I have done a complete 180 in regards to where I was just a couple of weeks ago. I think my problem was that I just didn't get it. I had this very broad idea and was having a very difficult time narrowing it down. My original idea was to write an actual grant proposal for Family Connections...yeah, kind of not good. I didn't get very far with this idea because I felt as though this was a lofty goal and sure, I could write a grant proposal, but I would have no way of measuring whether or not it was any good because lets face it, grants are only so good as their success. So, I thought maybe if I picked a topic, like an event, that it would make it easier to narrow down what it was I was trying to accomplish. I figured if I create an event the two audiences I could target would be the general public (residents of Anderson) and the potential review board for the grant proposal. All I did in constructing this was create more work than could be done within the remaining weeks; it was too lofty of a goal.
I initially struggled with narrowing this field down. I knew it would be broad and that I could let it spiral out of control. However, after several conversations I finally realized what I needed to do. This didn't have to be rocket science and it didn't have to be some elaborately planned out phantom event that's entire existence rested on the shoulders of some phony grant, so I got realistic. What could I do to learn about grant proposals, and how could I go from there to a finalized product that would appeal to a lay and expert audience while helping the organization at the same time?
Having an order and some sort of structure is a comfort to me and simplifying things I have come to learn makes life so much easier, so I looked in that general direction. A lot of loose ends were tied when I finally talked to Sherry Fields. As it turns out, the organization doesn't write their own grants, their main hub in Columbia, SC does, but they want to start writing their own. Aha! There we go, two audiences, the same people, but at different stages. After my interview with Sherry, this is what I had to work with: Family Connection members prior to knowing anything about grants, to Family Connection members attempting to write them. I finally had a set direction.
So, all the way from planning an event that would only be possible based on the successfulness of a grant I would write and submit, a rather lofty and impossible thing to accomplish in say oh, about 10 weeks, my project has evolved into two reference guides that will address the needs of the members of Family Connections. But what will the two reference guides address, specifically? These are the details I am still fine tuning and will probably develop as I compile more and more research on the matter and find those things that matter most.
But since the research process is underway and I am far from knowing much about anything concerning grants I have decided to focus on the following:
For the Lay Audience:
- explain how grant proposals can provide essential funding
- where the members can look for grants which they can apply for;
For the Expert Audience:
- explain how to read the instructions
- explain how to write a proposal according to the instructions
- explain how to write the proposal using the proper syntax with regards to the audience.
These bulleted points may change or be fine-tuned as more information is brought to light, but as of now, I at least have a foundation on which to start building.
Although it took me quite a while to get here, I finally feel as though I know what I need to do, and more importantly, I know how to go about doing it. From this point forward I will continue researching grants, as well as the grant writing process, and I will use the additional contact names Sherry passed along to acquire more information. I feel as though I have a vast amount of resources to utilize and I am looking forward to seeing the final product because at this point, I haven't exactly determined what "reference guide" means. I figured the more ambiguous it is in that sense the more options I am allotted in that I can put it on a website, create a pamphlet a brochure, etc. I'll know better as I continue to talk to Sherry because I might also assist them in setting up a website for their local office. Those talks are in the work so it might shape what I eventually do, but more to come on that later...
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
In regards to last week's reading I think one important factor was over-looked and that was that was the different changes that each scientist had to make to improve his chances of receiving the grant, and a lot of these changes were based solely on who they were. Crews is a well known scientist who was reapplying for a grant he had won before, Boles was a relatively new scientist trying to impose his own theories outside of the established discipline. For sure, grant proposals are tedious and cumbersome things, but essential to anyone who requires funding to do his/her job, so it is expected that the grant writer must be clear, concise, and follow procedures accordingly.
Here's my take on the situation. Crews had very few changes to make. All he was asked to do was further explain how his studies would be beneficial in the future, and aside from changing Passive to Active voice within the proposal itself, the tour of his lab pretty much secured the grant. Why? Because he was an established and known scientist in his field who was contributing something directly to his discipline, which is exactly what the grant funders wanted, but he was able to conduct the study he wanted.
