Grantsmanship

1
Grantsmanship

• Or How to Become a Rainmaker

2
Grantsmanship Presentation Overview

• Our Experiences in Getting Grants Funded
• General Tips for Writing a Proposal
• Sources of Funding
• Private Foundations
• Agricultural Businesses
• Federal Government

3
Experiences in Getting Grants Funded

• North Carolina Farm Credit Services - 1,000
• To develop a new SAE record book for high school
  agriculture programs
• American Cyanamid - 1,000
• To buy a display board for the Department
• Department of Public Instruction - 2 grants -
  5,000
• To study the impact of block scheduling on
  agricultural education

4
Experiences in Getting Grants Funded

• NC State - 65,000
• To develop courses for the World Wide Web
• USDA - 150,000
• Develop electronic textbook on how to teach
  agriculture and life sciences
• National FFA Organization - 17,000
• SAE Central

5
Experiences in Getting Grants Funded

• American Distance Education Consortium - 75,000
• LEAP program
• UNC System - 50,000
• GRAEDE (Graduate Agricultural and Extension
  Distance Education)
• USDA - 99,996
• An OpenCourseWare Approach to Undergraduate
  Education in Agricultural Education

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General Hints on Writing a Proposal
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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 1. Dont hesitate to call the contact person with
  questions.
• That persons job is to give money away, not
  guard it.
• He/she wants to help you submit a successful
  proposal.

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 2. Use simple language in the proposal
• Write the proposal so that your mother could
  understand it

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Simple language

• Dont try to impress people with your extensive
  vocabulary
• Before using an acronym first spell it out and
  explain it (SAE, IEP, LEA, FFA)
• Avoid educational jargon

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 3. Address all the points in the guidelines
• Follow the format (and wording) in the proposal

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 4. Neatness counts (so does spelling, grammar,
  sentence structure, etc.)
• Print the proposal on a laser jet printer

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 5. Proposals showing partnerships are viewed very
  favorably. Team up with
• another department in the school
• another school
• an institution of higher education
• a private group
• a commodity group

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 6. Think of a different angle
• Try to be creative in your thinking.

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 7. A proposal that is not submitted will not be
  funded!
• The worst thing that can happen is they say no.
• Then send your proposal some other place.

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 8. The title of your proposal should be catchy,
  but not cutesy!
• LEAP
• GRAEDE
• OpenCourseWare

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 9. Use action words
• Use Will---not if, could, should
• Use investment, not gift

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Hints on Writing a Proposal

• 10. Spend time thinking about the evaluation
  component of the proposal
• This is becoming more important

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Sources of Funds?

• Private Foundations
• Agribusiness
• Federal Government

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Private Foundations
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Private Foundations

• Rich folks companies create foundations to have
  a formal way of giving away money.
• Some foundations are having problems giving out
  money.
• By law, foundations must give away 5 of their
  assets every year.
• Some large foundations have to give out
  8,000,000 a day to meet this requirement.

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Private Foundations

• There is a book found in most public and
  university libraries called The Foundation
  Directory (it cost 400)
• It lists foundations by state and also has a
  subject index

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Private Foundations

• The Foundation Center is a web site that has all
  types of information on getting grants.
  http//www.foundationcenter.org/

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The Foundation Center On-Line

• The directory mentioned two slide ago is now
  on-line. Go to the Foundation Center and

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Private Foundations

• In North Carolina there are 218 Foundations.
• Most limit their grants to North Carolina
  (generally or to specific counties).
• Education is often a favorite cause.

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Some NC Foundations

• D. F. Halton Foundation (Charlotte)
• 430,625 was given last year
• Youth, education, social services and performing
  arts are supported (vocational education is
  specifically mentioned)
• Limited to Charlotte area and surrounding 7
  counties
• Funds come from Pepsi-Cola

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Some NC Foundations

• Lowes Charitable and Educational Foundation (N.
  Wilkesboro)
• Last year135 grants totaling 988,128 were given
• Support education, community development, etc.

