ING Unsung Heroes

Well, between packing my classroom up for the summer and some super, humbling accolades that I received, June went by in a blink. I know you are probably now in full on summer mode, but while you have the time off to think, consider applying for the ING Unsung Heroes award. Each year ING selects 100 teachers (about two from each state) to receive $2,000 for a classroom project, based on your written application and how you plan to use the funding. Once you are selected to receive the $2,000, you are eligible to be consider for the top three awards (3rd place is an additional $5,000, 2nd place another $12,000, and first place is $25,000)! It's a great honor to have your project selected and a chance to secure funding to do some wonderful activities in your class or school.
The application isn't due until April 30, 2014, but once the school year starts, things get so topsy-turvy busy that you end up having to forgo extra things like grants. Starting this year, it appears that you will be doing the application online instead of mailing it in. If you want to check out my past grant writing tips click here for the link. Take a look at it - you may just come up with a great summertime idea!
http://ing.us/about-ing/citizenship/childrens-education/ing-unsung-heroes
http://techknowclassroom.blogspot.com/search/label/grant%20writing

Donors Choose

There's a light at the end of the tunnel...and its name is Spring Break! Although the school year is nearing it's end, it's never too early to think about things you need for next year. If you haven't heard of the organization I'm about to tell you about, you're in for a treat - and if you have, I hope it encourages you to get thinking about what you could accomplish for your classroom!

Donors Choose is an online non-profit that allows donors and organizations to donate funding to classrooms across the country. All you need to do as a teacher is to make an account and create a project. Using the selected vendors that Donors Choose has designated (there's plenty of them for all your needs, ranging from basic supplies to technology to musical instruments), choose the materials that you need for your classroom. Once your write about how the materials will benefit your classroom, your project will go "live" in about five days so others can view your project.

So far, I have had two projects funded by Donors Choose this school year alone. I was pretty pumped to come home Thursday afternoon to find out someone had donated the remaining funding for additional math and reading materials for my classroom! How fast your project gets funded depends on many things. Your best bet is to create a project that is less than $400, even if it means breaking a larger project down into several requests. Mine were both under $400 and received funding within 3-4 months. Sometimes there are special opportunities for you to earn funding for your project, such as gifts cards through companies like Skype and Groupon.

If you needed any more motivation to post a project on Donors Choose , look no further than Horace Mann's The Classroom Project II. Starting April 4th, Horace Mann (a teacher's insurance company) will start funding 10 projects a week $500. All you need to do is "like" Horace Mann on Facebook and post your project ID number under the link for The Classroom Project II.

If you are a new teacher or just new to writing grants, Donors Choose is a great way to get practice creating projects for funding. You have nothing to loose and a lot to gain. There's no limit on how many projects you can have funded, so this is an opportunity to begin a means of securing materials for your students for years to come. It's pretty amazing to think that people you will never meet have the opportunity to impact your classroom and students. Take a look - you may think of something to write for over Spring Break! It's almost here!!!

http://www.donorschoose.org/teachers

http://www.horacemann.com/teacher-lounge/donorschoose.aspx

Grant Writing Tips #11 and #12

Whoo-hoo! You now have twelve terriffic tips to write a stand-out grant!

#11 Follow through – or don’t bother.
If you write a grant, it’s your “baby.” You can’t pass the buck and expect someone else to complete it for you because you get busy or frustrated. When you are awarded funds, you are developing a business partnership. How you conduct yourself will influence if you or others receive funding in the future. So order your materials, write your thank you letters (sending pictures of your grant in action is also a nice touch), complete the project, and send in the final report (if one is required). In other words, be a professional.

#12 If at first you don’t succeed…
Sometimes the path to having an idea funded is like a long, winding road. It’s not the end of the world. Many times it just comes down to too many people applying for too few funds. Take a look at what you wrote. There may be a better funding source for your grant, or maybe you need to revise how you presented your project. Everything gets better with time and practice – if you want it enough!

Grant Writing Tips #9 and #10

We are nearing the end of my grant writing tip series! Only two more to go after today! Don't worry, I've got another "set" of Sunday posts that I will start in a few weeks. Until then...

# 9 Negatives are your positives!

Securing funding isn't just about getting "stuff;" it's about making improvements. Don’t forget about your demographics and test data. Many grants request the demographic information for your school and/or classroom. Emphasize in your application how a particular demographic
benefits through your project (example: low socio-economic, status high special education population, etc.). If there is the potential to bring up a weak academic area as evidenced through test scores, include that, too. Make your statistics work for you!

#10 Measure up.
Even if it doesn’t ask for it, you should express in your grant application how you are going to monitor student progress. It shows your commitment to your project and its potential effectiveness. In the long run, it will help you write future grants and utilize resources in your classroom if you have the mindset that you will observe for the effectiveness of your project. What specifically are the desired outcomes? How will you know that your project was successful? State how you will know your goals have been met through your project.

Grant Writing Tips #7 and #8

I've been a little under the weather this past week, but I thought I'd at least keep up with my weekly grant tips. Look for more goodies later this week!

