Grants 101 Developing a Successful Grant Application Karen

Grants 101 Developing a Successful Grant Application Karen Smits Director of Planning and Development Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

What is a Grant Application? It’s a document describing: • Who you are • What you want to do • Why you want to do it • How you will get it done • How someone will know what’s been done • What it will cost April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 2

It’s not really about the Money “We don’t support organizations – We make change happen” Peter Berliner – Paul G. Allen Foundation “A grant is a developed project that someone wants to fund” Karen Smits April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 3

It’s really about helping a funder realize his/her goals Example - Rural Development Housing & Community Facilities Programs - USDA • Grants to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20, 000 in population. Applicants located in small communities with low populations and low incomes will receive a higher percentage of grants. • Grants are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, and special-purpose districts, as well as non-profit corporations and tribal governments. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 4

Where do I start? Basic sections to most grant applications: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Cover letter Executive Summary Statement of Need Goals and Objectives Methods, Strategies or Program Design Evaluation Project Sustainability Organizational Information Budget April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 5

Cover Letter • Very important for Foundation or Corporate requests • Seldom included with government grants requests • Print on letterhead • Address the letter to a specific person • Describe the alignment between your proposal and the organization’s mission April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 6

Example of Cover Letter Preparing a workforce that can decrease our energy burden is the goal of XXX Corporation and NWTC. On behalf of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), I am writing to request $30, 000 toward the development of a photovoltaic laboratory to provide students and experienced electricians with a hands-on learning experience in the growing field of solar panel installation and maintenance. Funds will be used to purchase supplies for the laboratory (e. g. , panels, inverters)……The estimated cost of the proposed project is $100, 000. The costs would cover: • (4) IKW systems of various mounting types including inverters, panels, and installation; • Preparation for installation of systems including ground prep and fence; and • Curriculum development. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 7

Executive Summary • Very Brief summary of the project • Key points of your project • No new information - summarize only what is included in the proposal narrative. • A good executive summary will compel the reader to want to continue reading April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 8

Example of Executive Summary The Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) is seeking ATE Project funding in the area of Program Improvement for its Energy and Environmental Innovation Pathway Project. This project is a collaborative educational and industry effort to generate skilled professionals in the fields of energy, renewable technologies and sustainability. The goals of the Energy and Environmental Innovation Pathway Project are to: 1. Create a pipeline of high school students interested in pursuing careers in energy and/or environmental science. 2. Establish an educational/career pathway in energy and environmental science for NWTC and University of Wisconsin Green Bay (UWGB) current and/or returning students that serves as a regional/national model. To accomplish these goals, the project activities will include: providing professional development to high school teachers; improving program recruitment of high school seniors by offering summer programming and a college level course with transferable credits; and developing triangulated articulation agreements and internship opportunities. The audience for this project will be high school students, high school educators, two-year and four-year college students, and returning professionals pursing a degree and/or certificate. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 9

Statement of Need • Laying the foundation for your project • Convince the reader that the project is needed and important to do now • Need evidence - Use both quantitative data and qualitative examples • Don’t use circular reasoning (the absence of your project is the actual problem) April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 10

Example of Statement of Need Oral healthcare access is extremely limited for persons living in northeast Wisconsin without dental insurance or those who are MA recipients. Very few, if any, dentists in Brown County currently accept new MA or uninsured patients. According to the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, Brown County has one full-time dentist for every 48, 527 low-income individuals. The ratio in Brown County of low-income individuals to full-time dentists who treat them, 48, 527: 1, is five times greater than the highest score possible for the national dental Health Professional Shortage area criteria. It is clear that northeast Wisconsin has an oral healthcare crisis for its low income residents. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 11

Goals, Objectives and Activities • Most government grants require performance measures (aka measureable outcomes) • Describe how the need will be addressed • Goal – Broad abstract statement of what you will accomplish • Objectives – Make them S. M. A. R. T; Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timebound • Activities – Specific steps to complete the objectives April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 12

Example of Goals 1) Incumbent workers will have Smart Grid applied skills necessary to maintain employment 2) Consumers will be aware of additional education and training for career advancement 3) Incumbent workers, unemployed, and current energy industry students will be prepared for the emerging Smart Grid workforce. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 13

Example of Objectives 1. A model curriculum that incorporates the latest technologies to provide hands on application through real-life scenarios will be available for large scale dissemination. 2. Up to 48 existing electro-mechanical course credits will be virtualized and accessible online anytime, anywhere by anybody. 3. An advanced training certificate option in Smart Grid technologies will be available to incumbent workers in northeast Wisconsin. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 14

Example of Activities 1. Collaborate with industry leaders in northeast Wisconsin to establish skill set competencies for existing and emerging jobs in Smart Grid-related disciplines. 2. Retrofit existing programs with industry identified Smart Grid skill set competencies. 3. Increase the accessibility to electro-mechanical courses throughout the region, especially in rural areas by virtualizing curriculum. 4. Establish an Advanced Smart Grid Certificate for incumbent workers. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 15

