KEYS TO OBTAINING EXTERNAL FUNDING AND CREATING COMMUNITY SUPPORT • DR. SCOTT KLUNGSETH, PROJECT DIRECTOR WATCHDOGS AND WELLNESS • OWNER: ACHIEVE GRANTS DEVELOPMENT • ASST. PROFESSOR OF EXERCISE SCIENCE: DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Jan 18, 2018
KEYS TO OBTAINING EXTERNAL FUNDING AND CREATING
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
• DR. SCOTT KLUNGSETH, PROJECT DIRECTORWATCHDOGS AND WELLNESS
• OWNER: ACHIEVE GRANTS DEVELOPMENT• ASST. PROFESSOR OF EXERCISE SCIENCE:
DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
MY BACKGROUND20-years a an educator
10-years as a grant writer
Over $4 million in last 5 years
7 successful Carol M White PEP Grants
Numerous other grants
3-time Federal Grant Project Manager
3-time Federal Grant Evaluation/Assessment Coordinator
3-time Federal Grant Reviewer
LEVERAGING YOUR CURRENT PROGRAMS OR GRANTS
• Use same project title for continuity and building upon• Grant as matching/in-kind funds for future grants • Use your data, evaluations, and assessments• Building connections between before/after school
programs, pre-school programs, summer programming
• Connections with non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, businesses, city, library, etc….
Watchdogs and Wellness Grants
2008 PEP Grant: Watchdogs and Wellness: A Healthy Tomorrow
2008 Beresford Community Foundation:Watchdogs and Wellness: Building Our Future
2009 ING Unsung Heroes Grant: Watchdogs and Wellness: Adventure and Mentoring Program
2009 No Child Left Inside Grant:Watchdogs and Wellness: Camping in Schools
2011 PEP Grant:Watchdogs and Wellness: Watchdogs of the Future
2013 PEP Grant:Watchdogs and Wellness: Building on Success
2015 Wellmark Foundation Kickstarter GrantWatchdogs and Wellness: Outdoor Fitness Initiative
Watchdogs and Wellness Grants – Currently Submitted
2015 Bush FoundationWatchdogs and Wellness: Youth Mental Health Initiative
2015 SAMSHA Mental Health Grant Watchdogs and Wellness: Youth Mental Health Initiative
2015 USDA Food Insecurity GrantWatchdogs and Wellness: Eliminating Food
Insecurity
WATCHDOGS AND WELLNESS-started in 2008
-one small janitors closet for PE storage
-primarily used athletic equipment
-very dated and small weight room at MS/HS
-elementary gym doubled as lunch room
-high school had 2 PE electives
-complete focus either strength or team sports
-elementary with very limited contact minutes
-no partnerships
-no professional development
-basically financially broke Com-Ed program
-basically no written curriculum at all
-no coordinated fitness assessments
WATCHDOGS AND WELLNESSNow in 2015
-fully mapped K-12 HPE curriculum with SPARK PE, Team Nutrition, technology integration
-6 elective PE choices
-partnerships with Alliance for Healthier Generations, Multiple Community Partners, Com-Ed Before/After School Programs, Summer Programs, Daycares
-dedicated elementary gym
-state of the art student fitness facility
-significant professional development
-physical activity buy-in with the classroom teachers and kinesthetic desks
-expanded before/after school and summer physical -activity/fitness programming
2008-2011 Focus• Building a high quality, research-based,
standards-based, coordinated/mapped curriculum for Health and Physical Education
• Developing a strong knowledge base through targeted professional development
• Gaining a PE technology base• Establish evaluation/assessment system for
fitness and expanded evaluation procedures for physical education grades
• Expansion of PE electives for 9-12 Physical Education
2011-2014 Focus• Continue to develop all activities from 2008-2011 focus• Develop of Before/After-School and Summer
programming in coordination with our K-12 Health and Physical Education programming
• SPARK After-School program integration • Coordinated fitness programs between PE and
Athletics and After-School Fitness• Exergaming
• Lifetime and Family Based Activities• Family Fun nights, Saturdays in the Park, X-Country
Skiing, SnowShoeing, Disc Golf• Partnership developments
• Clinic• Com-Ed• LOG
2014-2017 Focus• Physical Activity integration in the classroom
• BeFit2Learn• Action Based Learning• Active Academics• Kinesthetic Learning Lab
• Updating of Physical Education and Fitness Programming and Student Wellness Center
• Spreading to other areas of need• Youth Mental Health• Food Insecurity• Outdoor Fitness for All
School Health Index Results (SHI)
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4School Policies Health Ed PE/PA Nutrition
BSD 2008 54% 58% 58% 54%BSD 2010 66% 61% 64% 60%BSD 2012 77% 69% 72% 73%
2008 Underweight Healthy Weight
Overweight Obese
Elem 7.6% 47% 29.3% 16.1%Middle 7.6% 42% 37.4% 13%HS 3.0% 40% 38% 19%
2010 Underweight Healthy Weight
Overweight Obese
Elem 2.3% 56.3% 27.2% 14.2%Middle 5.3% 49.2% 33% 12.5%HS 1.8% 46% 35% 17.2%
2013 Underweight Healthy Weight
Overweight Obese
