PROFESSIONAL
Perkins & Funding
Grant Writing Dos and Don'ts
Obtaining funding during a slow economy can seem daunting, yet securing that funding is more important than ever. At times like these, you literally cannot afford to overlook any detail in writing your grant proposal.
You can access the Grant Resource Center at www.glencoe.com/esolutions/educator/grant_resource_center.html.
The following grant writing dos and do nots will help you deliver a proposal worthy of serious consideration.
| When writing your grant proposal, DO: | When writing your grant proposal, DO NOT: |
| Create a catchy title that shares your vision. | Use personal pronouns, such as "we." |
| Announce your plan to everyone, to build enthusiasm. | Try to write the proposal alone. |
| Seek assistance from local experts. | Hire a grant writer, unless you have no other option. |
| Look for funding at all levels: federal, state, and local. | Overlook local and community grants. |
| Contact the funding agency with any questions. | Be afraid to contact the funding agency with questions. |
| Follow the established grant guidelines. | Add personal touches like colorful fonts and graphics. |
| Use key, scientifically based research. | Include statistics that are not pertinent. |
| Present clear, realistic goals and objectives. | Overstate your expectations. |
| Clearly connect your project goals with each grant area. | Disassociate the grant areas from your project goals. |
| Create an itemized, cost-effective budget. | Generalize the budget. |
| Establish and describe a project evaluation process. | Overlook how you will evaluate your project. |
| Proofread your work carefully. | Forget to proofread your work. |
| Pay attention to the local politics of applying for a grant. | Overlook the local politics of applying for a grant. |
| Thank the funding agency for the grant opportunity. | View rejection of your proposal as a personal failure. |
Online Funding Info
Gathering the information and resources you need to apply for funding can be a daunting task. To help simplify the process, Glencoe has created the Grant Resource Center, a free online source that is available through Glencoe eSolutions Web site. The Grant Resource Center gives you the tools you need to submit effective requests for grants. Highlights include:
- Information on the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT or Ed Tech) program, including information on how to use the funds
- An extensive list of hot links to the different types of grants available
- An explanation of what information most grant funding agencies require, broken down into easy-to-use sections
- Advice on grant writing dos and don'ts, along with hot links for more grant writing resources
- Tips for managing grant funds
You can access the Grant Resource Center at www.glencoe.com/esolutions/educator/grant_resource_center.html.
Use Perkins Funding for Glencoe Materials
Your school may qualify for federal money under the recently reauthorized Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act. Among other things, the Perkins Act allows grant funds to be spent on supplemental materials for career and technical education programs, such as videos and DVDs, computer simulations, online tutorials, and workbooks. Such materials help you provide rigorous and challenging academic and career instruction for your students. They also help you plan and present varied, motivating activities (such as self-guided and team projects) and accommodate different learning styles.
Glencoe provides a wide range of supplemental materials eligible for purchase with Perkins funds. To see what is available to you, browse Glencoe's "one-stop shopping" catalog of instructional materials. Click the link below to download the catalog, which presents high-quality, innovative products for Family and Consumer Sciences; Business, Careers and Marketing; and Trade and Technical Education.
Funding Resources
www.donorschoose.org
Go to the "About" page for information on how teachers can post class projects and request donations.
www.staplesfoundation.org/foundapplication.html
The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning is to provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth.
www.seaworld.org/conservation-matters/eea
SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards reward money to K-12 students and teachers across the country who are working at the grassroots level to protect and preserve the environment.
www.Target.com/tcoe
Target donates undesignated funds to K-12 schools nationwide twice a year through its Take Charge of Education program. Funds have been used for everything from books and supplies to extracurricular activities.
