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USE THIS MINDSET To Achieve Anything You Want In Life TODAY! | Peter Crone

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5 Myths About Ed-Tech | Piktochart Visual Editor

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Crone's Quotes
1. "If you don't address what is going on mentally and emotionally for somebody, at best, you're making the window dressing look good while the back of the shop is just on fire."
2. "You can't create the life of someone you don't yet believe yourself to be."
3. Most people are addicted to their history and then spend the rest of their life trying to compensate for it."
4. "Embrace life for what it is, embrace yourself for who you are, and embrace others for who they are."
5. "Everybody is a masterpiece, yet a work in progress."

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We help educators around the world use technology to solve tough problems.

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7 of Liz Kolb Podcasts Interviews | Updated Daily - OwlTail

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Listen Now. Latest Interviews. Listen to all 7 interviews on OwlTail. Search & Listen to all the podcasts interviews of anyone on OwlTail.com

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The TripleEPLN.org hosts the Triple E PLN – the Triple E Professional Learning Network. In the TripleEPLN K-16 educators come together to share and discuss evaluations of their lesson plans that integrate technology! Registration is 100% free and open to all educators. At the heart of the TripleEP…

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In a technology ecosystem where thousands of products are clamoring for attention, choosing the right tool for your school or classroom can be tricky. Sifting through the marketing claims to find software that actually works - and meets district requirements for privacy and interoperability - requires educators to be part researcher, part pedagogical expert, part IT developer and part legal consultant.

It's a lot to ask of anyone.

"People always want to know if there's something better or new out there that can help them achieve their goals, but it's generally not something that anyone has time to wade through," says Meg Hamel, director of learning initiatives for ISTE. "When you're a classroom teacher, your primary job is not to do research on tools. Your job is to teach students, and everything else has to be outside the normal school day."

To find effective tools for solving complex teaching problems, educators need information they can trust. To that end, Hamel is overseeing a revamp of the EdSurge Product Index, a free research tool that allows technology seekers to easily search and compare hundreds of edtech product listings.

Currently in beta testing, the improved index now indicates which products have been validated by trusted education and technology organizations. Educators can use the index to search for products that have earned rigorous certifications, such as Project Unicorn's Interoperability Certification, the Common Sense Privacy Rating and the ISTE Seal of Alignment. As the tool continues to evolve, certification information will also be added in the areas of usability, accessibility and research-based design.

"The index has answers to questions people don't know they need to ask yet," Hamel says. "We believe educators and decision-makers are really looking for alignment across a lot of things, but too often people think of those critical market areas far too late in the purchasing cycle. I want them to start thinking about it during the research and discovery phase."

Before turning to a research tool like the EdSurge Product Index, however, Hamel advises educators to ask and answer a few key questions for themselves.

1. What is your learning goal?

Whether you're looking to solve a specific problem of practice, raise student achievement in a particular area, or find a tool that's more effective than the one you're already using, a well-developed goal will help keep your search laser-focused. It can also provide a metric for evaluating the products you do choose. The key is to be as specific as possible.

"A good way to start your search is to ask, 'What am I trying to accomplish in terms of teaching and learning needs?' " Hamel says.

2. What's your teaching and learning philosophy?

Every educator has a learning philosophy, or underlying belief about education that guides their approach to pedagogy. Do you believe in putting students in the driver's seat, building knowledge through real-world experiences, or providing multiple pathways to learning? Articulating your personal philosophy as an educator can help you find tools that will match your teaching style and integrate well into your practice.

3. What's your context?

Context is about more than just what grade level or subject area you're teaching. There are a lot of other factors that can influence whether an edtech tool will be a good fit. What's the composition of your classroom? Are you teaching face to face, online or in a blended environment? What specific learning or technology challenges do your students face? What resources do they have? How much time do you want them to spend on the computer each day? The more contextual factors you consider when making technology decisions, the better your chances of success with a new tool.

Finding technology solutions can be an intimidating and time-consuming job. Having clear goals and a trusted research tool like EdSurge's Product Index can take a lot of the guesswork out of the process.

"The index is really trying to create a comprehensive and easy way to find information so schools and classroom educators and district educators can make good decisions about which tools to put on their shortlist," Hamel says. "We're sort of the hub where people can get a snapshot what each tool has to offer."
Watch the video below to hear ISTE CEO Richard Culatta talk about why it's important for educators to find the right tools for their particular students. Nicole Krueger is a freelance writer and journalist with a passion for finding out what makes learners tick.

