Grant Writing
Workshop Highlights
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The Grant Training
Center Highlights
Prepared by:
Kathy Korman Frey
Entrepreneur in Residence
GWSB Dept of Management
frey@gwu.edu
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Today
• About
• 8 Takeaways
• 5 Examples
• Many Resources and Links
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Dr. Matilda Harris
Reviewer
• Dept of Education
• National Science Foundation
Reviewing – Good way to stay current in
grant world
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95% success rate
How?
• Target
• Follows steps from course
Write the one grant and get it, versus
shotgun.
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About grants
436 billion given out in grants
• 14% Federal government
• 7% Foundations
• 3% Corporations
• 76% individual donors
• Grants.gov - 90% increase in
traffic. 6
About grants
Typical process:
• Inquiry (one page letter)
• Donor requests a concept
paper, or a proposal, or both.
Never send in a proposal cold. Develop a
relationship 7
Today
• About
• 8 Takeaways
• 5 Examples
• Many Resources and Links
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#1 Target Smart
• Smart networking
• Focus on attendance
Events and networking: At what events
are the donors sitting “right there?”
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#2 Collaborate
Three key words in grants
• Collaboration
• Partnership
• Interdisciplinary
Example: AAUW “coalition partners”
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#3 Prep
40% better chance - submit the
week before.
50% better chance - second
submission.
Takeaway: You’re prepared. Fewer errors.
They know you.
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#4 Build relationship
• Know the officer
• Talk to them
• Follow through
There should be no outstanding questions at
the time of submission.
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#5 Follow Instructions
50% of proposals to NIH
• ELIMINATED
• Not following instructions
The best way to get a grant: Follow the
instructions.”
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#6 Good writing
a. Abstract – first
b. Statement of need - second
c. Grab them there, or it’s over
Know your audience. Write in short, concise
sentences. No passive voice. Bullets,
charts. Share it with a trusted colleague
first. 14
#7 It’s a Human
(with very little time)
Proposal goes to a Human
• One hour (review)
• 8 minutes of discussion
Take the reader by the hand. Never make the
reviewer work for you. (Happens a lot).
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#8 Tell a story
• Must have hard data.
• Must have lit review.
• But there must be a good
story.
Example: NIH researcher, single mom on
foodstamps.
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Today
• About
• 10 Takeaways
• Examples
• Resources and Links
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Hot Mommas Examples
• IBM – No relationship, no follow up
• Shell – No relationship, poor research
• Xerox – Weak relationship, poor research
• AAUW – Poor process management
• Schwab Foundation – Good relationship, good
research, good follow up and process management
Schwab funded the Hot Mommas Project financial
literacy category.
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Partnership
• Development
• Alumni Relations
• Communications
• Donor
Thank you Schwab and GW! News feature.
Click here (Windows Media Required)
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Resources
General resources
• #1 See if university has subscription
• www.Foundationcenter.org (You can go to library of Foundation
Directory on CD rom at Library – 17th at K for free)
• Subscrip-http://www.cos.com/ - you may be able to sign up as
individual
• www.Grantsnet.com – for those who don’t have cos.com
• http://www.grants.com
• Subscrip-http://www.infoed.org/new_spin/spin.asp
• http://www.researchresearch.com/entry/entry.htm
• Taproot Foundation – will help build donor lists and provide
technical assistance
• www.nsf.gov
• Funding sources www.decadeofbehavior.org
• www.acls.org – “Advancing the Humanities”
• www.cfda.gov – Great resources for writing, search by agencies,
successful applications.
• www.archives.gov – Search awarded grants
• www.guidestar.com – View all charitable donations of a foundation
and 990
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Resources
Continued
• Journal of Higher Ed – Will show who got funded,
what grants are coming up.
• Chronicle of Philanthropy – What’s coming up in gifts
and grants. Where foundations and gifts are going?
• WK Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook
Evaluations
• American Evaluation Association (AED) – you can hire
evaluators.
• CDC Evaluation Working Group – TONS of tools
• Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
• School Grants Example: Western Michigan evaluation
site- see “Student Outcomes”
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Links
– GTC Facebook
– GTC Website
– GTC Newsletter
GWSB.wordpress.com
Get copy of PPT and post
your own resources here
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