Writing a Quality Grant Proposal for...

Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiativeswww.ed.gov/faithandcommunity

Carol M. WhitePhysical Education Program

CFDA # 84.215 F

Agenda

• Overview of program’s purpose

• Outline application info

• Address selection criteria

• Provide grant-writing tips

Program Purpose

•Initiate, expand, or improve physical education programs in order to help students meet state standards

•In school programs•After-school programs

Target Population

• Students enrolled in grades K-12 attending public, private, nonprofit schools as well as home-schooled children

Absolute Priority(1) Provide equipment and support to enable

students to participate actively in physical

education

(2) Provide funds for staff and teacher training

education, in order to make progress toward

meeting state PE standards

Only applicants meeting this priority

will be considered for funding

Program Activities

• Fitness education and assessment

• Instruction to enhance physical, emotional,

mental, and social development for students

• Promote life long healthy lifestyle for students

• Promote positive social skills/cooperation

• Instruction in proper eating habits & nutrition

• Professional development for teachers

Performance Measures

• Percentage of students served by the grant

participating in PE activities will increase

• Percentage of students served by the grant

who make progress towards meeting state

PE standards will increase

Applicant Eligibility

• Local education agencies (LEAs)

• Faith-based and community organizations

Important Note:

All applicants must have a D-U-N-S number

1-800-333-0505

www.dnb.com/US/duns_update\index.html

Novice EligibilityA novice applicant has…

Never administered this grant program

Not administered a federal grant in the

last 5 years

Checked block six on ED Form 424

Novice applicants will receive anadditional five points to their score

Application Information

• Grants awarded early summer ’04

• Project period: 36 months

• Estimated number of awards: 233

• Award amounts: $100,000- $500,000

Application Package Contains all essential information and

required forms to complete application

Serves as your outline/guide for grant writing

Access electronically or request a hard copy

be mailed to you: 1-877-433-7827 or (TDD) at

1-877-576-7734 from EDPUBS.

Submitting Proposals

Mailing Address

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: CFDA #84.215F

7th & D Streets, SW

Room 3671

Washington, DC 20202-4725

Mail original plus 2 copies

Participate in e-application process Not mandatory but is the trend in federal grant making Not an email attachment Must register with ED and submit through system In your best interests to become familiar with the process

Voluntary—no bonus points awarded

Review User’s Guide

Contact GAPS hotline with questions, Monday-

Friday: 8:00 AM –6:00 PM

(DC time) at this number:

1-888-336-8930

Applying On-line

Pilot Projecte-Application

http://e-grants.ed.gov/egWelcome.asp?APP=

Proposal Format• ED Form 424

• Table of contents (1 page)

• Abstract (1 page)

• Narrative (25 page limit)

• Budget Information Form (ED Form 524)

• Budget Narrative

• AppendicesAdditional documents not encouraged

Contents of Appendices• GEPA Statement

• Partnership agreement if applicable

• Certs/Assurances• Non-construction Programs

• Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, Drug-Free Workplace

• Lower-Tier covered transactions

• Disclosure of lobbying activities

No narrative or budget information

should be placed in appendices

Budget Guidance

• Allowable -- either permitted or not specifically prohibited

• Allocable -- necessary for project success

• Reasonable -- costs that would be incurred by “prudent” person

Are the items or activities in my budget…

Matching Requirement Year 1: Federal share may not exceed 90%

of the total project budget

Year 2 and subsequent years: Federal

share may not exceed 75% of the total

project budget

Applicant’s match may consist of

cash or in-kind contributions such as facilities

equipment, or other allowable expenditures

Matching ExampleFederal amount X Applicant’s share (%)

of total cost project

____________________________________

Federal share of the total cost of project

$100,000 X .10

.90

= $900

Allowable Costs• Athletic equipment

• Curriculum (health and nutritional guides)

• Training for staff development

• 5% Cap on administrative costs

• Salary of a project director—project funds

NOT intended to be a source for hiring staff

Budget for 2 mandatory project director

meetings annually held in Washington, DC

Unallowable CostsGrant funds may not be spent on

extracurricular activities such

as sports teams and ROTC

Grant funds may not be

used for the construction

of athletic facilities

Grant Writing Suggestions• Clear, concise, and detailed

• Recipe: 2/3 planning & 1/3 writing

• Don’t repeat the selection criteria;

• Address the selection criteria

• Persuade through facts over rhetoric

• Utilize research and data

• Ambitious but attainable objectives

Selection Criteria

• Need for Project 25 pts

• Significance 25 pts

• Quality of Project 25 pts Design

• Quality of Project 25 pts Evaluation

• Cite % of students failing to meet standards

• Identify gaps or weaknesses in meeting

state standards for your target population

• Link specific state standards to gaps or weaknesses

• Review School Health Index at:

www.cdc.gov/gov/nccdphp/dash/SHI/index.htm

Need for Project

Locating State Standards For most states access this site:

www.pelinks4u.org/links/statestandards.htm

For District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio, and

Puerto Rico see application for contact info

Important Note:If your state does not have physical education

standards, select standards from another state.

National standards are not acceptable.

Significance

Demonstrate that the project will:

• result in a change or improvement in

the target population

• offer new strategies or build on

existing proven ones

• produce outcomes of great importance

Quality of Project Design

Link proposed activities to state standards

• Outline a coherent program

• Utilize up to date scientifically proven

research to support program activities

• Include ambitious but attainable objectives

that are specific and measurable annually

• Goals should meet the need of target population

• Goals should reflect the activities

Quality of Project Evaluation• Evaluation tools address the objectives

• Measure the extent to which the grantees

have attained the projected outcomes

• Ability of the evaluation to provide

feedback on project performance

Writing Strong Objectiveswww.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/newreq1.htm

202-260-3954

Ann Weinheimer or Pat Rattker

[email protected]

[email protected]

Understanding the Process• Review FAQ included in application

• Visit program office’s homepage at:

www.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/index.html

• Contact program office with any questions:

Winning Reminders

• Identify your state’s PE standards

• Review application package thoroughly

•Register with e-application ASAP

•Take time to plan and budget wisely

• Implement reader comments

• Apply, Apply, Apply !

Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiativeswww.ed.gov/faithandcommunity

Carol M. WhitePhysical Education Program

CFDA # 84.215 F