Writing a Successful Grant Proposal

Brianna Smith, RD

Highline Public Schools

Nutrition Services Manager

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Objectives

� Identify key elements of successful grant writing

� Learn to write proposals that meet goals of grant

� Essential components of strong proposals

� Equip YOU to identify, write and receive grants!!

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Overview

� Highline Grants

� Grant Considerations

� Essential Grant Components

� Lessons Learned

� Keys to Success

� Grants & Resources

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Types of Grants

� Federal

� United States Dept. of Agriculture

� National Institute of Health

� Centers for Disease Control

� Foundation

� Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

� American Dietetic Assoc. Foundation

� Organization/Company

� American School Health Association

� National Dairy Council

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Highline Public Schools

� Burien, WA

� 30 School Sites

� Ethnically Diverse

� 80 Nationalities

� 70 Languages

� 58% Free & Reduced

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Grants in Highline

� Hidden Valley “Love your Veggies”

� General Mills “Champions for Healthy Kids”

� American School Health Association (ASHA)

� USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program

� Meals for Kids Grant

� STEPS to a Healthier US

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Hidden Valley “Love your Veggies”

� $15,000 > 07-08’, $10,000 > 08-09’

� Salad Bar, Nutrition Education

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General Mills “Champions” Grant

� $10,000 > 07-08’

� “Fuel Up for Fitness”

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American School Health Association

� 2 years, > $10,000/year

� Training & Capacity Building for Coordinated School Health

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USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program

� 4th year recipient, $66,000 > 07-08’

� Salad bar, mid-day snacks, family nights

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Meals for Kids Grant

� $18,756 > 07-08’

� Equipment-Ameripak Packing Machine for salads, summer program, etc.

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STEPS to a Healthier US Project

� 5 Years� School Health Coordinator

� Health Education

� PE Education

� Staff Wellness

� Nutrition Coordinator� Nutrition Education

� Nutrition Services

� Year 5 Consultant� Coordinated School Health Program

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First Steps…

� What are YOU passionate about?

� Where do you feel that improvement could occur? Identify existing need!

� How is your idea unique and different?

� Who will your idea benefit and what will it contribute?

� How will this idea meet the funders goals and objectives?

� WHO is going to implement the program?

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First Steps…

� What are you passionate about???� Health & Well-being of Students

� Physical Activity, Special Dietary Needs, Nutrition Education, Coordinated School Health

� Quality of School Meal Programs

� Breakfast Participation, Food Safety, Classroom to Cafeteria Connections, Staff Training, etc

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First Steps…

� Where do you feel that improvement

could occur?

� THE NEED- Chinook Middle School

� GREAT need of PE curriculum & equipment

� Limited nutrition education

� Strong student interest in culinary careers

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First Steps…

� How is your idea unique and different?

� Student Nutrition Advisory Committee

� Community Partnerships

� Staff and Family Involvement

� Multiple Players

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First Steps…

� Who will your idea benefit and what will it

contribute?

� Students- Increased knowledge, improved attitudes, improved skill, leadership building and behavior change!

� Staff- Role modeling, increased knowledge, improved attitude and behavior change!

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First Steps…

� How will this idea meet the funders goals

and objectives?

� General Mills Champions Grant

� PE Focus - Curriculum & Enhanced Equipment

� Nutrition Focus- Increase Nutrition Education

� Empower Students – Student Nutrition Advisory Council

� RD Involved- My time and planning

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First Steps…

� Who is going to implement the program?

� Build a Team

� Physical Education Teachers

� School Nurse

� Family Support Liaison

� Registered Dietitian

� WSU Extension

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Before Writing the Grant

� Obtain Grant Proposal Guidelines

� Are you eligible?

� What is involved in grant application process?

� When is the submission deadline?

� Does the timing of funding meet your needs?

� Get District Approval!!

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Common Grant Components

� Organization Information

� Organization History

� Mission & Purpose

� “Educate Every Student & Expect Excellence”

� “Eat Healthy, Grow Strong”

� Demographics

� White-37.3%, Black-13.9%, Asian-21.3%, Pacific Islander-2.1%, and Hispanic-25.4%.

