All Levels
No Money?
Guidelines
After locating a potential funder,
Write a Winning Grant Proposal
check that their objectives match your
own. If they do, read the guidelines
for submission. Typical guidelines
Pam Stephens
will list funding cycles and deadlines,
As art educators, most of us have had the experi- ence of coming up with a great idea for our programs first have the project fully defined for yourself. Like a good lesson plan, the project should have a specific goal and measurable objectives. For example, eligibility criteria, proposal format, tion process, and other pertinent information.
award levels, the evaluation and selec-
only to have that idea shot down by
if your goal is to improve student
lack of funding. You know the grand
understanding of modern art, a logical Hardcopy Format
ideas I am talking about: taking the
objective would be to expose students For hardcopy submissions, make sure
sixth-grade class
to masterworks
to;follow;the;funder’s;format.;Follow
to an art museum;
Since grants provide
in the local art
instructions for setting margins and
hosting an artist in
money that does not
museum.
spacing. Do not exceed word count
residency; sponsor-
need to be repaid, the
When the proj-
or page number. The best proposals
ing an arts festival. ect is clear in your are;those;that;address;the;funder’s competition can be fierce.
Perhaps your ideas
mind, think about requested information in the order it
were smaller scale: providing art sup-
the timeline, the budget, and who
is listed in the guidelines. For exam-
plies for economically disadvantaged
else besides your students will benefit ple, if the funder asks for objectives,
kids; buying a ceramics kiln; purchas- from the outcome.
projected outcomes, and timeline, use
ing prints of masterworks. Maybe
these as your headings so that evalu-
your ideas involved professional devel- Find a Funder
ators can easily see that you have
opment or an arts research project.
Cast a wide net for funders. Here are a addressed all criteria.
Whatever your idea, it almost
few places to begin your search:
always requires extra funding to
•;School;district;development;office
Electronic Format
implement. One effective way of
•;Your;state’s;commission;on;the;arts Electronic submissions will have a
obtaining extra cash is through grant •;Your;state;art;education;association;set space for each heading. Most elec-
funding; however, since grants pro-
or the National Art Education Asso- tronic submissions will allow you to
vide money that does not need to be
ciation
repaid, the competition can be fierce. •;Private;foundations
save the document and return to it at
a later time. Like hardcopy submis-
This article provides a brief overview •;Businesses;(On;websites;check;for
of how to write a winning grant pro-
keywords such as giving, commu-
Continued on page 50.
posal.
Define Your Project
Before you can present your project
idea to a potential funder, you must
nity, or outreach.)
•;Use;an;online;search
engine for specific
grants, art education
grants, or school grants
Grants can provide technology for classrooms and for resources such as art
postcards and posters.
