Colleen Molko and Richard Keeler Riverside Community College District Grants Office

Community colleges viewed as a critical resource Reform Increase completion rates Increase affordability and value Serve low-income students well

Emphasis on career and technical education Alignment between programs and labor market needs Strong collaboration to improve quality Accountability through use of clear metrics and common definitions Innovation

Increased competition for less dollars Adoption of proven practices Rigorous evaluation Underrepresented populations Veterans

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Advanced manufacturing Clean energy Cyber security

Mental health – identification and treatment of issues School Safety Small business support

Get involved Employ a Best Practices in Grant Development Model

Select grant opportunities for greatest competitive advantage Begin early Assess the development landscape realistically Consider the need for a consultant Select an outstanding development team

Faculty involvement is a must Select a dedicated college liaison Competitive partnerships Need to be established early on Must make tangible commitments and participate in development of proposal

Align program development with funding agency emphases Utilize data to demonstrate a need for the project and the viability of the proposed response Construct an evaluation that is both effective and data-driven

Remember that victories are not random, but rather the result of outstanding planning and hard work Assess the landscape Plan for success - adopt the model Anticipate the win If at first you don’t succeed, submit again Celebrate the victory!