Deb Ward's Column

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  • Seven strategies for beating grant deadlines
    Thu, Jul 03, 2008    Primary Topic Channel: 
    I recently spent some time working on a federal grant proposal that obviously could not be completed by one person in a four-week time period. I was reminded once again of the complexities of federal grants, and why it's important to leave plenty of time to work on a proposal. [ Read More ]

  • 10 tips for writing winning grant proposals
    Thu, May 29, 2008    Primary Topic Channel: 
    It should come as no surprise that the content of a grant proposal is critical. Obviously, if you don't have a strong project to propose, chances are you won't receive a grant to implement it. However, just as important to the grant-writing process is your ability to "sell" your project to grant reviewers--that is, to craft a winning proposal through strong writing skills. [ Read More ]

  • Seven successful grant-seeking strategies for private schools
    Thu, Feb 07, 2008    Primary Topic Channel: 
    A reader who works for a private school recently sent me an eMail message asking for some grant-seeking advice. Her query highlighted the challenge that private schools face in finding grants, as many funders (both public and private) will consider only public-school applications. There are grants available for private education, however, and here are some ways to find them. [ Read More ]

  • Watch the NCLB renewal process closely for new grant opportunities
    Wed, Dec 26, 2007    Primary Topic Channel: 
    If you've read my column before, you might already be familiar with an important bit of advice I've mentioned in the past: Savvy school grant seekers always keep their "ears to the ground" to discover potential sources of funding before they are announced. [ Read More ]

  • Take stock of this rising trend in grant giving: the 'portfolio' approach
    Fri, May 18, 2007    Primary Topic Channel: 
    At a conference held by the Grant Professionals Network of Central Florida in March, I was intrigued by a session presented by Mark Brewer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Florida Inc. I have heard Brewer speak before, and he is always well prepared and provides thought-provoking comments. This session was no exception. Titled "The Evolution of Grant Seeking: Professional Development Strategies for a New Generation," Brewer's presentation identified some of the future trends in grant seeking and advised grants professionals to begin thinking about their roles in a new way. [ Read More ]

  • Four creative ways to raise money for school technology
    Sun, Apr 01, 2007    Primary Topic Channel:  Grants
    Over the years, I have conducted many workshops for district personnel on how to search for grant opportunities and write proposals. I've also talked to several people who have gone beyond simply looking for grants to fund new projects. They've decided to copy their counterparts in higher education and at private schools and have implemented other types of development activities to generate much-needed revenue to fund school technology and other new projects. [ Read More ]

  • Using a 'logic model' is sound logic for school grant seekers
    Fri, Dec 29, 2006    Primary Topic Channel:  Funding Strategies
    At the American Association of Grant Professionals' annual conference in November, I attended a session that covered the "logic model." This is a concept I think all serious grant seekers should be aware of--as both an internal tool for improvement and an increasingly important grant-seeking strategy. [ Read More ]

  • New federal database holds great value for grant seekers
    Wed, Nov 01, 2006    Primary Topic Channel:  Funding Strategies
    On Sept. 28, President Bush signed into law the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. Sponsored by Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Democratic Sens. Thomas Carper of Delaware and Barack Obama of Illinois, the legislation has important implications for grant-seekers. [ Read More ]

  • Eight ways to ensure a mistake-free proposal
    Tue, Aug 01, 2006    Primary Topic Channel:  Grants
    I just finished reading about 10 final drafts that were written by students in a master's program. Although they were not grant proposals, I was reminded of a few simple techniques that you can use to make sure your proposal is ready to be submitted. Here they are: [ Read More ]

 

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