#7 Follow the directions. Seriously.

One way grants are sifted through is by eliminating those who didn’t heed the instructions. Alway read and follow the fine print, down to font size and margins. Your grant application is like a job application. If you don’t follow the word limit, include the required information, or meet the deadline, it’s already over. You’ve shown you don’t really want the “job.” If you have questions about how to complete the grant, there is usually an e-mail or phone number listed for you to contact for information. Better to be safe than sorry in the end.

#8 Grammar and spelling count. Word choice does, too.

Whatever you do, check your work before you turn it in. Nobody likes to read through a paper that’s a minefield of mechanical errors (not even you, teacher). The appearance of your grant application is just another way of showing you do or don't care. Nobody really wants to read something that goes over his or her head, either. Don’t use “big words” in attempt to impress the reader. After all it’s a grant application, not a college essay. Just be your best self, and you may be surprised at the outcome.

Grant Writing Tips #5 and #6

We're halfway there!

#5 Avoid using “filler words.”
I consider any word that can be left out and still maintain the flow of your writing a filler word. Fillers are fluff, the adult version of adding "I hope you liked my story" or "The end" to your essays in grade school. They are little, repetitive words that distract a reader from the purpose of your grant.

For example: the word “will” takes up a lot of space, especially if you have a word limit for your application. You will find yourself using "will" over and over and over...because your project hasn't happend yet. The solution: write your grant in the present tense and the reader can better visualize your project in action. Personally, I think it makes it sound like you have a better vision for your project. Another good word to leave out as much as possible: that. That takes up a lot of room, too. I'm also not too fond of "also."

#6 It’s all about the money. Budget wisely and sensibly.
Just because you can write a grant for up to $10,000 doesn’t mean you should. Those awarding grants want to spread their funds as much as possible. Think of your goals. While many projects do warrant great expenditures to make an idea a reality, keep in mind the materials you request should adequately and appropriately fulfill the intent of your project. Do your research so you can include the best prices for the requested materials. You need to be exact when you get to that all-important page where you need to list your materials and quantity. Remember to include any other extras that may be necessary to get your project off the ground, such as batteries or bulbs. Not that I know anything about having to make a last minute run to get a pack or two of Energizers (cough, cough).

Another good rule of thumb: break it up. Write grants for smaller amounts of money and fewer materials at a time to gradually build up to a large scale project. My personal opinion is that a well-written grant with a lower dollar figure stands a better chance than an over-the-top project that isn't clearly expressed - but that's just me.

Grant Writing Tips #3 and #4

It's time for the Sunday edition of grant writing tips! Add these to your collection from last week for some practical pointers on writing grants!

#3 Remember your audience.
Those reading your grant and distributing funds are most likely not teachers, especially if the funding is coming from a company or non-profit organization. They are usually business professionals who aren’t familiar with educational terms and lingo. You have to step into their world and write clearly and persuasively. Keep the education jargon to a minimum - especially acronyms (IEP, ESL, and RTI aren't going to ring a bell to them unless you explain what they stand for). Help them “see” your classroom by describing life with your students on a daily basis - in plain English.

When it comes down to it, grants are good PR for the organziations that fund and award them. It's school–business partnership at its finest where both parties benefit. That being said, those project proposals that stand out, that best represent the mission of the company or funding source, are going to become front runners. Learn about the organization awarding the funds. What do they produce or support? What types of projects have they funded in the past? Do your homework and apply it to your writing - and you can make them want you to represent them as a grant recipient!

#4 Don't complain. Ever.
Yes, those reading your grant have heard that classrooms are overcrowded, there isn’t enough money for resources, and teachers are strapped to provide the best for their students. Otherwise they wouldn’t be funding classroom projects. Don’t waste valuable space telling them the obvious. There's a difference between describing your students' needs and just...well, complaining. State what you do to promote student learning in spite of the circumstances. Come across as someone who has a solution to improve your students’ learning environment, not one who dwells on the problems.

Tune in next Sunday for more tips!

Grant Writing Tips #1 and #2

I figured since I've been posting a lot of grant opportunities, it wouldn't hurt to pass on some of my tried-and-true tips for writing successful grants. So here's what I'll do: each Sunday for the next 6 weeks or so, I'll post some helpful grant writing strategies. I'm pulling these from a presentation I gave earlier this school year, so some of you may find these familiar.

So you want to write a grant...

#1: There is nothing wrong with cute. Start out smart and create a catchy title!
The title of your grant is like a movie preview. A snazzy, catchy, play-on-words will capture the reader’s attention and set your application apart from the rest! Acronyms are also a great way to name your project and set its purpose. Will your preview capture your audience's attention?

#2: Think project, not product.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a Smart Board or an iPad for your classroom. The fact that you simply want one, however, shouldn’t be the focus of your grant. Develop an experience or project for your students that have them using the materials requested in an innovative manner. What are your students’ weaknesses? How could you reach them better? What are your instructional goals? That alone should drive the focus and content of your grant.

Check in next Sunday for tips #3 and #4! Have a great week in the classroom!