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Grant Writing 101: What You Need to Know

September 22, 2023 by admin

imgres-5431336 Grant writing may seem like a needle in a haystack.  But with hard work and diligence, funding can become a reality.  Last year I received an NCTM Classroom Research grant to examine how social media can be utilized to facilitate online professional development. 

Teacher grant opportunities can open doors to innovative teaching strategies and differentiated learning experiences for your students.  From STEM-based initiatives to programs that develop students social-emotional awareness, grants provide the mean$ and momentum for teachers to develop new ways of fostering the whole child.

Grant season is upon us and school leaders and grant writing teams need to move quickly to meet deadlines and submit proposals.

Here’s what teachers need to know about writing grants:

  1. Check your eligibility: grants may be categorized for a specific student population, school environment, or grade span be sure you always check the requirements first.
  2. Identify your school goals/needs: what types of program innovation, training needs and resources are needed for your school and how would this benefit your student population.  Use data from standardized assessments, parent and program surveys, and census data, to define needs and provide evidence in your grant proposal.
  3. Follow the timelines: Not only do grants have deadlines but they also have timelines that are part of their requirements.  Create a detailed timeline of how the money will be used to meet the project goals within a fixed timeline.
  4.  Apples to Apples: Be sure your grant proposal is matched with the vision of the grant giving organization and your goals are clearly aligned with the goals of the grant.
  5.  Balance the Budget: Be clear as possible in terms of how funding will be used in your proposal.  10 boxes of crayons @ 2.00 = $20.00.  Grants will often state how money should be and should not be used.
  6.  When in doubt: Find a sample proposal and contact your local University/ School of Education for help (Dr. Dickenson can help at [email protected]). University professors are always looking to help out their K12 partners.

Here are grants that are currently accepting proposals for this  2016-2017 school year:

  • Sponsor: Lowe’s Charitable and Educational FoundationAward: $5,000Number of Awards: Up to 1,000Qualification: Public schools only

    Application Deadline: Sept. 26

  • Sponsor: Project Learning TreeAward: $1,000Number of Awards: Not specified

    Application Deadline: Sept. 30

  • Sponsor: Toshiba America FoundationAward: Two categories: Up to $1,000Number of Awards: Not specified

    Application Deadline: Oct. 1

  • Sponsor: National Education AssociationAward: $2,000 to $5,000Number of Awards: Not specified

    Application Deadline: Oct. 15

  • Sponsor: National Education AssociationAward: $2,000 to $5,000Number of Awards: Not specified

    Application Deadline: Oct. 15

  • Sponsor: SaveOnEnergy.comAward: $500Number of Awards: 6

    Application Deadline: Oct. 21

  • Sponsor: AIAA Foundation (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)Award: $250Number of Awards: Not specified (up to two grants per educator per year)

    Qualification: Teacher submitting proposal must be AIAA member (Educator Associate membership is free and includes other benefits); homeschool clubs of 25 or more students also eligible

    Application Deadline: Nov. 16 (submission period opens Oct. 1)

  • Sponsor: National Council of Teaching MathematicsAward: Up to $24,000Number of Awards: Not specified (up to two grants per educator per year)Qualification: Teacher submitting proposal must be NCTM member

    Application Deadline: Nov. 4th

  • Sponsor: VerizonAward: $5,000 plus technology for state-level winners; $15,000 additional cash, plus travel and support, for national winnersNumber of Awards: 102 state-level winners (one middle school and one high school team from each state, plus DC); nine national winners (four middle school and four high school, plus one “fan favorite” based on public voting)

    Application Deadline: Nov. 18

  • Sponsor: Toshiba America FoundationAward: Two categories: Up to $5,000 and more than $5,000Number of Awards: Not specified

    Application Deadline: Up to $5,000 awarded on a rolling basis; Feb. 1, 2017 deadline for applications for more than $5,000

  • Sponsor: McCarthey Dressman Education FoundationAward: $30,000 maximum ($10,000 over three years)Number of Awards: Not specified (five awarded last year)

    Application Deadline: April 15, 2017 (submissions open Jan. 15, 2017)

  • Sponsor: McCarthey Dressman Education FoundationAward: $30,000 maximum ($10,000 over three years)Number of Awards: Not specified (two awarded last year)

    Application Deadline: April 15, 2017 (submissions open Jan. 15, 2017)

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Deadline: OngoingAward: No more than 10 percent of an organization’s annual operating expenses or 25 percent of the total budget for the project being funded; awards have ranged from the hundreds to the millions of dollars.Number of Awards: Varies

    Qualification: Project should “directly serve or impact children living in urban poverty, particularly in the areas of education, family economic stability (including microfinance) and childhood health.”

  • Deadline: Ongoing (approx. 10 awards per month)
  • Deadline: Ongoing (grants awarded on a rolling basis)

Need  help writing a grant or does your grant require university partnership? Contact Dr. Patricia Dickenson for advice and consulting.  Ask a question or share your ideas for grants by adding a comment below.