What ‘sequestration’ could mean for school grant seeking in 2013
You might already know that the Budget Control Act of 2011 created a Joint Commission of Congress that is charged with identifying budgetary savings of at least $1.2…
Latest posts by Deborah Ward (see all)
- What ‘sequestration’ could mean for school grant seeking in 2013 - September 7, 2012
- What ‘sequestration’ could mean for school grant seeking in 2013 - September 1, 2012
- Dispelling five common grant-seeking myths - August 1, 2012
What ‘sequestration’ could mean for school grant seeking in 2013
You might already know that the Budget Control Act of 2011 created a Joint Commission of Congress that is charged with identifying budgetary savings of at least $1.2…
Dispelling five common grant-seeking myths
As I’ve talked with a variety of people recently who are looking for funding for their education projects, I’ve come to realize there are a few grant-seeking “myths”…
Five reasons you should attend grant workshops and training calls
When I started writing education grants nearly 20 years ago, many funders would hold Request for Proposals (RFP) workshops. During these workshops, they would review the RFP for…
Six lessons learned as a grant reviewer
I recently received an eMail message from an individual who attended a workshop I led on grant writing in February. During my workshops, I often encourage attendees to…
How to approach funders who don’t accept new proposals
If you are a seasoned grant writer or have spent numerous hours researching foundations, you might be as frustrated as I was when I would find a “perfect…
Eight tips for creating an accurate budget for your grant proposal
If you are creating your very first budget for a grant proposal, where should you start? Here are eight suggestions that might make the process a little less…
Boost your grant-seeking success by demonstrating strong credibility
You might have noticed that some funders require you to address the “Capacity of Your Organization” to carry out the project you’re describing in your grant proposal. If…
How to tap corporate philanthropy in support of ed tech
Is corporate philanthropy a part of your grant-seeking efforts? If not, here’s some basic information to get you started in examining this potential source of support for your…
Six questions to ask before applying for a grant
In last month’s column, I highlighted a paper entitled “Right-sizing the Grantmaking Process,” which was written by Project Streamline, an initiative of the Grant Managers Network. In that…
Four ways funders can help grant applicants
Recently, I read an article that answered several questions I’ve had about grant makers for a long time. Not only that, but the article also addressed several questions…
How to disseminate the results of a grant-funded project
Seasoned grant writers might notice that some funders, especially for major grant programs, ask for a dissemination plan in their request for proposals. That is, applicants are asked…
Seven strategies for successful grants management
The current economic situation has prompted many entities to apply for grants they’ve never applied for in the past, which has resulted in even more competition for grant…
Ten grant-writing resolutions for the new year
As one year ends and another begins, I always think it’s a good idea to go back and review the basics of grant writing and develop some resolutions…
How to find private sources of funding
In my last column, I wrote abut how to find grant opportunities from public funders, such as government agencies. This month, I’m going to focus on finding grant…
Where to find grants for education
I recently held a question-and-answer session with eSchool News readers via Twitter—and the No. 1 question that kept coming up was, “Where can I find a grant for…
Advance planning is the single biggest key to grant-seeking success
About eight years ago, I wrote a column that described what I considered to be the top 10 grant-writing mistakes. I recently read the list again, and it…
A strong budget narrative can help sell your proposal
If you've written a significant number of grant proposals, you might have noticed there are two narratives that funders often request as a part of an application. The…
How to know if it’s worth applying for a grant
If you work in a busy grants office or do a significant amount of grants research, you might be looking for ways to streamline the process. Requests for…
How to serve as the ‘lead applicant’ in a grant project
If you plan to apply for grants that involve other partners, you should be familiar with the term “lead applicant” and the responsibilities that go along with being…
Death of a grant proposal: Six lessons learned in post-mortem
As I write this column, I'm mourning the death of a grant proposal that, after many weeks of discussion and hard work, did not get submitted. I'm conducting…
Eight essential skills for school grant seekers
I recently had dinner with two grants professionals in Florida. One of them was quite upset, because someone she knew had remarked that the role of a grant…
Five key ways to evaluate grant projects
The following information regarding evaluations was provided by Dr. Matt Rearick, an evaluator who is currently an assistant professor of education, health, and human performance at Roanoke College…
Review criteria and ‘mock’ reviews can be useful grant-seeking tools
Grant writers might be overlooking a key "gift" from funders that can help them with creating and editing their grant proposals. As a recent participant in a mock…
Refusing a grant award is sometimes the right call
Imagine this scenario: It's the Friday before a three-day holiday weekend, and a state funder calls and offers you a grant award for your project. But you must…
Refusing a grant award is sometimes the right call
Imagine this scenario: It's the Friday before a three-day holiday weekend, and a state funder calls and offers you a grant award for your project. But you must…
GAO calls for enhancements to Grants.gov system
Readers who have used Grants.gov to submit federal grant applications and who have experienced difficulties might find some comfort in a report that was released in July. The…
Five ways grant reviewers can help applicants
A colleague who serves as a grant proposal reviewer recently asked me if I knew of any resources that reviewers could use to help them provide comments to…
Allow plenty of time for writing federal grant proposals
One question I'm frequently asked during my grant-writing workshops is, "Just how long does it take to write a federal grant proposal?" My response is usually 60 to…
Six tips for securing federal stimulus money for your schools
The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has provided unprecedented levels of federal funding for education, and it has prompted most grant writers across…
Six ways to ensure successful collaboration on grant projects
Collaboration is a common occurrence in grantsmanship today. Even when funders do not require it, many applicants find that in order to carry out a project successfully, they…
Keeping careful documentation of grant expenditures will keep you out of trouble
A few weeks ago, I participated in a webinar that discussed A-133 audits. For those of you who are not familiar with this term, Circular A-133 is the…