Anyone who has written or read a grant knows you must be able to put your ideas into writing in a way that makes sense, is grammatically correct, and answers the questions the funders want to know. Ideally, after reading your proposal, the funder will...
You counted down the days until summer break, felt just a little teary as you put students on the final bus home, and breathed a huge sigh of relief as the bus pulled away. Are you spending your days gardening, reading, seeing movies, or teaching...
Life can be full of twists and turns. At the tender age of 17, I made my plan. I would finish high school (check!). I would do a year of community college to get a feel for college life and get some basics out of...
Whether you are a teacher in the classroom, a school district administrator, or a nonprofit organization, writing a winning grant to improve the education of children seems like it would be easy. What funder wouldn’t want to help kids learn? However, those who write grants...
Is your school district or youth-serving organization looking to launch or expand an afterschool program? If so, the U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant opportunity may be a fit for you. These grants are federal dollars passed through the states to...
Creating a high-quality grant report is a key step in fostering a lasting relationship with your funders. This step can often be overlooked and undervalued in relation to the time investment it deserves. Reports are your chance to show the funder how the program or...
Successful Grant Reporting What about when you’re left without a format!? Grant writers tend to be rule followers. We crave structure and details. We’re all about formats, deadlines, and word counts (well sometimes). But what should you do when a funder wants a report but doesn’t provide...
Letters of Support and Commitment Basics Many grants now require attachments called letters of support or letters of commitment. These letters, if created well, can provide significant additional information and credibility to your proposal. Important content to include in each type of letter will be covered...
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, parents with children under age 18 are more likely to volunteer than persons without children, 31.3 percent versus 22.6 percent (in the year 2015). There are many benefits and reasons to volunteer with kids. First, interests and habits established in...
This Giving Tuesday, it’s not all about giving money: it’s about also giving your time and talents. Here are three ways to give back this holiday season that don’t involve opening up your wallet. Cultivate an attitude of abundance. One of the biggest fears held...