1. Grant Writing Made Easy Dr. Douglas M. Brooks Ph.D. Professor, Miami University Director, Partners In Learning www.performancepyramid.com Ronetta Banks Executive Director of Instructional Technology Mansfield City Schools 2009 SOITA Conference Dayton, Ohio Dr. Douglas M. Brooks Ph.D. Professor, Miami University Director, Partners In Learning www.performancepyramid.com Ronetta Banks Executive Director of Instructional Technology Mansfield City Schools 2009 SOITA Conference Dayton, Ohio

2. Columbus EETT Grants 26 Schools Received Funding $2.5 Million in Funding Most Grants Among Ohio Urban Districts Embedded Grant Writing Teams Systems Approach to Grant Applications Professional Development for Teachers Learning Opportunities for Students 26 Schools Received Funding $2.5 Million in Funding Most Grants Among Ohio Urban Districts Embedded Grant Writing Teams Systems Approach to Grant Applications Professional Development for Teachers Learning Opportunities for Students

3. Obstacles To Successful Grant Applications No Training in Grant Writing Complicated RFPs Short Application Timelines No Dedicated Grant Personnel No Systems for Grant Writing No Training in Grant Writing Complicated RFPs Short Application Timelines No Dedicated Grant Personnel No Systems for Grant Writing

4. Significant Problems For School Districts Identifying External Sources of Funding Building Level Application Requirements No Systems for Grant Writing Finding Individuals to Write Grants Finding Time to Write Grants High Failure Rate Rich Get Richer Identifying External Sources of Funding Building Level Application Requirements No Systems for Grant Writing Finding Individuals to Write Grants Finding Time to Write Grants High Failure Rate Rich Get Richer

5. Mansfield Story… Simplify grant writing process Introduce team-based authorship Provide grant writing guide Provide onsite & online support for grant development Increase probability for funding success Increase motivation to author grants Apply grants to new opportunities Create a grant writing culture within a district Simplify grant writing process Introduce team-based authorship Provide grant writing guide Provide onsite & online support for grant development Increase probability for funding success Increase motivation to author grants Apply grants to new opportunities Create a grant writing culture within a district

6. A Four Stage Model for Writing Successful Grant Applications “Grant Success” School-Based Grant Writing

7. Four Stages to Successful Grant Applications Stage One: Prewriting Tool Development Stage Two: Team and Vision Building Stage Three: Writing and Editing Stage Four: Budget, Assurances, Signatures and Submission Stage One: Prewriting Tool Development Stage Two: Team and Vision Building Stage Three: Writing and Editing Stage Four: Budget, Assurances, Signatures and Submission

8. Stage One: Prewriting Tool Development 1. Create RFP Action Summary Page 2. Create Grant Writing Guide 3. Create Vocabulary Highlight Page 4. Post Grant Writing Guide online 1. Create RFP Action Summary Page 2. Create Grant Writing Guide 3. Create Vocabulary Highlight Page 4. Post Grant Writing Guide online

9. Action Summary Page Include due date Countdown to submission Goals of grant Application style requirements Grant funding contacts and emails Check for prior notification requirement List restrictions on funding View an example onlineonline Include due date Countdown to submission Goals of grant Application style requirements Grant funding contacts and emails Check for prior notification requirement List restrictions on funding View an example onlineonline

10. Grant Writing Guide Create a Word document Organize template like RFP sections Use the same Sections and Headings Include all RFP demands for content in appropriate Section Include all evaluation criteria for each Section next to appropriate Section Post Guide in online culture Create a Word document Organize template like RFP sections Use the same Sections and Headings Include all RFP demands for content in appropriate Section Include all evaluation criteria for each Section next to appropriate Section Post Guide in online culture

11. Vocabulary Highlight Page Identify key terms from the RFP Goal Statements Individual Section Text Evaluation Criteria/Rubrics Enlarge terms, boldface, print and paste near computer screen. When in doubt, use the RFP vocabulary Identify key terms from the RFP Goal Statements Individual Section Text Evaluation Criteria/Rubrics Enlarge terms, boldface, print and paste near computer screen. When in doubt, use the RFP vocabulary

12. Stage Two: Team and Vision Building 5. What is your team’s vision for the grant? 6. Who needs to be involved and when? 7. Is the grant something that is desirable and can be done? 8. What are current resources and needs? 9. Does the grant support district and building Continuous Improvement Plans? 5. What is your team’s vision for the grant? 6. Who needs to be involved and when? 7. Is the grant something that is desirable and can be done? 8. What are current resources and needs? 9. Does the grant support district and building Continuous Improvement Plans?

