Tip:
In these competitive times of limited budgets, you are probably on a team assigned to write a grant or look for funding. So, do you find the grant or do you define your project first?
If you have an ongoing or new project that you are seeking to fund, it is a good idea to spend the time to have all the pieces of the proposal ready to go. Work with your project team to:
- Define the purpose.
- Write a mission statement.
- Define the scope of work with goals and objectives.
- Develop a budget and timeline.
- Find a funding source that aligns to project.
If you have or know of a funding source, then:
- Review the criteria of the RFP (Request for Proposal).
- Check the purpose of your projects to see if they meet the criteria and guidelines of the funding source.
- Make sure you can meet the deadlines in the time allotted.
- Pull a writing team together to write the grant according to the guidelines.
Before you start writing any project, make sure that it fits with the overall school or district plan. Many proposals are rejected because they do not meet the grant guidelines. For example, I have read proposals that included only ten percent for professional development when the RFP specifically required thirty percent.
Submitted by:Barbara Bray
