1. Grant Writing Basics Workshop Innovative Grant Application Q&A
Presented by: Washington County Public Schools Education Foundation
Thursday, January 25, 2018

2. Beginning Considerations
Writing a grant proposal is not easy!
Time, Research, Concentration, Team Effort
Grants should be written for projects you know very well
It is difficult to write on a new concept or newly created program
Competition is stiff - many people are applying
Stand out!

3. Elements of a Proposal Summary or Abstract Introduction
Statement of Need or Problem
Objectives
Methods, Design
Evaluation
Future Funding
Budget
Management Plan/Key Personnel
Conclusion

4. Summary or Abstract This section should be written last
Brief description of applicant
Definition of problem to be solved
State of objectives to be achieved
Outline of activities
Statement of cost to the funding agency

5. Statement of Need or Problem
Describe the problem
State the needs of the target population
How will your services impact the population or take care of the problem
State the solution that your services will provide

6. Objectives Important to clearly state the objectives
Must be SMART - specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time sensitive
Examples: To increase the reading level of 20 youth, ages 5-10 by 20% by year end of 2019
Warning: Do not write to many objectives - more does not necessarily mean better
Some grants will ask you for broader goals

7. Evaluation
How will you know your project is accomplishing its stated objectives?
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Methods
Create measures and state it in your proposal
How will you measure
Who will you measure
When will you measure

8. Methods and Design State how you will achieve your objectives
What will your service provide
Be specific and descriptive
Who will do what
When will it be done
Where will it take place
How will it be done
Support your methods and design with supportive research

9. Future Funding
State how you will support your project after funding period ends

10. Budget
Detailed budget must include all needs for which you want support
Program staff, operational expenses, overhead

11. Management Plan and Key Personnel
Provide a review of who will manage the program and staffing that will support it
Must include all staff working on program even if not supported by the funds you are applying for

12. Conclusion
Brief paragraph to restate why you need funds and what it will do

13. Grant Writing Basics Put your grant in a notebook
This makes it easier to work on different parts of the grant
Organizes you as you write
Provides a place for your literature review
Provides a place for you to add important documents needed to support your proposal

14. Do’s Dont’s Do make contact with grant officer if you have questions
Do develop a template proposal for repeat use
Do read the entire proposal before beginning to write
Tackle each section separately
Don’t guess on anything you don’t understand - this could be detrimental to your grant
Don’t copy someone else’s grant - even though it’s similar
Don’t submit grant without letters of support unless you are not in partnership
Don’t make up lies of things you are not doing!!

15. Innovative Grant Application

16. Questions from the Application with Additional Insight
Number of Students Anticipated to Participate 
For the upcoming year & future use
Cost Per Student
Total grant request divided by student participants
Description of Project (100 words or less) 
Anticipated Project Outcomes/Expectations (RESULTS!) 
Timeline of Project 
What is the amount of your request? 
Proposed Project Budget
Grant funds may not be used for salaries, childcare, snacks and/or refreshments, or county funded text books.
Include details of how you will spend the funding
List the actual products & the cost
Describe the Impact on Students 
Include teaching objectives

17. Additional Information
Projects should reflect specific areas of need and should include one or more of the following: Literacy, financial literacy, college & career readiness, encouragement of student participation in science/math (STEM), interdisciplinary instruction, at-risk students, support for the arts, multicultural education, and/or digital learning.
Projects should be innovative, directly impact WCPS students, and should be aligned with the school system’s goals, procedures, and curriculum and not technology alone. Any technology requested to meet the goals of your project must be supported, approved, and purchased through WCPS Technology Department.
Interdisciplinary or team teaching projects are accepted.
A detailed budget which includes a total amount of grant funds requested is an essential component of the grant application.
All materials and equipment purchased with grant funds become the property of the school, not the individual teacher or grade level.
Request for funding projects costing more than $1,000 will be rejected unless the budget includes details about how the balance will be funded, or the applicant is applying for the $5,000 Maxi-grant.

18. Reminders
Approval by the applicant’s principal before submitting the grant application. This is the responsibility of the applicant.
Applications are evaluated by the WCPS Education Foundation’s Innovative Grant Committee on the basis of the project’s creativity, its benefit to students, the efficient use of funds, and the potential to be replicated in other schools.
Application Due Date: Friday, March 23, 2018
Awards will be presented: Friday, May 18, 2018
Grant funds are awarded to the school for the identified project on behalf of the applicant. If for any reason the project is not implemented by the end of the 2018/2019 school year, the grant funds must be returned to the WCPS Education Foundation.

19. Tips & Tricks from Prior Winners
Tom Mazzone – Hancock Middle/High – Agriculture Teacher
Ashley Vascik – Boonsboro High - Social Studies Teacher & We the People Coach
Be sure that what you’re asking for ties directly to student-centered learning and/or the Essential Curriculum.
I encourage you to have at least two individuals proofread your plan and I also recommend one of those be your principal or team/department leader.
Think BIG!  The more students your grant request will impact, the more likely you will be to get approved.  I recommend you discuss ideas with your team/department and come up with a request that would benefit all students that everyone in your team/department come into contact with on a daily basis.
Don’t assume you MUST have technology as part of your request.  Grants are approved for all kinds of projects, so choose something that will be most beneficial to your teaching and ultimately your students.
Remember, you don’t have to ask for the maximum amount of $1,000 or $5,000.  Ask for the amount that you need to purchase the resources you need or to complete the activity you seek.  Requesting less than the maximum amount can sometimes appeal to the committee, because you are asking for exactly what you need rather than just requesting the maximum amount of money. 

20. Q & A Christina Williams Manager, WCPS Education Foundation
Phone:
Website: wcpseducationfoundation.org
Facebook &