Finding the Money: Grant Funding in Continuing Education

1. Finding the Money: Grant Funding in Continuing Education University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

2. First to Consider... • Grants are agents for change • Grants are not just a way to get money • Develop some goals, big picture ideas • Look for smaller scale projects that move you toward your broader goals • Keep lists of ideas, contacts, resources University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

3. Prior to Searching for Funding • Think about your institution’s strengths • Brainstorm ideas • Choose some ideas to develop into future proposals • Strategize • Cultivate collaborations and partnerships University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

4. What is Most Fundable? • Innovation • Expansion of proven methodologies into new arenas • Projects with clear, well-defined plans and measurable goals • Project that meets the needs and interests of the funder University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

5. What is Hardest to Fund? • Routine operating expenses • Repairs and maintenance • Programs serving wealthy suburbs • Continuation of an existing program with no major demographic or programmatic changes • Programs that are “in trouble” University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

6. Funder Types • Internal • Example: Your institution • Government (state, federal) • Example: Department of Education • Private Foundations • Example: Goizueta Foundation • Corporations/Corporate Foundations • Example: Kodak, Home Depot University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

7. How to Begin • Either • A grant opportunity (RFP) crosses your desk and you say “that gives me an idea” • Or • You are determined to do a particular project or provide a service, so you seek funding University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

8. Then consider... • The funder’s motivation • The match between the funder’s motivations and your ideas • Your institution’s policies and rules concerning external funding • Writing the proposal University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

9. Funder’s Motivation: Why are they giving out money? • Internal sources • To improve program or curriculum • To encourage innovation • To compete with like entities • To raise public image (get good press) • To be able to demonstrate that they have offered professional advancement opportunities to their employees University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

10. Funder’s Motivation: Why are they giving out money? • Government • To meet the requirements of a directive, initiative, or law • To help the economy • To provide political advantages • To create useful statistics • To raise prestige among peers University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

11. Funder’s Motivation: Why are they giving out money? • Private Foundations • To reap tax benefits • As part of a legal settlement • To meet their mission • To raise their prestige • Because they hope you or your population can do something for them later University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

12. Funder’s Motivation: Why are they giving out money? • Private corporations • To raise their public image • To improve their visibility • To increase their client base • Because they hope you or your population can do something for them later University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

13. How do you determine the funder’s motive and mission? • Visit their web site • Look for clues in the RFP • Talk to people who have worked with the funder before • Talk with the funder’s contacts • If it’s internal, talk to the person who wrote the RFP University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

14. Is it a match? • Can you help the funder meet its needs? Or • Can you modify the project you want to do into something that will appeal to the funder and still accomplish your goal? University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

15. How to know if it is a match • Who they fund • What they fund • Where they fund • Award amounts • Funding periods • Deadlines • Matching or in-kind requirements University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

16. Good match? Make sure your institution thinks so! • Get permission. Get the proper approvals at your institution. Follow the protocol. • Identify potential collaborators. • Is there a professional who can help you write? (especially for large complex projects) • Follow the application instructions EXACTLY. • Plan time to do the proposal and motivate yourself. University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

17. RFP (Request for Proposal) Letter proposal, Letter of inquiry, Pre-proposal Full Proposal Grant vs. Contract Indirect or F& A Matching, In-Kind, Cost Share Narrative Methodology Quantifiable objectives Evaluation Sustainability The Proposal: Terms to Know University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

18. Three Stages for Proposal Development • Pre-writing • Writing • Post-writing University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

19. Pre-Writing • Read the RFP (what forms you will need, what you need to address, budget information, etc.) • Talk about your idea with the contacts. • Plan and think about what you will need to include in the proposal. • Gather all your information or know where to go and to get it. University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

20. Ready to Write • Don’t think about what you want, think about what the funder wants. • Tell the funder clearly: • Why they want your project • Why you are qualified to do it University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

21. Writing a Proposal • Abstract, summary or first paragraph • Get their attention (impact) • Tell your innovative idea • Emotional appeal • Background • History • Problem • Goals • Your unique ability to address this issue University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

22. Project Description • WHO will do it? (qualifications) • WHAT will be done? (step-by-step) • WHEN will each step be done? (timeline) • WHERE will each part occur? • HOW will the project get done? (process) University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

23. Other Parts of the Proposal • Evaluation • External/Internal • Quantitative/Qualitative • Formative/Summative • Product/Process • The Project’s Future • Sustainability • Can project be replicated? • Expansion University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

24. Tips for Writing • Really think through each part of the project. • Communicate in concise, clear language. • Avoid jargon and marketing phrases. • Do not include things that do not contribute directly to the proposed project (graphs, brochures, reports, etc.). • Adhere to the length restrictions. • Make your words count. University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

25. Budget • Itemized account of how funds will be spent • Salaries, honoraria, fees, stipends, benefits • Equipment • Travel • Supplies • Subcontracts • Other operating costs (meeting space, food, registration fees, etc.) University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

26. Tips for Budget Development • Don’t wait until after the proposal is written to do the budget. • Be aware of institutional rules/policies, salaries, consultant rates, benefit rates, etc. • Follow the format the funder provides. Also may need to do a different budget for your institution. Make sure they match! • Ask for exactly what you will need to do the project. Don’t pad the budget. • Depending on the source of the money, there are regulations you must follow regarding accounting. University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

27. Get help if you need it. Figure in inflation, especially if it is a multi-year project. Provide the appropriate budget detail and narrative. Check and recheck your math. Know the difference between reimbursable, fixed, and contracts limited to line items. Budget Development Tips University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

28. Post Writing • Revise • Reread RFP and proposal to see if you have addressed everything • Get someone else (or two or three) to review the proposal for you • Checklist • Do you have all the forms, signatures, attachments, letters, etc.? • Final check • Go over everything one more time. University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

29. Proposal Submission • Electronic or paper submission • Attachments or Appendices • Copies – send correct number of originals and copies • Consider sending so you can verify delivery • Most will be time sensitive • Know if the funder will notify you when you proposal arrives • Know when the award will be announced University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

30. Things for CE to Look for in Partnerships and Funding • Opportunities to partner with others on campus • Research grants • Training grants • Service grants • Becoming the “administrative home” for projects • Grants to support institutes, partnerships University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

31. Grant Searches • Grants.gov • Allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant making agencies. • State Procurement websites • Fdncenter.org • Searchable database of over 78,000 grant makers and 450,000 grants. Access through institution memberships. • Utilize your sponsored program and/or foundation staff at your institution University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

32. Overall Resources to Access • Grants Resource Center • www.aascu.org • Internet • http://www.oryxpress.com/miner.htm • http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/rfpinfo.html • http://teacher.scholastic.com/read180/discover/funding/tips.htm University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

33. Overall Resources to Access • Books • Hall, M.S. Getting Funded: A Complete Guide to Proposal Writing. Portland, Ore: Continuing Education Press, 1988. • Lief-Lehrer, L. Grant Application Writer’s Handbook. Boston, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 1995. University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education