Successful Grant Proposal Basics for Teachers
Writing and Winning Classroom Grants to Improve Student Learning
Jan 7, 2009
Teachers want an optimum learning environment for their students, but with diminishing resources, many educators must seek supplemental funding for the instructional programs that will meet their students’ needs. Fortunately, many grants are available for classroom teachers, schools, and school districts. By learning to write a winning grant proposal, educators can acquire funds to improve student learning.
Most grant proposals are written in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP), which outlines the information that must be included. But all require some variation of the following components: needs; goals, objectives, and outcomes; activities; evaluation methods; and budget.
Needs
It is important to have a specific need in mind when requesting funds, and many educators will conduct a needs assessment in order to develop programs or find appropriate funding sources for their students. Once needs have been identified, collect data that will describe the situation, so that funders understand why the problem is important and how the proposed program will address the need. Data may include student demographics (ethnicity, income level, language, etc.), achievement results, community description, or anything pertinent to the proposal.
Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes
Goals are broad statements that describe the long-term effects the program will have on students. Objectives are specific statements, directly related to the needs outlined in the first section and whose achievement will ensure that the goal is met. Outcomes are the measurable results of the objectives, which demonstrate the extent to which they have been achieved.
For example, a goal may be to increase the amount of recreational reading that primary students do. Related objectives may include increasing the number of books in each classroom, providing professional development for teachers, and developing a parent program that provides ideas for reading at home. Related outcomes may include statements such as “100% of classrooms will have 50 or more books;” “85% of participants will give a favorable evaluation to teacher training;” and “65% of families will attend Family Reading Night at school.”
Activities
Program activities are action steps taken toward the achievement of objectives. For example, in order to increase the number of books in each primary classroom, teachers may conduct an inventory of existing books, survey teachers and students about books they want or need; purchase and distribute books; and collect data on book usage.
Evaluation Methods
Evaluation methods should be directly related to the predicted outcomes, and include data collection that proves that activities have been completed and the extent to which the outcomes have been met. For example, the evaluation of the increase in the number of books in each classroom may include an analysis of teacher/student surveys and book inventories; purchase records; and student reading logs that record book usage and responses.
Budget
Budgets should outline how much is requested and how it will be spent, and account for each item mentioned in the proposal activities. For example, if the activity is a Family Reading Night, the budget should reflect all costs related to the event (such as speakers, materials, and food). If the budget requires a rationale, each expense category (such as personnel, professional development, instructional materials, etc.) should be explained in relation to the intended outcome. For example, the costs of the Family Reading Night would be described as reasonable because the event provides parent training and motivational, book-related activities, which will encourage recreational reading at home.
Further Reading
Brown, Larissa. Demystifying Grantseeking: What You Really Need to Do to Get Grants. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2001.
Clarke, Cheryl. Storytelling for Grantseekers: The Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2001.
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