SchoolGrants receives many requests from people wishing to see examples of successful grant proposals.  Several generous grant-writers have shared successful proposals they've written. A very special thanks is extended to each person who has been willing to assist others in the SchoolGrants community by contributing their  grant applications.  

If you would like to join this exciting group by sharing your successful proposals, letters of inquiry, and/or concept papers, please send them to proposals@schoolgrants.org 

The Internet is becoming fuller by the day with useful and/or helpful information for grantwriters!!  A review of successful proposals is a great way to learn how to write a fundable proposal.  Checklists and step-by-step guidelines are also very helpful.  SchoolGrants offers a content-packed interactive CD that is useful to both new and experienced grantwriters.  Check out the Let's Write a Grant CD! 

Remember:  regardless of what helpful hints you may find; the most important thing you must remember is to follow the grantmakers' guidelines!!  

Sample Successful Proposals:

21st Century Community Learning Center Proposal
21st Century Community Learning Center Proposal (small, rural schools)
21st Century Community Learning Center Proposal (this proposal is posted on the U.S. Department of Education's site as one of the year 2000 successful proposals.)
Alabama's State Improvement Grant:
  Improving the Performance and Success of Alabama’s Students With Disabilities
(this links to the Alabama's State Department of Education site)
Comprehensive School Reform:  Improving Teaching & Learning
Excellence in Learning through Technology Proposal
Reach for the Stars Grant Proposal
Foreign Language Assistance Grant
Learn and Serve Grant - Concept Paper
Ronald McDonald House Charities Proposal
Parents as Partners in Education 2002
Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative
School Age Child Care Program
SchoolGrants Mini-Grant Winning Proposals
School Improvement Implementation Grant
School Repair and Renovation
School Resource Officer Program
Smaller Learning Communities
Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Grant
Texas Commission of the Arts - Elementary
Texas Commission of the Arts - Junior High
Texas Reading Academy Grant - Lubbock-Cooper ISD 
Texas Reading Academy Grant - Smyer ISD

Don Davis is a teacher in Gooding School District, a small district in Gooding, Idaho. The demographics of his district are as follows:  There are 1,387 students Pre,K-12.  Gooding County covers 733 square miles with a total population of 13,335.  Student population of 83% Caucasian and 17% Hispanic.  The poverty level statewide is 16.5% and Gooding County rate is 19.8%.

Don has generously shared his successful 21st Century Community Learning Center (21 CCLC) proposal with us - including notes in various sections of the proposal highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and possible unanswered questions. 

Don applied for 21 CCLC funds unsuccessfully twice before being awarded this contract for $3,000,000 over 3 years.  He participated as a reader for the U.S. Department of Education for the 21 CCLC grants this year and found this to be a valuable learning experience in applying for the funds.

Federal grant proposals are quite large so we do not replicate them online.  However, this successful proposal is available to you for download in PDF format (view with free Adobe Acrobat Reader) by clicking on the link below:

• 21st Century Community Learning Center Proposal (Gooding School District)

For more information about the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, you should visit http://www.ed.gov/21stcclc/.  You can also go to AfterSchool.gov at http://www.afterschool.gov/ where you'll find information to help connect you to other federal resources that support children and youth during out of school hours.

Tips to Remember when Completing 21st CCLC Proposals

A reviewer for 21st Century Community Learning Center program applications has provided us with some tips about what they looked for when reading proposals.

1. Collaboration with community programs (partnerships).

2. A good tie with school programs and after school programs.  An even flow between programs.

3. Are adults in the community served? 

4. Do the needs match with the budget ( budget justification)?

5. Does the proposal meet the health, social services, cultural and recreational needs of the community?

6. Does the application include Safe, drug-free programs with a  focus on programs that help stem juvenile crime and/or school violence?

7. Did the proposal address absolute priorities listed in the Request for Proposal (RFP)?  How many of the priorities were met?

8. Were competitive priorities listed in the RFP addressed?  How well will the proposed project meet those priorities?

A winner of a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant told us that one of the most beneficial tools used in preparing the application was a form that was completed by each participant in the program.  Participants were asked to provide an Activity Summary that included:

• the activity name;

• activity category (i.e., recreation, drug/violence prevention, culture/enrichment, technology learning and use, academic tutoring and enrichment);

• where the activity will occur;

• when the activity will take place;

• a description of the activity; 

• the outcome of the activity;

• student selection strategy (who will participate and how will they be encouraged to participate?)

Participants were also each required to complete an activity budget that included their proposed "match" of funds.

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Julie Colaw shares this proposal she wrote for funding through the West Virginia NASA Space Grant Consortium.  The proposal was fully-funded. Julie's proposal can be downloaded by clicking here (PDF format).

"Reach for the Stars"
Project Abstract

Reach for the Stars is a program that will reach more than 630 students in grades K-6 at Petersburg Elementary School* and their families. This program will train teachers, provide opportunities for student experimentation, involve participation by parents and utilize partnerships with community experts. 

Through Reach for the Stars teachers and community partners will be trained to fully utilize the existing optical telescope that was purchased with grant funding and housed at Petersburg Elementary School. Once this training has been established students and parents will be invited to participate in learning workshops one evening each month. Local astronomers and teachers will conduct workshops. These sessions will provide hands on opportunities for students, along with their parents, to explore the stars and planets of our solar system. Reach for the Stars will also provide opportunities for our students to experience first hand, various careers in space science through visits to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, as well as the planetarium at Frostburg State University. 

The natural progression of Reach for the Stars will include the formation of an astronomy club with members of all ages. This organized, student driven, teacher guided instruction will provide ongoing, extended hour learning opportunities to all grade levels.

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*Petersburg Elementary School, located in Grant County is designated as a 100% rural county. More than 60% percent of students at Petersburg Elementary School receive free or reduced lunch.

"Reach for the Stars"
Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of Reach for the Stars is to help to prepare students to live and work in a world that is increasingly scientific and technical in nature. Reach for the Stars will provide training and support for teachers as well as increased opportunities for inquiry based science instruction. The use of speakers, field trips, and hands on activities will provide students with the opportunity to aggressively explore the link between space science and technology.

Reach for the Stars students' activities will address, at the appropriate grade levels, the West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives, National Education Goals, National Science Education Standards and the International Society for Technology in Education Standards. Teachers will be provided with resources to supplement their current curriculum through WVU/NASA Ames IV & V Facility offerings and trainings provided by the staff at Greenbank National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Internet based resources will be identified, compiled and presented to staff by Project RIGHT2 (Reaching Instructional Goals with Hi-Tech Tools) coordinator. 

Reach for the Stars will involve parents and community members as partners in the education process by utilizing their skills and knowledge to support the development of a junior astronomers club. Community leaders have committed to provide leadership and support in this exciting endeavor to help our students "Reach for the Stars" both literally and figuratively. 

Methods to Implement Project

In the fall of 2000, Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory staff will provide teachers, parents and community partners with multi-faceted training. The first phase of staff development will prepare participants to fully utilize the existing optical telescope at Petersburg Elementary School. Secondly, STARLAB training will be the focus of attention so that our students can utilize the STARLAB during school hours. In this way, we can ensure that all students will have the opportunity to explore the vast expanse of our universe in an exciting and meaningful manner. Finally, Hands-On Universe training will be provided to interested teachers throughout our county. Software necessary to support trained teachers will be purchased as part of this project. 

[Name Omitted] and [Name Omitted] , prominent members of the community who have volunteered their time and expertise to support this project, have both agreed to come into the classroom and provide astronomy related, hands-on activities. [Name Omitted]  and [Name Omitted]  have agreed to assist with the astronomy club and provide expertise to enhance this project. Julia Colaw math/science/technology instructor and Project RIGHT₂ coordinator will provide technical support and assistance to all staff in utilizing the STARLAB, telescope, and computer software. Mrs. Colaw will also serve as the teacher supervisor for the astronomy club.

A star party will be held as a kick-off activity to encourage participation in the astronomy club. Students and their families will participate in an evening of star related activities and have the opportunity to hear knowledgeable guest speakers. Learning stations including the STARLAB and the optical telescope will be staffed and available for exploration. 

Project Evaluation

Evaluation of Reach for the Stars success will be tri-fold. The first component of this evaluation will be the completion of planned professional development activities. Once trained, teachers will be able to utilize the STARLAB, Hands on Universe Curriculum, and telescope. Each teacher who participates in this project will document classroom activities utilizing the digital camera, video camera or media coverage. This documentation will be compiled and presented at the WVTEAMS conference and at state level science conferences.

The second part of this evaluation will be to measure the extent of parental involvement in this project. Currently there are no academic clubs or activities meeting after school hours. Through this project we will increase parental involvement and provided extended learning opportunities for students. The facilitator will log participation in after school activities by students, parents and community partners. 

The third aspect of evaluation will occur by an examination of standardized test scores of 3^rd -6^th grade students for the 2000-2001 school year. A successful project will show an increase in science test scores for students involved in this program. 

Project Time Line

Please note:  Julie's timeline was presented in a table format. We are presenting the same information here in a slightly different format for simplicity of coding.

Budget

Project Coordinators

Background Information 

Julia Colaw, Math/Science/Technology Instructor
Project RIGHT₂ coordinator
B.S. Elementary Education / Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
County Technology & Curriculum Team Member
Astronomy enthusiast 

[Name Omitted], Physician, Astronomer and Community Partner 
Graduate of University of Cincinnati 
Undergraduate of Ohio State
Lifelong Interest in Astronomy 
Started designing his own telescope mirrors at age 9
Taught Astronomy lessons to 4th and 5th grade students in Loudin County, VA (5 years)

[Name Omitted], Community Partner and Astronomer
Professor of Physics and Mathematics / Davis & Elkins College 1955-1989
Planetarium Director / Davis & Elkins College 1973-1989
Taught Introduction to Astronomy / Davis & Elkins College 1965-1986
Taught Introduction to Astronomy / Alderson Broaddus (2 summers)

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Smaller Learning Communities

Thanks so much, Nina, for sharing!

Table of Contents
Abstract
Baseline Data
Budget
Budget Summary
Budget Narrative
Program Narrative

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