The Plus 50 Initiative Grant Writing 101

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The Plus 50 InitiativeGrant Writing 101

• American Association of Community Colleges
• Funded with a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies
• Presented by
• Karen Norris, Grants Manager
• Montgomery College, Maryland

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Presentation Overview

• Writing Context AACC Plus 50 Initiative
• Writing Context Atlantic Philanthropies
• Writing Context Community College
• Grant Writing for Success
• A Few Words About Partners
• Sustainability

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I. Writing and Context AACC The Plus 50
Initiative

• Re-wired
• Re-hired
• Re-inspired

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II. Writing and Context Atlantic
Philanthropies Lasting Change

• we support efforts to make systemic and
  lasting change through new laws, policies, and
  programmes. We believe in the power of advocacy
  by the people who will benefit by it. Atlantic
  seeks to strengthen leaders and institutions,
  because doing so is the best insurance of a
  vibrant movement for social equality and justice
  that will endure long after we have made our last
  grant.
• Gara LaMarche, President and CEO, on behalf of
• Charles Chuck Feeney, Founder
• Photo Credit Atlantic Philanthropies

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III. Writing and Context Community College
Mission and Impact

• Do you know your Colleges mission statement?
• The students' education is the first priority at
  Cape Cod Community College.
• Central Florida Community College offers
  educational opportunities which are accessible,
  affordable and high quality.
• Century College inspires, prepares, and empowers
  students to succeed in a changing world.
• What are national trends for community colleges?
• What is your projects potential impact?

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IV. Grant Writing for Success
Why Pursue Grants?
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Benefits and Risks

• Benefits
• Grants support programs through new opportunities
  and resources
• Grants cultivate partnerships and endorsements
• Risks
• Grants are competitive
• Grants generate additional responsibilities

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What is the Purpose of the Grant?

• Before you begin writing, think about context,
  priorities, needs, impact, and sustainability.
• Share your thoughts with leadership and gain
  approval to pursue your project.

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The Writing Begins Priorities and Selection
Criteria

• Read the grant guidelines
• Find the defined purpose of the program
• Find the list of criteria that will be scored
• Base your narrative outline on the priorities and
  selection criteria

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Federal Grants

• Funding Priorities
• Absolute
• Competitive
• Invitational

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Federal GrantsInvestigate for Scoring Methods

• Selection Criteria
• Purpose
• Extent of need
• Plan of operation
• Quality of key personnel
• Budget and cost effectiveness
• Evaluation plan
• Adequacy of resources

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Purpose _____________________

• Meet the needs of the authorizing statute
• Address the absolute priorities
• Correlate the grantors purpose to the proposed
  project
• Focus on anticipated outcomes

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Extent of Need

• Include local statistics and data
• Correlate the local data to national data
• Conduct a needs assessment or SWOT analysis
  (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
• Describe the need for Plus 50 programs on your
  community college campus

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Plan of Operation

• Goals and objectives
• Activities
• Methods or strategies
• Timeline
• Management plan

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Sample Objective

• We will create a new math computer lab that
  includes the latest software designed to help
  students learn college algebra. (assumes that
  learning will take place)
• Or
• Students enrolled in college algebra in the Fall
  2010 term who successfully complete 30 hours of
  computer-based academic support in the new math
  lab will reflect a course completion rate 10
  higher than a comparable cohort of students who
  do not have access to the lab. (documents that
  learning takes place)
• Which objective sounds more worthy of funding?

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Quality of Key Personnel

• Quality is key. Who is responsible for
  implementation? What qualifications and prior
  experience do they bring to the project? Think
  about sustainability.
• What percentage of
• tuition supports
• positions?

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Budget and Cost Effectiveness

• A good budget does more than add correctly. The
  budget should be large enough to accomplish the
  proposed objectives and activities, but it should
  be cost-effective and reasonable.
• Is your project a good investment?
• Are there existing resources to support costs?
• Do requested costs match the narrative?
• Will the investment of funds make a difference?

