AGW Overview....

AGW was an environmental initiative I had created for Musselman High School.  Currently, I work with a local Co-op teaching science.  To follow my current interests, see mrsstevenschemistryclasses.blogspot.com.

Grant Writing 101: Tips!

Here are a few last tips to ensure your project is considered for funding!
1.  The most important tip is to read the application carefully.  If the foundation requires the proposal to be typed in 12 point, New Roman font on recycled paper, paper-clipped, not stapled, do it!  The agency will eliminate any proposal which does not follow directions.
2. Highlight all of the instructions and follow them explicitly.
3. Take advantage of any webinars the foundation offers.  This is an opportunity to ask questions and get clarifications.
4. Be positive in your proposal.  Use dynamic descriptions.   Buy a thesaurus and use it!
5. Once you obtain the funding, court the press.  Write a press release and email it to local newspapers, TV stations, and radios.
6. Document!  Get in the habit of taking photos.  Photo everything!
7. Once you win a grant and complete the terms of the proposal, write a summary of the project and thank the foundation.  Include photos from the program and any publicity obtained.  Include hand-written thank you notes from the children.

Good luck!  Grant writing is more science than art!

Grant Writing 101: Step Six, Evaluation

Once the proposal is complete and ancillary forms are in order, it is time to include the method of evaluation.  Your project needs oversight!  Ask the School's PTA, PTO, or Local School Improvement Committee if the group will provide oversight for your grant program.  Apple-ka-dab-ara was Wet Club initiative.  The Wet Club sent a representative to every PTA meeting a school to report on the club's activities, including an update regarding all of the grant programs.  Some foundations or funding agencies require an explanation of evaluation; include a description in your proposal.

Another aspect of evaluation is a survey of the participants.  Create a simple survey to distribute which evaluates the program.

Apple-ka-dab-ara Survey

1.    Have you participated in Apple-ka-dab-ara? What was your role?

2.    On a scale of 0-10, with 10 as a top score, rate your experience.

0              1          2        3       4          5        6        7        8        9       10

3.    Would you do Apple-ka-dab-ara again?  Yes      No      Explain.

The survey does not have to be lengthy. It should be easy to tally numerically in order to rate the project. Allow room for comments.  

Next topic: A few more tips! 

Grant Writing: Step Five, Additional materials

Once you have your idea, the proposal, and the budget, it is time for a few details.  Some agencies or foundations require a list of objectives or goals.  Others request sample lesson plans.  Every grant proposal is different.  One item many foundations require from schools is either the IRS Tax ID form or the 501(c)3 Letter of Determination (LOD).  Obtain a copy from your administration, make copies, and scan the form into a computer file which can be attached to an electronic submission.  Another item frequently requested is a list of the Board of Directors.  Type the list and save it electronically, too. Update a copy of your CV or resume.  Save this to a grant folder with all of these files on your computer.  Take time to write a lesson plan consistent with the requirements in your locality.  Be sure to add 21st Century objectives and ties to Common Core or Next Generation Science Standards.  It will save time in the future to have these documents available to submit with each grant proposal.

Next topic: Evaluation

Grant Writing 101: Step Four, the Budget

Now that you have a catchy title, a succinct abstract, a clear vision, and a detailed proposal, it is time to consider the budget and materials.  Use a spreadsheet to tally the materials.  Try to include all of the materials, batteries for the digital camera, sponge brushes for the tempera paint, copies for the flyers, etc.  Below is an example of a list of materials and a budget for Apple-ka-dab-ara.

Budget: Apple-ka-dabra
Walmart
	Dixie cups			200		5.96
	Craft Sticks			1000		8.75
	Scissors					1
	Rulers					1
	Plaster of Paris (crafts)			8 lbs		5.47
	Tempera Paints			16 oz		2.88
	Pipe Cleaners			1		4.99
	Borax Detergent			76 oz		10.1
	Shaving Cream			10 oz		1.28
	Paper plates			300		5.54
	Stryrofoam bowls			50		3.94
	Plastic spoons			100		5.36
	Crayons			120		6.97
	Ziplock baggies			200		5.96
	Sharpees			12		5.88
	Food coloring (Gel in Baking)			4		5.69
	Index cards			1000		10.42
	Soil Moist crystals (Gardening--seasonal product) (0.2 lbs)					8.99
						100.18

Grant Writing 101: Step Three

Steps one and two are to devise an idea that becomes a successful grant project.  Once you have an idea and a plan to implement it, the next step is to write the proposal.  The proposal is a one-page document.  Really.  Many funding agencies want to see a brief outline of your project distilled into one page.  Make the title catchy.  Apple-ka-dab-ara works because it captures the scope of the school's project, to create science magic by the Appleman.

