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
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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
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