One of the easiest ways to acquire grant money for your school is to find an achievement gap to close. Almost every school has some type of achievement gap; and many granting entities are interested in investing their money to help close those gaps. Find the gap(s) in your school and you might be on your way to some grant money.
Typically, serious achievement gaps exist between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students. Gaps of that nature can be found in many, many schools. Differences of 2 years or more in reading and math levels are frequently found when the achievement of economically disadvantaged students is compared to those who are not.
Other gaps may exist between minority and non-minority students and between suburban, rural, and urban students. Minority, rural, and inner-city students may appear to lag in achievement because of their race or where they live but, on closer observation, it is often their economic status that produces gaps.
Some gaps can be traced to reduced expectations on the part of parents, educators, or the community as a whole. Grant money may be useful in implementing programs to reduce those gaps too.
Another achievement gap, which is typically not explained by economics, is one that can exist between male and female students in the mathematics and science areas. All too often that gap can be tracked to lower expectations by teachers and the larger educational community. Grant money can help schools build high expectations and achievement for all.
Achievement gaps can usually be pinpointed by comparing test scores of various student groups. If you find one or more of the achievement gaps I've mentioned in your school or classroom, remember that the existence of that gap provides an excellent reason to apply for grants to help reduce or eliminate it.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: Striving Readers Program
Funded by: U.S. Department of Education
Description: The purpose of the Striving Readers program is to 1) raise literacy levels of adolescent students in Title I-eligible schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level and 2) build a strong, scientific research base for identifying and replicating strategies that improve adolescent literacy instruction.
Program Areas: Reading
Recipients: Public Schools
Proposal Deadline: 8/10/09
Average Amount: $750,000 to $1.3 million
Contact Person: Marcia Kingman
Telephone: 202-401-0003
Email: Marcia.kingman@ed.gov
Website: http://www. ed.gov/programs/strivingreaders/applicant.html
Availability: All States
Funded by: U.S. Department of Education
Description: The purpose of the Striving Readers program is to 1) raise literacy levels of adolescent students in Title I-eligible schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level and 2) build a strong, scientific research base for identifying and replicating strategies that improve adolescent literacy instruction.
Program Areas: Reading
Recipients: Public Schools
Proposal Deadline: 8/10/09
Average Amount: $750,000 to $1.3 million
Contact Person: Marcia Kingman
Telephone: 202-401-0003
Email: Marcia.kingman@ed.gov
Website: http://www. ed.gov/programs/strivingreaders/applicant.html
Availability: All States
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: NEA Foundation Green Grants
Funded by: NEA Foundation
Description: Over the past decade, the NEA Foundation has invested more than $5.9 million in grants to support and grow the ideas of more than 2,000 educators nationwide. Public school educators PreK-16 are invited to apply for the popular Student Achievement and Learning & Leadership grants at www.neafoundation.org/grants. A new online application makes applying easier and more convenient than ever. For those grant writers who have questions, the Foundation has posted an instructional video to guide grant writers through the process step by step. Deadlines for applications are June 1, October 15, and February 1. This year, the Foundation will emphasize "green" grants, because some of the most innovative and impactful projects involve students learning about and engaging in environmental preservation and protection. From publishing books on ecological restoration to designing lessons on renewable energy, NEA Foundation grantees are getting results.
Program Areas: Science/Environment
Recipients: Public Schools
Proposal Deadline: 10/15/09
Average Amount: $2,000 to $5,000
Website: http://www.neafoundation.org/grants.htm
Availability: All States
Funded by: NEA Foundation
Description: Over the past decade, the NEA Foundation has invested more than $5.9 million in grants to support and grow the ideas of more than 2,000 educators nationwide. Public school educators PreK-16 are invited to apply for the popular Student Achievement and Learning & Leadership grants at www.neafoundation.org/grants. A new online application makes applying easier and more convenient than ever. For those grant writers who have questions, the Foundation has posted an instructional video to guide grant writers through the process step by step. Deadlines for applications are June 1, October 15, and February 1. This year, the Foundation will emphasize "green" grants, because some of the most innovative and impactful projects involve students learning about and engaging in environmental preservation and protection. From publishing books on ecological restoration to designing lessons on renewable energy, NEA Foundation grantees are getting results.