The title should be catchy, Bruins Go Green, Hawk Science Soars, or Apples Get Wet.  Try to keep the title brief.  Use the School's mascot.  Now, put the idea into the first paragraph.    The second paragraph should include a description of your school or group.  The third paragraph includes a full description of the project.  A fourth paragraph might outline partners or past experience.  Lastly, thank the agency for its consideration.

Here is an example.

Criss cross, applesauce!  Musselman High is taking Apple-ka-dab-ara to kindergarten!  Musselman High is the proud home of  the Applemen; our students are doing a series of science programs with neighboring schools.  Apple-ka-dab-ara creates magic with science.

Musselman High School is located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a school dedicated to its students.  “The mission for Musselman High School is to provide educational excellence for all students in an academically challenging, positive, and safe atmosphere.”  The WET club embodies excellence.

The WET club is comprised of students of all ability levels, including students with special needs; the only requirement to join is a willingness to work!  Our students are especially excited to go to the neighboring elementary school and share experiments with the kindergartners.  The experiments include the following: : tornadoes, volcanoes, color change, flubber, slime, 3-D chalk, Cartesian divers, UV bead bracelets, glow in the dark nail polish, Sumi Nagashi, and more.  Apple-ka-dab-ara is sponsored by the Watershed Environmental Team (WET), a service learning club.  The WET club consists of high school students, who set up rotating stations and performs the experiments with the kindergarteners as part of the club’s mission to service.

Last year, thiry Musselman High students brought these engaging experiments to two different schools; the kindergartners were thrilled.  Our School would like to go again this year.  Relatively modest funds go a long way at Musselman, which relies on the generosity of donors such as you.  Thank you for your consideration.

Grant Writing 101: Step Two

The first step is to harness an idea.  Now that you have an exciting idea, it is time to flesh out the project.  Apple-ka-dab-ara is a program in which high school chemistry students partner with kindergarten children to ignite a love your science.  Apple-ka-dab-ara is a play on Applemen, the high school's mascot and abra-ka-dab-ara, because the program creates science magic.  Recall the first step in grant writing is to have an exciting idea with a clear vision or objective.

Now, it is time to consider your idea more carefully.  Apple-ka-dab-ara involves both high school students and kindergarten children.  There are many considerations.  Which experiments will the children do?  Are they safe?  What equipment or materials are necessary? How much will they cost?  What is the role of the high school students?  Will they plan or simply implement the experiments?   Are there plans to field test the experiments, perhaps with one small class?  The more details you provide, the more likely the project will be funded.

Apple-ka-dab-ara was sponsored by a science club at the high school.  Club members signed up to participate.  They selected experiments, printed directions, tested them, and prepped and packed all of the materials.  The students delivered all of the supplies to the neighboring school in advance, to set up twelve, rotating stations in the multi-purpose room.  The high school students arrived the next day to man the stations.  Typically, twenty students helped.  Students greeted the kindergarten children, handed them a grocery bag and slipped t-shirts over their heads to protect their clothes.  Each group was sent to a different station with at least two high school students at each table.  Adults took photos to document the program.  Some of the high school students served as runners or as part of the clean-up crew.  Apple-ka-dab-ara was a hit!  The high school students loved to see the expressions on the kindergarten children as they performed the experiments.  The little ones learned science was fun.  Think through the details for your project.

Next topic: the proposal.

Grant Writing 101

What is the first step to writing a grant?  Do you have an idea to fund?  Is there equipment that would ramp up your classroom?  What is the purpose of the project?  How will the program engage students?    Step one is to clarify your vision. Let's look at a project with a clear vision. 

 Apple-ka-dab-ara pairs high school chemistry students with kindergarten children.  The high school students select, plan and prepare simple science experiments to share.  The students spend one morning performing over one dozen experiments with the kindergartens at a neighboring school.  The high school students take part in service learning; the little ones get acquainted with science through fun, hands-on experiments.  

Note this program is called, Apple-ka-dab-ara!  The title is a play on the school's mascot, the Applemen.  The program creates 'science magic'; a high school student came up with the title; its goal is get get kindergarten students excited about science. Simple, straightforward, easy to understand.

Grant writing is more about marketing than about programming.  Your job is to create and sell a project so exciting, original and innovative, the funding agency accepts your proposal.  Next, reflect on the project and write a brief description in the form of an abstract.  This abstract is critical; a program's title and first three sentences must hook the reader to consider your idea and fund your project.  

Next topic?  Flesh out your idea.

AGW Presentation

Here is an overview of the AGW program at Musselman High.

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=df4rzwd9_583hpnm69fd

Grant Sites

www.toshiba.com/taf
American Honda Foundation Grant
www.captainplantfdn.org
www.toolboxforeducation.com (Lowes)
www.dosomething.org/grants
www.donorschoose.org
VEE
Melinda Ardia
Norcross Wildlife Foundation