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Looking for Funds in All the Right Places ….
But: Have You Developed the Program First?

Sandra Copman, Office of High School Renewal

I am very happy to announce that my role within the Office of High School Renewal has shifted a bit. I will still work on searching for funding sources, writing grant proposals and designing research protocols for various programs and schools within the small school / small learning community initiative. However, I will be working more closely with individual schools and groups of collaborating partners to edit proposals, offer program design and implementation advise, send out announcements of possible funding sources or award applications, and assist in other facets program development. In fact, that is my key message: I believe that program development and grant proposal writing/seeking funds go hand-in-hand. I believe that I am a program developer first and then someone who tries to find the funds to support the programs.

There are literally thousands of funding sources and opportunities for a vast range of programs and services. But first, the school seeking the funds must have a plan for using those funds, if approved, that coincides with their overall school mission and purposes. The concept for the program, project or set of support services for which funds are needed has to first be developed. The developers need to discuss early on what might support the project or services after the external funds are terminated. What is the plan for sustainability? How will the program be measured? Who will do the ongoing, formative - not just summative - evaluation?

In addition, it is typically advantageous to identify the partners or agencies that should be involved and get them to the table in the planning stages. These are just a few aspects of the necessary link between program development and grant writing.

Grant proposal writing is part of the whole process but if simply writing the proposal comes first, and the funds are approved, you can then find yourself scrambling for the program to be accepted by staff and fully implemented. If, for example, you want a program that offers students after-school tutoring, there are many sources that will fund this area of national student need. But first you need to discuss where in the building the tutoring will take place and ask questions like: will that part of the building have the support you need, will school security need to be hired overtime, how will students get home past school hours in the dark, will the potential tutors expect to be paid more than the funds you might get will provide. There are dozens of questions to first work out. If not, the funders will likely want these answers and your proposal will be rejected.

An after-school program involving tutoring might be better if it also included a mentoring component. If so, you need to think about the various agencies that Boston already has that offer mentors. Have you thought about partnering with them to form a broader collaboration? A larger collaboration with common goals and clear objectives, and a well thought out management plan (who will do what) is often a more desirable program to fund from a funder's point of view. It might also be more beneficial to the students. This is just one example.

I am available to assist our high schools in addressing some of the development issues or advising on evaluation and research, in creating partnerships, in seeking grant funds, in writing proposals, in editing proposals, and in helping with the many other areas of need related to program development and grant writing, especially as they relate to small school development / small learning communities work. I will be especially involved this year in writing specific "boiler plate" sections that each school could use for their proposals after the designated person at that school adapts the boiler plates to more exactly fit their needs and describe the program, school, and recipients of the potential funds. I can be reached at 617-212-6464, 617-635-8079 x133, or by email: scopman@boston.k12.ma.us. We can set up times to meet to decide which part of the process you are at, where you need help, or if you simply need some editing assistance.

Please also remember that Charlotte Harris is the Director of Development for BPS and can be of tremendous assistance in multiple ways. You will also need to contact Charlotte as you find potential funding sources to which you might want to apply. For more information on these various procedures, please call me.

In closing, the following are just a few links or sites to places where you can find possible funding sources or funding announcements, including awards, and other information and tips. I took the liberty of copying most of these announcements from several publications that we receive. I will keep updating you.

Intel Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards Program
Intel Corporation and Scholastic Inc. are pleased to present the Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction awards program to give outstanding K-12 schools in the United States the recognition and support they deserve. The 2005 program, presented by the Intel Innovation in Education initiative and education leader Scholastic Inc., is administered by Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc. The nation's best schools demonstrate excellence for implementing innovative programs that support positive educational outcomes. The awards highlight their successes, celebrate their innovative use of technology, demonstrate the benefits of strong teamwork, and showcase the classroom practices of excellent teachers. Application deadline: December 1, 2004. http://www.schoolsofdistinction.com/ .

Scoop Up Those Elusive Grant Dollars
The best things in life are free, that's true. But a few extra dollars in your pocket sure makes things a whole lot easier. That's where Jim Quick comes in. He says the odds are not in your favor when you write a grant proposal -- because so many organizations apply, fewer than 5 percent of submitted proposals get funded -- but there are several tricks that can increase your odds of snagging the loot. "Grants are not charity, but investments," he says. And Quick offers ten tips for grant seekers, and some good news: "K-12 funding is going up, up, up." http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=art_1156.

Global and Peace Educator Awards
Each year, Global TeachNet, a program of the National Peace Corps Association, recognizes K-12 educators who exhibit a commitment to bringing global education into U.S. classrooms. Teachers can nominate themselves or be nominated by others. Qualified applicants include Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and non-RPCVs whose global education efforts in the classroom span at least one academic year. The nominees selected demonstrate an outstanding job of leading our youth to a knowledge of and respect for the people, cultures and nations of the world and an understanding of their interdependence. Award winners receive a $500 monetary award and national recognition. Nominations for the awards must be postmarked by October 18, 2004. http://www.rpcv.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=55

Department of Education Forecast of Funding
This document lists virtually all programs and competitions under which the Department of Education has invited or expects to invite applications for new awards for FY 2004 and provides actual or estimated deadline dates for the transmittal of applications under these programs. The lists are in the form of charts -- organized according to the Department's principal program offices -- and include programs and competitions we have previously announced, as well as those they plan to announce at a later date. Note: This document is advisory only and is not an official application notice of the Department of Education. They expect to provide regular updates to this document. http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html.

Information on Grants for School Health Programs & Services
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/funding/index.htm.

Grantionary
The Grantionary is a list of grant-related terms and their definitions. http://www.eduplace.com/grants/help/grantionary.html.

GrantsAlert
GrantsAlert is a website that helps nonprofits, especially those involved in education, secure the funds they need to continue their important work. http://www.grantsalert.com/.

Grant Writing Tips
SchoolGrants has compiled an excellent set of grant writing tips for those that need help in developing grant proposals. http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips.htm.

FastWEB
FastWEB is the largest online scholarship search available, with 600,000 scholarships representing over one billion in scholarship dollars. It provides students with accurate, regularly updated information on scholarships, grants, and fellowships suited to their goals and qualifications, all at no cost to the student. Students should be advised that FastWEB collects and sells student information (such as name, address, e-mail address, date of birth, gender, and country of citizenship) collected through their site. http://www.fastweb.com/.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE)
More than 30 Federal agencies formed a working group in 1997 to make hundreds of federally supported teaching and learning resources easier to find. The result of that work is the FREE website. http://www.ed.gov/free/.

eSchool News School Funding Center
Information on up-to-the-minute grant programs, funding sources, and technology funding. http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/funding/.

Philanthropy News Digest
Philanthropy News Digest, a weekly news service of the Foundation Center, is a compendium, in digest form, of philanthropy-related articles and features culled from print and electronic media outlets nationwide. http://fdncenter.org/pnd/.

School Grants
A collection of resources and tips to help K-12 educators apply for and obtain special grants for a variety of projects. http://www.schoolgrants.org.

Califone Announces 2004-2005 Stone Scholarship Contest
Califone Inc., a manufacturer of high-quality audio technology for the education market, has announced the 2004-2005 Stone Scholarship Contest for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students. Nine preK-8 students will be awarded U.S. Savings Bonds and Califone audio equipment. Entries must be submitted by April 30, 2005. Winners will be announced by May 31, 2005. Official rules, participant applications and other official forms are available at: http://www.califone.com/press_release.php?pid=69.