Grant Proposal Writing
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THE PURPOSE
The workshop provides the blueprints you need to construct a successful grant proposal. Workshop highlights include grant proposal essentials such as the need statement, objectives, management plan, timeline, evaluaton, and budget.
THE REASON
An organization's vitality depends on the vitality of its resources. That is where the grant proposal writer comes i. Your organization has a need for outside funding (the grant). You must persuade the granting source to fill your need by writing a document that describes both the need and your plan of action (the proposal). The effectiveness of your argument (the proposal) is what ultimately obtains the funding (the grant). Your propsoal must clearly define the following:
(1) WHAT you propose to do.
(2) HOW you plan to implement it.
(3) WHEN you propose to do it.
(4) HOW MUCH it will cost.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
I am Carole Bennett, Ed.D., a full-time faculty, Santa Rosa Junior College, California. Previously, I obtained outside educational funding that brought in $2,636,950 for my former institution. I have presented numerous workshops and presentations at confernces throughout California.
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After having many successful grant experiences, I have developed two rules that I make clear to people BEFORE I begin a proposal project.
RULE 1: Don't work in a vacuum
RULE 2: Identify a crusader
RULE 1: Don't work in a vacuum
I refuse to let people give me an idea with the expectation that I will be solely responsible for developing the grant proposal for it. This is not a healthy way to write a proposal. You may get their money, but they may not be willing to fulfill the promises you made for them. there are always 'strings" attached to grant monies, and all grants demand that you meet your obligations and accomplish your goals. this makes it absolutely necessary for you to work with all intereted parties right from the start.
Here are some suggestions for initiating an effective group process:
First, announce a brainstorming meeting for potential participants in your funding plan (let's call it "XYZ"). You do not want to waste the participants' valuable time (especially in the preliminary stages), so pay attention to details such as reserving a room and providing chairs, projection equipment, poster paper, and marking pens.
Be organized and know precisely what you want to accomplish. Describe "XYZ" clearly and succinctly. Indicate the targeted funding source and include this sources' priorities and limitations. Encourage pertinent questions as well as feedback to your planning suggestions. this is where you get people to "buy in" or commit their energies to "XYZ." Use group consensus techniques (Total Quality Management techniques), to eliminate confusion and clarify funding priorities.
Sample Meeting Scenario:
Approximately 70 people attend your brainstorming meeting. After having carefully studied the granting agencies requirements and funding limitations, provide an orientation to those in attendance. Ask the participants to divide into groups of four or five. Give each group several large sheets of paper and marking pens. Ask them to delineate their "dream direction" for the grant proposal. Instruct them to write each drean on separate pieces of paper. Tape each piece of paper on the wall. Request that everyone walk around the room and move the papers into clusters that reflect similar ideas or dreams (expect to see duplicates). Then ask that a "passionate" person speak to each of the general concepts on the wall, allowing time for discussion. After each concept or dream is clearly presented, give each person about six adhesive colored dots and ask them to place their dots or votes on the clusters that match their priorities. Discuss this visual response and its obvious ramifications.
This is a valuable exercise for the grant proposal writer because it gives fairly reliable indicators of support for each project component. At the end of the meeting, collect the large sheets of paper to use as a starting point for developing the outline for your proposal narrative.
Later, go back to these individuals with the approved grant in hand and tape their planning strategies on the wall. It is difficult for people to complain about fund distribution in the tangible presence of decisions they made. this is also a way to "cover yourself" if any challenging questions arise.
RULE 2: IDENTIFY A CHAMPION OR CRUSADER.
Find someone to take the funds from "XYZ" and make the most of every dollar. If you are writing a proposal with your own project in mind, then the crusader is YOU. If not, find a competent and focused person to manage the grant before you submit it so that if it is funded, your collaborative efforts will not be wasted.
I say this from a voice of experience. Once, administration asked me to write a grant because of a need they perceived. We were funded. Strangely enough, there was no one who agreed with administration, and no one was willing to take the grant money and develop the project.
| CATE: Computer-Assisted Teaching Environment Distance Education office at Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA USA Last updated: 19:00 on 1 March 2005 Copyright © Coddingtown Account |
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