Elem 4.5% 59.1% 25.3% 11.1%Middle 5.5% 55.5% 27% 12%HS 3.2% 54% 29% 13.8%
START SMALL BUT THINK BIG
1. Work together and develop your vision2. Share your vision3. Get key people on board4. Develop a preliminary timeline5. Develop your plan of action6. Record your successes, failures, struggles, highlights7. External Funding will probably be very important8. Do your research, read, talk, beg, borrow, steal, have
people make stuff for you, make a wish list9. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Develop Sustainability• Train the Trainer Format• Equipment: vendors, warranties, service
agreements• Promote successes widely to build community
support ---- Do not be afraid to Brag
Off-Shoots from Program• Staff Wellness Programming• Growth of JRFH and HFH• School and Community Pride• Dedicated Elementary Lunch Room• Community Wide Health Fair
POTENTIAL CHANGES/IMPACT OF ESSA (EVERY STUDENT SUCCESS ACT)
1. Wording change to “Well-Rounded Education”2. Significant grant funding from Department of Education
to the states3. School districts will have to complete new plans for
allocation of federal funds from ESSA that must include teaching input and submit to the State Department of Education
4. Funds begin to be distributed to states on July 1, 20165. ESSA strongly discourages “pull-outs” from one
academic subject for remedial or additional work in another subject
TITLE I FUNDING UNDER ESSAFormula Grants to States
Old ESEA Wording
“Improve the Basic Academic Achievement of the Disadvantage”
“Core Subjects”
New ESSA Wording
“Improving Basic Programs Operated by State and Local Agencies”
“Well-Rounded Students”
Significantly broader definition of who can use professional development funding
TITLE II FUNDING UNDER ESSAFormula Grants to States
Wording throughout of “Well-Rounded Education”
Broader definition of professional development that applied to ALL school staff
School improvement plans and professional development plan submitted for Title II funding must have teacher input
TITLE IV FUNDING UNDER ESSA
Eliminates 50 Individual programs and creates a new block grant titled “Student Support and Academic Enhancement” to states for distribution as sub-grants to individual school districts
PART A
Well-rounded education – 20% of funds minimum
Safe and Healthy Students – 20% of funds minimum
Effective Use of Technology
Other Specified Areas
Required needs assessment for the school district submitted to SD Department of Education
School districts must complete new plans for allocation of federal funds from ESSA and must include teacher input
TITLE IV FUNDING UNDER ESSAPART B
Continues the 21st Century Community Learning Centers as a stand alone program
40% Free and/or Reduced Lunch or
Title I Schoolwide
Development or enhancement of after-school programs – STEM, Nutrition, Physical Activity
School-Community Partnerships
Authorizes Pre-School Development Grants funded through the Department of Health and Human Services and jointly administered by the Department of Education
BEGINNING GUIDELINESResource Development Begins with a Good Idea
The First and Best Place to Look for External Funding Support is Close to Home
BEGINNING QUESTIONS1. Are the Chances of Your Proposal Being Funded Great Enough to
be Worth Your Time and Effort?2. Does Your Proposal Meet the Philosophy and Goals of Your
School3. Why are You Undertaking this Adventure? Are You Being Honest
and Realistic with Yourself and Your School4. Have You Shared Your Idea with Other Key People5. Are you goals consistent with any potential funding sources goals
WHERE GRANTS COME FROMCommunity Foundations
Private Foundations
Corporate Foundations
Professional Sources
Government Agencies
MYTHS ABOUT GRANTS1. Grants are Like a Sweepstakes – Based on Luck2. A Grant Proposal can be Prepared in One or Two Days3. Persons Receiving a Grant will Make More Money4. Persons with Grants Work Less5. Ask for More Funding Than Needed to Leave Room to
Negotiate6. Funding from Multiple Sources for the Same Proposed
Project is Available
MORE MYTHS7. Hiring a Grant Writer is Unethical
8. There is No Grant Funding Available for Physical Educators
FINDING FUNDING SOURCESWeb Searches
• Can google: “Wellness”, “Physical Education” “Obesity”, “Fitness” grants
• Vendors• Other Companies: • South Dakota Department of Education Website
Center for Health and Health Cares in Schools (www.healthinschools.org)
www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/Grants-Alert.aspx
FUNDING SOURCES CONT….Listservs
• Department of Education• Health and Human Services• SAMSHA• U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency
and Prevention (OJJDP)
EVALUATION POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES
Learn the funder’s grant making philosophy, program interests, and criteria
Check the purpose of the grants offered: seed money, direct service, equipment, capital expenses, etc….