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3 Questions To Ask Before Choosing a New Edtech Tool

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To find effective tools for solving complex teaching problems, educators need information they can trust. The revamp of the EdSurge Product Index, a free research tool that allows technology seekers to easily search and compare hundreds of edtech product listings, is a great resource for finding the best tools for the needs of educators.

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For some teachers and school leaders, teaching with technology can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems their students know more about the newest tools than they do. But Justin Bathon, an expert in how technology, education, and the law intersect, says that schools can't risk not using technology in their classrooms-it simply holds too much promise for deepening student learning. And yet that doesn't mean implementation should be haphazard. It has to put students first. "I still see so much blind investment in technology, where the outcome that school leaders are trying to achieve is one where they are want to get the public perception [of] giving kids devices, and that is not a useful approach," he said. "Know what you are intending to achieve from a learning standpoint with digital implementation before you make the investment." Bathon is an associate professor in the department of educational leadership studies at the University of Kentucky and the director of Innovative School Models for the college of education there. A former teacher, he works with schools and school leaders to support efforts to personalize learning for students.
In an interview with Education Week Teacher, Bathon spoke about critical missteps schools and leaders make in implementing technology and how the tools, when used purposefully, can be a path to deeper learning.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What are some common pitfalls for schools or districts investing in technology?

The biggest pitfall by far is that not enough time and energy is put into the pedagogical use of the devices. Devices get purchased with the best of intentions, thinking that putting that device in a teacher's hands or a kid's hands by itself will make a great difference to learning, and, historically, in both the research and in practice, we just don't see that to be the case. The technology only makes a difference when there is really intentional leadership and change in practice by teachers.

What does poor use of technology look like?

A not very useful job for the technology is to replicate what can be done or what's already been done on paper. So, Google Docs, for instance-which is a tool that I love-can be used to basically replicate a worksheet. Now, the worksheet could have just as easily existed on paper, but instead, it's produced on a Google Doc. There's nothing necessarily wrong with it, but it doesn't really justify the purchase of the device. That's mostly what you see.

Beyond that, teachers certainly can use the device to offload the job of teaching. That is a big problem area. For instance, you could just have students watch Khan Academy videos all day, instead of teaching algebra units. So teachers who are not properly blending the devices and the opportunities available through those devices into their instruction have a tendency sometimes to rely too heavily on internet- and software-based materials.

Why does this sort of poor execution of technology usually happen?

I would put leadership up there as one of the top factors. There's a generational gap that we have not yet managed to overcome in that many district leaders these days are still not necessarily digitally literate themselves. They are making purchasing decisions and these kind of very impactful policy decisions on school districts, and, because they don't really know what to fully do with the devices themselves, they're not really in the position to coach teachers and students about how best to achieve high learning outcomes with those devices.

A lack of overall investment is another challenge. Many districts struggle right out of the gate after a device is purchased with Wi-Fi and bandwidth issues. They just haven't thought about the whole challenge of having all of the digital pieces in place that are needed to make a digital transition so that much of the teaching and learning can be happening in digital spaces and that the devices are not just a small add-on at the end of class, for instance.

You mentioned a generational disconnect. Education Week recently published a piece about how Generation Z students prefer learning through YouTube to learning through more traditional methods. A lot of teachers don't know how to work with that. How do you recommend teachers handle this?

It's certainly something I think that we are seeing-the embracing of video as a tool by students these days and more than we've seen in the past. I think it's a good thing to see. We can either pretend it's not happening or we can sort of embrace the opportunity.

Adults ... need to start watching some videos and doing some learning on YouTube. For us in Kentucky, we've seen tremendous growth in YouTube as a learning platform among teachers. We have initiatives, such as the Kentucky GoDigital movement, which puts out a new video every week and helps teachers and administrators learn how to be more digitally relevant. So as our adults begin to learn how to learn with video, they'll have a better sense as to how to help kids learn with video.

Beyond that, kids are really smart humans; they just don't have a lot of experience. But embracing children as owners of their own learning, and letting them do some coaching of the adults in the room, is acceptable.

You often speak about using technology to get to deeper learning. What is deeper learning to you and what is the promise of using tech to get there?

