Grant Writing Tips & Sample Application

The Northborough Education Foundation
www.northboroughed.org
NEF Grant Tips
*2. Project Description – please provide a detailed description of
your project:
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Discuss what the project is trying to accomplish
Describe what materials are covered in the project.
How will the materials be used
What educational benefit is provided (state specific subject areas if applicable)
If possible, provide Manufacturer and link to materials as reference
3. How does this project enhance the existing curriculum?
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State how the project will be used in conjunction with the current curriculum
Explain how this grant will enhance or enrich the curriculum
4. Goals /Objectives:
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Is there an end goal or objective that will result from funding this project?
Is this goal/objective attainable without running this project
5. Please explain how this project will sustain itself beyond the
current grant cycle:
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Does the project consist of durable goods that can continue to be used past 1
year?
Are the materials transferrable to others?
6. Approximate number of students involved in the project. Indicate
if the project can be shared across grade levels, schools or among
staff:
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Provide your best estimate
Please be specific if the project affects multiple grades and schools
Provide a logistics/sharing plan to demonstrate how the project will be shared if
applicable.
7. Please provide a summary description of your project. This will be
used for all press releases and media communication:
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Be concise but target key objectives around the project description
8. Budget - Please provide a detailed breakdown of all projected
expenses. Do not forget to include shipping costs and any ongoing
maintenance fees:
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Please be as specific as you can
Detailing out various components required is helpful
Attach a copy of the page(s) from the catalog, if applicable
9. Provide a time table for your project, including start and
completion dates, major activities, milestones and events:
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Describe the lead time from project acceptance to start time.
What steps are needed to get the project ready to start?
Is there a set end date for the project or will it continue for the whole year, or
beyond?
* Num bers correspond to actual NEF grant application questions
Example Grant:
Famous American Historical Speeches DVDs
(This example is fictitious and meant for demonstrative purposes)
2. Project Description – please provide a detailed description of your
project
The project that is being requested for funding is the purchase of supplemental history
DVDs that can be used in conjunction with the current history curriculum in the middle
school. The project would cover the purchase of 2 DVD sets and shipping and
handling. The DVDs are called “Great American Speeches” by A. Smith. The goal of
this project is to really help students understand the emotions of the famous historians
at the time of their speeches
3. How does this project enhance the existing curriculum?
The project enhances the curriculum as it provides an alternative media for classroom
discussion. The textbooks and written speeches can really come to life when heard
and seen and then discussed in the context of the history lesson.
4. Goals /Objectives:
The goal of this project is to really help students understand the emotions of the
famous historians at the time of their speeches. The words of a speech are very
impactful, but the tone and emphasis on words helps to convey the feelings that are
being felt at that time. This perspective of history will act as a key component in
discussions that the class will have on these topics. The speeches will be studied and
discussed in the context of the decisions and events that were taking place at that
time.
5. Please explain how this project will sustain itself beyond the
current grant cycle:
The materials would be in Book/DVD format that will have an indefinite lifespan.
Students can continue to use these materials many years beyond the grant cycle
6. Approximate number of students involved in the project. Indicate
if the project can be shared across grade levels, schools or among
staff:
All students in the middle school can benefit from this project. All middle school
students take history classes which cover various periods in American history. The
speeches contained on this DVD are from various events and points in American
history. All grades and classes would have something to use from this DVD set.
Approximately 540 children can benefit.
The teachers would work to share the DVDs such that the pertinent speeches can be
reviewed during that subject’s discussion. Based on our current year’s curriculum the
schedule would be as follows:
Mrs. A, 6th grade teacher will use DVD #1 from September – November
Mr. B, 6th grade teacher will use DVD #1 from December - February
Miss C, 7th grade teacher will use DVD #1 from March - May
Miss D, 7th grade teacher will use DVD #2 from September - November
Mrs. E, 8th grade teacher will use DVD #2 from December - February
Mrs. F, 8th grade teacher will use DVD #2 from March - May
7. Please provide a summary description of your project. This will be
used for all press releases and media communication:
“Great American Speeches” is a set of DVDs that capture famous speeches of
American history. These speeches are an important part of studying American history.
Having the ability to not only read –but to hear these famous speeches allows for a
deeper understanding of the emotions during that time. These DVDs will enhance the
student’s ability to learn and understand the topics.
8. Budget - Please provide a detailed breakdown of all projected
expenses. Do not forget to include shipping costs and any ongoing
maintenance fees.
Detailed breakdown of costs are as follows:
• 2 DVD sets of Great American Speeches:
• MA Sales Tax (6.25%)= $4.99
• Shipping & Handling = 10.95
• Total = $95.84
2 x 39.95 = $79.90
9. Provide a time table for your project, including start and
completion dates, major activities, milestones and events:
If the project is approved, the DVDs would be ordered over the summer for delivery by
the first day of school. Teachers would use according to the lesson plans and as
outlined in Question #6.