There are no secrets to getting grant money for your school. You can get your share of grants provided you follow the proper steps persistently and consistently. Most of the schools that don't win grant money either don’t apply for grants or do so in a haphazard way. Below I offer a list of seven critical steps that I believe you need to follow and apply in order to secure grant money for your school. I will break down each of these steps in more detail in future blogs, but please don’t wait for those blogs to start using this information: you should be applying for grants right now for the fall and spring semesters.
1. Understand in detail the problems your school faces. If you want to secure grant money for your school, the first step is to understand in detail the problems your school faces. To understand the problems and their severity, you must consistently perform needs assessments. A good needs assessment will measure the difference between what you expect to happen in your classroom, school, or district and what actually happens. The wider the gap between expectations and actual outcomes, the larger the problem you have.
2. Develop a solution that has the greatest chance of solving the problem. Once you have identified your greatest problem, the second step toward obtaining grant money is to develop the solution that has the greatest chance of solving your problem. That solution will entail details about personnel, programs, time, and materials that will be needed to accomplish your goal. For example: What will it take to get your students reading on grade level rather than 1.5 years behind the national average? You must develop a plan and have every expectation that it will work. As a part of the plan development process, you must develop a reasonable budget that details what it will cost to implement your plan.
3. Begin looking for grant money to pay for your program. Assuming that you do not have the money in your regular budget to finance your plan, step three is to begin looking for grant money to pay for your program. Since your time writing grants is more valuable than your time looking for them, I strongly recommend that you use a comprehensive school-grant database to match your needs with a grant from the federal government, your state government, a corporation, or a foundation. It is vitally important that you match your needs as closely as possible with a granting entity that uses its grant money to help schools solve the type of problem you are experiencing.
4. Verify that your school is eligible for the grants you will seek. The match between your needs and the granting agency's requirements is so important that it leads directly to step number four: always call the person listed as the contact for the grant(s) you seek and verify that your school is eligible for that grant (those grants). If you are not eligible, or you sense a negative response from the contact person, you should immediately go back to step three and start the matching process again. If you are going to be successful in getting grant money, you must have good, verified matches.
5. Obtain the grant application and read it carefully. Step five involves gathering information. Once you know you have a match between your needs and a grantor, you should obtain a copy of the grant application, read it carefully, and gather all the statistics and other information you will need about your school and your needs in order to complete the grant application.
6. Complete the application. Write clearly and concisely. Follow all directions to the letter, including the font style and type size that you use to prepare the application. Complete every section of the application. To be sure you do a quality job, complete each section as if it is the only section on the application. You will be competing for this money with other schools. A quality application is essential.
7. Get your application in the mail a week before the deadline. The final step is to complete your application and get it in the mail at least one week before the deadline. Overnight delivery does not always mean your package will be delivered the next day. If your package is late, you may be able to reclaim the postage paid; but if you've missed the grant deadline, the granting entity will not consider your application.
That’s it. Follow those seven steps and you will get more than your share of grant money. For more detail on these steps, watch the next seven blogs to make this seven-step process work even better for you.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Check it Out: NEW Grant Opportunity
Grant Name: Company Grants
Funded by: State Farm Companies Foundation
Description: State Farm is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education).
Program Areas: Adult Literacy, After-School, Arts, At-Risk/Character, Community Involvement/Volunteerism, Disabilities, Early Childhood, Family Services, General Education, Health/PE, Homeless, Math, Professional Development, Reading, Safe/Drug Free Schools, Science/Environmental, Social Studies, Special Education.
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School, Higher Education, Other
Proposal Deadline: 10/31/10
Average Amount: $10,000.00
Website: http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/cogrants.asp
Availability: All States
Funded by: State Farm Companies Foundation
Description: State Farm is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education).
Program Areas: Adult Literacy, After-School, Arts, At-Risk/Character, Community Involvement/Volunteerism, Disabilities, Early Childhood, Family Services, General Education, Health/PE, Homeless, Math, Professional Development, Reading, Safe/Drug Free Schools, Science/Environmental, Social Studies, Special Education.
