Grant Writing Tips

Need help writing your grant? Here's some!

Common Questions

Where can I locate my school’s free-and-reduced lunch percentage?

On the APS website, locate your school’s name and when the school’s page comes up on screen, click on the School Report Card link. You’ll be taken to a menu of information sources. All schools are listed with percentages on a matrix under the Title I heading.

What is the amount I should budget for substitutes and/or stipends?

The Grants Management Office maintains a current rate of those costs (and accompanying benefit costs, which should not be omitted from a grant budget). These costs shift somewhat every year, and the Grants Management Office updates a template that is available to manage your calculations.

• Follow the guidelines for pre-approval IF your grant application will include one or more of the following:
• Award amounts in excess of $5,000 (unless an exception is granted);
• Reporting requirements to the funding agency that require detailed financial and/or evaluative information;
• Expense reimbursement requests to the funding agency; and/or
• Allocation of grant funds to multiple district sites and/or full/partial FTEs.
• Determine the general description of the work you’d like to accomplish.
• Conduct a needs assessment or collect data or research supporting the need for this work.
• Decide what resources would be necessary for the project and determine approximate costs (including personnel).
• Speak with the principal about your proposal and seek support.
• Examine the proposal.
• Review funded proposals, if possible.
• Recruit additional persons for the project/proposal writing.
• Pursue feedback from all stakeholders.