Bole's was unsuccessful in his attempt because the changes he had to make were methodological, not grammatical or something as simple as further explaining something that has already been proven as in Crew's case. He was a new name to his discipline and instead of trying to contribute something to it directly, he was too honed in on pursuing a study that was based solely on his interests but did not have enough critical references to support it. Bole's proposal had to be restructured to meet the criteria of the grant funders.
A lot of people get discouraged about grant writing thinking that it is such a limited and rigid structure that receiving a grant is incredibly difficult and receiving the actual funding requested is almost unheard of, but yet, there are success stories, and a lot of them. The way in which grants are organized ensures that different disciplines are studied and explored, that the money given is not wasted, that the research will serve a greater good, and that there is a strict guideline to follow so that the money is allocated properly and monitored accordingly.
I just thought it was interesting the way in which these two scientists approached their grants in different ways; especially Bole's who at the end realized that his initial reasons for applying for the grant were not very good and he himself had to restructure his own research methods because the grants exposed the flaws he might have never seen. So in a way, grants also prevent researchers from wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars and exorbitant amounts of time by finding potential flaws beforehand.
Here's my take on the situation. Crews had very few changes to make. All he was asked to do was further explain how his studies would be beneficial in the future, and aside from changing Passive to Active voice within the proposal itself, the tour of his lab pretty much secured the grant. Why? Because he was an established and known scientist in his field who was contributing something directly to his discipline, which is exactly what the grant funders wanted, but he was able to conduct the study he wanted.
Bole's was unsuccessful in his attempt because the changes he had to make were methodological, not grammatical or something as simple as further explaining something that has already been proven as in Crew's case. He was a new name to his discipline and instead of trying to contribute something to it directly, he was too honed in on pursuing a study that was based solely on his interests but did not have enough critical references to support it. Bole's proposal had to be restructured to meet the criteria of the grant funders.
A lot of people get discouraged about grant writing thinking that it is such a limited and rigid structure that receiving a grant is incredibly difficult and receiving the actual funding requested is almost unheard of, but yet, there are success stories, and a lot of them. The way in which grants are organized ensures that different disciplines are studied and explored, that the money given is not wasted, that the research will serve a greater good, and that there is a strict guideline to follow so that the money is allocated properly and monitored accordingly.
I just thought it was interesting the way in which these two scientists approached their grants in different ways; especially Bole's who at the end realized that his initial reasons for applying for the grant were not very good and he himself had to restructure his own research methods because the grants exposed the flaws he might have never seen. So in a way, grants also prevent researchers from wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars and exorbitant amounts of time by finding potential flaws beforehand.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Okay, so for the umpteenth time I have revised what I am going to do. In a nutshell, here it is:
1) create a refrence guide that clearly and easily explains what grants are and how and why they are beneficial to a non-profit organization; 2) use that guide to locate a specific grant; 3) create another reference guide that focuses on the actual steps that are needed to write a grant proposal, as well as some tips for doing so; and 4) write a successful grant using the guides. In doing this I will have created two guides that Family Connections could use to train someone who knew nothing about grants into someone who was a proficient grant writer.
Sticking around after class was by far the best thing I could have done because I feel as though I have finally pin-pointed exactly what I want to do and I suppose more importantly, how I want to do it. I have already started researching grants using a variety of sources and I will continue to do so to compile the tips section. I now need to start focusing on grant writing for not-for-profit organizations, locating grants, and other such materials that I now need to start organizing in some fashion. I am excited to finally have figured out what it is I am going to do.
1) create a refrence guide that clearly and easily explains what grants are and how and why they are beneficial to a non-profit organization; 2) use that guide to locate a specific grant; 3) create another reference guide that focuses on the actual steps that are needed to write a grant proposal, as well as some tips for doing so; and 4) write a successful grant using the guides. In doing this I will have created two guides that Family Connections could use to train someone who knew nothing about grants into someone who was a proficient grant writer.