Program Areas: Science/Environment
Recipients: Public Schools
Proposal Deadline: 10/15/09
Average Amount: $2,000 to $5,000
Website: http://www.neafoundation.org/grants.htm
Availability: All States
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: Union Pacific Education Grants
Funded by: Union Pacific Foundation
Description: Giving on a national basis in areas of company operations to support zoos and aquariums and organizations involved with arts and culture, education, the environment, health, youth development, human services, community development, and leadership development.
Program Areas: Arts, Community Involvement/Volunteerism, General Education,
Health/PE, Library, Professional Development
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School, Higher Education, Other
Proposal Deadline: 8/15/09
Average Amount: $1,000 to $200,000
Telephone: 402-271-5600
Average Amount: $1,000 to $200,000
Email: upf@up.com
Website: http://www.up.com/found
Availability: All States
Funded by: Union Pacific Foundation
Description: Giving on a national basis in areas of company operations to support zoos and aquariums and organizations involved with arts and culture, education, the environment, health, youth development, human services, community development, and leadership development.
Program Areas: Arts, Community Involvement/Volunteerism, General Education,
Health/PE, Library, Professional Development
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School, Higher Education, Other
Proposal Deadline: 8/15/09
Average Amount: $1,000 to $200,000
Telephone: 402-271-5600
Average Amount: $1,000 to $200,000
Email: upf@up.com
Website: http://www.up.com/found
Availability: All States
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Four Basic Steps for Winning School Grants
Winning grant money for your school is not nearly as difficult as many educators think. It requires work -- as does anything else worthwhile -- but if you follow four basic steps consistently and persistently, you will win grant money for your school.
Step 1: First, you need to determine the main problem(s) that needs to be addressed on your campus or in your district. That problem usually reveals itself when you assess programs you are using. If you look at your annual goal for a program, and your assessment indicates you did not come close to achieving that goal, you have identified a definite problem. Additionally, you might need to address new situations that crop up -- problems such increases in students with ADHD or autism, a large increase in teen mothers, or an increase in the number of students who speak limited English. So, first step, you need to identify the problem you would like to address with grant money.
Step 2: Next, you need to match the problem identified to a granting entity that is interested in helping with that type of problem. That granting agency might be the federal government, your state government, a foundation, or a business. Those four provide 99 percent of all grant money in the United States. Your best bet for tracking down an appropriate granting entity is to use a school grant database, subscribe to a school grant newsletter, or use search engines such as Google on the Internet. The fastest and most efficient way to match your needs with appropriate grants is by using a grant database. The cheapest way is by using the Internet.
Step 3: Once you have identified potential granting agencies, you must develop a plan to solve or alleviate your problem using the grant money for which you will apply. You must convince the potential grantors that you understand your problem and you know how to fix it. They also need to know if you are using their money exclusively or if the district, campus, or other grantors will also be providing money. Your plan will need to include concrete, measureable goals so both you and the grantor will know if your problem was appropriately addressed and whether or not the money helped improve -- or solve -- the problem you identified.
Step 4: Finally, you must put together a quality grant application. You don't have to be a professional grant writer. If you can read, write, and follow directions well, you should be fine. If you are new to grant writing, and you're applying for a large state or federal grant that is highly competitive, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional grant writer until you get more experience. Grant applications vary greatly. Applications for business or foundation grants are generally shorter and easier to complete. Grant applications for state and federal governments tend to be much longer and much more involved. Don't let that discourage you though. Just complete one section at a time thoroughly and completely. Also, make sure your application reaches the grantor by the grant deadline.
That's it. Four steps. Seems simple enough. Yet whole books have been written on those four steps. And, as simple as those four steps seem, thousands of campuses and districts have never applied for a single grant.
If there is one overriding rule in grant writing, it's this: you will never get a grant for your school if you never apply. So (1) identify a problem that needs attention, (2) identify a grantor(s) who can help solve your problem, (3) develop a plan to solve the problem, and (4) write a quality grant application. Those four simple steps can bring tens of thousands -- if not hundreds of thousands -- of grant dollars your way. You don't need magic. You don't need luck. You just need determination and work to get your share of school grant dollars.
Step 1: First, you need to determine the main problem(s) that needs to be addressed on your campus or in your district. That problem usually reveals itself when you assess programs you are using. If you look at your annual goal for a program, and your assessment indicates you did not come close to achieving that goal, you have identified a definite problem. Additionally, you might need to address new situations that crop up -- problems such increases in students with ADHD or autism, a large increase in teen mothers, or an increase in the number of students who speak limited English. So, first step, you need to identify the problem you would like to address with grant money.