Deeper learning ... is giving students the opportunity to go beyond surface-level memorization, facts, and other material that is easily tested. [It's giving] kids some real skills that they can walk away with, beyond just the ability to get the right answer on a test. It gets implemented through projects and all kinds of other techniques.

In terms of how technology helps with that, as anyone who has spent some time learning anything on the internet can tell you, the depth of information about any given topic on the internet is usually extremely deep. Now, there has to be vetting of that information, especially in today's very complex world with truth. We have to really be careful and really teach kids how to process through that information, but there's a lot of depth there, number one.

Number two, technology allows us to connect with people in ways that we have never been able to do before. And so, you know, if you're studying a lesson on the Vietnam War and you're curious as to the perspective of students in Vietnam, it's easy to make that connection these days. The teacher has to put some work in to establish these relationships, but the technology makes the connection simple.

How can schools and teachers make that transition from using tech in routine ways to using it to engage students in deeper learning?

The first thing that we should do is not think about the technology. That is a common trap in a place that we as a field of education have not yet found our way out of-we're so heavily focused on the technology. ... When the question switches to, "How do we help kids learn more deeply?," then it's not really a technology question. It's a question of how we should help kids spend their time. ...

As that plays out, and we [start to] ask, "How should a kid demonstrate their learning?," that's when technology comes back in the game. We might conclude that, "Hey, the best way for a kid to demonstrate their knowledge here is through a video. Kids love watching videos; let's help them produce videos." So, using video as a technological solution to demonstrate their learning, that's where technology's place in this equation is.

What are some of the legal caveats for schools as students start using more technology?

There is more risk with technology because technology is an amplifier. So where previously a kid could say something publicly-maybe even put it on a flier, circulate it in their town-now, with technology, they can put it on Instagram and share it with millions of people overnight. So that amplification challenge creates new risks and stressors on school leaders, but it also creates new opportunities. We cannot get lost in the risk. We can manage the risk.

This new era where every kid has a device in their hands does call for school leaders to have more depth of knowledge themselves on issues like FERPA [the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act], on First Amendment issues about off-campus speech, about where the line is that schools can regulate and where there are things beyond schools, where it is not our job to regulate. [And they need to understand] that there is a lot of personal information on these devices that is subject to constitutional protection. So we do need to have more legal knowledge in order to mitigate the risks in this world. But we have to do that because the learning opportunities are so immense that not giving the kid the device here is the greater evil.

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Q&A With an Ed-Tech Expert: Don't Focus on the Tools

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For some teachers and school leaders, teaching with technology can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems their students know more about the newest tools than they do. But Justin Bathon, an expert in how technology, education, and the law intersect, says that schools can't risk not using technology in their classrooms-it simply holds too much promise for deepening student learning.

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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Wayground - The world's most engaging learning platform

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Find and create gamified quizzes, lessons, presentations, and flashcards for students, employees, and everyone else. Get started for free!

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" Oh yes, the blended learning mistakes of your past can hurt. But you can either run from them or learn from them. " - Weston Kieschnick (p. 60)

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Kahoot!'s new student passes are a one-way ticket to take students from players to creators! Empower your students to engage in active learning with the tools they need to create and host kahoots that demonstrate their learning to the whole class.

With student passes your class will have access to:

The full functionality of the Kahoot! creator to make fun and engaging kahoots for their peers

Award-winning learning apps from Poio and DragonBox to master everything from the basics of reading and numeracy to algebra, geometry, and even chess

Premium Kahoot! features including exclusive question types like brainstorm, type answer, and puzzles, plus creation tools to create advanced slide layouts with our premium image library

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Make your students the hosts of their own learning experiences

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A student-centered learning platform and content hub designed to help students to take an active role in their education through powerful play

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Wayground - The world's most engaging learning platform

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Find and create gamified quizzes, lessons, presentations, and flashcards for students, employees, and everyone else. Get started for free!

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We express ourselves in different ways. On Flip, you can use our simple and fun built-in camera to record your thoughts, add effects and share within your Flip group as video, audio only or text in your web browser or mobile app.

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Flip is a video discussion and sharing app, free from Microsoft.

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Flip (formerly Flipgrid) is a video discussion and video sharing app, free from Microsoft, built for classrooms and beyond. Learn more.

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Google Slides: Online Slideshow Maker | Google Workspace

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Use Google Slides to create online slideshows. Make beautiful presentations together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device.

