Evelyn K - Good evening everyone. We are going to discuss how to write a grant, where to get ideas to fund a grant and anything else that may help you get a grant. Glad you are here.
Evelyn K - IF you have topics or particular questions about grant writing, please direct them to me and then we will answer them one by one. Thanks everyone.
Patty - Where do you find the grants?
Evelyn K - Grants are found on various foundations sites. There are sites for different corporations and businesses that will provide funds for teachers grants.
Beth/1/MA - Evelyn - I read grants and scored them for the state this summer. The projects that get funded are the ones that have good IDEAS which are enhanced by technology. Although I've only written one, i have heard that it is the idea that is important.
Evelyn K - Often teachers want grants for computers. They will find that usually they will not fund the computer cost but the curriculum that goes with it.
Rosa - How do we find out who is giving grants?
Evelyn K - Often if you do a search with Yahoo or Alta Vista, grant foundations will be found then.
bje - i teach Title 1 reading so i need to write a grant specifically for reading skills any suggestions
Relean - Are there grants available for all disciplines?
Evelyn K - Often writing grants for the classroom is hard to get funded. They want the maximum amount of funds for the the largest amount of students possible.
Evelyn K - Usually grants are provided for certain areas. For Example, SeaWorld has grants that fund environmental issues, as does Captain Planet. The national Science Foundation also has Science and Math grants.
Beth/1/MA - Evelyn - i had the opportunity to get the scoring rubric for my grant from the coordinator before I submitted. Have you found the scoring to be available for other kinds of grants?
Evelyn K - When writing for a foundation, they want the most $ spent for the largest number of students. Community and parental involvement is always a big plus for any grant writing.
Evelyn K - If you have the ability to see the scoring rubric you are fortunate. They often do not send this to you.
Evelyn K - Many state departments have grants at their state department of education websites.
Marsha - just need some great grant ideas...any suggestions of where I can look?
Evelyn K - Being reading teachers, there is money out there. Most however, would require you to write a grant that is theme oriented. Does this answer your question?
Sandy/K/MO - Evelyn how do I go about finding grants for parochial schools?
lanie - I would like some advice on where to locate grant offers and information.
Evelyn K - Marsha are you wanting sites or how to write them?
Marsha - just want sites, thanks
Evelyn K - Sandy, most grants do not know if they are for public or private schools because the name of the school is often not in the grant past the title application page. Do you want money for butterflies or reading books
Sandy/K/MO - computers
Evelyn K - In regards to computers, are there any large corporations near you that you could write a grant and submit it to them.
Sandy/K/MO - not many small town
Beth/1/MA - Sandy-Check the web site for your state DOE. Look for Technology Grants.
Sandy/K/MO - Beth that's state and we're parochial they don't usually take us :-(
Evelyn K - Beth, did you have to give a theme or how you were going to use the computers or just a $ amount for a number of computers?
Beth/1/MA - Evelyn- I had to detail my project. I wrote it as if the computers would just enhance the already existing project.
Evelyn K - Often when you write a grant, it is most involved in that just a dollar amount of what you want.
lanie - Are there grants available for setting up a school publishing center?
Evelyn K - Lanie, Setting up a publishing center is fine. Most grants however, will require you to have a curriculum plan and a catchy title to let them know how you want them to fund you.
lanie - We do have a curriculum plan. We plan for students to publish their on reading material to raise reading scores. We plan to shelf and check out the published material from the school library. Where could we look for funding?
Evelyn K - lanie, hold that thought and maybe we can find something for you.
Beth/1/MA - My project is using writing and multimedia software to enhance writing for emergent writers.
read2day - Evelyn, I would like to know if you are familiar with the Ohio Reads grants.
Evelyn K - Read2day, I am not familiar with the grant that you mentioned.
Marsha - Evelyn, any suggestions for the beginner with grants? :)
Evelyn K - Marsha, a beginner could probably enjoy what it takes to get started.
Evelyn K - Shall we talk about how to write a grant proposal?
Evelyn K - Lanie just mentioned the project that she wanted to fund. The next step is getting together a wish list, so to speak, of the materials that she wants. All grants will usually have a budget.
Evelyn K - The next step, of course, is finding someone to fund it, but there is more involved than that.
Evelyn K - One will need to get together their school demographics; size, population of students, economic issues, are you following me? Any questions?
lanie - Do you mean community resources of home needs?
Paulie - What are economic issues Evelyn?
Evelyn K - Economic issues are the low economic students, free lunch, etc.
read2day - You have to paint a picture of your school?
Paulie - Title one schools?
Evelyn K - Yes Paulie
Jack/HS/NJ - What are some of the "hot" areas that are receiving grants these days (aside from technology)?
Evelyn K - Jack, Some of the hot spots are multicultural and environmental and, READING
Paulie - not WRITING??????