Sticking around after class was by far the best thing I could have done because I feel as though I have finally pin-pointed exactly what I want to do and I suppose more importantly, how I want to do it. I have already started researching grants using a variety of sources and I will continue to do so to compile the tips section. I now need to start focusing on grant writing for not-for-profit organizations, locating grants, and other such materials that I now need to start organizing in some fashion. I am excited to finally have figured out what it is I am going to do.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Getting there...
I have been majorly slacking with this whole posting blogs concept, which explains why my personal diaries when I was a little girl lasted for all of a week. Here is where I stand at this point:
I have my concept and I know what I would like to do for my two papers, my problem is that I am awaiting approval. As I've said before I am exploring grant proposals and I was originally focusing on finding what makes a grant proposal successful by exploring higher education and non-profit, now my direction has shifted. I have volunteered with this not-for-profit organization on a couple of occasions, an organization called Family Connections that is based state wide with satellite locations around South Carolina. One of these satellite locations is in Anderson, SC where Sherry Fields is the Area Coordinator. Sherry and I have been corresponding periodically over the past few weeks and we will finally get to sit down this Friday and discuss some things.
Like I said originally I was going to highlight those things that make a grant successful, now I am looking more towards something that will give me experience writing a grant proposal while doing something beneficial for the organization (or at least that is my hope). This weekend I volunteered at their Fishing Rodeo which basically consisted of an afternoon of the kids eating hotdogs, playing games, and fishing at a pond. It was a lot of fun and the kids has a great time and I have a better idea of the types of things they like to do. With this information and the things that I learn from Sherry on Friday, I hope that I can create a program for the kids that will 1) allow me to create a promotional brochure/pamphlet for the event and 2) give me a chance to try my hand at writing a grant proposal as the event will need to be funded. This is my idea; I have to talk to Sherry to see if this would actually be possible. If worse came to worse, she might be able to provide me with a hypothetical situation, meaning it might not benefit them directly, but it might have potential in the future.
The promotional brochure/pamphlet would be aimed at my lay audience which would be the general public who does not need to know all of the mechanisms behind putting on the event, they just need to know the particulars and feel encouraged to come out and participate. The actual grant proposal will get to the nitty-gritty of what all will be entailed by putting on an event, the costs, the reasons for wanting to put on the event, how the kids and family within the organization will benefit, etc. I am trying to brainstorm ideas to propose to Sherry before Friday, but I feel as though I will have a better idea after we speak in regards to their specific needs and wants.
So, this is where I am at right now. I have been researching ways in which to write a successful grant proposal, looking at several internet and book sources. I have also been looking at the logistics behind not-for-profit organizations and getting a feel for how they function and the different purposes they serve within a community. I am beginning to have a broad understanding, but I will certainly understand the specific details behind all of this upon speaking with Sherry.
I know that I seem sort of at a stand-still because I have not spoken with her, but I need to focus on this one particular satellite office because of convenience purposes. The next closest one is located in Greenville and the state office is located in Columbia. Whereas they could offer me explanations and good information about Family Connections itself, Sherry will enable me to do something specifically for the Anderson community.
I have my concept and I know what I would like to do for my two papers, my problem is that I am awaiting approval. As I've said before I am exploring grant proposals and I was originally focusing on finding what makes a grant proposal successful by exploring higher education and non-profit, now my direction has shifted. I have volunteered with this not-for-profit organization on a couple of occasions, an organization called Family Connections that is based state wide with satellite locations around South Carolina. One of these satellite locations is in Anderson, SC where Sherry Fields is the Area Coordinator. Sherry and I have been corresponding periodically over the past few weeks and we will finally get to sit down this Friday and discuss some things.
Like I said originally I was going to highlight those things that make a grant successful, now I am looking more towards something that will give me experience writing a grant proposal while doing something beneficial for the organization (or at least that is my hope). This weekend I volunteered at their Fishing Rodeo which basically consisted of an afternoon of the kids eating hotdogs, playing games, and fishing at a pond. It was a lot of fun and the kids has a great time and I have a better idea of the types of things they like to do. With this information and the things that I learn from Sherry on Friday, I hope that I can create a program for the kids that will 1) allow me to create a promotional brochure/pamphlet for the event and 2) give me a chance to try my hand at writing a grant proposal as the event will need to be funded. This is my idea; I have to talk to Sherry to see if this would actually be possible. If worse came to worse, she might be able to provide me with a hypothetical situation, meaning it might not benefit them directly, but it might have potential in the future.
