writing a quality grant proposal for

Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiativeswww.ed.gov/faithandcommunity

Carol M. WhitePhysical Education Program

CFDA # 84.215 F

Agenda

• Overview of program’s purpose

• Outline application info

• Address selection criteria

• Provide grant-writing tips

Program Purpose

•Initiate, expand, or improve physical education programs in order to help students meet state standards

•In school programs•After-school programs

Target Population

• Students enrolled in grades K-12 attending public, private, nonprofit schools as well as home-schooled children

Program Activities

• Fitness education and assessment

• Instruction in motor skills

• Promote life long healthy lifestyle for students

• Promote positive social skills/cooperation

• Instruction in healthy eating habits

• Provide PE teachers up to date training

Program Results

• Improved physical well-being of

students and an increase in number of

students meeting state standards

• Promote professional development of

physical education teachers

Applicant Eligibility

• Local education agencies (LEAs)

• Community organizations including

faith-based organizations

• Applicant eligibility refers to organization

and not individual

Application Information

• Applications available—April 1, 2003

• Submission deadline—May 12, 2003

• Grants awarded September ’03

• Project period: 12 months

• Estimated number of awards: 198

Understanding the Process• Grants process at ED: www.ed.gov What Should I Know About ED Grants

Applying for the Carol M. White grant:

• Grant application notice available at: www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS/2003_carolwhite_pkg.pdf

• Contact program office with questions:Ethel Jackson Phone: 202-260-2812 email: ethel.jackson@ed.gov

Submitting the Proposal• Original with signature and 2 hard copies

• Participate in e-Application pilot project

Mailing address:

U.S. Department of Education

Attention: CFDA #84.215F

7th and D Streets SW

Application Control Center

Room 3671

Washington, DC 20202-4725

Applying On-line

Pilot Projecte-Application

• No bonus point awarded for participating

• Could be faster and more cost effective for

the applicant

• Follow guidelines in the

application package

• Contact program staff

with questions

Separate Competitions• One competition for experienced applicants

• One competition for novice applicants

• 25% of total funding set aside for novice

• Maximum novice award: $150,000

• Review definition of novice eligibility

Any proposal requesting more than $150,00

automatically placed in experienced pool

Novice Eligibility• Applicant has never administered this grant

program

• Applicant has not administered a federal

grant in the last 5 years

• Applies to all parties in a partnership

• Check block six on ED Form 424

• Include partnership agreement in appendix

Proposal Format• ED Form 424

• Table of contents (1 page)

• Abstract (1 page)

• Narrative (25 pages)

• Budget Information Form (ED Form 524)

• Budget Narrative

• Appendices

Contents of Appendices• GEPA Statement

• Partnership agreement

• Certs/Assurances• Non-construction Programs

• Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, Drug-Free Workplace

• Lower-Tier covered transactions

• Disclosure of lobbying activities

No narrative or budget information

should be placed in appendices

Absolute Priority

• Conduct needs assessment of target population

• Link project activities to addressing the need

• Develop measurable goals and objectives for project

that will meet the need resulting in students meeting

state physical education standards

To be consider for funding applicants should:

Budget Guidance

• Allowable -- either permitted or not specifically prohibited

• Allocable -- necessary for project success

• Reasonable -- costs that would be incurred by “prudent” person

Are the items or activities in my budget…

Allowable Costs

Matching requirement: 10%

• Athletic equipment

• Curriculum (health and nutritional guides)

• Training for staff development

• 5% Cap on administrative costs

• Salary of a project director—project funds

NOT intended to be a source for hiring staff

Unallowable CostsGrant funds may not be spent on

extracurricular activities such

as sports teams and ROTC

Grant funds may not be

used for construction

Matching contribution must be allowable

Grant Writing Suggestions• Clear, concise, and detailed

• Recipe: 2/3 planning & 1/3 writing

• Don’t repeat the selection criteria;

• Address the selection criteria

• Persuade through facts over rhetoric

• Utilize research and data

• Ambitious but attainable objectives

Selection Criteria

• Need for Project 25 pts

• Significance 25 pts

• Quality of Project 25 pts Design

• Quality of Project 25 pts Evaluation

• Need sets the tone for the proposal

• Cite % of students failing to meet standards

• Identify gaps or weaknesses in meeting

state standards for your target population

• inadequate facilities or equipment

• malnutrition

• lethargy

Need for Project

Significance

Demonstrate that the project will:

• result in a change or improvement in

the target population

• offer new strategies or build on

existing proven ones

• produce outcomes of great importance

Quality of Project Design

Link proposed activities to state standards

• Outline a coherent program

• Utilize up to date scientifically proven

research to support program activities

• Include ambitious but attainable objectives

that are clearly measurable

• Goals should meet the need of target population

• Goals should reflect the activities

Quality of Project Evaluation• Evaluation tools address the objectives

• Measure the extent to which the grantees

have attained the projected outcomes

• Ability of the evaluation to provide

feedback on project performance

• Produce quantitative and qualitative data

• Periodic assessment of progress

Winning Reminders

• Identify state physical education standards

• Review program guidelines thoroughly

• Implement proven researched methods

of instructions in project design

• Address the need in your community

• Apply, Apply, Apply !

Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiativeswww.ed.gov/faithandcommunity

Carol M. WhitePhysical Education Program

CFDA # 84.215 F