Grant Writing 101 at UK

As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think.                                           - Toni Morrison 

modified from - https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-strategies/k-w-l-charts K-W-L Charts  Rationale  K-W-L charts are graphic organizers that help people organize information before, during, and after a presentation. K-W-L Charts are used to engage in a new topic, activate prior knowledge, share collective understanding, and monitor learning. Procedure  Complete Know Respond to Know: What do you Know about this topic?  A master list of all responses will be collected on this blog. From time to time, there may be misconceptions in the Know portions. As a class we will correct them as we learn new material. Complete Want to know Respond to Want to know: What do you Want to know about this topic? Post at least five questions on the blog about each reading. They can be specific or questions like  "Who? What? Where? When? Why?  and How?"  These questions provide an opportunity for the participants to di...

What do we KNOW about grants and acquiring them? 

What do we WANT to know about grants or acquiring grants?

What would you build, create or do if problems related to financing were not a factor?

Think about your idea. Identify and list three ways that funding can be accessed for your program.  Think broad initiatives. Think: Artist Fellowship Writing Residency Internship  Travel Fellowship Special Initiatives  Underserved Communities Target Demographic Community Enhancement Civic Enrichment Longterm Partnerships   and others....

Research.  This is going to take a lot of your time. It is boring and it is like mining for gold, diamonds or any other precious items - you have to sift through the dirt and worthless items.  Research grants based on the three possible funding sources that you identified in Step 2. Make a list of the possible funders.  

From your list of possible funders, target 2 or more that BEST fit your funding needs.  Ask for someone else's opinion if you are unsure. You may want to phone the funding agencies and ask specific questions about their interest in funding projects similar to your project. 

Read and analyze the target grant.  1. Identify key goals of the grant, not the organization.  2. Identify key words the funding institution uses to describe their efforts and interest. Highlight them.  These words will be the words you will incorporate into your grant narrative. 

Compare the granting institution's mission and vision in context of the grant goal.  Identify and analyze key words and overlapping phrases. They will also be used in your narrative portions of your grant.

Time is an investment and resource.  Decide how many hours the target grant may take to complete.  In kind, decide how many hours, days, or weeks you have to devote to the grant.  Ask yourself  can you afford the initial time investment and associated costs to complete the application. 

Create outlines and narratives about your project that incorporate the key words from the grant application and overlapping phrases from the mission and vision of the funding institution.  Make sure that your narrative is clear, properly edited and reflects (easily conveys) the funding goals.

Create a budget for the project that enhances your narrative.  Numbers and budgets are additional ways to tell a story. If this grant only funds part of the project - indicate that in the narrative. Budget everything possible. Make sure the budget includes: supplies materials travel transportion storage fees marketing/advertising  technology costs additional services to help your project to come to fruition human resource hours in-kind donations collaborators funding partners (possible)  and others

The free labor system is over. Figure out how to pay yourself: human resource hours multifunction consumables technology software digital devices valuable networks meaningful mentor relationships new experiences seed money or start up funds for the next project solid foundation for your next goal and others...

Make friends and ask important questions.  Be in communication with: Funding institution potential partners yourself - reflect on goals and the journey of the project. You may want to keep a journal.  Bonus:  Flip the funding! Consider ways to maximize the funding. Find ways for your funding to have multiple out comes. Your potential partners can be very helpful in this aspect. Create partnerships in targeted and unlikely places. 

Let's revisit our K-W-L strategy and evaluate what we have learned.