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MYTHS OF GRANT WRITING

Discover the truth behind common misconceptions in grant writing. Learn about available funding, the importance of quality proposals, collaboration, and the value of writing. Achieve success by debunking these myths.

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MYTHS OF GRANT WRITING

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  1. MYTHS OF GRANT WRITING

  2. MYTH Number One:There is no money available in this economy.

  3. Truth: • Great sums of money • Individuals, institutions, agencies as desperate to give as you are to receive

  4. Truth: • Individuals • Small institutions • Small businesses, schools, hospitals • Small governments

  5. Truth: • Philanthropic giving up 2% • - some flat, few ↓ • Federal funding up • State funding • Competition greater!

  6. Myth Number Two: The money that is available goes to big, prestigious institutions and agencies; not to individuals, small institutions, and small agencies.

  7. Mabee Foundation • 2002 = $200 million to small organizations and schools NSF • 2010 = over 500 fellowships to individuals

  8. Truth: • Local corporations and agencies favor proposals from local residents • Purposely seek out individuals and small institutions • Success (not size) begets success—focus on strengths

  9. Truth: • It is a focus of almost all agencies to serve the underserved • Underserved = • Women in science and math • Minority groups (especially American Indians, African Americans, Hispanics, Persons with disabilities) • Small colleges • Rural schools and communities • Isolated colleges • First generation college students • Low income

  10. Truth: • Faith-based groups are respected for successes, strength of contributions and quality of participation • U.S. - 2,200+ foundations granting to faith organizations and agencies

  11. Myth Number Three: Successful grant writing requires connections, and I don’t have any.

  12. Truth: • Friends in funding agency • Proposal reader for major funding agency • Follow guidelines and meet expectations • Rating form

  13. Truth: • Friends in the legislature • Friends at the Regents • Collaborations and partnerships

  14. Myth Number Four: I don’t have time to write grants.

  15. Truth: • Everyone has same number of hours. • Time for things you value • Make appointments for writing • Write even if the deadline is too close—next cycle you will be ready, gain from reviews.

  16. Truth: • Write about your passion and profound interests • Take all the time you need – willingly miss the deadline – and you will be ready next time

  17. Myth Number Five: Getting funded just requires preparing a grant proposal and luck does the rest.

  18. Truth: • Quality is the most important • Your job is to convince the readers that your project will do a better job of meeting the funder’s goals than all the competitors • Follow the guidelines

  19. Myth Number Six: Meeting the deadline is everything.

  20. Truth: • Write about your passion and profound interests • Take all the time you need – quality is mandatory. Willingly miss the deadline – and you will be ready next time

  21. Myth Number Seven: Collaboration will spread out the workload and reduce the time required to succeed.

  22. Truth: • Collaboration takes more time. • Collaboration forces the writer to lose control. • Writing is distinctly individualistic, but collaborating takes time to share, plan, review, negotiate….. Add more time to a collaborative project!

  23. Myth Number Eight: The grants are awarded to those applicants who have the greatest needs.

  24. Truth: • Grants are awarded to the best use of the money to meet the funder’s goals. • Grants are awarded for strengths and skills. • Some agencies ignore need totally and focus only on quality.

  25. Truth: • Grants are awarded to known providers. • Grants are awarded to successful applicants. • Corporations fund in their shadow. • Grants are awarded to friends and colleagues of colleagues.

  26. Truth: • OneNet is the best connective technology of all 50 states. It will help disseminate results and enhance projects.

  27. Myth Number Nine: Community Colleges are not research institutions, so they will not be funded.

  28. Truth: • Projects, training, education reform, student services, community service • Collaborations with research institutions • Undergraduate research • Research improves teaching better than anything else

  29. Myth Number Ten: Getting funded is where it’s at!

  30. Truth: • Writing is valuable in and of itself • Develops knowledge • Research improves teaching better than anything else • Writing should be externally rewarded

  31. RECAP OF MAJOR IDEAS • Money is always available • Goal – produce proposals that convince • Use connections—make connections—convince—rating form • Plenty of time is available • Passion + deadline + well written proposal

  32. RECAP OF MAJOR IDEAS • Quality and strengths—convince • Collaboration takes more time • Best use of funder’s money • Research + programs, training, education reform, community service • Research and writing improves teaching better than anything!

  33. Attitude is everything! • Internal locus of control • Belief in yourself • Grant writing is about POWER—we write grants because they empower us to do things we otherwise could not do. • Myths created by non-writers.

  34. Attitude is everything! Cast away the myths that defeat many.

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