Module 5: Funding Technology

In this section:

Why do people give away money?
Generate an idea
Locate funding sources
Apply for the grant
Should you purchase or lease?

Why Do People Give Away Money?

Most people, corporations, and organizations are concerned about the schooling that our students receive. Whereas some simply provide verbal support (or criticisms), others try to improve the system by providing financial support.

In some cases, the financial support is directed specifically towards the improvement of educational technologies. Educational grants are funded by numerous government agencies including the Department of Education, NASA, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Commerce. A huge number of private foundations and trusts, created by both corporations and philanthropists, also provide support. Some organizations provide direct financial help, while others may provide endowments, technological hardware, loan guarantees, free or discounted services such as Internet access, or even workshops and training.

The need within the schools, however, is always greater than the support available. Because of this discrepancy, public and private foundations often try to allocate their resources based on the perceived need of an institution as well as their innovative ideas, judged through a competitive grant process. To receive their money you need to do three things: have an idea worthy of being funded, find out who has the funds to award, and be able to articulate your idea.

Generate an Idea

Few institutions will give money for simply purchasing technology and placing into a classroom. Instead, they will more likely fund an idea, and if it can be supported by technology, you may have an inside track to funding your purchase. Where do you come up with an idea? Probably the best source of ideas can be found by reading the current literature in the field. If you belong to a professional organization, you probably receive a newsletter or journal. Look through these writings to see what is new or creative. Also, check the local or university library and peruse the current periodicals.

Once you come up with a solid idea, you'll want to make sure you match the needs of the funding sources. The funding agency may be looking for people to continue their agenda, use their equipment, or continue research into new pedagogies. Whatever their niche, there will probably be a specific focus for their money. What you need to ask yourself is "Do their needs match my interests."

When you locate a potential donor, it will serve you well to make an initial call to the institution. Discussing potential ideas with the agent will save you many hours of time, as well as give you insights into the kind of proposal they are looking for. Most agencies will also provide you with excerpts, or even full text reports, of grant proposals that were awarded in previous years.

Locate Funding Sources

Locating funding institutions has become easier in recent years due to the availability of electronic databases, including the Internet. Although this makes it easier for your to find potential donors, it also makes it easier for your competition.

It is probably safe to say that most major technology grants have a site on the World Wide Web for prospective applicants to visit. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a very comprehensive electronic Resource Guide to Federal Funding For Technology in Education. This site only lists governmental agencies, but includes the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Search engines such as Yahoo maintain a site specifically for educational grant writers that also include private and public entities, and abundant resources can be found by searching the ERIC database. Even push technologies are being created for educators to find grants (in addition to lesson plans and other teacher-based resources).

Off-line references include many of the educational technology journals; especially those geared to the general reader. Assorted government and private newsletters in the library can also be used to locate potential grants.

For local class members interested in funding from private foundations, the San Diego Community Foundation (619-239-8815) maintains a library of resources on corporate funding and other types of private aid.

Apply For the Grant

Developing the grant proposal and applying for the grant can be an intensive and challenging process. Due to the competitive nature of proposal writing and the stringent requirements of most granting agencies, it is crucial that adequate time and resources be put into proposal development. Here we will discuss some of the major considerations needed for a successful proposal.

Probably the most important aspect of developing the proposal is doing the preliminary groundwork. Has your site developed a technology use plan? Most funding agencies will want to see a detailed plan for the future. Is your solution the best one for the problem you are addressing? Consider alternative possibilities and determine whether your proposal is really the most effective one. Do you have support for your proposal from major stake holders such as your school or district administration and local parents groups? Letters of support or contact names provide evidence that you have convinced others of the need for your proposed plan. Finally, are you aware of the relevant paperwork requirements and deadlines? Failing to file a required form or missing a deadline can eliminate even the best proposal from consideration.

Another issue is whether your needs match the needs of the funding agency. This is an extremely important issue. The vast majority of grants are aimed at addressing highly specific needs. If the purpose of your proposal does not fit the purpose of the grant you are applying for, the funding will go elsewhere. Even through you may have made an initial phone call, it can be useful to draw up a preliminary proposal plan and send it to the funding agency along with a request for application materials. This gives the organization an opportunity to consider your proposal and determine if it clearly does not meet the goals of the grant. Additionally, many grants specify requirements for geographical location, financial need, and a host of other factors. Be certain to check whether your site meets such criteria before you develop the proposal. However, also remember that there are a multitude of funding agencies out there -- if your proposal doesn't meet the needs of one of them, there may be others for which you fit the criteria.

Although each grant is different, some features are common to most successful proposals. These include a title page and statement of purpose, a procedures section which details how the objectives of your proposal will be achieved, evidence that your site is capable of completing the objectives once funding is granted, and a budget detailing the amount of funds required for each element of the proposal. Additionally, documentation of local organizational and community support, and biographies of the major personnel involved in implementing the proposal often give it credibility. Government grants also usually require additional sections for explaining how you will show that the proposal has completed its objectives and for documenting compliance with pertinent government regulations. Generally, there is no single set format for these proposal elements. The application materials for each individual grant will explain how proposals must be organized.

To help you prepare a proposal, the Foundation Center has an online course that guides a user through the steps to put together a proposal. You might also want to visit the Proposal Writers Guide for another perspective to putting together a grant. For a more detailed overview of the proposal development process, ask about current books on the topic at your local academic bookstore.

Should You Purchase or Lease?

Computer hardware tends to be the largest expense in a classroom technology grant proposal. Because computers tend to become outdated within a few years of purchase, leasing is rapidly becoming an accepted alternative. This allows the classroom computers to be replaced with newer models without requiring additional purchases. Last fall, Microsoft and Toshiba worked out a plan to lease notebook computer to 8,000 students for $35 per month (after three years, parents could purchase the computers for $1). And it's not just computers that are being leased. Cisco systems has established an unit of its company to lease switches and routers.

In planning a grant proposal, you will need to consider the prospect of leasing as an option. It may permit your school to have state-of-the-art computers without the high cost of repurchasing. An article you may want to review appeared in PC Magazine, and discussed the leasing versus buying decision when upgrading your computer equipment.

Page author: Jeff Easton and Donn Ritchie
URL: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec596r/module5/connect.html
Last updated: January 30, 1998