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Getting Foundation Money

• Call or write the foundation asking for
  information on the foundation
• Write the proposal
• Most proposals are short (2-3 pages)
• Minimal red tape

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Agricultural Businesses
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Agricultural Businesses

• Many agricultural businesses in North Carolina
  have formal or informal systems for provided
  special request monies

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Agricultural Businesses

• Groups such as the Farm Credit agencies, Farm
  Bureau and the Grange will consider special
  requests.

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Agricultural Businesses

• NC Turkey Producers have funds for organizations
  to buy dressed turkeys
• Egg Producers will give you eggs
• Other groups have similar programs.

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Federal Grants
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Federal Grants

• There are a multitude of Federal Grants
• All the federal programs can be found in the
  Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

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Examples of Federal Grant Programs

• Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
• Work with community groups and local and State
  governments to conserve rivers, preserve open
  space, and develop trails and greenways.

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Examples of Federal Grant Programs

• Protection of Children and the Aging as a
  Fundamental Goal of Public Health and
  Environmental Protection
• To catalyze community-based and regional projects
  and other actions that enhance public outreach
  and communication assist families in evaluating
  risks to children and in making informed consumer
  choices build partnerships that increase a
  community's long-term capacity to advance
  protection of children's environmental health and
  safety

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Examples of Federal Grant Programs

• Secondary and Two-Year Postsecondary Agricultural
  Education Challenge Grant Program
• To promote excellence in agriscience and
  agribusiness education, and to encourage more
  young Americans to pursue baccalaureate and
  higher degrees in the food and agricultural
  sciences.

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Federal Grants

• The process and procedures for writing federal
  grants are similar. The remainder of this slide
  presentation focuses on how to write grants for
  the USDA Secondary Agricultural Education
  Challenge Grant Program. This information can be
  applied to other federal grant programs.

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USDA Challenge Grants
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The USDA Challenge Grant

• For years the USDA has had a higher education
  challenge grant program.
• In 1999 a secondary agricultural education
  challenge grant program was started.
• 70 proposals were submitted, 37 were funded in
  the first year.

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We Got the Money

• USDA Agricultural Education Challenge Grants
  Program (1999)
• Of the 37 funded projects, 7 were North Carolina
  schools (19)

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North Carolina Successes

• Hilton Webb - North Stokes - Student Success
  through Innovative Curriculum in Emerging New
  Technologies
• Ted Manzer - Northeastern - Development of an
  Aquaculture System for Teaching, Demonstration,
  and Research
• Steve Smith - Alamance - Development of Graphic
  Slides to Support Agricultural
  Literacy

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North Carolina Successes

• Amy Greenberg - Franklinton - Franklinton
  Agricultural Modules of Education
• Lisa Sanderson Northern Nash - Enhancement of
  Biotechnology Curriculum and Creation of Tissue
  Culture Lab
• Tom Sawyer East Carteret - Developing an
  Arboretum to Teach Horticulture Concepts to
  Promote Career Awareness

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North Carolina Successes

• Danielle Kidd - Southern Nash - Development of an
  Agricultural Business within a High School

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Ag Ed Challenge Grant Funding
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Eligibility (I. C)

• A public secondary school( grades 9-12) that has
  a commitment to teaching agriscience and
  agribusiness in order to
• ensure a qualified workforce
• promote excellence in education
• Since 2002, two year postsecondary programs could
  also apply

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Eligibility (I. C)

• School has a commitment to
• encourage young people to pursue a baccalaureate
  degree in the food and agricultural sciences

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Funding (II. A-F)

• Nationally - 960,000
• Per School - 25,000
• Joint Proposal - 40,000
• Schools must match federal funds on a 1 to 1
  basis
• This doesnt have to be money. It can be time,
  labor, support staff, waiver of indirect costs,
  etc. (more later)

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Funding (II. A-F)

• Indirect cost limited to 19.
• Indirect costs are items that can not be easily
  calculated such as use of space in a building
  that could be used for another purpose,
  electricity, cooling, janitorial services, phone,
  maintenance, etc.

