• Who are you? You’re here because you care about making schools a better place for kids.

• Who is SRVEF? The foundation is made up of people who want to help you make the schools a better place for kids.

2015 SRVEF Grant Workshop

Today’s Learning Goal Increase likelihood of being funded

•Start with the end in mind.•Learn the parts of a SMART goal.•Attend to the judging criteria.•Write to the application.•Make it easy to read.

Important dates

• Applications are now being accepted• September 11 - Applications due 4:00PM • October 23 - Grant winners announced• December 16 - Deadline for request for funds• February 26 - Project outcomes due

Start with the end in mind.Do you want an A?

• Give the scorer what s/he asks for.• Read the purpose.• Follow the guidelines. • Observe the timeline.• Pay attention to the criteria.• Provide all the requested information.• Submit your proposal in the boxes provided,

but compose it offline first.

Do a quick write.This is only for you.

• What idea(s) do you have for grant(s)? What do you want funded from SRVEF?

• Who will it affect? • When will you implement this grant?• Data - How will you know if the grant has

been successful?

CriteriaStart with the end in mind

SRVEF’s checklist

• Meets the SRVUSD framework • Goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable,

results oriented, time specific• Addresses student need • Innovative and/or creative• Number of students served• Long lasting impact or potential, sustainable• Aligns with Common Core

Criteria – meets SRVUSD framework• The SRVEF readers want to know that you are

in alignment with district goals.

Criteria - SMART goal

• Specific • Measurable• Attainable • Results oriented• Time specific

Specific SMART goal What does your project look like?

Paint a mental picture for the reader.

• example – “lose weight” vs. “sign up for classes 4X/week and walk 30 minutes on other days

Measurable SMART goal

How will you know you’ve met your goal?What data will show the results?

• example – “lose weight” vs. “my skinny jeans will zip up”

Attainable SMART goal Do a reality check.

Is this something realistic to do?

• example – “I’ll never eat dessert again” vs. “I’ll eat fruits/vegetables at 2 meals/day”

Results oriented SMART goal Is this helping students move toward

instructional excellence?

• example – name a specific software or application vs. saying you’ll use iPad apps

Time specific SMART goal

What is the timeline?

• example – “lose weight” vs. be one size smaller by my high school reunion in July

Your application

• You will submit your application online.

• Compose it offline. Use spell check!

• Be concise. Boxes are limited in the number of words allowed.

Overview

• Describe your grant in student terms. Help the reader to see how your idea will affect students.

• Don’t forget the timeline to help the grant reader to “see” when things will happen.

• Keep it simple and straightforward. Remember the Grandma story.

Goals

• Describe your specific goals. What do you want to accomplish?

• Be specific. Help reader visualize what students (not teachers or adults) will be doing.

• Reference Common Core.

Expenditures

• Be specific – Submit a shopping list. Make it clear what you are going to purchase.

• Do you have a partial funding plan? • Describe what additional funding you have

already secured or plan to seek .

Evaluation

• How will you know if your project is a success?

• Provide data, data, data. • Talk about objective measures,

results, numbers.• Give a timeline for assessment –

calendar, benchmarks along the way.

Innovation

• New or different?• Creative?• Something unusual?

Sharing

• Newsletters• Website• Faculty meeting presentations• Professional Development days• Student presentations• PTA or foundation meetings• Assemblies• Toot your horn!

Reminders, tips

• Plan ahead.• Follow the timeline. • Think through your idea before submitting it.

Reminders, tips

• Be succinct. Avoid education jargon. Remember who your readers are.

• Think about style –Tell a story. • Have other eyes take a look.• Use spell check. Use grammar check.• Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.

Last bits of advice

• When you’re funded, publicize your success.• Write a thank you letter. Send student work.

Send photos. Call the newspaper. Publish.• Watch for details about a future SRVEF event -

your chance to be honored.

Thank you!

• You’re applying for a grant because you care about making schools a better place for kids.

• SRVEF is here because we want to help you make the schools a better place for kids.

• Now – let’s get to work!

Jot more notesWith the criteria in mind, look again at the grant

project you’re thinking about.

• What are you asking for?• Who will this project affect?• When will the project happen?• How you will assess? Data, data, data• Work on writing a successful grant!