May 2004 — Features
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How to Write GRANTS: The Best Kept Secret in the School Business
Online Grant Template Example
RFPs have parts, and these parts have expectations. The parts should clearly relate to one another since they are sometimes weighted in the evaluation process. The best way to make sure that all the sections of the application are connected is to write them in one place and constantly review whether or not they meet the expectations of the RFP. Below is an example of an online grant template. If it is possible to post a template like this on a district's Web-based environment, the application will move to a draft stage much quicker. The grant writing can be done directly on this template. In addition, only after the grant application is completed should the guidelines be removed so that the text can be made appealing and easy to read.
1. Proposal cover page - Page provided by funding agency.
2. Proposal abstract - One page of copy-and-paste sentences from grant sections. Write the abstract last.
3. Narrative - How will you use multimedia to enhance student learning using real-world or active learning approaches? Identify two or three real-world examples. Explain how teachers and students will use multimedia. What are the expected results, goals or benchmarks? How will you know that you have achieved your goals? Whom will data be reported to? What will the process be for delivering the information?
4. Need - What is the need for technology at your building? Support this with data. How will the grant address this expressed need?
5. Write grant text.
6. Planning and strategy - How will you scale up? What professional development strategy will be used? What skills will be achieved? Stakeholder commitment? Parents and community involvement? Integration into building technology and continuous improvement plans? How will the project enhance learner performance?
7. Write grant text.
8. Project action plan - What forms of multimedia will be used? How will multimedia increase student performance? How will the plan address state proficiency outcomes? How will real-world active learning models and special-needs students be incorporated? How will you integrate collaboration, resource sharing and lesson-learned dissemination?
9. Write grant text.
10. Evaluation plan - What are the goals, benchmarks, deliverables and indicators of success? What is your evaluation plan? How will you collect data and demonstrate success at enhancing teaching? How will you show the project's impact?
11. Write grant text.
12. Budget page - Page provided by funding agency.
13. Budget narrative - A one-page description of how you intend to use the funding. Include additional resources and plans for sustaining the work after the funding cycle is completed. Use the evaluation plan as a guide.
14. Write budget narrative text.
15. Appendix - Not to exceed three pages.
16. Federal assurances - This is a signature page in most grants. Make sure to use their vocabulary.
17. District commitments - This is usually a signature page. Make sure to use their vocabulary.
18. Signatures - The signatures will vary, but why not get this signed early so you don't have to worry about the superintendent being out of town.
A grant writing resource from Telex Communications, including a team-based approach to tackling the four stages of grant writing and a 32-step process for completing the grant, can be found online at www.telex.com/education/grants.
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