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Funding (II. A-F)

• Indirect costs are generally a percentage based
  upon past experience. This is how universities
  make money on research projects.
• Indirect cost can be used as part of the required
  federal match.

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Funding (II. A-F)

• Funds can be used for equipment and other
  capital expenditures
• ...use of funds for such purposes is strongly
  discouraged unless it is
• incidental to the overall budget
• essential for ... the project

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Funding (II. A-F)

• Expenditures for equipment must have prior
  approval.
• If it written into the budget, this is considered
  prior approval
• High tech equipment (computers, gene splicing
  equipment) will probably be funded

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Funding (II. A-F)

• Low tech equipment (table saws, drill presses,
  welders) will probably not be funded

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Purpose (III. A)

• The goal of the program is to
• Promote agricultural literacy
• Encourage students to complete a baccalaureate
  degree in food and agricultural sciences

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Purpose (III. A)

• Collaboration is encouraged
• Within schools
• Between schools
• Between schools and higher education

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Project Duration (III. B)

• The project period is 18-24 months.
• You must specify the time period in your
  proposal. (A separate budget sheet for each year
  is required)

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Project Duration (III. B)

• It always takes more time than imagined for these
  types of projects -- so ask for 24 months.
• It is always possible to ask for a no-cost
  extension if more time is needed.

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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• Five Areas of Focus

Integration
Diversity
Competence
Linkages
Career Awareness
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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• To promote the incorporation of agriscience and
  agribusiness subject matter into secondary
  instructional programs, particularly classes in
  science, business, and consumer education as well
  as agricultural education.

Integration
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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• How to promote integration/incorporation
• Promote new and improved curriculum and materials
• Supplement the curriculum

Integration
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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• To promote teaching competencies
• subject matter
• international cultures
• advising students
• formal and informaltraining allowed

Competence
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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• To promote awareness of agriscience and
  agribusiness career opportunities

Career Awareness
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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• To promote linkages between secondary, 2-year
  post-secondary, and baccalaureate degree granting
  institutions to maximize the development and use
  of resources geared towards agriscience and
  agribusiness education.

Linkages
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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• Linkage examples
• Articulation agreements
• 22 or 222 arrangements
• Advanced Placement Credit
• International learning experiences
• Student internships
• Sharing of faculty and facilities

Linkages
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Scope of the Program (III. C)

• To promote educational activities that have the
  potential to increase the diversity of students
  seeking baccalaureate degrees in agriscience and
  agribusiness.
• Agricultural literacy
• Mentoring
• Shadowing

Diversity
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Proposal Preparation (IV. A1)

• Cover Page (Must use CSREES-712 form which is
  found in the application package)
• Title of the project
• Descriptive
• Limited to 80 characters (letters)

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Proposal Preparation (IV. A2)

• Table of Contents
• Follows immediately after the cover page
• Table of contents must include page numbers for
  each section of the proposal

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Proposal Preparation (IV. A3)

• Project Summary (Page 1)
• Name of the School
• Name and title of project director
• Brief description of the project
• 15 double-spaced lines, one inch margins, 12
  point font

Table of Contents
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Proposal Preparation (IV. A4)

• Project Narrative
• This is where you sell your idea
• 10 page limit
• 12 point type, double spaced, 1 inch margins,
  type on one side only, number the pages

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Proposal Preparation (IV. A4)

• Project Narrative
• Four Items to be addressed
• How project will support challenge grant goals
• What will be done
• Budget
• Evaluation/Dissemination

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Proposal Preparation (IV. A4)

• Project Narrative
• (a) Potential for increasing agricultural
  literacy and for increasing the number of young
  Americans pursuing baccalaureate or higher
  degrees in agriscience and/or agribusiness.

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Increasing (a)

• This part of the application is worth 100 out of
  300 points in evaluating the proposal

100 Points
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Increasing (a)

• (1) Impact
• (A) How will it promote agricultural literacy?
• (B) How will it increase higher education
  participants?
• (C) Specific objectives to be addressed (pick one
  from III. C)
• (D) How will the project extend to other schools
  years

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Increasing (a)

• (2) Products and results
• What is the expected product and results?
• (3) Continuation plans
• After the funding is over, will the project
  continue?

