Grant WritingGrant WritingDr. Linda MasonDr. Linda Mason

Coordinator for Grant Writing Coordinator for Grant Writing And External Funding AssistanceAnd External Funding Assistance

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Oklahoma State Regents for Higher EducationEducation

lmason@osrhe.edulmason@osrhe.edu405-225-9486405-225-9486

www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/

The idea…The idea…

• ““Imagining something may be the Imagining something may be the first step in making it happen, but it first step in making it happen, but it takes the real time and real efforts of takes the real time and real efforts of real people to learn things, to make real people to learn things, to make things, turn thoughts into deeds or things, turn thoughts into deeds or visions into inventions.”visions into inventions.”– Fred “Mister” Rogers in Fred “Mister” Rogers in The World The World

According to Mister Rogers: Important According to Mister Rogers: Important things to Rememberthings to Remember

What are your ideas?What are your ideas?

Money is no object!!Money is no object!!

In grants…In grants…

• You are writing to persuade people who You are writing to persuade people who have money to spend their money on your have money to spend their money on your ideaidea

• You must sell your idea to the people who You must sell your idea to the people who have the moneyhave the money

• Know what they want, what they expect, Know what they want, what they expect, what they wantwhat they want

• How can your project make the funder’s How can your project make the funder’s agenda look good?agenda look good?

Writing (holds people back)Writing (holds people back)……• If you can think, you can writeIf you can think, you can write

• Whatever you can imagine, you can Whatever you can imagine, you can createcreate

• If you can’t write it, it hasn’t been If you can’t write it, it hasn’t been thought out well yetthought out well yet

• Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style” Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style”

• Websites available on writing, on writing Websites available on writing, on writing grants in particulargrants in particular

System level projectsSystem level projects

• Link your project to a work planLink your project to a work plan• Your idea must make sense within Your idea must make sense within

our agency’s or system’s prioritiesour agency’s or system’s priorities• Don’t go for money simply because Don’t go for money simply because

it’s there…there are repercussions!it’s there…there are repercussions!• Item on work plan about percentage Item on work plan about percentage

for Communications supportfor Communications support• Staff supportStaff support

Leveraging our assetsLeveraging our assets

• Existing programs or services – Existing programs or services – where are the gaps?where are the gaps?

• Do your research – look around youDo your research – look around you• Look at us from the outside, see Look at us from the outside, see

what others are doingwhat others are doing• What do we need to do that we’re What do we need to do that we’re

not doing?not doing?– Example: Services to adult learnersExample: Services to adult learners

Consider the entire institution’s Consider the entire institution’s rolerole

• When you receive a grant, many will When you receive a grant, many will be involved – purchasing, human be involved – purchasing, human resources, fiscal, system research, as resources, fiscal, system research, as well as the unit under which you well as the unit under which you operate your programoperate your program

• Indirect costs are designed to cover Indirect costs are designed to cover the majority of these; however…..the majority of these; however…..

• If you are unsure --- ask! If you are If you are unsure --- ask! If you are sure – ask!sure – ask!

The Big Picture:The Big Picture:Federal Discretionary Grant Federal Discretionary Grant

ProgramsProgramsFoundations Foundations

Corporate GrantsCorporate Grants

What is out there?What is out there?

How do we find it?How do we find it?

How do we compete for funding?How do we compete for funding?

Federal Agencies (26)Federal Agencies (26)

• U.S. Department of Education (ed.gov)U.S. Department of Education (ed.gov)

• National Science Foundation (nsf.gov)National Science Foundation (nsf.gov)

• U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)

• U.S. Department of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (os.dhhs.gov) Human Services (os.dhhs.gov)

• National Institutes of Health (nih.gov)National Institutes of Health (nih.gov)

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (usda.gov)U.S. Department of Agriculture (usda.gov)

• U.S. Department of Energy (energy.gov)U.S. Department of Energy (energy.gov)

General tips for federal General tips for federal programsprograms• Read the authorizing legislation to Read the authorizing legislation to

understand congressional intent for any understand congressional intent for any program (thomas.loc.gov)program (thomas.loc.gov)

• Read any regulations established by Read any regulations established by negotiated rulemaking (Federal register, negotiated rulemaking (Federal register, or…)or…)