Evelyn K - Paulie, Writing is integrated with reading isn't it? I am a first grade teacher and it goes hand and hand. Writing to publish will certainly help the student to read.
Paulie - sure with literacy but I would like to focus on writing to read better
Evelyn K - Another thing is will you have any one else to match the funds you might receive or is there possibility of this?
lanie - Do you mean like a local business?
Evelyn K - Local business, clubs, citizens, etc yes
Evelyn K - Do any of you remember making a mission statement for your school? This is something you will have to write for your grants.
lanie - If you can find someone willing to match than what?
Evelyn K - Well, it is a good idea to submit the grant to more than one person. Unless the grant asks, you do not have to tell them unless they ask, but some doom.
read2day - What about continuous improvement plans. Can you use those to guide you?
Beth/1/MA - Here's a good site to help. http://members.aol.com/weemoose/grants.html
Evelyn K - Sometime, you might get the same grant funded twice, and then twice the materials.
Paulie - Evelyn u gonna give us your site to check out?
Evelyn K - Read2Day , Yes, the continuous improvement plans are great guides. All grants want objectives, like lesson plans, and measurable outcomes. SAT scores are good, but they want something written in the proposal that is understandable to them
lanie - How would we write a goal and objective for the publishing center and what would be a good assessment?
Evelyn K - Yes Paulie. My school web page has a grant site. http://www.bhm.k12.al.us/schools/inglenook
Evelyn K - lanie, writing a goal and objective is just like writing a lesson plan. At first it will be a lengthy objective, but writing a grant is time consuming and it is will be reviewed may times.
Evelyn K - Lanie, A good assessment would be that the children will take their workhome and share it with their parents. There will be an upper grade class come to read with them weekly. They will be evaluated by observation and production with the teacher.
Beth/1/MA - Evelyn- You are right about reviewing. I had 8 different people read mine and I read mine countless times. I could almost quote it!
lanie - I have been funded for the last five years with EIA grants from the State of South Carolina. These were $2,000 and $4000 grants for at-risk students with which I work as a reading specialist. I am now interested in going for big bucks to do a schoolwide program. Where do I go from here?
Evelyn K - Thanks Beth, proofing is so important, when we read something so much, we look over our errors.
Evelyn K - lanie, It is often possible to write the grants with other teachers and share your skill with their names inthe authorship. This allows more materials for your school. You do have to share your skill though.
Beth/1/MA - lanie- I would make sure that you have administration support too. Make sure that the program will be sustained when the money runs out.
read2day - The Ohio Reads grant will give buildings up to 60,000 to implement a reading improvement plan. We only have 2 weeks to get it done. We are overwhelmed by the narratives they ask for.
Evelyn K - At risk students are some of the available grants now. Michael Jordan has grants for these students for fifth grade up.
Evelyn K - If you can find helpers to write parts of the grants, that may help you reach your deadline.
Paulie - Evelyn Is there a conflict of interest if u want to write a grant and the principal usually does all the grant writing?
Evelyn K - Will they fund you as a teacher or only the principal?
Paulie - I have no idea
Evelyn K - Sometimes grants will only accept the administration signature.
Evelyn K - Pauline, if they will fund you, I would write for my class or maybe your grade level. Is the principal resentful of others writing>
Paulie - So how do we know whether we can apply or not?
Beth/1/MA - Do you have a Grants director for the district to consult for policy on grants?
read2day - Have you heard of grants that want you to use a certain method, such as HOSTS, Read for Success, etc. That's what Ohio wants and the companies will write parts of the grants for you. But the products are VERY expensive. Does going with a program like that increase your chances of being selected?
Paulie - I don't know her feelings -- just know she is constantly writing grants but I have seen nothing for my Kindergarten level
Evelyn K - Good question Beth, often the grant applications specify who can write. Most grants will require the principal signature because of the funding to the school and not you personally
Paulie - HOSTS is a fantastic program began in Vancouver WA where I used to live
Evelyn K - It might help her if you ask if the grants she is writing covers kindergarten? If not, kindergarten is not left out of grant proposals unless specified inthe grant guideline.
Beth/1/MA - My principal has written grants too. He was thrilled when I took it upon myself. I did ask him before I started to make sure. He gets some credit without all the work...
read2day - Buts HOSTs requires a full time teacher dedicated to it does it not? And you can't pay for that out of the grant. And the program costs about 40,000.
Paulie - Why can't we do for us personally?
Evelyn K - Paulie, mostly for the funding by the corporation. Tax laws, etc.
Paulie - I volunteered in a HOSTS program (Help One Student to Succeed) and the reading Recovery Teacher ran it
Evelyn K - I am not familiar with HOST. Can anyone else help with her question? thanks
Beth/1/MA - Paulie - They are sometimes afraid that teachers will take the money and run... :-) First time most of us would see real money!!!
read2day - Paulie, did she also teach Title I classes or just do HOsTS?