Check the size of the grant offered: minimum and maximum
Determine whether you will need to apply for multiple grants and is this allowable under guidelines
Other Restrictions: geographic focus or preferences, priority issues, type of organizations that can apply
Number and kind of past awards
Do you have the time, energy, knowledge, resources to apply?
Have a pre-application meeting with all potential partners
UNDERSTANDING THE RFPDates
Fonts, Spacing, Letter Size
Auxiliary material
Letter of Intent or Not
How to submit and what info is needed or do you need to be able to login somewhere
Electronic only?
What are the Reviewer’s Criteria?
• As you write and develop your proposal – think like a reviewerWrite down questions and then send questions to the competition contact person if allowed
DEVELOP YOUR PROPOSAL WRITING PLAN OF ATTACKGenerate a list of tasks
Place the tasks in order
Gather external items early
Delegation
What contacts need to be made
Mini-goals in the writing process and progressive due dates
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A WINNING GRANT PROPOSAL1. The Grant Proposal is Written Exactly According to Grant
Guidelines2. The Proposal Identifies an Important Need or Research Question
and/or an Innovative Solution or Design.3. The Project is Cost-Effective4. The Proposal is Well Organized and Clearly Written5. The Proposal is Concisely Written and Looks Professional6. Goals and objectives align with the funding agency
LEVERAGING YOUR CURRENT GRANTUse same project title for continuity and building upon
Grant as matching/in-kind funds for future grants
Use your data, evaluations, and assessments
PROPOSAL WRITING PROCESS --- START EARLY!!!!!!!1. Read The Proposal Guidelines Carefully
a. Follow Explicitly and have Someone Proof Readb. Carefully examine the RFP/Call for Proposalsc. Goals and objectives of the specific grant
2. Do the Necessary Preliminary Worka. Outline the objectives of your projectb. Identify potential resources c. Make Contact with key people in supporting agencies,
collaborative efforts, baseline and background data-ethnicity breakdown, free-reduced lunches, weaknesses in meeting standards, financial status of program,
PROPOSAL WRITING PROCESS CONT.3. Discuss the Proposal with the Various Local
People and Agencies that will be Involved in the Project. Get their Reactions and Approval
• Develop partnerships that strengthen your weaknesses
• that may add to your matching/in-kind funding• that align to the projects goals• Be clear in explaining each partners role
4. Make Early Contact with the Office/Department in Your Agency that will be Responsible for the Administrative Details of the Proposal Submission and Project Fund Management
PROPOSAL WRITING PROCESS CONT.5. Begin by Making an Outline of the Overall Proposal Components
6. Get the Proposal Reviewed at Various Stages
• Draft, Review, Edit, and Repeat• Utilize proper headings and subheadings• Make sure that our data is current • Feedback and comments must be candid
7. If Various Sections of Your Proposal are to be Written by Different People or Departments, Identify One Person to take Responsibility for Integration
8. If Letter of Support are Required – Be Specific in Telling the Individual What You Need
PROPOSAL WRITING PROCESS CONT.5. Begin by Making an Outline of the Overall Proposal Components
6. Get the Proposal Reviewed at Various Stages
• Draft, Review, Edit, and Repeat• Utilize proper headings and subheadings• Make sure that our data is current • Feedback and comments must be candid
7. If Various Sections of Your Proposal are to be Written by Different People or Departments, Identify One Person to take Responsibility for Integration
8. If Letter of Support are Required – Be Specific in Telling the Individual What You Need
DEVELOPING THE BUDGETCrucial part of any proposal
Be sure to satisfy all the criteria
Understand what is allowable and non-allowable expenses
Costs are reasonable and calculated/estimated
Reviews understand that money must be spent—do not feel like apologizing if the included costs are fair
Follow specific format for budget if requested/required
Understand matching/in-kind funds
Is there a Budget Narrative required
• Keep it succinct and to the point
BUDGET FORMATION CONT.
Consider all forms of potential revenue: other grants, in-kind, donations, contracts, local funding, memberships, partnerships, current budgetary expenses, booster style clubs
Include all forms of expenses and in specific categories when requested
• Salaries• Equipment• Contractual• Travel• Supplies• Benefits• In-Direct Costs
DEVELOPING PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY
How will the project will be maintained beyond the funding period?