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Our website for families provides reviews and ratings of movies, books, games, apps, and other media to help parents and families make informed decisions about the media their children use.

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Common Sense Education provides educators and students with the resources they need to harness the power of technology for learning and life. Find our free K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum, reviews of popular edtech apps, tips on teaching responsible AI use, and resources for protecting student privacy and online safety.

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Not your everyday calendar, here you can find important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, all with related activities and resources that make them more relevant to students.

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Not your everyday calendar, here you can find important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, all with related activities and resources that make them more relevant to students.

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Copy of Where to Find Educational Technology Grants

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Credit Union of America is pleased to offer Teach, Grow and Inspire the Future (TGIF) grants. Below you will find a grant application. Please review the rules and suggestions listed before completing the application.

A task force of Credit Union of America employees and volunteer members will be responsible for reviewing the applications. If your proposal is selected for funding, we ask that you let Credit Union of America know the outcome of your project. Credit Union of America hopes to enhance the educational process by offering financial aid to those who wish to supplement the regular curriculum with special activities. TGIF is funded by a portion of the interest paid on CUA's Give Back credit card program.

Thank you for the many contributions you make to the young people of our community. We look forward to receiving your application and supporting your program.

Sincerely,
Credit Union of America

NOTE:

Grants of up to $1,000 are available to CUA members who are certified teachers in the state of Kansas.

Your name will appear ONLY on the cover of the application.

Grant recipients are not eligible for grant funds in consecutive semesters.

Please feel free to duplicate this grant application.

There is no limit on the number of grant requests one teacher can submit, however only one is eligible to win per application period.

Grant deadlines are March 1 and October 1 of each year. Recipients will be notified by May 15 and December 15, respectively.

Thank you for your interest in our grant program.

Not sure where to start? Click here to see what a winning grant application looks like!

* - indicates required fields

Grant Application Cover Sheet

REMINDER: Please refrain from the use of your name, your school's name, or any other identifying words/marks in the body of the application. Thank You.

Grant Application

Amount of Funds Requested

$

(Members may request up to $1,000 in grant funds)

Brief Description of Project

Type a brief description of your project and what you hope to accomplish with this project.(In your description do not include the name of your school or your name).

Why is this project needed for your school?

(Do not include the name of your school or your name)

What is the projected long-term effect of this project on your students, school, district? What are the project objectives and how will they be measured?

Time line of project implementation/completion

Project Budget (materials and itemized costs)

By submitting this application, I authorize Credit Union of America to use my photograph, my name, and/or other information shared in an interview or on this application should I be awarded a grant. I also understand that if my combined award(s) is valued over $600 in one calendar year, I will receive a 1099 form from CUA for tax purposes, as my prize(s) will be reportable for IRS purposes. CUA does not publish or share publicly information such as account numbers, balances, phone numbers, addresses or other sensitive personal information.

Prove you're not a robot*

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Credit Union of America is pleased to offer Teach, Grow and Inspire the Future (TGIF) grants. Below you will find a grant application. Please review the rules and suggestions listed before completing the application. A task force of Credit Union of America employees and volunteer members will be responsible for reviewing the applications.

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A grant proposal is a request for funding that organizations submit to grant-making bodies.

Generally, a grant proposal outlines a project idea, explains why the organization needs grant money, and provides evidence that demonstrates the need and worthiness of the project.

In grant proposals, organizations usually describe their mission, describe how they plan to use grant funds, provide program goals and objectives, a timeline for completion of the project, and an expected outcome.

However, a grant proposal must also be written in such a way as to convince potential funders of the value and impact of the proposed project.

In this guide, we'll take a closer look at how you can create stunning grant proposals in record time.

Key takeaways

1. Understand the grant requirements. From the funding organization's goals to application deadlines - it is essential to understand the grant requirements and guidelines thoroughly.

2. Develop a compelling narrative. A successful grant proposal should tell a story that captures the funder's interest and demonstrates the significance of the proposed project.

3. Demonstrate impact. Funders want to know how their investment will make a difference. To make a strong case, grant applicants should demonstrate the potential impact of their project and provide specific examples of how it will benefit the target audience or community.

4. Provide a detailed budget. Your plan should include all costs associated with the project.

5. Include supporting materials. Depending on the grant, applicants may need to provide supporting materials, such as letters of support, resumes of key personnel, or other documentation.

6. Follow-up. After submitting a grant proposal, it is essential to follow up with the funding organization. This can help demonstrate your commitment to the project and answer any questions the funder may have.

