SchoolArts - December 2009

Asarteducators,mostof ushavehadtheexperi- enceofcomingupwitha greatideaforourprograms only to have that idea shot down by lack of funding. You know the grand ideas I am talking about: taking the sixth-grade class to an art museum; hosting an artist in residency; sponsor-ing an arts festival.

Perhaps your ideas were smaller scale: providing art supplies for economically disadvantaged kids; buying a ceramics kiln; purchas-ing prints of masterworks. Maybe your ideas involved professional development or an arts research project.

Whatever your idea, it almost always requires extra funding to implement. One effective way of obtaining extra cash is through grant funding; however, since grants provide money that does not need to be repaid, the competition can be fierce. This article provides a brief overview of how to write a winning grant proposal.

Define Your Project

Before you can present your project
idea to a potential funder, you must
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,
if your goal is to improve student
understanding of modern art, a logical
objective would be to expose students
to masterworks
in the local art
museum.

When the project is clear in your mind, think about the timeline, the budget, and who else besides your students will benefit from the outcome.

Find a Funder

Cast a wide net for funders. Here are a few places to begin your search: ;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; or the National Art Education Association

;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; keywords such as giving, community, or outreach.)

;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; engine for specific grants, art education grants, or school grants

Guidelines

After locating a potential funder, check that their objectives match your own. If they do, read the guidelines for submission. Typical guidelines will list funding cycles and deadlines, eligibility criteria, proposal format, award levels, the evaluation and selection process, and other pertinent information.

Hardcopy Format

For hardcopy submissions, make sure ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; instructions for setting margins and spacing. Do not exceed word count or page number. The best proposals ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; requested information in the order it is listed in the guidelines. For example, if the funder asks for objectives, projected outcomes, and timeline, use these as your headings so that evaluators can easily see that you have addressed all criteria.

Electronic Format

Electronic submissions will have a set space for each heading. Most electronic submissions will allow you to save the document and return to it at a later time. Like hardcopy submis-