Recipients: Public School, Private/Charter School, Higher Education, Other
Proposal Deadline: 10/31/10
Average Amount: $10,000.00
Website: http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/cogrants.asp
Availability: All States
Check it Out: NEW Grant Opportunity!
Grant Name: The Lawrence Foundation Grants
Funded by: The Lawrence Foundation
Description: The foundation is focused on making grants to support environmental, education, human services and other causes although our interests are fairly diverse and may lead us into other areas on an occasional basis. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographic restrictions on our grants.
Program Areas: After School, Arts, Community Involvement/Volunteerism, General Education, Math, Miscellaneous, Reading, Safe/Drug-Free Schools, Science/Environment, Social Studies
Recipients: Public School, Other
Proposal Deadline: 10/31/2010
Average Amount: $5,000.00 - $100,000.00
Phone: 970-870-9456
Email: info@thelawrencefoundaiton.org
Website: http://www.thelawrencefoundation.org/
Availability: All States
Funded by: The Lawrence Foundation
Description: The foundation is focused on making grants to support environmental, education, human services and other causes although our interests are fairly diverse and may lead us into other areas on an occasional basis. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographic restrictions on our grants.
Program Areas: After School, Arts, Community Involvement/Volunteerism, General Education, Math, Miscellaneous, Reading, Safe/Drug-Free Schools, Science/Environment, Social Studies
Recipients: Public School, Other
Proposal Deadline: 10/31/2010
Average Amount: $5,000.00 - $100,000.00
Phone: 970-870-9456
Email: info@thelawrencefoundaiton.org
Website: http://www.thelawrencefoundation.org/
Availability: All States
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Reading in Your School -- How Important Is It?
I have to admit it. After spending 37 years teaching school, providing leadership as a principal, training teachers, and helping schools find the grant money they need, I’ve developed a few hot buttons. I don’t just care about these issues. I am passionate about them.
I firmly believe every child should be taught to read well, that students should be taught to give back to their school and community, that every program worth having should be assessed annually for its effectiveness, and that every principal should be well-trained and provide effective leadership – or find another job.
When I started teaching in 1973, I was 20 years old. I taught social studies in a middle school. Correction. I tried to teach social studies in middle school. The average reading level of our students was two grades below the national average. The textbook I was given to use was approximately one year above an 8th-grade level. That left a 3-year gap between my students' reading abilities and the level of the text.
In 1974, I began teaching Title I reading. I still believe reading is the most important skill we teach and that reading instruction and practice should continue throughout middle and high school. So much reading is involved in science, social studies, math, geography, health, psychology, and almost every other subject we choose to teach, reading should be a prominent subject in every school.
Granting agencies must agree with me. More grant money is available to schools to improve reading programs than any other single category. That's right. More grant money is available to help you to improve your students' reading skills than anything else. Not only is the dollar amount more, but there are more grants available from more sources for reading than any other category.
Reading money is needed in kindergarten and first grade to make sure every child gets a solid foundation in reading. Grant money needs to be spent in most schools to provide programs that will keep all students at an appropriate reading level as they progress from primary school all the way through high school.
As we get into this new school year, ask yourself this question: "Should our school be applying for grant money to improve the reading levels of the students in our school?” The Discount School Supply free grant database lists hundreds of reading grants for both public and private schools. Take advantage of that free resource. Find the grant money you need to make your reading programs absolutely the best you can make them.
I firmly believe every child should be taught to read well, that students should be taught to give back to their school and community, that every program worth having should be assessed annually for its effectiveness, and that every principal should be well-trained and provide effective leadership – or find another job.
When I started teaching in 1973, I was 20 years old. I taught social studies in a middle school. Correction. I tried to teach social studies in middle school. The average reading level of our students was two grades below the national average. The textbook I was given to use was approximately one year above an 8th-grade level. That left a 3-year gap between my students' reading abilities and the level of the text.
In 1974, I began teaching Title I reading. I still believe reading is the most important skill we teach and that reading instruction and practice should continue throughout middle and high school. So much reading is involved in science, social studies, math, geography, health, psychology, and almost every other subject we choose to teach, reading should be a prominent subject in every school.