13. Stage Three: Writing and Editing 10. Assign the grant a name: Project Inspire 11. Write using the “Grant Guide” 12. Align people with grant sections 12. Use “Vocabulary Highlight” page 13. Post “Action Summary Page” 14. Consider learning styles of evaluators 10. Assign the grant a name: Project Inspire 11. Write using the “Grant Guide” 12. Align people with grant sections 12. Use “Vocabulary Highlight” page 13. Post “Action Summary Page” 14. Consider learning styles of evaluators

14. Writing and Editing 15. Link the goals to objectives 16. Link objectives to actions 17. Embed graphics in text (if you can) 18. Be creative with names and features 19. Organize actions into timelines 15. Link the goals to objectives 16. Link objectives to actions 17. Embed graphics in text (if you can) 18. Be creative with names and features 19. Organize actions into timelines

15. Writing and Editing 20. Use Action Plan for Evaluation Plan 21. Use Action Plan for Budget and Budget Narrative 22. Group edit using large screen projection and laser pointers 23. Shorten sentences for clarity 20. Use Action Plan for Evaluation Plan 21. Use Action Plan for Budget and Budget Narrative 22. Group edit using large screen projection and laser pointers 23. Shorten sentences for clarity

16. Writing and Editing 24. Constantly check grant text against evaluation criteria in Grant Template 25. Create Abstract or Summary from cut and paste grant text 26. Remove section requirements from grant template document 27. Make final text attractive and easy to read 24. Constantly check grant text against evaluation criteria in Grant Template 25. Create Abstract or Summary from cut and paste grant text 26. Remove section requirements from grant template document 27. Make final text attractive and easy to read

17. Stage Four: Budget, Assurances, Signatures and Submission 28. Assign budget to “budget skilled” team member 29. “Ghost write” letters of support 30. Create a “false floor “ due date 31. Request feedback if not funded 32. Submit improved grant somewhere else 28. Assign budget to “budget skilled” team member 29. “Ghost write” letters of support 30. Create a “false floor “ due date 31. Request feedback if not funded 32. Submit improved grant somewhere else

18. More Writing Tips Avoid personal pronouns Use numbering/listing style: 1);2);3) Create white space for clarity and emphasis Indent for emphasis Comb old text to align with new text Let the document “rest” to catch errors Avoid personal pronouns Use numbering/listing style: 1);2);3) Create white space for clarity and emphasis Indent for emphasis Comb old text to align with new text Let the document “rest” to catch errors

19. More Writing Tips Group edit with your best word processor team member running the computer Use “Phases” to describe implementation strategy: Phase One: Infrastructure Widen grant appeal with “features” Link vision with goals with strategies with actions with budget with evaluation (one goal at a time all the way through) Group edit with your best word processor team member running the computer Use “Phases” to describe implementation strategy: Phase One: Infrastructure Widen grant appeal with “features” Link vision with goals with strategies with actions with budget with evaluation (one goal at a time all the way through)

20. Gaining Consensus Create a PowerPoint from the Grant Action Summary and Guide Show PowerPoint to colleagues Discuss RFP goals, grant goals, funding opportunities and limits Show the same PowerPoint again after funding is approved Create a PowerPoint from the Grant Action Summary and Guide Show PowerPoint to colleagues Discuss RFP goals, grant goals, funding opportunities and limits Show the same PowerPoint again after funding is approved

21. CIM Tech Solutions Debbie Delaney Educational Consultant debbied@cimtechsolutions.com 419-651-3630 JR Suppes Educational Consultant jrsuppes@cimtechsolutions.com 330-284-6659 Debbie Delaney Educational Consultant debbied@cimtechsolutions.com 419-651-3630 JR Suppes Educational Consultant jrsuppes@cimtechsolutions.com 330-284-6659

22. Mansfield Success Story Ronetta Banks Executive Director of Instructional Technology rbanks@mansfield.k12.oh.us Ronetta Banks Executive Director of Instructional Technology rbanks@mansfield.k12.oh.us

23. Grant Writing Made Easy Dr. Douglas Brooks, Ph.D. Miami University Director, Partners In Learning www.performancepyramid.com brooksdm@muohio.edu Dr. Douglas Brooks, Ph.D. Miami University Director, Partners In Learning www.performancepyramid.com brooksdm@muohio.edu