Grant Writing Wayne State University

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Grant WritingWayne State University

• Elizabeth Broughton
• May 13, 2005

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Top 10 Reasons to Seek External Funding
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• 10. To accomplish a major project that interests
  you.
• 9. Achieve recognition and enhance your
  reputation in the profession.
• 8. Generate new resources for students.
• 7. Budget relief for decreasing funds.
• 6. Show me the .

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• 5. Possibly add personnel.
• 4. Fun.
• 3. Increase autonomy.
• 2. Develop transferable skills.
• 1. Social responsibility.

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Introduction to Grant writing

• So, what is grant writing??

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Historical information about Grants

• Philanthropy (foundations) have touched the lives
  of nearly every American.

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8 Ps for Successful Grant writing (Bauer, 2003)

• Pro-Active
• Plan
• Promote Your Goals
• Pre-determined Goals
• Pre-select sources of support
• Pre-proposal contact
• Persistent
• Polite

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Discussion

• What is your experience with grant writing?
• What is your knowledge of grant writing?
• Are there negative aspects of grant writing?

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Assigned

• Websites
• http//www.npguides.org/index.html
• http//www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html

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• ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR?

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Overview of the Proposal Process

• 1. Pre-proposal activities
• 2. DEVELOP A CLEAR PROGRAM PLAN
• 3. RESEARCH FUNDERS THOROUGHLY
• 4. TARGET YOUR PROPOSALS CAREFULLY
• 5. WRITE A CONCISE PROPOSAL
• 6. Managing the grant
• 7. Evaluating and reporting results to funder

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Pre-proposal Activities

• What do I mean by pre-proposal activities?

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Preparing to write (pre-proposal activities)

• A group or individual proposal.
• Start piles of information that may be
  useful--note previous slide regarding research.
  (demographic data, program ideas, articles from
  journals, newspaper clippings, program data, and
  past proposals)
• Organize-computer
• Develop a timeline (check funding guidelines)
• Have work materials handy

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Research (pre-proposal activities)

• What is the nature of the phenomena (problem)?
• Gather data on the nature of it.
• Determine who is affected by it.
• Find out who else has tackled it.

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Fundable Items

• Fellowships
• Seed money--model demonstration grant
• Instructional materials
• Training and educational programs
• Community service activities
• Institutional activities
• Course/curriculum development
• Research
• Collaborative projects
• Travel
• Conferences
• Sabbatical
• Equipment

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Sources of Grant Money

• Federal Government (Grant guidelines)
• State/local Government (Grant guidelines)
• Independent Foundations (A letter)
• Corporate Foundations (A letter)
• Community Foundations (A letter)

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Types of Grant (funding) Proposals

• Letter of intent (see if your idea matches
  funding agency)
• A 1-2 page proposal (usually to foundations and
  corporations)
• Grant guidelines
• Format is detailed and long (state and federal)
• Agency provides an application form

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Websites

• The Foundation Center
• http//www.fdncenter.org
• Federal government
• http//www.grants.gov
• State government
• http//www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/
• http//www.michigan.gov

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Grant Proposals

• Competitive--Federal
• Non-competitiveTitle III
• Contract

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Developing an idea (need or responding to a
problem)

• Does it address a real need or problem?
• What kind of impact will it have?
• WHAT is the problem? (ONLY 1)
• WHAT evidence do you have that this is a real
  problem? (literature, statistics, test scores,
  your own research)
• WHO is affected by the problem?
• WHERE does the problem exist?
• WHEN do you plan to take on the project?
• HOW do you plan on solving the problem?

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Developing a Proposal Plan

• Once you have an idea, develop a plan (Carlson,
  1995)---Just map it out
• Understanding of the problem
• Brainstorm solutions
• Identify solutions
• Indicate expected results and benefits
• Tasks to accomplish solution
• Resources needed (personnel and nonpersonnel)
• Reassess solutions
• Reassess results and benefits
• Outcome measures

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General Sections in a Proposal

• Cover letter (optional, depending on agency)
• Summary (one/two paragraphs, sometimes limited by
  agency)
• 1.Introduction
• 2.Need Statement
• 3.Objectives/goals or outcomes
• 4.Methods
• 5.Personnel
• 6.Evaluation
• 7.Budget
• 8.Future Funding strategies

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Section of a proposal

• INTRODUCTION
• Explain who you are, your organization, how many
  years of existence.

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Section of a proposal

• NEED STATEMENT (or problem statement)
• It is a thoughtful explanation of the need or
  problem existing in the community or organization
  in which the proposal provides a partial solution

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To hone your problem statement

• Define it.
• Clarify it
• What national, state, local statistics can
  support your problem.
• Connect with an agency
• Example a need is water-aerobic exercise pool
  for senior citizens.---improving the health of
  senior citizens--what is the health data for
  senior citizens, number in community, and why
  water aerobics

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Other concerns to address problem

• What are the details of the problem and what kind
  of factual information is available on the
  problem?
• Who is affected by the problem?
• Who else is working on the problem and with what
  kind of success.

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Topics

• Goals and Objectives
• Methodology or Program Activities
• Key Personnel

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• Goals are ambitious broad statements

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• Objectives are steps or actions taken to reach
  the goal or goals

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• Methodology or Program Activities

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• Key Personnel or Personnel

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• Budget
• Program Evaluation
• Management

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Program Evaluation

• Process
• Summative

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Management of a Grant

• Be careful what you wish for.

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Overcoming Proposal Block

• Take it piece by piece, dont be overwhelmed.
• Outline sections before writing.
• Brainstorm each section with others.
• Start with easiest section.
• Write, and edit, re-edit, re-edit, re
• Take breaks
• Any other ideas to overcome proposal block????