The promotional brochure/pamphlet would be aimed at my lay audience which would be the general public who does not need to know all of the mechanisms behind putting on the event, they just need to know the particulars and feel encouraged to come out and participate. The actual grant proposal will get to the nitty-gritty of what all will be entailed by putting on an event, the costs, the reasons for wanting to put on the event, how the kids and family within the organization will benefit, etc. I am trying to brainstorm ideas to propose to Sherry before Friday, but I feel as though I will have a better idea after we speak in regards to their specific needs and wants.
So, this is where I am at right now. I have been researching ways in which to write a successful grant proposal, looking at several internet and book sources. I have also been looking at the logistics behind not-for-profit organizations and getting a feel for how they function and the different purposes they serve within a community. I am beginning to have a broad understanding, but I will certainly understand the specific details behind all of this upon speaking with Sherry.
I know that I seem sort of at a stand-still because I have not spoken with her, but I need to focus on this one particular satellite office because of convenience purposes. The next closest one is located in Greenville and the state office is located in Columbia. Whereas they could offer me explanations and good information about Family Connections itself, Sherry will enable me to do something specifically for the Anderson community.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Direction
I now have a better idea as to what I would like to do for my lay and expert papers. I am going to focus on grant writing and I believe my focus will be to try and highlight those things that make a grant successful and those that make them fail. I will sit down this weekend and start looking at some sources I have collected through my interview as well as those I gathered while just looking to see what books the library offered.
Thus far I have interviewed Dr. Hugh Spitler in the Department of Public Health Sciences. From within the department I have a vast amount of resources including successful and failed grants, professors who have worked on different types of grants, as well as Virginia Baird who is the grants coordinator for the College of Health, Education and Human Development. I am also going to try and contact people who work within Grant Support Services to get a little more insight.
I have recently stumbled across what are known as mini-grants that the university seems to promoting. I will check out the website provided on the brochure to see the different types of grants that one can apply for. My hope is to maybe find a professor who is going to participate in one of these mini grants and from the get-go get in on the process to see how it is done. If this is at all possible, it will help tremendously with preparing my two papers.
As we discussed, I do believe I will make my lay paper a journal/newspaper article (or the like) and my expert paper will be an actual grant. I need to further discuss with you the details behind this, but as of now this is my direction. I'm making a move on this as soon as possible so that I can make changes as needed.
I am optimistic that this project will help me in the long run. It has been my goal to develop as many different writing styles as possible so that when I enter the work force I have a diverse background. I do not know if I am necessarily interested in going into strictly research, but I would at least like to start to develop the skills sooner than later.
Thus far I have interviewed Dr. Hugh Spitler in the Department of Public Health Sciences. From within the department I have a vast amount of resources including successful and failed grants, professors who have worked on different types of grants, as well as Virginia Baird who is the grants coordinator for the College of Health, Education and Human Development. I am also going to try and contact people who work within Grant Support Services to get a little more insight.
I have recently stumbled across what are known as mini-grants that the university seems to promoting. I will check out the website provided on the brochure to see the different types of grants that one can apply for. My hope is to maybe find a professor who is going to participate in one of these mini grants and from the get-go get in on the process to see how it is done. If this is at all possible, it will help tremendously with preparing my two papers.
As we discussed, I do believe I will make my lay paper a journal/newspaper article (or the like) and my expert paper will be an actual grant. I need to further discuss with you the details behind this, but as of now this is my direction. I'm making a move on this as soon as possible so that I can make changes as needed.
I am optimistic that this project will help me in the long run. It has been my goal to develop as many different writing styles as possible so that when I enter the work force I have a diverse background. I do not know if I am necessarily interested in going into strictly research, but I would at least like to start to develop the skills sooner than later.
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