• Find out what the Government Performance Find out what the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) program goals are and Results Act (GPRA) program goals are for any program you apply to – align your for any program you apply to – align your goals with their program goalsgoals with their program goals

• Use their own language back at them in your Use their own language back at them in your proposal (but don’t be obvious about it)proposal (but don’t be obvious about it)

Important websitesImportant websites• Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education - Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education -

www.okhighered.org/grant-oppswww.okhighered.org/grant-opps//• Training Videos - Training Videos -

http://www.onenet.net/ops/streaming/brown_bag/brown_bahttp://www.onenet.net/ops/streaming/brown_bag/brown_bag_index.htmlg_index.html

• The Art of Grantsmanship - The Art of Grantsmanship - http://http://www.hfsp.org/how/ArtofGrants.htmwww.hfsp.org/how/ArtofGrants.htm

• The EPA Grant Writing Tutorial - The EPA Grant Writing Tutorial - http://http://www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/msieopen.htmwww.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/msieopen.htm

• The Foundation Center - The Foundation Center - http://http://fdncenter.orgfdncenter.org//• Writing Winning Proposals, the US Department of Energy - Writing Winning Proposals, the US Department of Energy -

http://http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/sample.pdfwww.leeric.lsu.edu/sample.pdf• Association of Fundraising Professionals - Association of Fundraising Professionals - http://http://

www.afpnet.orgwww.afpnet.org//

Helpful booksHelpful books• Joseph Barbato and Danielle S. Furlich, Joseph Barbato and Danielle S. Furlich, Writing for a Good Cause: The Writing for a Good Cause: The

Complete Guide to Crafting Proposals and Other Persuasive Pieces Complete Guide to Crafting Proposals and Other Persuasive Pieces for Nonprofits,for Nonprofits, Simon and Shuster, 2000.Simon and Shuster, 2000.

• David BauerDavid Bauer,, The “How To” Grants Manual: Successful Grantseeking The “How To” Grants Manual: Successful Grantseeking Techniques for Obtaining Public and Private GrantsTechniques for Obtaining Public and Private Grants,, 3 3rdrd, Oryx Press, , Oryx Press, Phoenix, AR, 1995.Phoenix, AR, 1995.

• Alexis Carter BlackAlexis Carter Black,, Getting Grants: The Complete Manual of Getting Grants: The Complete Manual of Proposal Development and AdministrationProposal Development and Administration,, Self-Counsel Press, Self-Counsel Press, Bellingham, WA, 2006.Bellingham, WA, 2006.

• Bev BrowningBev Browning,, Grant Writing for DummiesGrant Writing for Dummies,, 2 2ndnd., Wiley Publishing, ., Wiley Publishing, Hoboken, NJ, 2005.Hoboken, NJ, 2005.

• Mim CarlsonMim Carlson,, Winning Grants Step by StepWinning Grants Step by Step,, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, 1995.Francisco, 1995.

• Arlen Sue Fox and Ellen Karsh,Arlen Sue Fox and Ellen Karsh, The Only Grant-Writing Book You’ll The Only Grant-Writing Book You’ll Ever Need,Ever Need, Publishers Group West, 2006.Publishers Group West, 2006.

• Kenneth HensonKenneth Henson, , Grant Writing in Higher Education: A Step-by-Step Grant Writing in Higher Education: A Step-by-Step Guide,Guide, Prentice Hall, 2003.Prentice Hall, 2003.

Background and SignificanceBackground and Significanceoror

Need StatementNeed Statement

Your first impression on Your first impression on fundersfunders

Data, data, dataData, data, data

• In your initial background (or “need” section, In your initial background (or “need” section, you MUST make your initial case to fundersyou MUST make your initial case to funders

• In today’s environment, this means a In today’s environment, this means a compelling case for funding backed by good compelling case for funding backed by good datadata

• Use our website; use your campus research Use our website; use your campus research and information office; use national sources and information office; use national sources (National Center for Education Statistics; (National Center for Education Statistics; Postsecondary Education Opportunity, etc.)Postsecondary Education Opportunity, etc.)