Develop a Business Plan of Sorts• What resources will be necessary to maintain the
project• Identify specific tactics to obtain sustainability• Be as specific as possible• How did you choose your equipment?• Train-the-Trainer format of professional development• Professional Learning Communities• Wellness Committee
DEVELOPING THE PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
Prepare and present the final proposal in a reader friendly format that will make scoring easy for the grant reviewers ---- think like a reviewer with limited knowledge!!!
1. Develop a strong Statement of the Problem or Goal2. Describe the active involvement of the community in defining
the problem and the planning3. Provide documented evidence, scope and level of the problem4. Community assessments, school assessments, HECAT,
PECAT, FitnessGram, etc…5. How is the problem related to other issues6. Description of the Community
PROPOSAL NARRATIVE CONT.Mission, Objectives, and Capacity
1. State your vision in relation to the project/problem2. State the mission of the project or initiative3. What are the overall objectives for the project4. Describe the organization’s capacity to conduct the project5. Describe the community’s capacity to address the
problem/goal
METHODS SECTION (BE DETAILED AND CLEAR)1. Identify the beneficiaries and how to reach them
2. Describe the universal approaches to be used
3. Describe the targeted approaches to be used
4. How will you modify access, barriers, and opportunities
5. Identify Community Assets and Resources
1. People2. Stakeholder3. Material Resources4. Any potential resistance
6. Proposed Project Activities
1. Action Plan2. Action Steps
EVALUATION SECTION
Developing the Overall Evaluation
1. Introduction to the Evaluation2. Framework for Program Evaluation3. Lots of Detail4. Timelines5. Connections between goals/objectives and evaluation
strategies and steps6. How and who will gather evaluation data7. How will the data be disseminated8. Required assessments and program specific assessments
PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER
Table of Contents
Abstract
Narrative
Budget
Budget Narrative
Appendixes
All Additional Forms• Partner commitments• Letters of Support• etc……
Triple Check the Application Package Checklist!!!!!!!!!!!
Be prepared to submit a couple of days early
EXAMPLE PLAN OF ATTACKTask Responsible Due Completed
Review the Call for Proposals John and Jane Doe January 1
Develop or Review Application Checklist
Sally and Mike January 10
Identify and Contact Appropriate Partners
John and Jane January 15
Prepare Questions and Contact the Grant Person
Sally January 15
Draft, Review, Edit, and Repeat Entire Team Jan. 20, Feb. 20, March 20
Develop Budget John and Jane Feb. 20
Collect Letters of Support John and Jane March 1
Finalize TextEnsure all additional forms are completed
Entire Team
Sally and Mike
April 1
April 1
Make Final Copies and Submit 3 Days in Advance of April 15
John and Jane April 12
EXAMPLE OF AGENCIES GOALS AND FUNDING DETAILSGranting Agencies
GoalsWhere and When You Found Out About this
Goal
Describe How Your Proposal Contributes
to this GoalTo support and promote high quality health and physical education.
Carol M. White PEP Grant --- US Department of Education – typically announce in Jan/Feb
------------
SAMPLES OF EVALUATION CRITERIA TEMPLATEEvaluation
CriteriaPoints Describe How
Your Proposal Matches This
Criteria
Rating
Abstract 0-10
Definition of Need 0-10
Target Audience 0-10
Overall Narrative 0-25
Methods 0-15
Evaluation Plan 0-20
Budget 0-25
LETTERS OF SUPPORT OR OUTSIDE DOCUMENTATION PLANOrganization &
Contact Information
Objective Letter Requested Letter Received
Community Education Program
Partnership for after-school programming
1/18/13 2/15/13
TEN GRANT WRITING NO NO’SDon’t Forget To Get Permission and Input
Don’t Look Stupid by Making Errors
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Stakeholder’s Input
Don’t Include Audio or Video Attachments
Don’t Do a Show and Tell Too Soon
Don’t Submit a Rejected Grant Application without making Major Changes
Don’t Assume the Funder Has No Changes from Year to Year
Don’t Ignore the Printer
Don’t Get Caught by Murphy’s Law – if It Can Happen, It Will
Don’t Celebrate for Too Long; The Funding Ends Soon
REASONS FOR LOW REVIEW RATINGS1. Project of little or no relevance to mission and/or program
priorities
2. Insufficient preliminary data or evidence from literature
3. Exceeds page limit, poorly written, unclear objectives or hypotheses
4. Poor record of results from previous funding
5. Plan of action or objectives no cohesive, different functions aren’t integrated
6. Low scientific merit, basic flaws in logic
7. Lack solid research questions or learning objectives
8. Not innovative
9. Lacks references to content standards
10. Project Director (Management Plan) not qualified
QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, ITEMS TO SHARE
TO SHARE