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Common Grant Components

� Explain Problem/ Need

� Description of Problem

� 23% of Washington Youth are obese, 36% are overweight

� 55% of 3rd-6th falling behind in science scores & 34% of students falling behind in math.

� 70% Free/Reduced Lunch

� What you want to do

� Increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption

� Increase Nutrition Education

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Common Grant Components

� Narrative� Target Audience

� Student & Staff of Seahurst Elementary School

� Projected People Reached� 536 Students, 39 staff

� Your Proposed Program & Timeline� Salad bar-new fruits and veggies

� Marketing Campaign

� Part time wellness coordinator

� Describe planning you have already done

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Goals & Objectives

� Goals are General

� To make cafeteria - classroom connections to support nutrition education

� Objectives are Specific (SMART)

� Increase fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school students

� If your objectives are a numeric goal or statistic, make sure it is doable (i.e. Increase fruit and vegetable consumption by 15%)

� Be Realistic!

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Common Grant Components

� Outcomes� What will change about the situation as a

result of your project?

� Needs to be MEASURABLE!

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Common Grant Components

� Budget� Direct project expenses

� Cost of materials, curriculum, food, equipment, etc

� Administrative expenses

� Salaries, planning, etc

� Cost-Benefit Analysis

� Matching Funds

� “In-Kind" shows commitment on your part

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Common Grant Components

� Other Funding Sources

� Team Nutrition Grants, Other partnerships, etc.

� Sustainability

� Is this program replicable?

� Evaluation

� Should be DIRECTLY from the outcomes you stated (i.e. consumption, attitude, knowledge)

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Budget your Time

Solid partnershipsSolid partnerships CommunicateCommunicate

Innovative Innovative

projectprojectDefine your Define your

budgetbudget

80% Planning Project 20% Writing Proposal

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Relationships with Funders

� They are our Partners!� Build a Relationship

� Be Courteous

� Respect their Time

� Know their Interests

� Discuss Opportunities

� Follow Up

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ALWAYS…

� Follow grant application instructions

� Respect word counts, page limits

� Include necessary attachments

� Be succinct and well organized

� Proof read, proof read, proof read!

� Submit your proposal on time

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Weak Proposals

� Don’t follow directions

� Have lots of errors

� Lack coordination and partnerships

� Late submission

Pitfalls

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What if you don’t get the grant?

� Follow Up- Ask:

� Any hints to increase success next time?

� Any other funders recommended?

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Lessons Learned

� Build a Team- Share the work!

� Identify Champions

� Determine Staff Capability

� Communicate, Communicate!

� Meet the Funders Needs- be familiar with their areas of work and goals

� Know what you are getting into!

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Keys to Success

� Be Innovative…Think outside of the box!

� Maximize Resources-Create partnerships that are mutually beneficial

� Read Successful Grants- Utilize “best practices” from other districts

� Try to create win-win situations for funder and grantee

� Start small!

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Available Grants

� General Mills Champions Grant

� http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx

� Hidden Valley Love your Veggies

� http://www.hiddenvalley.com/loveyourveggies.php

� TEAM Nutrition Training Grants

� http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/grants.html

� US Potato Board

� http://www.healthypotato.com/healthEducators.php?id=11

� National & State Dairy Council Breakfast Grants� http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/nationaldairycouncil

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Available Grants cont…

� Go, Go Girls� http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=fkIWLgP3G&b=107774

� School Nutrition Foundation� http://www.schoolnutrition.org/

� Action for Healthy Kids (National & State)� http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/

� American Dietetic Foundation� http://www.adaf.org

� Robert Wood Johnson Foundation� http://www.rwjf.org/

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Grant Writing Resources

� Successful Grant Writing Tips � http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips/more_tips2.htm#Nine%20Secrets%20of%20Succe

ssful%20Proposals

� Proposal Short Course

� http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html

� Grant Writing Tips & Examples� http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips.htm

� Grant Writing Guides� http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips/more_tips2.htm#Managing%20Your%20Grant

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Questions?

Brianna Smith, RD

Highline Public Schools

Nutrition Services Manager

smithbm@hsd401.org

206-433-2209