Data, data, dataData, data, data

1 - 2 - 31 - 2 - 3

• 1 – Use statistical data from national 1 – Use statistical data from national or state resourceor state resource

• 2 – Use an expert’s statement2 – Use an expert’s statement

• 3 – Use an anecdote3 – Use an anecdote

What makes Oklahoma Unique What makes Oklahoma Unique in a Funder’s Eyesin a Funder’s Eyes

• Some examplesSome examples– Native American population both in K-12 Native American population both in K-12

and in higher educationand in higher education– Rural, underservedRural, underserved– Strong higher education system Strong higher education system

governance with relationship to private governance with relationship to private collegescolleges

– Historical data system with student unit Historical data system with student unit record level data going back to the 70’srecord level data going back to the 70’s

– Very strong preparation systemVery strong preparation system– Brain Gain; EDGE; OneNetBrain Gain; EDGE; OneNet

SignificanceSignificance

• Why your idea is worth funding above all Why your idea is worth funding above all othersothers

• Why your project can inform others in the Why your project can inform others in the nationnation

• Is there a successful project like yours Is there a successful project like yours somewhere else?somewhere else?

• Do you have preliminary results?Do you have preliminary results?

• Is your project replicable?Is your project replicable?

• Look into the future – what would it mean for Look into the future – what would it mean for the people of this state if your project succeedsthe people of this state if your project succeeds

Proposed Project PlanProposed Project Plan

• What is your broad goal? (one What is your broad goal? (one sentence)sentence)

Proposed Project PlanProposed Project Plan

• What are your objectives?What are your objectives?– measurablemeasurable

Proposed Project PlanProposed Project Plan

• What results do you expect?What results do you expect?– benchmarksbenchmarks

Proposed Project PlanProposed Project Plan

• Who will do what?Who will do what?

Proposed Project PlanProposed Project Plan

• Use charts to make the plan clearUse charts to make the plan clear

Evaluation and Evaluation and SustainabilitySustainability

• Evaluation should tie directly to your Evaluation should tie directly to your measurable goal(s) and objectivesmeasurable goal(s) and objectives

• You should be able to measure every You should be able to measure every one – formatively and summativelyone – formatively and summatively

• Align your program’s goals with the Align your program’s goals with the funder’s goals and measure funder’s goals and measure accordinglyaccordingly– e.g. GEAR UPe.g. GEAR UP

Formative EvaluationFormative Evaluation

• How will you check on your progress How will you check on your progress during the project?during the project?

• How will you know to make changes How will you know to make changes for improvement?for improvement?

Summative EvaluationSummative Evaluation

• How will you report the final results?How will you report the final results?

• To whom will you disseminate the To whom will you disseminate the information?information?

• What is the impact?What is the impact?

• How did you measure from the inside? How did you measure from the inside? How did you measure from the How did you measure from the outside?outside?

• What recommendations do you have What recommendations do you have for the next step?for the next step?

SustainabilitySustainability• Your final persuasive section – not all Your final persuasive section – not all

funders require this, but the majority dofunders require this, but the majority do• You have to make some reasonable You have to make some reasonable

promise to the funders that this agency promise to the funders that this agency will be able to sustain the activities after will be able to sustain the activities after the end of the project periodthe end of the project period

• Sometimes easy, sometimes hard…Sometimes easy, sometimes hard…• Flexibility – your institution takes it on, Flexibility – your institution takes it on,

your institution takes it on gradually, your institution takes it on gradually, another agency supports it in the futureanother agency supports it in the future

Dissemination PlanDissemination PlanHow will you share the results?How will you share the results?

•State and national conferencesState and national conferences

•Publications, i.e. journal articles, newslettersPublications, i.e. journal articles, newsletters

•Web SitesWeb Sites

•Pod casts, Wikipedia, Blogs, WebinarsPod casts, Wikipedia, Blogs, Webinars

• Interactive Television; Videoconferences Interactive Television; Videoconferences (OneNet)(OneNet)

•Commercial Television Ads or Public Service Commercial Television Ads or Public Service AnnouncementsAnnouncements

•News Releases, Newspaper AdsNews Releases, Newspaper Ads

•Community Organization MeetingsCommunity Organization Meetings

•School ClassesSchool Classes

•Speakers’ BureauSpeakers’ Bureau

Need help?Need help?Call or contactCall or contact

Dr. Linda MasonDr. Linda Mason

lmason@osrhe.edulmason@osrhe.edu

405-225-9486405-225-9486Website: http://www.okhighered.org/grant-Website: http://www.okhighered.org/grant-

oppsopps