Why should you seek grant funding?

When done successfully, grant writing can open doors to vital funding sources needed to make your project a success.

Writing grants can also be a networking opportunity with grant-making organizations, as grant writers often make connections and partnerships that may prove valuable in the future.

Most of all, grant writing is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your organization's commitment to its mission and goals, as grant writers must be able to articulate the importance of their vision.

At first glance, grant proposals may only appear to benefit the organization or individual who needs the money, but that's not exactly true.

For a grant-making organization, investing in a project, initiative, or organization is an investment in positive change that can have a powerful impact on the issues they care about.
Here are some statistics to boost your grant proposal success:

The United States Government offers thousands of grants that nonprofits may apply for, each providing various amounts for federal projects that will have an impact across the country.

Many Fortune 500 companies offer matching programs for grants, where companies match monetary donations made by employees to nonprofits.

Submitting to at least three grant applications puts your chances of winning at least one grant at around 90%.

Before you get started

Before you start writing, take the time to prepare carefully. Consider each of the following.

1. Pursuing grants will incur costs in both time and money

You'll need to find a grant that matches your initiatives, create a proposal, and participate in the entire selection process.

2. Your grant proposal may or may not be successful

Most organizations rely on multiple sources of funding, and grant opportunities shouldn't change that.

Remember that grants can be competitive and funding may be limited.

Calculate the award against the time invested before pursuing the opportunity.

3. Be sure to have a strong understanding of your project

Be sure to have a strong understanding of your project including desired outcomes, estimated timelines, and other funding sources before you start writing.

Your proposal will be evaluated by grant-making bodies and committees who may choose to award funds to your competitors or simply choose not to award any funding due to a lack of clarity or credibility.

4. Create the appropriate accounts

You may also need to create the appropriate accounts and go through verification processes before you can submit a grant.

For example, organizations seeking federal funding need to register with the federal grant program before they can ask for a grant.

5. Submit a grant inquiry letter before writing a full grant proposal

In many cases, it may make more sense to submit a grant inquiry letter before writing a full grant proposal.

If the grant-making body approves your letter and sends you a request for a formal grant proposal, you can proceed with writing a detailed RFP response to this prospective investor.

4. Save time by using a document management software

Save time by using document management software like PandaDoc to assist you in this difficult task.

Besides grant proposals, our software tools can handle your quotes, agreements, contracts, and proposals.

With those basics out of the way, let's move on to the structure of a standard grant proposal you should adhere to.

Create your grant proposal

Create, send and eSign your grant proposals. Receive automatic follow-up reminders to keep the conversation going.

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Step 1. Write a strong cover letter

Your cover letter is the perfect opportunity to capture the funder's attention and get your foot in the door.

Unlike the rest of your grant application, the letter can be less formal and address the reader more directly.

The key objective of your cover letter is to compel the reader to get to your proposal.

They've likely received tens or even hundreds of grant applications and your letter should separate you from the crowd as much as possible.

Here are some dos and don'ts when it comes to cover letters:

Here is how a good cover letter can start:
Dear Mr. Jones, The Pet Care Clinic respectfully requests a grant of $30,000 for our South Boston Health Center Project. As the largest independent pet hospital in Boston, we are aware of the challenges pet owners in our service area are faced with. We're particularly concerned about the lack of service quality in South Boston given the fact that the area has the largest amount of pets per capita in the city. We are committed to solving this issue by growing our community and providing our expertise to the people and animals of Boston by the end of 2021. The South Boston Health Center Project will allow us to provide access...
No fluff and right to the point!

Step 2. Start with an executive summary

Every winning grant should start with a brief executive summary.

Also known as a proposal summary, an executive summary is essentially a brief synopsis of the entire proposal. It introduces your business, market segment, proposal, project goals - essentially, your grant request.

It should have sufficient detail and specifics; get to the point quickly and be pragmatic and factual.

Here are some questions that a good grant writer will answer in their executive summary:
2. What is your 3. What problem are you solving and why should it matter? project's name and who is it supposed to help?
Step 3. Introduce your organization

Now that you've set the stage for the entire proposal, you can start with your business/organization. Share as much relevant information as you can about your infrastructure, history, mission, experience, etc.

Here you include a biography of key staff, your business track record (success stories), company goals, and philosophy; essentially highlight your expertise.

