Writing Winning Grant Proposals

1
Writing Winning Grant Proposals
Presented by Ann McMullan Executive Director,
Educational Technology Klein Independent School
District
NSBA TL2 Conference October 23, 2003
2
Some Food for Thought
3
Consider this

• Technology is any tool that expands the mind to
  solve a problem.

4
Question?

• What is the most commonly used technology in
  schools today?

Hint
It is used in every classroom, in every
curriculum, grades K-12.
5
Some Visual Clues...
6
The most commonly used technology (any tool that
expands the mind to solve a problem) in schools
today is...
Paper
7
Question?

• When was the last time that we organized a
  Paper Committee to write a five year paper plan?

8
Heres the point!!!

• Districts and schools should not be writing
  technology plans any more than they write
  paper, pencil or text book plans.
• Districts and schools should write learning
  plans.
• The real revolution is not about technology,
  its about...

9
Information
What information do we want our students to have?
Communication
How and when will information be communicated to
the students? How will students communicate their
mastery of the information?
Relationships
What sort of relationships do we want our
students to have... with each other, teachers,
parents, community and world at large?
10
As we begin to think about grant writing, we
should ask our teachers these questions
11
What information do you want?

• Information for teachers themselves

• Information for their students

12
Once the information questions have been
answered we can move on to the communication
questions...

• How will the information be processed?
• What tools (technology) do you need?

13
And finally, how do we put learning in a real
life context?
What relationships do we want students to have?

• How will students work independently and
  together?
• What connections will students make to the world
  outside the classroom?

14
Remember, technology is not about stuff, its
about
Information
Communication
Relationships
15
Once we have a sound learning plan in place we
are ready to consider

• What materials (equipment) do we need to carry
  out our plan?

• How do we pay for the stuff we need to
  implement our learning plan?

With a strong plan for learning in place, now
focus on Grant Seeking Strategies
16
Writing Winning Grant Proposals

• a.k.a.
• Digging for Dough

17
Technology Grants Received by Klein ISD
Year Grant Award of Schools
1996 TIE 716,405 1
1996 TIF 100,000 1
1998 TIE 652,546 2
1998 TIF PS4 240,000 4
1999 TIF PS8 800,000 14
1999 TIE 978,672 30
2000 TIF PS9 300,000 6
2000 Ninth Grade Initiative 900,750 4
2001 TIF SP 264,000 6
2002 TIF PS10 400,000 4
2002 TIF PS11 100,000 2
5,452,373

18
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

• Education programs as technology
  opportunities Along with targeted funding for
  technology, many of the education programs, such
  as Reading First, allow recipients to purchase
  technology resources to accomplish the programs
  goals
• Commitment to professional development A myriad
  of programs offer funds for professional
  development to ensure teachers understand how to
  integrate appropriate technology tools
  effectively with their curriculum.
• Flexible uses of funds States, for example, may
  use funds for interstate distance learning
  partnerships, data decisions support systems,
  and even forming public- private partnerships
  that support activities such as interest free
  loans.
• Evidenced Based Education a commitment to
  funding strategies that have been proven to work
  based on scientifically based research.

19
Pick the symbol that most appeals to you.
20
Intelligence
21
Leadership
22
Masochists
23
Masochists

• Idea of a perfect vacation taking a carload of
  children from Disneyland to DisneyWorld in a
  Honda Civic
• Favorite Hobby Filling out IRS tax forms
• Favorite TV show Ron Popeil Infomercials
• Favorite Place to Hang Out LA Freeway during
  rush hour

MAKE EXCELLENT GRANT PROPOSAL WRITERS
24
Todays Objectives

• Identify Grant Writing Terms
• Evaluate Proposal Responses
• Identify Lessons Learned in Proposal Evaluations

25
Grant Writing Terms

• Grant
• Evaluation Criteria
• Query Letter
• RFP
• Proposal

26
Simulations
27
Important Ideas to Keep in Mind

• Develop a winning attitude your ideas deserve
  the money.
• Write the grant and get it out the door.
• Do Your Homework.
• It is not your grant the funding source owns the
  grant.
• Find the grant that meets your needs do not
  apply for simply any or every grant.
• Dont worry about being profound or original.

28
Safe Assumptions to Make About Your Grant Readers

• They do not know who your students are.
• They do not know who your are.
• They probably do not know the content of the
  proposal.

29
Super Tip
Ask for last years winning grants.
30
Inform All Major Stakeholders
A grant that involves the process of unifying
people is successful.
31
And finally...

• Develop an in-house (and out of house) review
  process before you send the grant for official
  review
• Warning Up to one third of all grants do not
  follow the directions and end up being thrown out.

32
Just Jump in and DO IT!

• Good Luck