Grant Writing Assistance FAQ

• Research potential grant opportunities and send them as they become available to school administrators, who may in turn forward to interested staff.

• If a staff member plans to apply for a grant, we are available to help in any capacity—whether with review, putting together a budget, and/or working with the staff member to actually write the grant. Please use the Collaboration Request Form to get started.

• Similarly, if staff have an idea for a grant, but are unsure of funding opportunities, submit a request. We can do research to see if there might be opportunities available, and/or help develop the concept.

It varies, depending on the grant, but usually will take from three months to one year. Therefore, it is best to think of grant applications as opportunities for the​ next ​semester or even next school year.

There certainly are grants available- and the WSVEF and schools have had luck over the past several years collaborating to receive grants from such diverse funders as the Southwest Accountable Community of Health, Gorge Community Foundation, US Bank and BNSF Railway. However, our physical location does make it a bit more challenging- there are simply not as many grants available for the Washington side of the Gorge, and we do not have a community foundation serving our county/region only. We have to get creative!!

Small grants generally start at between $500-$1,000, and the WSVEF and schools have even collaborated in past years to get multi-year, multi-million dollar grants (e.g. A List Adventures After School/Summer School Program). That said, most private (foundation/corporate) grants that we would likely consider applying for are generally in the smaller range of $500-$20,000.

It is hard to get a grant for items that are not related to each other and not part of an overarching program. However, what can work is finding other teachers and programs that have similar needs and applying as part of a larger program. For example, a few years ago the WSVEF received $2,000 for “Home Arts” supplies for students grades 4-12. (Gardening supplies for the younger students, cooking and sewing supplies for older students). If you have some items you need, don’t hesitate to let me know. In some cases, a grant might make sense, in other cases, it might make more sense to approach the PTO, parents or local businesses. (Donors Choose also might be an option to consider: ​https://www.donorschoose.org/​).

FUNDING PRIORITIES

WSVEF can help write grant proposals that:

• Inspire students to engage and learn.

• Connect students with larger communities (regional, national, and international connections)

• Help teachers differentiate learning opportunities for the full spectrum of academic achievement and/or learning styles.

• Support real-world, hands-on team projects, and labs

• Support innovative, exciting pilot projects or extensions / new dimensions to existing courses and programs

• Invest in and inspire teachers through professional development

WSVEF cannot help write grant proposals for:

• Basic education: Items and programs that are or normally would be annually covered by the school district’s budget

• One time / one group experiences unless these are a small component of a larger proposal that meets the criteria for “long term recurring benefit”.

• Facilities or maintenance

• Food, lobbying, or religious based activities.

• Proposals that do not meet our funding criteria or do not address student learning in the public schools in the White Salmon Valley School District.