Client recommendations, letters of thanks, and feedback from customers and the general public are must-have things to write in a grant proposal.

Be sure to include all valid industry certifications ( ISO or Quality Certifications), licenses, and business and indemnity insurance details.

You need to show that your company or organization has the capacity and the ability to meet all deliverables from an execution perspective and also meet all legal, safety, and quality obligations.

You may need to provide solvency statements to prove that you can meet your financial commitments to your staff and contractors.

Be objective. It's easy to start patting yourself on the back a little too much and try to convince the grant reviewers that you're the best of the best. Try to avoid this trap and stay factual.

Go into too much detail. You don't need to list all of your employees by name. Provide biographies of key staff (like the executive director) and just mention your total number of employees.

Step 4. Write a direct problem statement

One of the most important parts of the grant proposal structure is the problem statement.

Also known as the " needs statement" or " statement of need ", this is the place where you explain why your community has a problem and how you can provide the solution.
A 2017 report from [institution] showed that the town of [your community] has the highest [problem stat] per capita in the state of [your state]. Another study by [institution] confirmed these findings in 2020, highlighting the importance of [potential solution] in dealing with these issues. There is a need for education and professional services in: [fields and industries] backed by expertise and a strong infrastructure. To meet this need, [your organization] proposes a [your program] that would, for the first time, address the problem of [problem].
You may need to do extensive research on the history of the underlying problem, previous solutions that were implemented and potentially failed, and explain why your solution will make a difference.

In a winning grant proposal, the problem statement will heavily rely on quantitative data and clearly display how your organization answers a need.

Use comparable data. Rely on the results of other communities that already implemented your solution and got satisfactory outcomes.

Make it about you. It's not your organization that needs the grant funding, it's the community.

Highlight urgency. Underline that it's essential this project is started now rather than later.

Use circular reasoning. Don't formulate the problem as "The city doesn't have a youth center -> We can build a youth center". Why does the city need a youth center in the first place? That should be the thought behind your writing process.

Here's how a brief problem statement could look:

With PandaDoc, you get a free grant proposal template that has all of these sections incorporated!

Step 5. State your goals and objectives

Another important part of the grant proposal process is clearly stating your goals and objectives.

In fact, many proposals fail because they forget or mishandle this step so all their hard work goes to waste!

Write details about the desired outcome and how success will be measured.

This section is key to providing information on the benefits that the grantee, community, government, or client will see for their investment.
Improve the literacy and overall ability of expression of children from inner-city schools in [the community]. By the end of the 2023 school year, improve the results of reading and writing tests for fourth-graders in [the community] by at least 20% compared to current results (55/100, on average).
And, although they sound similar, Goals and Objectives should be separated.

Think of Goals as broad statements and Objectives as more specific statements of intention with measurable outcomes and a time frame.

State objectives as outcomes. An objective is something you want to achieve, not do.

Be too ambitious. Make sure your goals are attainable and don't get too ahead of yourself.

Make your objectives SMART. You can't really track your progress if your objectives aren't SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Mistake goals for processes. Goals are always stated as results and measurable outcomes with a deadline, not as processes.

Here is an example of well-formulated goals and objectives.

Notice how the goal is more optimistic and abstract while the objective is more measurable and to the point.

Step 6. Project design: methods and strategies

Now that the funding agency or grantee knows your goals, it's time to tell them how you plan on achieving them.

List the new hires and skills, additional facilities, transport, and support services you need to deliver the project and achieve the defined measures for success.

Good project management discipline and methodologies with detailed requirements specified and individual tasks articulated (project schedule) will keep a good focus on tasks, deliverables and results.

Connect to the objectives. Your methods and strategies absolutely need to be connected to the objectives you outlined, as well as the needs statement.

Assume things. Don't approach the topics like the reader is well-versed in the field. Be specific and introduce your methodologies as though you're talking to someone who knows nothing about your organization or propositions.

Step 7. The evaluation section: tracking success

This section covers process evaluation - how will you track your program's progress?

It also includes the timeframe needed for evaluation and who will do the evaluation including the specific skills or products needed and the cost of the evaluation phase of the project.

This is one of the most important steps to writing a grant proposal, as all funders will look for evaluations.

