It’s a tough time for teachers right now. Between Thanksgiving and the December break, it’s hard to keep students focused on anything for very long. While you may not focus all that well during this time of year either, it is an excellent time for you to concentrate on getting at least one grant application written before the first of January. This is a great time to apply for a grant, and it may be your very best chance of being awarded grant money. I’ll give you three reasons.
First, quite a few national and regional grants have a deadline between now and the end of December. You should check them out on the Discount School Supply free grant database. If you can’t find one there, you should look on The School Funding Center site. Also, several grants will be listed at the end of this blog and the one coming out in mid-December. You will surely qualify for at least one of the dozens of grants that will be listed in one of these locations.
Second, while I recommend that you apply for grants right now, few educators will do so. That means you have less competition than at other times of the year. It’s the old ant and the grasshopper story. While others are playing and making merry, you will be getting ready for your future needs. They will complain about not having resources later, but it will be you that put the work in and you that will reap the benefits from the grant you receive.
Third, you can request grant money right now that can be used in the spring, during summer school, or even next fall. My recommendation is that you apply for money that can be used in the spring semester. It’s a shame when we see that something can be done in a better way to help students more, but we don’t have the money to put our ideas in place. By applying for grants now, you should be able to put your ideas in place in the spring semester instead of having to wait for summer school or the fall semester to help your students. The sooner, the better. By fall, you won’t even have the same students.
Grant writing is never easy, but if you already know a problem you’re having, and you have a solution in mind, December is a great time to apply for a grant or two to alleviate your problem. We talked about semester assessments in the last blog. Right now is a great time to use the information you gathered to prepare your grant application. The information is fresh. The need it documented. You just to use your feedback in a high quality grant application.
I know your excuse. I don’t have any more time than anyone else. I’m tired. I’ve never written a grant before. You’re right about one thing --- they are all excuses. It will be your ability to overcome these obstacles that will get you the grant in the first place. Remember, you’re applying in December because you will have less competition.
Take advantage of the season to give your students and your school an excellent holiday gift---grant money that you never pay back and that may change the lives of your students forever.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Check It Out: New Grant Opportunity!
Grant Name: The Captain Planet Foundation
Funded by: The Captain Planet Foundation
Description: The foundation supports projects that: 1) Promote understanding of
environmental issues; 2) Focus on hands-on involvement; 3) Involve children and
young adults 6-18 (elementary through high school); 4) Promote interaction and
cooperation within the group; 5) Help young people develop planning and problem
solving skills; 6) Include adult supervision; 7) Commit to follow-up
communication with the foundation (specific requirements are explained once the
grant has been awarded).
Program Areas: Community Involvement/Volunteerism, General
Education, Science/Environment, Social Studies, All Other
Recipients: Public School, Private Schools, Other
Proposal
Deadline: 12/31/11
Average Amount: $250.00
- $2,500.00
Contact Person: Taryn
Murphy
Availability: All States
Check It Out: New Grant Opportunity!
Grant Name: Kinder Morgan Foundation
Education Grants
Funded by: Kinder Morgan Foundation
Description: Grants are primarily directed to educational programs for youth
in grades K-12. Funding is provided to local, state, provincial and regional
educational institutions, libraries and programs that provide ongoing support,
such as Junior Achievement. The foundation also supports youth programs
provided by local arts organizations, symphony orchestras, museums and others.
Initial approach is to contact the foundation for application form, which is
required.
Program Areas: Arts, Community Involvement/Volunteerism,
General Education, Library, Math, Reading, Science/Environment, Social Studies
Recipients: Public School, Private School, Other
Proposal
Deadline: 1/10/12
Average Amount: $3,500.00 - $5,000.00
Contact Person: Maureen
Bulkley, Community Relations Coordinator
Telephone: 303-763-3471
Availability: All States
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Check It Out: New Grant Opportunity!
Grant
Name: Disney Planet Challenge
Funded by: Disney
Description:
Disney's Planet Challenge (DPC) is a project-based learning
environmental competition for classrooms across the United States. DPC teaches
kids about science and conservation while empowering them to make a positive
impact on their communities and planet.
Program Areas: Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School,
Private School
Proposal Deadline: 12/23/11
Average Amount: $1,000.00 -
$16,000.00
Availability: All States
Check It Out: New Grant Opportunity!
Grant Name: Project Orange Thumb
Garden Grants
Funded by: Fiskars
Description:
Fiskars, a global supplier of
consumer products for the home, garden, and outdoors, has announced that the
application process for 2012 Project Orange Thumb garden grants and makeovers
in the United States and Canada is open. Fiskars' Project Orange Thumb provides
tools, materials, and other support to help communities reach their goals for
neighborhood beautification, community collaboration, and healthy, sustainable
food sources. Fiskars will choose eleven recipients from the pool of grant
applicants. Ten will receive $5,000 in cash and tools, and one applicant will
receive a complete garden makeover. During a Project Orange Thumb garden
makeover, Fiskars works with neighbors, business leaders, volunteers, and
community partners to transform a barren lot into a beautiful, productive
community gathering space — all in a single day. Applications will be accepted
from any nonprofit organization within the U.S. or Canada. All applicants will
be considered for a grant; however, only those that specify they are interested
and meet Fiskars' criteria will be considered for the garden makeover.
Program Areas: Science/Environment
Recipients: Public School,
Private Schools, Other
Proposal Deadline: 12/5/11
Average Amount: $5,000.00
Website: http://www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Project-Orange-Thumb/Grant-and-Garden-Makeover-Application
Availability: All States
December Assessments - It's Time to Prepare
It is very important for you to assess your grant
programs in December to make sure you are making appropriate progress. You don’t want to perform these assessments
too close to the days you get out for holiday vacation, but you also want to give
your students every day you can to make as much progress as possible. You should also assess programs that may need
grant money in the near future.
I’m a firm believer in making assessments. In a school setting most worthwhile programs
cannot only be assessed, but they can also be improved. Just because you are making decent progress
does not mean you can’t get a whole lot better.
For this reason, you should go back and read the goals for any grant
program you have in place. Then, either
build or buy an instrument that will tell you exactly how much progress students
have made in the fall semester.
If you have non-grant programs that you suspect are
performing poorly, you should also assess them. As we have discussed previously, the statistical information from formal
assessments can go a long way in persuading grantors to give you the money you
need. In the same vein, this good
statistical information can help you get additional money from a grantor. Grantors love to see their money actually
making a difference. If you are successful
once with their money, you may very well be successful a second or third time.
I don’t believe assessments should be given on the
day you get out for holidays. In fact, I
don’t think they should be given any time during the week you get out for
holidays. Many students can’t
concentrate and their performance may not be indicative of how they could have
performed under normal circumstances. Try to do your assessments the week before you get out.
When you develop assessment instruments, try to
measure as many of your goals as possible.
Disaggregate the information to be sure you are making adequate progress
with all groups. The information you get from your assessments should allow you
to tweak your program in ways to turn it around if you are not making progress
or to make even more progress by emphasizing the strong points of a successful
program.
Remember, if you are using grant money, you have an
obligation to make as much progress with your students as possible. Grantors love to see positive programs, but
more than that, your students deserve the very best program you can provide
them. All too many times I’ve seen
educators think they were making
excellent progress, when in reality, their students were making little or no
progress, and the educators just didn’t know it because they didn’t have proper
assessment instruments in place.
Assessments are an important part of any grant
program. December is an excellent time
to perform assessments. Make sure you
have your assessment program in place and ready for your students before they
get out for the holidays.
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