In a nutshell, there are many categories of grants: federal, state, corporate, foundation and alternative sources. Each one presents pros and cons, such as ease of applying versus poor chance of winning. Start your search simply and locally, and then widen it in expanding circles until you hit the jackpot.

For example: Check with school district administrators about existing budgets or unspent fund balances towards the end of the fiscal year. It may be possible to re-purpose funds or combine balances. Then look to local corporations, foundations and philanthropists for monetary or in-kind donations. That’s the low-hanging fruit. In the meantime, pursue federal and state Department of Education grants for large-scale projects. Be aware, however, that government grants are extremely competitive, the application process is daunting, and the lead time is lengthy. In addition, DonorsChoose.org and other alternative sources of funding for educators are worth a try: major corporations do grant wishes here!

Make sure there’s a good fit between the funder and your project. Develop a “scoreboard,” starting with:

• How well do you meet the funding criteria?
• What are the odds of getting financial support?
• Is it enough to be worthwhile? (Small gifts can grow into big windfalls.)
• Do you have the time and people to pursue this opportunity?
• Does the grant and funder align with your mission and culture?

Start your search by accessing the Databases listed in Search tab and then go to the web site of each funder more information. Check out previous years’ competitions to see who won and why. Use that intel to draft the major sections of your application in advance. (You usually have only 4–6 weeks to apply after the opening and before the submission deadline.) Finally, check to see if a funder offers in-person or online orientations or other technical assistance to grantees. Many do.

For in-person assistance, contact a local librarian who’s familiar with grants and fundraising. Many large libraries have specialty areas, such as the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Grants Collections, that are invaluable.

It’s not too early to begin thinking about overall project goals, partnerships and the ultimate implementation.

Next steps include targeting grants and funders, calendaring out submission due dates and assembling committees to prepare strong proposals. Much of the work for preparing one proposal can be recycled for other proposals with some tweaks. Success breeds success, until the quest for funds becomes a self-perpetuating cycle.

Pearson Education has an awesome instructional resource for you. For the same type of information, but in a simpler format, see Scholastic’s funding PDFs.

What works best in presenting an application to a local business or a federal grant is the same: a thoughtful plan for what you want to do and how you will use the grant.

Make your proposal detailed but focused on the interests and concerns of the grant-maker or community partner. A committee of educators and parents with differing strengths will ensure your proposal covers all the bases. Is your initiative creative, impactful or otherwise attractive to funders? Is your proposal accurate, with all the t’s crossed and the I’s dotted? Is your submission deliverable on-time and on-target?

Usually applicants will be informed whether they win or not, but you should take the initiative and follow up. Develop relationships with people at any of the funding sources you approach to help you refine your proposals and make them more desirable. In any case, always thank the grant-maker for considering your application. Also, conduct an in-house post-mortem with your team to determine the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal.

In addition to the scoreboard concept, apply the SMART goal setting methodology. Consider your specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely objectives: how well did you do? Is it worth going after those funds next year? Evaluating the success of your efforts is a good habit to develop now, as those reports are often expected by funders or donors after they make an award. They want proof that their support has made a positive impact!