Whether we're talking about government agencies or private foundations, they all need to know if the program they invested in made a difference.
Project Evaluation The program facilitators will administer both a set of pretests and posttests to students in order to determine to which degree the project is fulfilling the objectives. The periodic tests will be created by a set of outside collaborators (experts in child education) and will take place on a monthly basis for the duration of the program. After each session, we will ask participating teachers to write a qualitative evaluation in order to identify areas of improvement and generate feedback [...]
Evaluation can be quite expensive and need to have entry and exit criteria and specifically focused in-scope activities.

All out-of-scope evaluation activities need to be specified as this phase can easily blow out budget-wise.

Once again, solid project management discipline and methodologies will keep a good focus on evaluation tasks and results.

To go back to our child literacy example, here is how an evaluation would look for that project:

Step 8. Other funding sources and sustainability

Your founders won't like the idea of investing in a short-term project that has no perspective.

They'll be much more willing to recognize a long-term winner and reward a promising project that can run on a larger scale.

That's why you need to show how you can make this happen.

This section of your grant proposal is for funding requirements that go beyond the project, total cost of ownership including ongoing maintenance, daily business, and operational support.

This may require you to articulate the projected ongoing costs (if any) for at least 5 years.

An accurate cost model needs to include all factors including inflation, specialist skills, ongoing training, potential future growth, and decommissioning expenses when the project or the product reaches the end of its life cycle.

See also

[Research] 5 ways to increase the close rate of your proposal

Step 9. Outline a project budget

Of course, one of the most important grant proposal topics is budgeting. This is the moment when you go into detail about exactly how you'll be using the resources from an operational standpoint.

Provide full justification for all expenses including a table of services (or service catalog) and product offered can be used to clearly and accurately specify the services.

Remember that the project budget section is the true meat of your grant proposal.

Overcharging or having a high quote can lose you the grant and even be seen as profiteering.

Underquoting might win you the business but you may not be able to deliver on your proposal which could adversely impact your standing with the grantee.

Many grantors underquote in the hope of hooking the reader and then looking for additional funding at a later stage.

This is a dangerous game to play and could affect your individual or company's brand, community standing, or industry reputation.

Pay attention to detail. Everything, and we mean everything needs to be covered. Travel costs, supplies, advertising, personnel - don't leave anything out.

Do it alone. Especially if you're not that good with numbers, don't hesitate to include other people and assemble a team to tackle this task together.

Here's how a project budget would look for a fictional grant for a cross-country research study:

Below a table like this, you can further clarify any key points, like what a research assistant will do and why they're needed for the study.

You can also explain how you intend to use a specific piece of software to save time or money.

For example, PandaDoc can help you create forms and templates so that you can gather precise information in a uniform way.

Interested?

Schedule a demo here and see for yourself how PandaDoc can expedite your grant proposal process. With PandaDoc, you'll enjoy:

A robust document builder.

Seamless, paperless delivery.

Document analytics and tracking.

Hundreds of customizable templates.

Content libraries for text and media snippets.

And much more.

Originally was published March 2014 and has been updated for comprehensiveness in April, 2023
If filling out forms and gathering information is a key component of your research study, you'll need a tool that can help you capture data quickly and easily without breaking the bank.

Disclaimer

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What is the difference between a grant proposal and a grant letter?

It's quite easy to confuse a grant proposal with a grant letter.

But a grant proposal contains all the sections we mentioned: the project's summary, a cover letter, problem statement, etc. and is typically pretty long.

Some companies or individual investors consider this document too long and prefer a grant letter, which is a shorter, much more streamlined document. A grant letter typically doesn't exceed 3-4 pages although it has a similar structure.

How do you write a grant proposal for education?

Besides the project description, you need to mention how it will improve the system.

Detail how your project will improve productivity, increase their knowledge, and make their overall learning process better.

Educational projects usually involve a team of people who will put the idea into practice. Provide more information about each team member and why this person can perform their duties.

How many pages should a grant proposal be?

There isn't a strict rule when it comes to grant proposals - their length will always depend on the complexity of the issue it covers and the amount of research behind it.

Typically, a grant proposal should be up to 25 pages, although different funding institutions will often put this in their " " section - so read those carefully!

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How to Write a Grant Proposal: 2023 Step-by-Step Guide

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A grant proposal is a request for funding that organizations submit to grant-making bodies. Generally, a grant proposal outlines a project idea, explains why the organization needs grant money, and provides evidence that demonstrates the need and worthiness of the project.

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How to Write a Grant Proposal Step by Step