Every teacher, at some point in his or her career, is inspired by an idea that will create a unique experience and take learning to a new level in the classroom or expand students’ horizons beyond the classroom walls. Soon after inspiration comes frustration—great ideas usually require money we don’t have in order to become reality. Years ago, rather than give up on my ideas, I decided to try my hand at grant writing and have been pleasantly surprised by my success. I’m convinced that any teacher with a good idea can write a good grant application with some careful preparation.

When I start thinking about applying for a grant, I first ask myself the “Three Big Questions,” in this order:

1. WHY do I want to do this project? Most people start by thinking about what they need. This is natural, since it’s where our ideas hit the lack-of-funds wall. However, I’ve found that starting with “why” instead of “what” clarifies in my own mind the goals of the project and the impact I wish to have on students’ learning. Since all grant applications require that you describe how you intend to evaluate the project’s effectiveness, thinking first about “why” makes that section easier. If I can’t clearly articulate to myself why I think the project is important and what I hope to accomplish, I won’t be able to convince anyone else.
2. HOW do I want to reach my goals? Before I start writing, I “backward map” step by step. If I want to convince someone to give me money, I need not only convince them that my idea is a great one, but that I have thought it out in detail and have a definite plan to carry it out. All grant applications ask you to give details about “how,” whether in a special section or in a project narrative. Again, if I can’t do this to my own satisfaction, my idea is “not ready for prime time,” and I need to think about it some more.
3. Finally, WHAT do I need to carry out the project? This is usually the easiest question, although I often have found that by clarifying my thinking through the first two questions, the list of what I need is somewhat different from what I initially thought I required.

I’ve always used this process, but I recently saw Simon Sinek’s TED talk about what he calls the Golden Circle, where he describes the same philosophy in terms of marketing. Since writing a grant application is, in essence, marketing yourself and your ideas, I encourage you to watch the short version here:

If you are new to grant writing, here are some basic but important things to keep in mind:

• Research the grant you’re considering and make sure your project is a good fit. Read the stated purpose of the grant carefully, and look at prior awards to give you some idea about what the organization considers important.
• Read the entire application itself before you start writing and follow the instructions meticulously. Due dates are always firm, and late or incomplete applications are not considered.
• Granting organizations are serious when they set word/page limits. If they say that your project narrative should be no longer than one page, don’t submit a two-page narrative. Readers sometimes have to review hundreds of applications, and excessive length is an easy way for them to eliminate yours. Be precise and concise.
• Don’t use educational jargon. Most of the time, the people reading your application are not educators, and using the “technical” language of teaching can be very off-putting to people outside our field.
• Most organizations (remember, they’re not teachers) are not interested in funding projects that deal with providing experiences or materials that they believe the school division should be funding—silkworms to enrich the study of ancient China, perhaps, or special seats to improve focus/achievement of hyperactive kids. Again, read the grant details. If you really need the chairs, you should probably talk to your PTO.
• Proofread! Print the application and proofread the hard copy to catch those auto format errors. Have someone else read your application and ask you hard questions. Answer those somehow in your revised version, and your application will be much stronger.

The next time “unfunded inspiration” strikes you, don’t be intimidated at the thought of writing a grant. As they say, “You can’t win if you don’t enter.”

Jennifer Whitenack is a Gifted Resource Teacher at Baker-Butler Elementary School.

Need assistance with grant writing? Our resident expert (a.k.a., Legislative and Public Affairs Officer), Nicole Storm, is happy to help! Please contact Nicole via email or by phone at 975-9452.