As I started working on this passion project of mine, I found that there are so many more grants out there for music educators than I ever would have imagined. A simple Google search for "grants" or "grants for music teachers" will provide you with a wide variety of results, including some that may not apply to your situation or school district. You may even be able to find local groups that have grant funding opportunities to apply for. Be sure to carefully read the eligibility requirements and deadlines before starting your proposal. Sometimes, grants that have expired deadlines may still be listed on a funder's website, or you may comes across a grant that sounds perfect with only a week left to get the application in, which likely will not be enough time to get the proposal prepared. Get started with your search using the resources here at MMT!

Once you have found a grant to apply for, take a look at the grant application requirements. Generally, you will be answering various questions posed by the funder, but there can be various different types of applications they accept, including a submission through their portal of an essay, a video, a picture, or even a lesson plan. Understand the type of school you teach in (public school, charter school, Title I funding status, etc.), as some of these distinctions could disqualify your school from being eligible for a grant. You may also need proof of tax exemption, Title I status, or various other documentation to prove eligibility for the grant.

Grant funding institutions are funding a project, not just a purchase of product. Your project idea should fulfill a critical need for your students, school, district, or community and provide a long-term benefit. The person reviewing your grant application will want to see how passionate you are about your project, so be sure to add an eye-catching title and consider including personal anecdotes and teaching experience to tell your story and relate it to the grant you are applying for. Be sure to contact the appropriate people in your school or district before moving to the planning stage, as many districts will require review and approval of a grant application beforehand. Review your school or district curriculum standards, improvement plan, and mission statement to see how you can apply those to your project idea, and it might help you get the support you need to get the grant!

After reviewing the deadline and application requirements, it's time to plan your grant proposal and break it down into smaller steps! You will need to clearly define your project, so be sure to know exactly what you want. Make a list of the products, item numbers, quantities, prices, and vendors. You can request quotes from vendors to see what the overall total would be, and some grant applications may even require this. Know what you want to accomplish with this project and how these products and equipment will help you achieve this goal. When writing your grant proposal, do some research on the funder, so you can connect your idea to the goals and mission of the organization. You want to showcase how your institution is valuable to a funder. Keep in mind that some grants have specific requirements on how the funding can be spent as well. Get some free planning printables at the top-right of this page!

One thing that generally discourages educators from applying for grants is the belief that you need to be an excellent writer to get a grant idea funded. The truth is that not all funded projects would pass the advanced placement English exam. Simply submitting a professional proposal with positive language, while being able to clearly communicate your needs, plan of action, enthusiasm for the project, and following the guidelines could very well win you the grant, regardless of how you perceive your writing ability to be. While you are writing your proposal, be sure to keep everything you write saved somewhere organized and easy to access. You won't be able to submit the same application for every grant, but saving your brainstorming sessions and previous proposals will give you a great starting point for future grant applications. Create a running list of the grants you have already applied for, so that you can look into them again down the road. Find a colleague to help you proofread and spellcheck your application before you submit it as well. Having as many eyes on your proposal to give constructive feedback will greatly help!

When you are awarded a grant, be sure to directly communicate with the funder via an email, hand-written note, or a phone to thank them for the funding you received. Some organizations will require a write-up or evaluation of how the funding was used or how the project was a success. Another way to showcase your gratitude is to send pictures or video of students using the equipment purchased, so long as you have the permissions to do so. If you did not win the grant you applied for, don't get too discouraged or give up! Keep in mind that many people are applying for the same grant funding that you are. When provided, be sure to use the suggestions of the reviewer to improve your proposal and resubmit at another time if the same grant becomes available again. As you keep teaching and writing grant proposals, your bank of special teaching moments, brainstorming sessions, and past proposals will continue to grow, giving you more to work with for next time!