Paulie - Well, I have heard of teachers who write grants for books/home bookbags for their classrooms
Evelyn K - Most Federal grants require an extreme amount of paper work.
Beth/1/MA - Paulie - But they are probably technically school property.
Evelyn K - Paulie, This can be done, but again, it usually has to have a theme. For example, Bookbag Buddies - A grant to fund take home packs to involve home and school connection. How does that sound
Sharon - I'm new to grants and am wondering if anyone knows of anywhere to look for grants for Music Education
Paulie - Gee, that teacher moved to a new school this year and got to take her books/bags with her
Evelyn K - In my state , we have a utility company that provides money for teachers to write. Last year they limited the amount to $1200. No much, but would buy a lot of books and bags.
Paulie - Evelyn that is exactly what I want to do Bookbag buddies connected with writing
read2day - We only have a few minutes left. Evelyn, can you give us your best tip for getting grants approved?
Evelyn K - Sharon, I do have a link on my page to music education. Let me know if you need any help in finding it. http://www.bhm.k12.al.us/schools/inglenook Most grants have an Oct 1 or Dec 1, to Mar l deadline.
Evelyn K - Getting the facts, figures of your school together. Figuring the dollar amount spent on each student served and developing a catchy title is often a plus. Any questions?
Evelyn K - Paulie, visit my web page, as I invite anyone. Please feel free, EVERYONE to email me and I will gladly personally help you via email answer any other questions that I can.
Beth/1/MA - Evelyn- How about... be clear, SPELLCHECK (you'd be shocked...) and stick to the guidelines.
Evelyn K - Beth, do you have any suggestions that stick in your mind as a successful grant writing teacher?
Beth/1/MA - Know what you want and go for it!
Evelyn K - Thanks Beth, Yes, write everything on your word processor, and run spell check. Following the guidelines is a must.
Evelyn K - Thank you all. I hope you did get some ideas to help you.
Evelyn K - I just got a call from a teacher who I had helped write a grant to get a new MAC. She got funded for a new computer because she had won the software somewhere else. Important thing, share you experience with everyone. We are all in it for the children after all aren't we.
Beth/1/MA - If you ever get the opportunity to read grants, do it. It's the best way to learn.
read2day - Have your grants been from federal, state, or private sources?
Beth/1/MA - Oh!! If you don't get funded, try to get comments about your grant. Our DOE sends them to people who ask. then you can see what went wrong.
Evelyn K - Mine have been from a university/school combo grant, and a large bank and utility company. I have not tried for any large state or federal grants.
Evelyn K - Beth, do you teach as well?
Beth/1/MA - Mine was a state grant.
Beth/1/MA - Yes, I teach first grade.
Evelyn K - Thanks Beth for your contributions, I appreciated your comments and answers. Best of everything to you in the future with grants. We do not have that much money here in Alabama.
Beth/1/MA - Thanks for letting me jump in! Good luck to you too!
read2day - Did any of your grants involve recruiting volunteers? That's a big component of the Ohio Reads. Frankly, I'm not sure we can get that many volunteers if our grant is approved.
Evelyn K - Foundations, banks, WalMart, Captain Planet, National Science Foundation, and others are putting up grants now.
Beth/1/MA - No, sorry.
Sheri - I have written a few grants for my school district. I have searched on the internet for grant money also. I never really found anything. Where do you get the information on various grants?
Evelyn K - If you cannot get parents, perhaps you could contact local college professors or student teachers that could fill the need
Beth/1/MA - Many seniors are also willing to help.
Evelyn K - Sheri, my grant page on my school web site has some listings. Often just typing in grants at yahoo or Kathy Schrock at Discoveryschool.com has a listing too. Here is my web page
read2day - I think the America Reads program pays for college students to come in and tutor. I wonder if you could combine the two.
read2day - Beth, yes we are hoping for senior citizens.
Beth/1/MA - Be clear. Format professionally. Give details that back up what you want.
read2day - When the application says "up to 20 pages" do they really want something that long?
Evelyn K - Have someone proof read it for you to be able to understand what you are saying. Do not use jargon words, keep it simple and informative.
Beth/1/MA - Can you get a hold of copies of good grants? it often helps to have a model.
Evelyn K - read2day: You can type on your own computer, in any font you like, use graphs, clip art, etc to make it attractive in that 20 pages. Just be sure to answer the questions. They would be glad to see what you want to say in less than 20.
Evelyn K - Beth, I have not been able to do so. Many people do not share copies of grants because, people copy them.
Evelyn K - I do know that if you happen to write 21 pages, they will throw out the grant.
read2day - Evelyn, I've heard that
Beth/1/MA - Gotta go... Nice talking with you!
Evelyn K - Well, unless someone has another question, we will end this discussion. Thanks to Teachers.net for this time.
Evelyn K - Goodnight all.

 
 

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