Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing and Free Resources Karen Gardner Ayden-Grifton HS Media Coordinator 2011 PCS Media Coordinator of the Year National Board Certified
What You Already Know! 1. My students have a need. 2. I need to locate a source which will allow me to help them meet that need. 3. It is necessary for me to express the needs of my students in a way which will inspire a grantor to fund my request.
Tips All Grant Writers Should Know Ask grantor to help you meet specific student goals and objectives, which are measurable in terms of student progress. *Write grants to meet educational goals—NOT to obtain equipment. Example: Is your goal to obtain Nooks? Or is your goal to increase reading proficiency by using Nooks as a strategy?
Tips All Grant Writers Should Know Choose your source wisely—Make sure the funder is interested in funding the type of program you are requesting funds for. Toshiba
Tips All Grant Writers Should Know Make sure you follow every guideline in the application instructions. If the application indicates you are limited to 500 words per question, don’t do 501!
Tips All Grant Writers Should Know For sources, look around you! Towns Businesses School District Civic Organizations
Tips All Grant Writers Should Know If at first you don’t succeed…………..
Don’t Re-invent the Wheel
Tips All Grant Writers Should Know Always Say THANK YOU! A few pictures and a news article also helps!
Grant Writing Examples Pitt County Schools Educational Foundation Donors Choose Sheetz
Other Opportunities Walmart- Target- =WCMP =WCMP Bright Ideas- eas.htm eas.htm Dollar General- ams.aspx ams.aspx
Other Opportunities Digital Wish- Lowe’s- IMPACT Ventures— PCS Media & Technology Dept.PCS Media & Technology Dept. Community Grants—PCS mini-grant; local town boards; businesses in vicinity of school; civic organizations
Grant Directories Grant Wrangler Perma-Bound Fundsnet
Quick Checklist 1.Identify Needs. 2.Identify source(s) that may be willing to meet the needs. 3.Submit applications geared toward each funder. 4.If request is not funded, ask again or ask another source. Don’t re-invent, just copy the work you have already done. 5.When you meet with success (and you surely will), always say Thank You.
Cool Free Classrooms Sites Visuwords Animoto Edmodo International Children’s Digital Library Storybird Prezi WatchKnow Wikispaces Weebly
Cool Free Organizers Evernote Google Calendar Delicious Diigo Dropbox MBCurl.me PCS Media Share
The Best Things in Life are Free (except for a little sweat off your brow) Follett Challenge