Finding Funding in Tight Times

1. Finding Funding in Tight Times AIMA Spring Meeting District 8 March 27, 2010 Dr. Savan Wilson Educational Media Department University of South Alabama swilson@usouthal.edu http://grantsandthings.pbworks.com/

2. How Far Would You go to Raise Money for your School Library? Do you have to kiss a pig? Shave your head? Be More Proactive?

3. GRANTS CREATIVE IDEAS Tell and Sell Administration BOOK FAIRS & EVENTS AWARDS

4. Tell and Sell Administration • When school budgets shrink, local school administrators often chose to fund other programs rather than libraries. • Even when libraries receive funds, the money frequently goes toward computers and related technology rather than toward books. Student Achievement is the Key The needs of the learner are identified and drive the content description for the budget.

5. Tell and Sell Others • Do your homework and your research. Gather your statistics. • Make your statistics into pictures or graphs, which can be powerful ways to illustrate your library's needs. • Dig deeper. Use the technology available to get answers about the state of your current library collection. • Communicate your findings: Newsletters - Attend public meetings -Show in a few words or graphically – the problem and your needs! • Keep your library and the value of your program to student achievement in front of your “community”.

6. Show it ! Cost of a typical book $24.00 http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/

7. www.aasl.org

8. Information Sources

9. What Makes a Grant Hard to Write? • Most important – Students -then – • Community/Collection

10. Education: Being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't. It's knowing where to go to find out what you need to know; and it's knowing how to use the information once you get it."          William Feather • What do you need? • Why do you need it? • What are your strengths and priorities? • Create a plan – not just a proposal. • Do your homework – statistics/test scores/demographics/your school in relation to others/free lunches…. • First, the need and information; Second, target the best source for funding your need.

11. Parental involvement is considered low at this school. There are a couple of involved PTA parents, but that is about the extent of it. Facts Examples - "Masada Charter School, located in Centennial Park, Arizona, teaches 171 students in grades K-6; enrollment is expected to increase to 200 students for the 2003-2004 school year. Its family poverty status, based on the Arizona Title I office standard, is 61 percent. The nearest public library is located in Hurricane, Utah, a 30-minute drive. “ 3rd Grade – SAT10 Reading 51 percentile (2007) SAT10 Language 44 percentile (2007) SAT10 Math 54 percentile (2007) ARMT Reading 81% proficient (2007)

13. Grant Components

14. Grants and Awards

15. Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program \ April 20, 2010 Deadline

16. Federal grant applicants must have a DUNS number. Most federal agencies require electronic submission of grant proposals. People interested in applying federal funding should register early with Grants.gov to avoid application problems. http://k12grants.org/

18. http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.htmlhttp://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html

19. Picturing America School Collaboration ProjectsDeadline :October 7, 2010 - July 2011 http://www.neh.gov/grants/grants.html • Goals of the Picturing America School Collaboration Projects grants are: • to strengthen understanding of the connections between great works of American art and significant events, themes, and topics in the American experience; • to encourage local and regional collaboration between K-12 educators and humanities experts who can bring appropriate knowledge to the integration of American artworks in core subjects; • to foster discussion of how to use the Picturing America images among K-12 educators within a locality or region; and • to provide access to rich scholarly resources and primary materials that support teaching.

20. Book Fairs and Other Events

21. Helpful Hints for Successful Fundraising Events • Tailor fundraising events to the interests of your community. • Be on guard for groups, businesses or organizations that want to do fund raisers for your cause. • Make sure you know up front how much staff time they will require and how much money they plan on making. • Too many programs have gotten "caught" with intense staff involvement and little money for their efforts. • Make sure to limit the number of fundraising events to a maximum of three large events per year. The community may become weary of contributing to your cause if the fundraising events become too frequent. • Include volunteers who will supplement staff efforts. • Will the benefits of this event be worth all the time, money, and effort needed to carry it out?

22. Off the Wall Creative Ideas Book Fair Warehouse Event Friendship Week • Collect recyclable empty printer cartridges and exchange them for top-quality computer equipment and printers. Wishing Fountain • Auction off items left unclaimed at area dry cleaners to fund library needs activities. Drapes to wedding dresses!

23. Deliver - Coffee / Popcorn Gift Baskets Dessert Night PTA Silent Auctions Sponsor a 3’ Tree Penny Power! Gift Certificates

24. Read-a-Thon LIBRARY Adopt a LIBRARY

25. Friends of the School Library $5 Student$25 Bibliophile$40 Family Book by Book

26. Special Discounts Schools turn to the web to raise much needed funds, • More than More than 1,000 top stores, from Amazon to Wal-Mart, are now offering special discounts and donating part of every purchase to schools. • GoodSearch.com is donating a penny per search to schools nationwide. More than 76,000 schools and nonprofits are now on-board. For example... Stevens Point Area High School has earned more than $1,800 GoodShop.comprovides a location where businesses donate a portion of everything you buy to the school of your choice!

27. Thank You • Don’t Forget to Thank everyone who helps you with your fundraising program!