Exploratorium 2012: Tarbell, Kathy
Essential Elements of Successful Grant Writing
Table #2 Essential Elements of Successful Grant Writing
Audience: All
Presenter: Kathy Tarbell
PS 157 - The Grove Hill Elementary School
757 Cauldwell Avenue
Bronx, NY 10456
(718) 681-7097
917-355-6520 Cell
718-292-5258 Fax
Ktarbell@schools.nyc.gov
Description, Goals, Intended Outcomes:
Process to Develop and Implement this Project:
How To Write A Successful Proposal
Before you write:
a. Make sure you know exactly what you want to ask for and that the institution you're asking will want to give you funds to support your request. Example: don't ask for computers from a company that’s offering to support field trips.
b. Consider submitting applications to funders with whom you or your school already has a relationship.
c. Review successful applications from other grant seekers doing similar work.
Timetable:
- Four to six weeks prior to submission
· First and most importantly, determine if you have enough time to submit the proposal before the DUE DATE.
· No excuse for lateness is ever accepted. If your proposal is late, it's out.
· Give yourself at least a month's time to get it together.
- Three to four weeks prior to submission
· Gathering all the required statistics about your school, (such as demographics, tax exempt numbers) and identifying all the costs for running the proposed project, (such as fees for tickets, books, furniture) takes longer than you think.
· You will have to find out information from other people such as your principal, secretary, or payroll office. Make sure you give them enough time to get you the information you need. Plan to give them a few days to a week to locate the needed information.
· No incomplete proposal is ever accepted.
- Two to three weeks prior to the submission
· Write the proposal using the guide below.
- One to two weeks prior to the submission
· Reread your proposal and make new changes you've thought of while in the shower, or while brainstorming with others.
· When you think the proposal is finished, resist the temptation to submit it and get it out of the way. Always give yourself time to sleep on it, so that if you have a last-minute brainstorm, it happens before and not after the submission.
Proposal Writing Tips:
a. Make sure to read all instructions. Give the funder everything requested the first time.
b. Make your requests as short, simple and straightforward as possible. Simplicity is the key. Keep it clear, factual, supportable and professional.
c. Never assume the funder knows anything about your project.
d. Begin each paragraph with a strong clear sentence. Make it interesting but avoid the emotional approach.
e. Never use the same application twice.
f. Spell everything correctly and avoid obvious sloppy cutting and pasting.
g. Stress your qualifications and experience. They are what make you unique, but keep historical and background information brief. The proposal is about the future not the past.
h. Avoid unexplained acronyms, excessive professional jargon, and irrelevant appendix material.
i. Type everything except your signature. Your completed proposal should create a professional, simple, and organized package.
Five Basic Parts of a Proposal: by Anita Vasquez Batisti, PhD., Associate Dean, Fordham University Graduate School of Education
1. Needs Assessment: - This section of the proposal describes in detail the need for the proposed project. It usually begins with a statement of the problem; followed by a rationale concerning the need, supported by evidence and/or data. This section sets the tone for the following sections of the proposal.
2. Objectives - This section flows from the needs assessment and specifically states in measurable terms what the project is going to accomplish.
3. Activities: - This section flows from the objectives and describes in detail what will be done to accomplish the objectives. This section is the project design. Here is where you can be creative and where you can directly apply your area of expertise and knowledge. Remember to be as specific as possible concerning how the project will operate.
4. Evaluation: - This section flows from the objectives and activities and specifically explains how the accomplishment of the objectives will be measured. You will explain what techniques will be employed and when you plan to employ them, in order to accurately measure the degree of success of the project.
5. Budget: - This section describes in detail what the project will cost in relation to the activities proposed.
Follow up:
IF your proposal is rejected:
a. Be a good loser and never argue.
b. Try not to get discouraged and keep working on your project. If you believe in it strongly enough, and keep applying, someone will fund it.
IF your proposal is funded:
a. Show your appreciation and send a thank-you letter.
b. Submit all reports on time
c. Mention your funder's support whenever and wherever you can. (in promotional materials, at events, to
colleagues etc.)
It has been my experience that most applications have very specific questions the organization wants you to answer and these applications are submitted on-line. Also, there is usually some sort of time limit when filling out the application. Therefore, it is important to have all of your answers written out ahead of time and ready to be pasted quickly and efficiently into the appropriate fields on the application.
Information about your school statistics is located on your school’s DOE website.
Contact your principal to locate needed statistics, such as ID numbers, tax exempt numbers, and other codes. I couldn't believe how many different ways organizations asked for verification of my school's status. In fact, please don't hesitate to ask me for help. I will be happy to share everything I know.
GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES FOR LOTS OF SUCCESS
Kathy Tarbell – Librarian at PS 157x
ktarbell@school.nyc.gov (I check my email everyday)
718-292-5255