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Evaluation

• What will be evaluated?
• Who will be responsible for the evaluation?
• What methods will ensure timely collection of
  data?
• What instruments will be used?
• Is there base-line data?
• Are pre- and post-tests feasible?
• Should surveys, interviews, and meeting records
  be used?
• Is IRB approval required?
• Is a third-party evaluator required?

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Adequacy of Resources

• What can be contributed toward the project? Are
  classrooms available, computers, Internet,
  faculty, a finance office or grant accountants,
  libraries, scholarships? Are these resources
  still available once the project has ended?

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Federal GrantsWhat Else is Included in a
Proposal?

• Federal proposals have four basic components (1)
  cover page and other forms, (2) narrative, (3)
  budget, and
• (4) appendices.

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Federal Reviewer Score Sheet
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Searching for Public Grants

• www.grants.gov
• Individual agency websites such as the US
  Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health
  and Human Services (including NIH, CDC,
  Administration on Aging, National Institute on
  Aging)
• State agency websites
• Local government websites

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Corporate Foundation Grants

• Private funders can offer an appropriate
  alternative for grant seeking.

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Foundation Grants

• Foundations often require a Letter of Inquiry
  (LOI) or preliminary application
• Standard application form
• Descriptive letter

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Letter of Inquiry-Preliminary Application

• Preliminary applications usually include
• Purpose of grant
• Statement of need
• Population served
• Amount requested with itemized budget
• Strategy to secure full funding (in-kind
  support)
• Plan of action including milestones and target
  dates
• Evaluation plan
• Some foundations also request
• Annual report
• Most recent financial statement
• Copy of IRS 501(c)(3) Letter
• List of Board of Directors/Trustees

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Searching for Private Grants

• Resources for private funding include
• Foundation Center at www.foundationcenter.org
• Regional Area Grantmakers (RAGs) at
  www.givingforum.org
• Local Community Foundations at
  www.communityfoundations.net
• Council on Foundations at www.cof.org
• Professional Associations
• Corporate Foundations

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A Few Words About Partners

• Most large initiatives benefit from the
  participation of partner organizations or
  collaborators. What happens beyond termination of
  the project period?

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The Concept of Sustainability

• Lasting change
• Impact
• Long-term outcomes

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Beyond the Project Period

• Sample language
• While all the objectives of the project strive
  to build capacity, it is important to develop
  with purpose an initiative that will be sustained
  over time. Several factors contribute to the
  sustainability of the program. The level of
  support may not replace 100 of the grantor
  contribution however, sustainable components
  include 1) the relationships forged among
  community college, four-year institutions of
  higher education, business, county, and military
  partners 2) the business community networks
  created 3) the project infrastructure including
  existing college faculty, leadership, and
  courses 4) the knowledge gained through the
  extensive outreach efforts and 5) the
  development and refinement of curriculum and
  course offerings.

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Thank You for Participating

• In Summary
• Think about purpose and priorities.
• Remember to address context.
• Gain approval of your idea with leadership.
• Search for the selection criteria in the grant
• guidelines and make an outline for your
  narrative.
• Plan your program with sustainability in mind.
• Best wishes for continued success.

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AACC

• Leading advocate for the nations community
  colleges for more then 80 years.
• 95 of all public two-year colleges are members
  of AACC.
• Represents 1,195 community colleges with close to
  12 million students annually.
• AACC is the voice for the largest and most
  diverse sector of U.S. higher education.

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For More Information

• http//Plus50.aacc.nche.edu

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Presenter Grantwriting 101

• Karen Norris
• Grants Manager
• Montgomery College
• 900 Hungerford Drive Suite 254
• Rockville, Maryland 20850
• 240-567-4028 phone
• 240-567-7314 fax
• karen.norris_at_montgomerycollege.edu

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Grantwriting 101