I begin the class by introducing the class to the stages and steps of GrantSuccess. Then we look at a typical foundation site. These sites can be overwhelming to the novice grant writer. However, for the experienced grant writer, these sites are an organized storehouse of purpose, vocabulary and structure that will guide the completion of the grant narrative.

The typical narrative includes: 1) a statement of need; 2) goals and objectives; 3) an action plan; 4) a budget plan; 5) an evaluation plan, and finally; 6) an abstract or summary. For the novice, these demands can be overwhelming. My students usually think they have to construct six or seven separate sections. I show them how they are related. I show them how text and structure from one section can help them organize another section. I have included a graphic “Parts of an RFP” that shows the relationship of most narrative sections.

• Always match application needs with the mission and vision of the foundation. If there is no match, then look for another funding source. There is no point in “hoping” a foundation will fund something outside their mission. They rarely if ever do this. They fund what they are charged with funding.
• The language of the foundation mission should guide the development of goal statements. If the foundation will fund “technology literacy” then one of the application goals should address “technology literacy.”
• Goal statements help organize every other section in the application narrative. This is why I spend so much time on developing clear, organized goal statements. Goal statements should start with an action verb, identify the object of the action, identify the focus of the intervention, and conclude with some objective. For example, “Increase K-6 student literacy through the integration of SmartBoard technology from a student literacy mean of 4.0 to 6.0.”

Contrast the student developed goal statements below with my edit:

Project GEE has four (4) goals:

1. Project "Key of Gee!" will create opportunities for all children, especially children in need, to explore, create, perform and respond to music through aural, visual, tactile and kinesthetic experiences.
   Brooks Edit: Develop K-6 student literacy skills through music appreciation.
2. Project "Key of Gee!" will awaken, engage and motivate students to play, learn, and achieve skills towards literacy, understanding and appreciation of music.
   Brooks Edit: Integrate K-6 content area curriculums with authentic music concept applications.
3. Project "Key of Gee!" will bring music to life through its interactive curriculum and hands-on approach to the learning and application of musical concepts.
   Brooks Edit: Integrate emerging music technologies into K-6 classroom instruction.
4. Project "Key of Gee!" will integrate the technologies of piano keyboards, MIDIS, computers, a projector, a SmartBoard, MIE music curriculum, music software, and the Internet to ensure that all students reach their full potential and are engaged in the process of learning music.
5. Project "Key of Gee!" will include professional development training in the usage of the MIE piano keyboards, music curriculum, built in assessments and management software.

Brooks Edit: (I combined 4 and 5) Introduce K-6 classroom faculty to K-6 music curriculum, assessments and MIE piano keyboard software applications.

• Goal statements can be copied into the Action Plan section. Objectives are organized under goals. Actions are organized under objectives. Normally, the action plan section gets expressed in stages or phases. If you have a three goal project that has two objectives for each goal, then the six objectives need to be organized for implementation and funding. Just copy the goal statements into the Action Plan section of the narrative to help organize that section.
• The Action Plan section can be copied into the Budget section. Actions are what get funded. The Action Plan helps organize the budget. Every action happens at a particular time in the project and requires funding for materials, resources, people etc.
  
• The Action Plan section can be copied into the Budget section Actions are what get evaluated. If a grant application has 6 actions, then the Evaluation Plan should have 6 parts. Phases or stages can be used to organize the Evaluation Plan. Just copy the sections from the Action Plan into the narrative’s Evaluation Plan section to guide your development of Evaluation Plan.
  
• Copy and paste key sentences from all sections of the narrative to build the abstract or summary. Descriptive sentences from the needs, goals, action plan, budget plan and evaluation plan sections can be used to construct the important abstract or summary sections. Novice grant writers write these sections independent of existing section text. Experienced grant writers use sentences they have already written. They copy, paste and clarify.

My next column will be on “editing” practices that improve the grant application.

• Organize objectives under goals
• Organize actions under objectives
• Use actions to establish budget needs
• Use phases or stages to describe action timeline

Dr. Douglas Brooks  is a Professor in the School of Education, Health and Society at Miami University. He teaches graduate and online courses in grant writing and consults with school districts to build grant writing capacity.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment