Managing Grants: An Overview By: Jacqueline Bodnar

Grants are an important part of any educational mission, but especially so for charter schools. Even in this dull economy, there are still plenty of grant opportunities available. It’s just a matter of knowing where to find them and apply for them, so that your school comes out ahead. For example, in December 2008, North Routt Community Charter School, located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $500,000 energy-impact grant from the state. Likewise, the YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School won a $570,000 grant that will span over three years. The beginning of the year may be the best time to re-evaluate your grant-seeking goals for the upcoming months, in order to make the most impact.

 

Who’s Granting

While the U.S. Department of Education seems to be the largest institution providing grants, it is not the only source of funding in town. It just happens to be the first name that people think of, when considering educational grants. While you certainly must take advantage of applying for grants with state and national educational sources, it is imperative not to let them be your only attempt at seeking grant funds. Along with them, here are a few other popular places for seeking charter school grants:

 

• U.S. Department of Education. These competitive grants are made available to states through the state educational agencies (SEA), who then sub-grant them to charter schools through their “Public Charter Schools Program.” In 2008, $190 million were appropriated, with $3 million allocated for SEAs and $150,000 for other sources. Most states in the country have approved applications on file. Their program is to support planning, development and initial implementation of charter schools. Preference is given to states that have multiple chartering agencies that ensure accountability and give the schools a high degree of autonomy for their budgets and expenditures. For more information, log onto http://www.ed.gov/programs/charter/index.html

 

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation has been instrumental in granting millions of dollars to charter schools across the country. In April 2008, they announced they were pledging $19 million to strengthen Newark, New Jersey, charter schools. This is just one of the many grants they give, each year. Since 1994, the foundation has granted over $17 billion dollars worldwide, with over $5 billon going to grant-seekers in the U.S. To learn more, visit http://www.gatesfoundation.org

 

• 65 percent going to Colorado, 10 percent to New Mexico, 10 percent to Wyoming, 5 percent to Utah, and the remaining 10 percent awarded nationally, by invitation only. The amounts given to each charter school vary, depending on many factors, according to the foundation. Along with giving to charter schools, they offer funding to a variety of other programs. To learn more about the Daniels Fund Daniels Fund. This foundation allocates their grant funds to particular areas, with, visit http://www.danielsfund.org

 

• Walton Family Foundation. From the founder of the Walmart store chain, this foundation offers grants to 30 urban school districts for charter schools. In 2007, they gave a combined total of more than $241 million in grant funds. In December 2008, they awarded the Arkansas Public Resource Center at the University of Central Arkansas with over $4.5 million to be used over a three-year period on open-enrollment charter schools and rural school districts. They offer planning and start-up grants to institutions in the targeted areas that serve low-income students and are not-for-profit. To see the list of school districts that qualify, visit http://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org

 

• Charter School Development Center. This center focuses on helping charter schools in California by providing information on grants available. They also offer training, assistance, accountability services, workshops, and more. Visit their site at http://www.cacharterschools.org

 

• Grants.gov. This government site is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 different grant programs. Grant-seekers can conduct searches for educational-related opportunities.

 

• National Charter School Clearinghouse. This national project helps provide information on grants and grant-writing tips, and offers assistance. They provide information on funding sources regarding federal, state, corporate, and private opportunities. Visit their site at http://www.ncsc.info

 

Locating and Beyond

Simply locating the grants that are available for application is not enough. Many people do not end up getting grants because they have difficulty with particular areas of the process. While many people have trouble locating which grants are available to apply for, others have problems with the grant application itself. In order to increase your chances of getting funds, it’s important always to follow the grant application directions and submit a solidly written grant proposal.

 

For those who do not have a grant writer on staff, consider outsourcing this portion to a professional. While the National Charter School Clearinghouse maintains a database of grant writers, others can be located on a freelance basis through sites like Guru.com. Contracting a professional grant writer to create the grant proposal helps ensure that all areas are covered as they should be.

 

Those reviewing grants will also want to see that the charter school applying for funds has not only followed the correct process but has a plan that is accountable, has realistic goals for their school, has put a good curriculum in place, and has provided a detailed budget.

 

Going Forward

Grants are an essential part of any educational institution. However, they don’t just happen. Schools must manage the process of finding and applying for them in order to increase their chances of successfully being awarded funds. Managing the grant application process involves understanding the eligibility requirements, where the grants are, and how to submit a stellar proposal that will make your school shine. The process may be time-consuming at first, ensuring that all the bases have been covered, but once the grant management system
is in place it should work like a fine-tuned machine. To learn more, check with your state education department. Many hold free workshops for charter schools, where grant-seekers can learn more about the grants available in their state.

 

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