Methods, Strategies or Program Design • Describe in narrative form how you will carry out the project and who will be served • Include a timeline • Make sure strategies line up with the need and goals • Align with the budget • Include best practices, partners, who will do what • Use charts to show process • Remember that the reader knows nothing about your organization, describe the project clearly April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 16

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Project Evaluation • Answers the question – How do we know the project made a difference? • Can use internal or external evaluators • Measures if the methods specified were used and if the objectives were met • Measures if an impact was made on the identified need • Allows the grant recipient to make improvements throughout the life of the project April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 18

Example of Evaluation This comprehensive data collection will be used to inform and modify the project based on empirical data as it moves along the project implementation timeline (formative evaluation) as well as to summarize annual progress made towards stated goals, objectives, and outcomes (summative evaluation). A primary goal of the evaluation process is to assess the extent to which project goals and objectives are successfully met. However, an often overlooked purpose of evaluation is to foster understanding of the evaluation process among stakeholders and participants and promote its use to modify and improve the project during its implementation. A utilization focused (Patton, 2004) data collection plan will be employed so that project stakeholders can make data-driven decisions throughout the project, will be engaged and empowered throughout the evaluation process. In addition, in order to foster continuous dialog throughout the evaluation process, all stakeholders in the project will have full access to the evaluator, the evaluation plan, and the evaluation results. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 19

Project Sustainability • Communicate to the funder that you have a plan to continue the project once the grant funding runs out • Convinces the funder that the project will have a long term effect on the problem • A good opportunity to showcase community and other partnerships • Demonstrates a community ownership of the solution to the need statement April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 20

Example of Project Sustainability One of the key objectives of this project is to develop a self-sustaining network that will be managed by NWTC-Marinette and the Bay Area Workforce Development Board. Aside from the time commitment of partnering agencies, minimal resources are needed to maintain the system. Through the action plan that will be developed, resources from individual partners will be optimized to achieve regional goals. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 21

Organizational Information • Describe the mission of your organization • Display the experience of the organization, the successes, the well trained staff, the capacity to meet the objectives • Describe why your organization is uniquely able to meet the objectives April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 22

Example of Organizational Information Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a leading provider of health-related associate degrees and technical diplomas in Wisconsin. NWTC offers 15 degree and diploma programs in a multitude of health disciplines, including but not limited to dental assisting, dental hygiene, nursing, radiography, and physical therapy. On-site training at clinical facilities is an integral component of health occupation training. It is during the on-site clinical training that NWTC health students develop their skills to interact with patients and apply the health competencies they have learned. NWTC has partnered with more than 135 healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics covering two states, so that NWTC health occupation students have real-life situations in which to train. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 23

Budget • Direct costs usually divided into basic categories: Personnel, capital equipment, supplies, travel, indirect costs, in-kind or match contributions • Ensure that every item in the budget corresponds to an activity in the grant narrative • Describe how you calculated the budget – the budget narrative April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 24

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You’ve submitted your proposal – now what? • Make sure it’s been received; request a confirmation when your application is submitted • Call the program officer judiciously regarding the disposition of your grant application • Celebrate when you are awarded!!! April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 26

Projects that aren’t awarded • Use as an improvement opportunity • Ask for the reviewer comments • Speak to the program officer (if allowable) about submitting again • Learn from the experience April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 27

Example of Unfunded Proposal • Source: Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – Learn & Serve America ‘ 08 Higher Education College Student Social Media Initiative • Received 73 Applications and funded 6 April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 28

Excerpt from Proposal Partnerships with community organizations are essential to the success of the Surf N’Serve Initiative. Offering a variety of authentic service learning opportunities that appeal to traditional and non-traditional students is key to generating interest in service. This cannot be done without community relationships and clear communication. Recognizing this, NWTC has partnered with the United Way and the Volunteer Center, two wellrespected organizations with large membership bases, to maximize resources and build on existing relationships. . . April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 29

Reviewer comments Identified Strengths: • The applicant exhibited thorough knowledge of existing social media Strong sources for site and connection to classroom • The applicant has built strong community partnerships with nonprofits, particularly the United Way. April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 30

Another Excerpt The Surf N’Serve Initiative is designed to mobilize and engage NWTC students in authentic service learning opportunities……. . Students will create three-minute vodcasts that either show their activity or be a reflection of what they learned. A forum for students to post comments on the vodcasts will be included. The use of student vodcasts will generate interest both on and off campus, similar to popular You. Tube videos. The site will also include information on service learning and program requirements, student/community blogs, links to resources like the Volunteer Center’s database of opportunities as well as other social media sites April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 31

Reviewer Comments (cont) Identified Weaknesses: • A more robust marketing plan is needed to drive traffic to the website • The staffing of the project was not adequate to manage the array of activities • The project did not have a strong plan to use the listed social media tools and techniques to move a significant number of students to serve April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 32

Reminders • Before you start, thoroughly read the application instructions - twice • Align your project with the funder’s mission and goals • Write as if the reader knows nothing about your organization • Keep it simple; don’t use a lot of adjectives • Show passion for your project in your writing April 8, 2010 NWTC Karen Smits 33