Note from Diane:

With all the uncertainty surrounding federal funding and the government right now, we know how challenging it can feel to stay focused on your mission. The shifting landscape makes it harder than ever to plan ahead, and the pressure to secure funding is heavier than ever. That is why we are so happy to have this guest post for you from CommunityPass.

 

Whether your school is looking to innovate in its curriculum, provide access to additional learning resources, offer professional development for teachers, or increase support for special education students, grant funding can pave the way. Instead of constantly looking for new school fundraising ideas to host, you’ll submit applications to funders to prove that your school is worthy of their support.

However, with the current uncertainty in grant funding in the United States, you must present robust grant proposals to maximize your chances of securing funding. Let’s explore top strategies you can use to connect with funders using your proposals to ensure you get the support you need to improve your school.

 

Uncertainty in School Funding

Earlier this year, federal agencies were directed to temporarily pause all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of federal financial assistance. Although this freeze was lifted, it impacted many sectors, leading to widespread uncertainty about the federal grants. These concerns are only exacerbated by the current administration’s desire to shutter the Department of Education and the recent withdrawal of grant funding from certain universities.

With federal funding in question, schools and other educational organizations like yours must seek other revenue sources to supplement their lost funding. However, that doesn’t mean you must move away from grants—plenty of non-government entities also provide them.

What you do have to keep in mind is that when you apply for these grants, you’ll be competing against other organizations in a similar situation. This means competition will be stiff, so creating strong, stand-out proposals is imperative. Now is the time to truly emphasize your school’s need and show funders they can make a big impact by supporting your organization.

 

1. Strategically apply for grants.

On paper, applying for a large number of grants seems like a great strategy. After all, the more applications you send out, the more potential approvals you’ll receive. However, grantmakers respond best to personalized applications that clearly outline the benefits of their partnership rather than more generic proposals.

Instead of applying for every opportunity that comes your way, be selective with the grantmakers you work with. Start by understanding the different types of grants:

• Government grants: Aside from federal grants, you can apply for state or local government grants. There’s still much uncertainty about these types of grants, but they may still be worth applying for, depending on your circumstances.

• Foundation or nonprofit grants: Some nonprofits or foundations offer grants to schools and other charitable organizations. Explore databases like grants.gov and Foundation Center to identify these opportunities. 
• Corporate grants: Businesses and corporations may also offer grants as part of their larger corporate philanthropy activities. Many large corporations will even establish dedicated foundations for their philanthropic initiatives. Research large corporations to find out if they offer any grants that would be helpful for your school.

After exploring your options, decide which grants to pursue. Ask yourself the following questions as you look at potential grants to apply for:

• What are the grant’s goals and objectives, and do they align with my school’s most pressing needs?
• Will the grant help my organization achieve its goals or long-term sustainability?
• Does the grantmaker’s values align with my school’s values?
• What are the eligibility requirements for the grant?
• What is the grant amount and duration?
• What are the requirements for the grant, such as for reporting?
• What are the application deadlines?
• How competitive is the process?
• What resources or information will my school need to apply successfully?

The answers to these questions will help you determine whether the grant is manageable for your school to apply for and whether it is a valuable opportunity for you to seize.

 

2. Build a strong grant proposal.

Your next step is to build a strong grant proposal personalized to each grant opportunity. On top of hitting all the application guidelines and meeting deadlines, your proposal should:

• Clearly define objectives. Explain what you will put the funding toward and how it will help your school. For example, if you need new laptops for students, you can highlight that the funding will help you purchase 500 new laptops, which will help students learn useful computer literacy skills and engage in online learning programs.

• Outline a detailed budget. Break down how the funding will be used in a detailed budget. Let’s say you want to set up a store that your parent-teacher organization will run for more sustainable revenue. You’d break down the grant funding into constructing your on-campus store space, general inventory purchases, and paying for branded merchandise.

• Provide measurable outcomes. Make it easy for grantmakers to understand the impact they’ll make on your school by laying out measurable outcomes for your grant projects. Continuing with the example above, you can discuss how much revenue your new on-campus store brings in every quarter after it’s constructed and how that makes a difference for your school.
• Incorporate storytelling elements. Don’t neglect to bring qualitative data to make your proposal more compelling. According to Meyer Partners, storytelling allows you to pull on the grantmaker’s heartstrings and persuade them to take note of your work. Include detailed examples, such as interviews with staff members or students or photographs and videos to paint the full picture of your school’s needs.

Before submitting your grant application, connect with key stakeholders for feedback. Your proposal can benefit from both copyediting and a mock review. Just be sure the stakeholders you ask for feedback from know what type of review you’re looking for.

If you’re feeling a bit lost about where to start with your grant writing, there are plenty of resources to leverage. We recommend checking out these top grant writing blogs!

 

3. Invest in reporting software.

Most grantmakers require some level of data from your school during the application process and request more information after the grant project gets underway. While you can track this data using pen and paper or spreadsheets, investing in school management software is the most efficient option. 

According to CommunityPass, school management software provides:

• More time for teachers and administrative staff to spend working with students and larger school goals instead of tedious administrative tasks
• The ability to customize your school’s registration process
• Less stress and disorganization
• Easier and more secure payment processing for all student fees and other payments
• Fewer filing cabinets overflowing with paper forms
• Reduced IT support costs

For grant applications, the key school management feature to look out for is reporting and analytics. With these capabilities, you can pull the data grantmakers request from you and supply them with updates on your project’s status. Not only does this show the grantmaker that you’re putting their funds to good use, but it also helps you cultivate a better relationship with them.

For instance, let’s say you applied for a grant to expand your afterschool program offerings. You might use your afterschool management software to pull information about the current number of programs you have and the number of students enrolled in them. Then, after you’ve received the grantmaker’s funding, you can provide regular updates on these numbers to show the impact of your grant project.

Although it’s an uncertain time in the grant landscape, obtaining the vital funding your school needs for its students is still possible. Don’t forget that your work doesn’t end even after the grant application process—look into best practices for managing your grant funds to set your project and funder relationships up for success.

 

Author: Mary Coyle

Mary Coyle is the Head of Product Management at CommunityPass and has held senior level roles in Program Management and Marketing Operations. She has an MBA from University of Texas at Austin and a Finance degree from University of Illinois.