In education the only constant is change. Yet real change often requires funding that isn’t automatically available. How can you get the funds you need to provide the change that is necessary for students?
One option is a grant. Grants are available from both the federal and state levels of government. These options often have strict deadlines and formats that can be daunting. Yet if your vision is clearly defined, you can often find some of the funds you need. Other grants are available through various national, state and local foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Education Association (NEA). These institutions usually have specific areas of interest, but their application process can be less rigid.
Corporate gift donations are also available. Many corporations have specific areas of focus that they are involved in providing additional funds. PNC Bank for example has a specific focal point for preschool education. Target offers educational grants through their local stores and the American Honda Foundation has a particular interest in STEM projects. If you are fortunate enough to have a large corporation within your school district boundaries or region, look into options for their community giving projects.
It is also important to get support to dig through all of these options and then clearly define your goals and objectives throughout the application process. Educational leaders today already have so much on their plates that adding grant writing to the list of tasks is unrealistic. Hiring a professional that can help you explore the plethora of options, identify a possible solution and help you submit a quality application can be critical to your success.
Moving forward in education includes identifying what is working, what needs to be left behind and what new ideas are worth exploring. Once you have your vision for the future, get the help you need to ensure that your students, staff, parents and community can all move forward with you. This includes some external funding whenever possible.