Tech & Learning - July 2008 - (Page 34)

THE MONEY ISSUE: HOW TO GET IT FILL IN THE HOLES Take the time to read and re-read the RFP thoroughly. Make several copies and carry one around with you. Highlight action verbs. Follow the guidelines of the RFP, and create a tabbed notebook with a section for each part of the proposal. Most proposals follow a similar format and your tabs will probably look something like this: abstract, introduction, assessment of needs, goals and objectives, activities, key personnel, evaluation, and budget. As you complete a section, place it behind the appropriate tab and fill in the holes. I like to begin with the budget. This forces me to think through all aspects of my project, and it helps to determine if my project will be doable given the available funds. KNOW WHEN TO STOP Getting started on a proposal is the easy part. Knowing when to stop is less clear. After writing and rewriting, at some point you need to let go and place your energy elsewhere. Go with your gut feeling. You do not need to make every correction that others may suggest. Use suggestions that make sense to you. TIP #6 MAKE IT A PRACTICE How do you become a grantwriter? Most people don’t start out to be grantwriters, but opportunities present themselves, and they jump at the chance. There are many books, workshops, and conferences devoted to grantwriting. The winning grant writer will write well, will have a flair for organization, and will draw readers into the writing. Grantseekers may benefit from taking a community college class in journalism. Learning how a reporter crafts and organizes a story translates directly to grantwriting. Practicing journalism skills will help you succeed at proposal preparation. JUDGE FOR YOURSELF Many RFPs include a scoring rubric to guide you in the preparation of your proposal. If one is included, write to the rubric. It’s also a good idea to offer your services as a grant reader. This invaluable experience will help you to recognize what grant readers see. You will gain experience in the grant writing process by reading outstanding proposals, and learn even more from reviewing mediocre ones. You will see first-hand how readers scored each component of a proposal and find examples of how different grantseekers tackled the same RFP. TIP #7 PARTY AND GIVE THANKS Celebrate all your hard work and the work of your team. Plan milestone events that mark your progress. Remember to take lots of pictures, tape video interviews, and gather testimonials along the way. Make sure to thank your funders, partners, and participants. Give credit to those who make your project a success. Throughout the grantwriting process, you will need to gain new skills and take on jobs that may be unfamiliar to you. You will soon become a skilled publicist, social director, author, researcher, and tour guide. IF YOU GOT IT, SHARE IT Grantfunders like to invest their money in projects that take on a life of their own. In planning your proposal, pay particular attention to how you will share your project with others. Will yours be a model visitation site? Will your project produce reports or products that others may want? Will others be able to adopt and adapt your project? Will you create news releases, a project Web site, or have other ways to share what you have accomplished? TIP #8 TIP #11 TIP #10 TIP #9 For more info, head over to techlearning.com “Grantfunders like to invest their money in projects that take on a life of their own. In planning your proposal, pay particular attention to how you will share your project with others.” 34 | TECH & LEARNING http://techlearning.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech & Learning - July 2008

Tech & Learning - July 2008 Contents Editor's Desk News & Trends In the Money How They Got So Rich The Better Ways to Win a Grant What's the Big Idea? Cover Your Assets Leader of the Year

Tech & Learning - July 2008

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