Step 2: Next, you need to match the problem identified to a granting entity that is interested in helping with that type of problem. That granting agency might be the federal government, your state government, a foundation, or a business. Those four provide 99 percent of all grant money in the United States. Your best bet for tracking down an appropriate granting entity is to use a school grant database, subscribe to a school grant newsletter, or use search engines such as Google on the Internet. The fastest and most efficient way to match your needs with appropriate grants is by using a grant database. The cheapest way is by using the Internet.
Step 3: Once you have identified potential granting agencies, you must develop a plan to solve or alleviate your problem using the grant money for which you will apply. You must convince the potential grantors that you understand your problem and you know how to fix it. They also need to know if you are using their money exclusively or if the district, campus, or other grantors will also be providing money. Your plan will need to include concrete, measureable goals so both you and the grantor will know if your problem was appropriately addressed and whether or not the money helped improve -- or solve -- the problem you identified.
Step 4: Finally, you must put together a quality grant application. You don't have to be a professional grant writer. If you can read, write, and follow directions well, you should be fine. If you are new to grant writing, and you're applying for a large state or federal grant that is highly competitive, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional grant writer until you get more experience. Grant applications vary greatly. Applications for business or foundation grants are generally shorter and easier to complete. Grant applications for state and federal governments tend to be much longer and much more involved. Don't let that discourage you though. Just complete one section at a time thoroughly and completely. Also, make sure your application reaches the grantor by the grant deadline.
That's it. Four steps. Seems simple enough. Yet whole books have been written on those four steps. And, as simple as those four steps seem, thousands of campuses and districts have never applied for a single grant.
If there is one overriding rule in grant writing, it's this: you will never get a grant for your school if you never apply. So (1) identify a problem that needs attention, (2) identify a grantor(s) who can help solve your problem, (3) develop a plan to solve the problem, and (4) write a quality grant application. Those four simple steps can bring tens of thousands -- if not hundreds of thousands -- of grant dollars your way. You don't need magic. You don't need luck. You just need determination and work to get your share of school grant dollars.
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: Technology Inspired Le@ding Store Donation Grants
Funded by: Best Buy Stores
Description: Donations are given to schools, libraries and after-school clubs. Donations are made in the form of product or Best Buy Gift Cards. Local store employees decide how to support their community.
Program Areas: After School, General Education, Math, Reading, Science/Environment, Social Studies, Technology
Recipients: Public School, Private School
Proposal Deadline: None
Amount: $500 - $2,000
Telephone: 612-291-6108
Website: http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/our_programs.asp
Availability: All States
Funded by: Best Buy Stores
Description: Donations are given to schools, libraries and after-school clubs. Donations are made in the form of product or Best Buy Gift Cards. Local store employees decide how to support their community.
Program Areas: After School, General Education, Math, Reading, Science/Environment, Social Studies, Technology
Recipients: Public School, Private School
Proposal Deadline: None
Amount: $500 - $2,000
Telephone: 612-291-6108
Website: http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/our_programs.asp
Availability: All States
Check It Out! Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: Adopt-A-Classroom Educational Grants
Funded by: Adopt-A-Classroom
Description: Teachers who register at the Adopt-a-Classroom Website can be adopted by an individual, a business, or a foundation. Once adopted, teachers will receive $500 worth of credit to purchase items that enrich the learning environment, including classroom technology.
Program Areas: General Education, Science/Environment, Social Studies
Recipients: Public Schools
Proposal Deadline: None
Amount: $500.00
Telephone: 877-444-7666
Email: rhegberg@adoptaclassroom.com
Website: http://www.adoptaclassroom.com
Availability: All States
Funded by: Adopt-A-Classroom
Description: Teachers who register at the Adopt-a-Classroom Website can be adopted by an individual, a business, or a foundation. Once adopted, teachers will receive $500 worth of credit to purchase items that enrich the learning environment, including classroom technology.
Program Areas: General Education, Science/Environment, Social Studies
Recipients: Public Schools
Proposal Deadline: None
Amount: $500.00
Telephone: 877-444-7666
Email: rhegberg@adoptaclassroom.com
Website: http://www.adoptaclassroom.com
Availability: All States
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