In the world of education, our dreams always seem a little bigger than our pocketbooks. So when we dream big, we need to invite others to be a part of our vision for the future. This is where grants and other funding sources come in. At Revolution, we want to be a partner in your success, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get started.
Schools utilize a variety of funding sources including federal, state, county, and local sources. Think about how these sources can be utilized to achieve your short- and long-term goals. Some funds are more restricted than others. By moving purchases from general funding sources to restricted sources, where possible, unrestricted funds can often be made available for innovation.
Budgets are tight, but remember that millions of dollars in grant programs remain undistributed each year simply because people don’t apply for them. Grants exist to fund planning of programs, implementation of a pilot program, or the expansion of an existing program. Sometimes a number of small grants can be put together to create a larger program. Grantors like to be a significant link in the funding chain, rather than a general investment in a large project , so when funding is secured for a specific piece of a larger idea, you’re on your way. When some of the financial pieces are in place, it is often far easier to find a funding source to take on “just that little bit that’s missing.”
In a lot of the older programs kids can just click until they get the right answer, but your program makes them think.
Mike Bohne Principal Nueva Continuation School
There are many sources of funds available to public and private schools. Typically they are divided into compliance (or formulaic) funding and competitive funding. The current trend in K12 education is away from formulaic funding. What does this mean for schools? It means you need to look under and around rocks to find new funding sources. Available funding sources include:
Depending on the amount of money you are looking for, there are a variety of people and services available to help you.
Grants are made available at the national and state level, usually for large projects. Programs are posted to agency websites regularly and the due dates are often spread throughout the year for different programs.
County offices and many not-for-profit groups will help schools and districts research grants that become available. They keep up-to-date listings of programs and eligibility. Utilize these resources to make sure special opportunities are not missed.
Many organizations have in-house grant writers or they know people who have been very successful at getting grants awarded. Find out what resources are available locally.
Find out what your students’ parents do for a living. You might be surprised to find that there’s a professional grant writer or researcher in your midst who would be eager to volunteer some services.
Writing a grant isn’t rocket science, but it does require careful, thoughtful work. The grant writing tips on this site are some helpful reminders for you as you select and prepare your proposal.
At Revolution K12, we are happy to provide assistance as you prepare your proposal. Once you select the grant you want, we can provide you with text about the Revolution program to fit the guidelines of your proposal. We can help you explain how the program is customized to meet your identified needs and the various services and functionalities that the program includes to help you capture and track student achievement at the individual, classroom, school, and district levels.
