Looking for a grant?
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007I attended Sheryl Abshire’s session at TRLD entitled “Approaching Grantgivers: What Sells!” Sheryl gave a very concise and informative session on getting a grant. She has a great site that lists resources and sources. Be prepared – it will take you some time to go through but it is all there in one place.
Sheryl Abshire listed important keys to great grants like following the rules of the grant to the letter. You may get in the last list to be considered and then thrown out when it comes down to you and someone else. Remember strict adherence to the RFP, integrated program elements, aligned components, tied to high standards, innovation, professional development and evaluation, and high quality and continuous improvement.
Give the grantgivers a good picture of your school and your needs. Present a compelling argument by providing research that supports your proposal.
Abshire listed the top ten questions reviewers ask when reviewing proposals:
- Does the proposal tie into school’s overall plans?
- How will the technology be used?
- Will the proposal impact student learning?
- How will desired outcomes be developed?
- Does this initiative have the potential to be replicated or outreached to a larger community?
- Does the proposal tap creativity in tapping other resources already available in the community?
- Is the budget clearly defined?
- Who will benefit from this initiative?
- How well does this proposal replicate what the grant funder is looking for?
- How committed are you?
She highlighted these resources:
- Schoolgrants.org (This is her favorite.)
- Grants for K-12 Hotline There’s a $213 fee but it might be something your media center could order. It provides twenty-four biweekly issues, with weekly email updates. Sheryl said the fee was $149 so there may be a discount I missed or they have increased the fee.
- eSchool News K-12 School Technology Funding Directory eSchool news is a comprehensive resource (free).
- Bring Home the Bacon Listserv This fee is $25. She uses another email account and checks once or twice a week. You can pose a question and get answers back’
Sheryl suggested sending your proposal in a week early. Ste your deadline for that as sometimes you can’t get online at the last minute.
This tip could really be helpful. Use the Index to Sample Proposals. I haven’t had a chance yet to find those links but they are on on her list at:
http://www.cpsb.org/Scripts/abshire/grants.asp
It is great to have all these resource centered in one place. Thank you Sheryl Abshire! Now go get those grants!!!