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Proposal Preparation (IV. A4)

• Project Narrative
• (b) Potential of submitting school(s) to
  successfully complete project objectives
• This section is worth 150 out of 300 points in
  evaluating the proposal.

150 Points
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Completing...

• (1) Proposed approach
• (A) Identify the objectives, how the objectives
  will be reached, and how the project will be
  evaluated
• (B) Tell how the projects fits into the mission
  of the school

This is the important section. Here is where you
tell what you are going to do!
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Completing...

• (2) Resources
• (A) Document financial resources committed to the
  project
• (B) Document the expertise of project personnel
• (C) Document access to resources (library,
  computers, etc.)
• (D) Include a letter of support from the
  Superintendent (Dont wait until the final day to
  do this)

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Project Narrative

• (c.) Budget and cost-effectiveness
• Provide a budget showing total cost of the
  project. This amount should be at least twice the
  amount being requested from USDA.

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Project Narrative

• (c.) Budget and cost-effectiveness
• Narrative explaining equipment purchases would be
  appropriate.You can also justify any unusual
  expenditures.
• Make this section brief because you cover it
  again later

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Project Narrative

• (c.) Budget and cost-effectiveness
• Typical budget items
• Travel, secretarial student help, office and
  lab supplies, equipment, communication,
  duplication, books, curriculum materials, videos,
  etc.

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Proposal Preparation (IV. A4)

• Project Narrative
• (d.) Effectiveness of evaluation plan and
  potential for dissemination of the result(s)
  and/or products to other schools and for use by
  other schools

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Evaluation/Dissemination...

• This section is worth 50 points out of 300 in
  evaluating the proposal

50 Points
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Evaluation/Dissemination...

• (1) Evaluation
• (A) How will the projectbe evaluated half-way
  through and at the end?
• (B) Identify significant milestones to determine
  if the project is on schedule.

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Evaluation/Dissemination...

• (2) Dissemination
• How will you tell the worldabout your project?
• professional meetings, teacher workshops, other
• The USDA likes the publicity these types of
  projects generate

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Key Personnel (IV. 5)

• Include a vita (a resume on hormones) in the
  appendix for each key person
• Vita is to be less than 5 pages

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Key Personnel (IV. 5)

• Items on the vita (such as types of experiences
  and subjects taught) should show the person is
  qualified to perform the activities in the
  proposal

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Budget (IV. 6)

• A detailed budget is needed for each year of the
  project.
• Use the CSREES-713 form for the budget.
• Include a narrative explaining the budget. You
  can refer to Section IV. 2c

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Budget (IV. 6)

• If the proposal covers more than one target area
  (III. C), you are to show how much money will be
  spent in each area.

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Current Pending Support

• All they key personnel in the project need to
  complete a CSREES-663 form.
• Shows how many other research projects you are
  involved in.
• Prevents superstar researcher from being
  overextended.

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Application Materials

• You must request or download application
  materials.
• http//faeis.tamu.edu/hep/menus/msgs1.htm.

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The Man

• The USDA contact person is
• Dr. Gregory Smith
• [phone]
• Contact him for proposal guidelines and advice.
• E-mail works the best
• gsmith_at_csrees.usda.gov

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What and When to Submit

• Originals of everything plus 5 copies
• Stapled in upper left corner
• MUST BE IN WASHINGTON IN early spring

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Other

• An annual performance report is required every
  year
• A final report is required at the end of the
  project.
• A budget report is required every year

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Conclusion

• Writing a proposal is a lot or work.
• There is a feeling of elation when the proposal
  is funded.
• Then you realize the real work hasnt even
  started!!!

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The Matthew Effect

• Once you get one project funded, this leads to
  other projects being funded.

Based upon the parable in the Bible of the rich
man who gave various amounts of talents to his
servants for them to invest.