Grant Writing Basics

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Grant Writing Basics

• A presentation on the basic elements of grant
  proposal writing and an overview on how to find
  information about grant resources.

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Grants Assistance Unit

• a unit of Office of Government Relations and
  Public Affairs
• provides technical grant grooming assistance,
  etc.
• assists applicants in preparing proposal budgets,
  board reports, etc.
• offers grant writing workshops

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Other Services Provided

• searches, monitors, and screens funding
  opportunities
• publishes Grants Alerts on LAUSDnet, District
  Communications System, Spotlight, United
  Teachers, etc.
• maintains a resource library
• mails and bundles proposals to funders
• others

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Grants Assistance Unit 1999-2000 Staff

• Erick Mata, Director
• Michelle Brenner, Coordinator
• John Ralles, Specialist
• Ed Trimis, Specialist
• Malinda Sebastian, Financial Aide
• Rita Alvarado, Admin. Secretary
• TeNesha Moseley, Computer Office Oper.
• Lois Pride, Office Assistant

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Grants Assistance Unit Info.

• 450 North Grand Avenue, Room A-413
• Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Phone [phone], -6596, -6597
• Hotline [phone]
• Fax Number [phone]

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Grants Assistance Unit URL

• Grants Assistance Unit Web site address
  http//www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/
• offices/instruct/grants/

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GAUs Recent Accomplishments

• Increased funding through grants, over
• 80 million
• Expanded grants Web site
• Increased articulation among district offices and
  schools and others
• More service oriented-approach

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The Funding Development Process
Needs Assessment
Project Development
Funding Source Identification
Proposal Writing
Program Implementation (if funded)
Monitoring and Program Evaluation
Sustainability
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LAUSDs 1998 Mission Statement

• The teachers, administrators, and staff of the
  Los Angeles Unified School District believe in
  the equal worth and dignity of all students and
  are committed to educate all students to their
  maximum potential.
• Adopted by the Board of Education in 1998

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Opening Activity

• Write what you think your school, department or
  grade-levels instructional vision/mission is.
• Read your statement to the group.
• Discuss its implications on the Districts
  mission.
• What resources exist to help your school carry
  out this mission?
• What resources does your school need to realize
  it?

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Develop a plan to address an aspect of the school
mission

• Plan
• -What
• -Who
• -Why
• -When
• -How

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How can grant funds help?

• Discuss in groups

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Where do you go from here?

• Form grant teams
• Search funding opportunities
• Develop/Continue partnerships
• Match your school priorities with the
  Superintendents Goals and Objectives
• Match district/school goals with funders
• Submit proposals
• Implement programs

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Funding Sources

• Federal
• State
• Local
• Foundations
• Corporations
• Individuals, etc.

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Categories of Giving

• Public (supported by tax revenues)
• Private (philanthropic giving by foundations,
  corporations, bequests, and individuals)

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Federal Grants

• Funds available nationwide
• In 1980 approx. 40 billion
• In 1995 approx. 75 billion

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Federal Sources

• U. S. Department of Education
• U. S. Department of Commerce
• Environmental Protection Agency
• U. S. Dept. of Housing Urban Develop.
• Announcements/notices found in the Federal
  Register, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,
  Internet, etc.

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State Sources

• California Department of Education (CDE)
• Some Examples of CDE Grant Programs
• Academic Volunteer Mentor Service
• California Public Schools Library Prot.
• Digital High School

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Local Sources

• Los Angeles County Office of Education as
  administrators of State grant programs
• City of Los Angeles (EX Proposition K)
• Los Angeles Educational Partnership
• School Districts

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Foundations

• Foundation Directory- a catalog of nonprofits
  under IRS code 501c(3)
• Usually give to nonprofits
• LAUSD is tax-exempt but currently DOES NOT have a
  Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code designation
  except for its Adult Division

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Philanthropic Giving

• In 1995 approx. 135 billion
• In 1997 approx. 143.5 billion
• Source Giving USA

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Four Basic Private Sources

• Foundations
• Corporations
• Bequests
• Individuals

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Private SourcesCategories of Giving

• Religion
• Health
• Human Services
• Education
• Humanities
• Public Benefit
• International/Environment

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Solution

• partnerships with nonprofits with 501c(3) like
  PTAs, community-based organizations (CBOs)
• partner becomes the fiscal agent while schools
  still receive the services
• CBOs as conduits

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Foundations in the U.S.

• over 45,000 foundations in the U.S.
• but majority give modest-to-small
• required to give out 5 of assets per year to
  organizations
• required to disclose grantees amounts on IRS
  tax return (990-PF)
• require recipients to be tax-exempt under Section
  501c(3) of the IRS Code

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For each Foundation listing, read about the
organizations

• field(s) of interest
• history of giving
• range of giving
• limitations
• contact information
• others

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The Foundation Directory

• provides information on over 7,000 foundations
  with assets of 2 m or higher, or gives 200,000
  or more
• published annually (over 2,000 pages)
• cost around 200 per copy
• to order, call 1-800-424-9836
• but GAU has one other libraries have it too

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Nonprofits under Section 501c(3)

• eligible to receive grants (operating fdn.)
• give funding sources favorable tax incentives
• are corporationsorganized and operated
  exclusively for religious, charitable,
  scientific, testing for public safety, literary,
  or educational purposes (IRS Code of Reg.)
• in 1995, over 575,690 nonprofits

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Isnt LAUSD tax-exempt?

• yes, but it is not a nonprofit organization under
  Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code
• donations made to LAUSD are deductible under
  Section 170/IRS Code
• see Bulletin No. 66 (Sept. 1, 1994)- Business
  Services Division

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Corporations

• often used as a way to pilot new projects
• very selective specialized
• public relations for the corporation
• check first with administration, district staff,
  etc. before proceeding

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Individuals, etc.

• philanthropists
• through personal connections
• through fundraisers, boosters, etc.
• through parents, business/community members, etc.

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Key terms

• Proposal
• Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Request for Application (RFA)
• nonprofit
• tax-exempt
• grant team
• fiscal agent

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Who makes up a grant team?

• Researchers/historian/statistician
• Idea people/stakeholders
• Writers/editors
• Budget developer
• Proofreader
• Application coordinator/timekeeper
• Others?

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Is there a match...

• between the school need and the funders field(s)
  of interest ,and does the proposed program align
  with the Superintendents Objective and Goals?
  And school/dept/ grade-level mission/vision?

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Elements of a Proposal

• Abstract
• Program Narrative
• Needs Assessment
• Goals/Objectives/Activities
• Evaluation
• Budget Summary
• Budget Narrative
• Letters of Support/Other Attachments

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Regardless of the type of grant...

• Focus on your district/school/dept./grade
  educational mission and vision
• Avoid asking for stuff like computers instead
  focus on why you need computers to provide a
  service to your clients the students
• Highlight how your proposed project will help
  advance your mission/vision

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Lets Review!

• Whats a proposal?
• Why is it important to match school priorities
  with those of funders?
• Why is it important to have a grant team?
• Why are partnerships crucial?
• How can you find potential funding sources?

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Thank you...

• For additional assistance, call the Grants
  Assistance Unit (GAU) at [phone] or
• Visit GAUs Web Site via LAUSDnet
• www.lausd.k12.ca.us --- click offices

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How can parents, business, and community partners
help local schools?

• Join school grant teams
• Provide human and fiscal resources
• Provide advocacy to the project