Granting agencies must agree with me. More grant money is available to schools to improve reading programs than any other single category. That's right. More grant money is available to help you to improve your students' reading skills than anything else. Not only is the dollar amount more, but there are more grants available from more sources for reading than any other category.
Reading money is needed in kindergarten and first grade to make sure every child gets a solid foundation in reading. Grant money needs to be spent in most schools to provide programs that will keep all students at an appropriate reading level as they progress from primary school all the way through high school.
As we get into this new school year, ask yourself this question: "Should our school be applying for grant money to improve the reading levels of the students in our school?” The Discount School Supply free grant database lists hundreds of reading grants for both public and private schools. Take advantage of that free resource. Find the grant money you need to make your reading programs absolutely the best you can make them.
Grant Opportunity for Youth Gardening!
Grant Name: 2010 Subaru Healthy Sprouts Awards
Funded by: National Gardening Association & Subaru
Description: The Subaru Healthy Sprouts Award recognizes and supports youth gardening programs focused on teaching about our environment, nutrition, and hunger issues in the United States. Through winning programs, youth will learn the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle compatible with environmental stewardship and gain an understanding of how their actions can positively impact the well being of their community.
Program Areas: Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School, Private School, Other
Proposal Deadline: 10/1/2010
Average Amount: $500.00
Website: http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/healthysprouts.asp
Availability: All States
Funded by: National Gardening Association & Subaru
Description: The Subaru Healthy Sprouts Award recognizes and supports youth gardening programs focused on teaching about our environment, nutrition, and hunger issues in the United States. Through winning programs, youth will learn the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle compatible with environmental stewardship and gain an understanding of how their actions can positively impact the well being of their community.
Program Areas: Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School, Private School, Other
Proposal Deadline: 10/1/2010
Average Amount: $500.00
Website: http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/healthysprouts.asp
Availability: All States
Grant Opportunity from Lowe's!
Grant Name: Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation Grants
Funded by: Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation
Description: This foundation provides grants on a national basis in communities where Lowe's operates stores and distribution centers. Primary focus areas are community improvement projects and public education, with priority given to K-12 public schools. No grants to individuals or families, religious organizations, and church or denomination-sponsored programs. In addition, no grants are provided for events or special events; sponsorship of fundraising events; advertising or marketing; athletic events or athletic programs; arts-based programs; travel-related events; book, film, video, or television program development or production; capital campaigns, endowments, or endowed chairs; continuing education for teachers and staff; institutional overhead and/or indirect costs; memorial campaigns; continuing support; international programs; or tickets to events. No grants for stipends or salaries.
Program Areas: Community Involvement/Volunteerism, General Education, Math, Reading, Science/Environment, Social Studies, Vocational
Recipients: Public School
Proposal Deadline: October 15, 2010
Average Amount: $5,000.00
Telephone: 704-758-2831
Email: Cindy.l.williams@lowes.com
Website: http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/
Availability: All States
Funded by: Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation
Description: This foundation provides grants on a national basis in communities where Lowe's operates stores and distribution centers. Primary focus areas are community improvement projects and public education, with priority given to K-12 public schools. No grants to individuals or families, religious organizations, and church or denomination-sponsored programs. In addition, no grants are provided for events or special events; sponsorship of fundraising events; advertising or marketing; athletic events or athletic programs; arts-based programs; travel-related events; book, film, video, or television program development or production; capital campaigns, endowments, or endowed chairs; continuing education for teachers and staff; institutional overhead and/or indirect costs; memorial campaigns; continuing support; international programs; or tickets to events. No grants for stipends or salaries.
Program Areas: Community Involvement/Volunteerism, General Education, Math, Reading, Science/Environment, Social Studies, Vocational
Recipients: Public School
Proposal Deadline: October 15, 2010
Average Amount: $5,000.00
Telephone: 704-758-2831
Email: Cindy.l.williams@lowes.com
Website: http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/
Availability: All States
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