Title: Grant Writing Basics
1Grant Writing Basics
- A presentation on the basic elements of grant
proposal writing and an overview on how to find
information about grant resources.
2Grants Assistance Unit
- a unit of Office of Government Relations and
Public Affairs - provides technical grant grooming assistance,
etc. - assists applicants in preparing proposal budgets,
board reports, etc. - offers grant writing workshops
3Other Services Provided
- searches, monitors, and screens funding
opportunities - publishes Grants Alerts on LAUSDnet, District
Communications System, Spotlight, United
Teachers, etc. - maintains a resource library
- mails and bundles proposals to funders
- others
4Grants Assistance Unit 1999-2000 Staff
- Erick Mata, Director
- Michelle Brenner, Coordinator
- John Ralles, Specialist
- Ed Trimis, Specialist
- Malinda Sebastian, Financial Aide
- Rita Alvarado, Admin. Secretary
- TeNesha Moseley, Computer Office Oper.
- Lois Pride, Office Assistant
5Grants Assistance Unit Info.
- 450 North Grand Avenue, Room A-413
- Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Phone (213) 625-6395, -6596, -6597
- Hotline (213) 625-6390
- Fax Number (213) 613-0862
6Grants Assistance Unit URL
- Grants Assistance Unit Web site address
http//www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/ - offices/instruct/grants/
7GAUs Recent Accomplishments
- Increased funding through grants, over
- 80 million
- Expanded grants Web site
- Increased articulation among district offices and
schools and others - More service oriented-approach
8The Funding Development Process
Needs Assessment
Project Development
Funding Source Identification
Proposal Writing
Program Implementation (if funded)
Monitoring and Program Evaluation
Sustainability
9LAUSDs 1998 Mission Statement
- The teachers, administrators, and staff of the
Los Angeles Unified School District believe in
the equal worth and dignity of all students and
are committed to educate all students to their
maximum potential. - Adopted by the Board of Education in 1998
10Opening Activity
- Write what you think your school, department or
grade-levels instructional vision/mission is. - Read your statement to the group.
- Discuss its implications on the Districts
mission. - What resources exist to help your school carry
out this mission? - What resources does your school need to realize
it?
11Develop a plan to address an aspect of the school
mission
- Plan
- -What
- -Who
- -Why
- -When
- -How
12How can grant funds help?
13Where do you go from here?
- Form grant teams
- Search funding opportunities
- Develop/Continue partnerships
- Match your school priorities with the
Superintendents Goals and Objectives - Match district/school goals with funders
- Submit proposals
- Implement programs
14Funding Sources
- Federal
- State
- Local
- Foundations
- Corporations
- Individuals, etc.
15Categories of Giving
- Public (supported by tax revenues)
- Private (philanthropic giving by foundations,
corporations, bequests, and individuals)
16Federal Grants
- Funds available nationwide
- In 1980 approx. 40 billion
- In 1995 approx. 75 billion
17Federal Sources
- U. S. Department of Education
- U. S. Department of Commerce
- Environmental Protection Agency
- U. S. Dept. of Housing Urban Develop.
- Announcements/notices found in the Federal
Register, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,
Internet, etc.
18State Sources
- California Department of Education (CDE)
- Some Examples of CDE Grant Programs
- Academic Volunteer Mentor Service
- California Public Schools Library Prot.
- Digital High School
19Local Sources
- Los Angeles County Office of Education as
administrators of State grant programs - City of Los Angeles (EX Proposition K)
- Los Angeles Educational Partnership
- School Districts
-
20Foundations
- Foundation Directory- a catalog of nonprofits
under IRS code 501c(3) - Usually give to nonprofits
- LAUSD is tax-exempt but currently DOES NOT have a
Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code designation
except for its Adult Division
21Philanthropic Giving
- In 1995 approx. 135 billion
- In 1997 approx. 143.5 billion
- Source Giving USA
22Four Basic Private Sources
- Foundations
- Corporations
- Bequests
- Individuals
23Private SourcesCategories of Giving
- Religion
- Health
- Human Services
- Education
- Humanities
- Public Benefit
- International/Environment
24Solution
- partnerships with nonprofits with 501c(3) like
PTAs, community-based organizations (CBOs) - partner becomes the fiscal agent while schools
still receive the services - CBOs as conduits
25Foundations in the U.S.
- over 45,000 foundations in the U.S.
- but majority give modest-to-small
- required to give out 5 of assets per year to
organizations - required to disclose grantees amounts on IRS
tax return (990-PF) - require recipients to be tax-exempt under Section
501c(3) of the IRS Code
26For each Foundation listing, read about the
organizations
- field(s) of interest
- history of giving
- range of giving
- limitations
- contact information
- others
27The Foundation Directory
- provides information on over 7,000 foundations
with assets of 2 m or higher, or gives 200,000
or more - published annually (over 2,000 pages)
- cost around 200 per copy
- to order, call 1-800-424-9836
- but GAU has one other libraries have it too
28Nonprofits under Section 501c(3)
- eligible to receive grants (operating fdn.)
- give funding sources favorable tax incentives
- are corporationsorganized and operated
exclusively for religious, charitable,
scientific, testing for public safety, literary,
or educational purposes (IRS Code of Reg.) - in 1995, over 575,690 nonprofits
29Isnt LAUSD tax-exempt?
- yes, but it is not a nonprofit organization under
Section 501c(3) of the IRS Code - donations made to LAUSD are deductible under
Section 170/IRS Code - see Bulletin No. 66 (Sept. 1, 1994)- Business
Services Division
30(No Transcript)
31Corporations
- often used as a way to pilot new projects
- very selective specialized
- public relations for the corporation
- check first with administration, district staff,
etc. before proceeding
32Individuals, etc.
- philanthropists
- through personal connections
- through fundraisers, boosters, etc.
- through parents, business/community members, etc.
33Key terms
- Proposal
- Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Request for Application (RFA)
- nonprofit
- tax-exempt
- grant team
- fiscal agent
34Who makes up a grant team?
- Researchers/historian/statistician
- Idea people/stakeholders
- Writers/editors
- Budget developer
- Proofreader
- Application coordinator/timekeeper
- Others?
35Is there a match...
- between the school need and the funders field(s)
of interest ,and does the proposed program align
with the Superintendents Objective and Goals?
And school/dept/ grade-level mission/vision?
36Elements of a Proposal
- Abstract
- Program Narrative
- Needs Assessment
- Goals/Objectives/Activities
- Evaluation
- Budget Summary
- Budget Narrative
- Letters of Support/Other Attachments
37Regardless of the type of grant...
- Focus on your district/school/dept./grade
educational mission and vision - Avoid asking for stuff like computers instead
focus on why you need computers to provide a
service to your clients the students - Highlight how your proposed project will help
advance your mission/vision
38Lets Review!
- Whats a proposal?
- Why is it important to match school priorities
with those of funders? - Why is it important to have a grant team?
- Why are partnerships crucial?
- How can you find potential funding sources?
39Thank you...
- For additional assistance, call the Grants
Assistance Unit (GAU) at (213) 625-6395 or - Visit GAUs Web Site via LAUSDnet
- www.lausd.k12.ca.us --- click offices
40How can parents, business, and community partners
help local schools?
- Join school grant teams
- Provide human and fiscal resources
- Provide advocacy to the project