/16/09
Amount: $2,000.00 - $5,000.00
Website: http://www.toolboxforeducation.com
Availability: All States
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: AeroGrow Growing Kids Awards
Funded by: National Gardening Association
Description: The AeroGarden is an innovative solution for bringing gardening activities into the classroom. The AeroGrow Growing Kids Awards, sponsored by AeroGrow International, Inc., will provide 300 educators nationwide with this useful, hands-on tool to enrich and enhance the study of nutrition and life science in the classroom. This award is open to K-6 classrooms in the United States with a minimum of 15 students who plan to use indoor gardens to teach nutrition and life science. This year 300 schools will be selected to receive an AeroGrow Growing Kids Award. Each winning program will receive: an AeroGarden Classic valued at $150 and an AeroGrow Salad Greens Seed Kit.
Program Areas: Health/PE, Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School
Proposal Deadline: 10/24/09
Amount: $150.00
Website: http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/GrowingKids.asp
Availability: All States
Funded by: National Gardening Association
Description: The AeroGarden is an innovative solution for bringing gardening activities into the classroom. The AeroGrow Growing Kids Awards, sponsored by AeroGrow International, Inc., will provide 300 educators nationwide with this useful, hands-on tool to enrich and enhance the study of nutrition and life science in the classroom. This award is open to K-6 classrooms in the United States with a minimum of 15 students who plan to use indoor gardens to teach nutrition and life science. This year 300 schools will be selected to receive an AeroGrow Growing Kids Award. Each winning program will receive: an AeroGarden Classic valued at $150 and an AeroGrow Salad Greens Seed Kit.
Program Areas: Health/PE, Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School
Proposal Deadline: 10/24/09
Amount: $150.00
Website: http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/GrowingKids.asp
Availability: All States
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Making the Call
September is here, and students are back in school. This is the time of year many educators apply for grants. This period is a good time to apply because writing a grant proposal can take considerable effort, and while students get settled in, you may have more time now than later for grant writing. If you're going to do all the work that goes into applying for a grant, you should give yourself every chance of focusing on and winning that grant.
One of the least utilized but most effective ways to increase the chances of getting your grant proposal funded is to make a phone call and speak directly to the contact person listed for that grant. Typically, this contact person will be more knowledgeable about the grant than anyone else. You might even get tips to better your chances for receiving the grant. At the very least, you can get more information from the contact person, and the more information you have about the inner workings of a grant the better your chances of getting that grant money.
A phone call is especially helpful when you are applying for foundation grants. Many foundations are run by a small board, and the contact person usually sits on that board and helps decide which grant applications to fund. The contact person can tell you if your project really fits the scope of the foundation. Matching your need with the intent of the foundation is absolutely critical, and a phone call can often save you tremendous time and effort. In some cases, you'll abandon your application to the particular foundation because you'll find that the fit is not there. More often, you'll be able to make your application much clearer and more persuasive by having one or more conversations with the contact person.
State and federal grant applications are much more complicated than those offered by foundations. For that reason, a phone call to the contact person can help tremendously as you plan. That contact person can clarify parts of the complex grant application. If you truly understand the information the application seeks, you can pinpoint your narrative and make your application much more clear and concise. Since almost all of these grants are competitive, speaking with the contact person may give you just the advantage you need to gain a higher score than other schools competing for the same money.
Please be aware that some granting entities ask you not to call them. Quite often they give an email address as an alternative to a phone number. Even though a phone call is typically more productive, use whatever means of communication is available to get all the information you can before you apply for a grant.
The easiest way to get contact names, phone numbers, or email addresses for a grant is to use a good grant database such as the one Discount School Supply offer to you for free. However, you should be able to track down the information by using a search engine to find online grant announcements, which often include contact information.
I give information about applying for grants on a daily basis. I can't give you better advice than to "Make the call."
One phone call will tell you:
1) if you should apply for the grant, and
2) how to apply more efficiently and effectively if the grant is a good match for your school's needs.
One of the least utilized but most effective ways to increase the chances of getting your grant proposal funded is to make a phone call and speak directly to the contact person listed for that grant. Typically, this contact person will be more knowledgeable about the grant than anyone else. You might even get tips to better your chances for receiving the grant. At the very least, you can get more information from the contact person, and the more information you have about the inner workings of a grant the better your chances of getting that grant money.
A phone call is especially helpful when you are applying for foundation grants. Many foundations are run by a small board, and the contact person usually sits on that board and helps decide which grant applications to fund. The contact person can tell you if your project really fits the scope of the foundation. Matching your need with the intent of the foundation is absolutely critical, and a phone call can often save you tremendous time and effort. In some cases, you'll abandon your application to the particular foundation because you'll find that the fit is not there. More often, you'll be able to make your application much clearer and more persuasive by having one or more conversations with the contact person.
State and federal grant applications are much more complicated than those offered by foundations. For that reason, a phone call to the contact person can help tremendously as you plan. That contact person can clarify parts of the complex grant application. If you truly understand the information the application seeks, you can pinpoint your narrative and make your application much more clear and concise. Since almost all of these grants are competitive, speaking with the contact person may give you just the advantage you need to gain a higher score than other schools competing for the same money.
Please be aware that some granting entities ask you not to call them. Quite often they give an email address as an alternative to a phone number. Even though a phone call is typically more productive, use whatever means of communication is available to get all the information you can before you apply for a grant.
The easiest way to get contact names, phone numbers, or email addresses for a grant is to use a good grant database such as the one Discount School Supply offer to you for free. However, you should be able to track down the information by using a search engine to find online grant announcements, which often include contact information.
I give information about applying for grants on a daily basis. I can't give you better advice than to "Make the call."
One phone call will tell you:
1) if you should apply for the grant, and
2) how to apply more efficiently and effectively if the grant is a good match for your school's needs.
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: Teacher Grants
Funded by: The Kids in Need Foundation
Description: Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The Kids In Need Foundation helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource — our nation's teachers. All certified K-12 teachers in the U.S. are eligible.
Program Areas: Math, Reading, Science/Environment, Technology, All Other
Recipients: Public Schools, Private/Charter Schools
Proposal Deadline: 9/30/09
Average amount: $100 - $500
Contact Person: Penny Hawk
Telephone: 877-296-1231
Email: info@kidsinneed.net
Website: http://www.kidsinneed.net
Availability: All States
Funded by: The Kids in Need Foundation
Description: Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The Kids In Need Foundation helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource — our nation's teachers. All certified K-12 teachers in the U.S. are eligible.
Program Areas: Math, Reading, Science/Environment, Technology, All Other
Recipients: Public Schools, Private/Charter Schools
Proposal Deadline: 9/30/09
Average amount: $100 - $500
Contact Person: Penny Hawk
Telephone: 877-296-1231
Email: info@kidsinneed.net
Website: http://www.kidsinneed.net
Availability: All States
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