The fog is lifting and clear vision is in sight for 2020. The education landscape is giving way to plenty of funding opportunities just waiting for your solutions. As 2019 came to a close, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 ushered in a sunny outlook.

Set your sights on the Department of Education’s discretionary funding of $72.8 billion, up $1.3 billion from FY 2019. Among the formula funds seeing bright increases are:

• Title I grants to school districts (up $450 million, to $16.3 billion);
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grants to states (up $400 million, to $12.8 billion);
• Title II-A Supporting Effective Instruction grants (up $76 million, to $2.1 billion);
• Title III English Language Acquisition grants (up $50 million, to $787 million);
• Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants (up $40 million, to $1.2 billion);
• Title IV-B 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants (up $28 million, to $1.2 billion); and
• TRIO programs (up $30 million, to $1.1 billion).

Don’t be far sighted because the bill also boosts the maximum federal Pell Grant award per student by $150 to $6,345 for the 2020-21 academic year, as well as increases for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants (up $25 million, to $865 million) and Federal Work-Study grants (up $50 million, to $1.2 billion).

The sun continues to shine through for other vital education-related programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, including Head Start (up $550 million, to $10.6 billion), the Child Care and Development Block Grant (up $550 million, to $5.8 billion), and Preschool Development Grants (up $25 million, to $275 million).

The warmth we are about to experience also comprises two other education bills. The Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act makes permanent $255 million in annual funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). The Building Blocks of STEM Act modifies several National Science Foundation (NSF) programs that provide grants to institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations to support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education research focused on early childhood.

Keep your sunglasses handy, because the competitive funds are also glowing. Magnet Schools, Teacher and School Leader Programs, Supporting Effective Educator Development Program, Education and Innovation Research, Migrant Education, and Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants are just a few where the fog is lifting and opportunities emerging.

This is all good news. There is new excitement for a bright year in funding. The rays are coming down making it possible for schools to purchase your solutions. Are you ready to bask in the sun? Grab your sunscreen and get to know which of these funds match your solutions, help your schools understand and take advantage of them, and position your products and services now to be fully ready for the sunshine!

Year after year as surveys and market research are issued, the top pain point expressed by school and district decision-makers is the lack of funds for education.  In the quest for uncovering the needed financial resources for their students and staff, many turn to grants. In fact, a recent Gallup and NewSchools Venture Fund report noted applying for grants is a key choice of principals (61%) and administrators (75%) to purchase digital learning tools.

Yet when it comes to writing a proposal, the funding challenges are often intensified. Grant writing for schools and school districts can be daunting, complex, time consuming, and resource draining.  But as a company selling to school, you can ease the pain of the grant writing process for your customers. Often an initial reaction might be to hire a grant writer for the school district. Please be aware some states have regulations regarding the commercialization of activities in public schools. The General Accounting Office notes many variances among the states when it comes to commercialization, which includes grants and fundraising.  For instance, one state noted below, issues a clear warning to the districts about “free” grant writing services.

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Beware of Free Grant Writing

There are companies that operate online offering “free” grant writing services that are not free. Some require you sign a contract before receiving an award that ask you to purchase from a third party in exchange for their services if awarded.

However, you cannot use grant funds before you receive the award and any purchases must be allowable. Agreements entered into before you receive a grant award are not payable with funds. We recommend that you contact your attorney before entering into any agreements.

From Evaluation Guidelines in RFA: No more than 4% of each program’s total budget can be used for local evaluation efforts. You may NOT use grant funds to pay for grant writing or make purchases, enter into any contract or incur expenses before you have a signed grant agreement. -pg. 22 of Iowa RFA

Example: If you receive an award of $100,000- You may spend up to $4,000 on local evaluation.

Grant Writing expenses are paid with your funds and are not reimbursable with grant funds.

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So what are the ways to support the grant writing need? RFPMatch.com uses proven practices based on nearly five decades of funding knowledge and experience in grant writing. Here are some key strategies when working with schools and school districts in grant writing.

1. Know the target. With a good tool like RFPMatchOnDemand, you will be able to review a host of possible grants. Target those that fit your solution and the schools need. Scope out a wish list of future grants that you can share with the school or district. Consider the deadlines and allow sufficient time for the school district to adequately plan for a response.
2. Offer In-Kind Support. This might involve a webinar by a grant expert who conducts training on how to write the grant. It could be supplying “grant” language on how your product fits their need and solution. Another support may be compiling research such as white papers and other sources you can share. You may even offer to serve as a “reader,” providing them a different viewpoint during the writing process.
3. Build Internal Capacity. Instead of hiring grant writers, consider grant coaches who can guide, direct, and give constructive feedback during the process. This empowers the schools to “own” the program and enables them to develop skills and talents to tackle more opportunities in the future. The skills learned in grant writing are transferrable to high quality program planning and development.
4. Grant a Grant.Should you want a more philanthropic approach, you may want to provide grant-writing services to schools. Again, be mindful of state laws and regulations governing commercial activities in public schools.
5. Be a Trusted Partner. The best grants are team efforts, as no one should go alone!

As we mentioned on our sister website, GrantsAlert.com, grants are often like the Wizard of Oz.  A lot of noise, confusion and fear that dissipates once the curtain is peeled back.  Yet, also remember there were three others (and Toto) supporting Dorothy to get to the end of the Yellow Brick Road.

Good luck and may you not encounter any flying monkeys, they are the worst.

 

“Using funding information is just laughable.”

“I don’t have the time.”

“You want me to find the money for schools to buy my product? Not my responsibility!”

“My customers should know where their money is to buy my product.”

“This funding information is not worth the investment.”

These are real statements expressed to me when I share funding insights and actions with education companies. Yet, I also hear sales and marketing executives tell me they feel they are going against the grain when selling to schools with tight education budgets. Now in my 46th year of working with public education and with private industry, the focus I have is always that funding continues to be no laughing matter. I have “lived” with schools, districts, and states that struggle with the need for financial resources and I have also “lived” with education companies that struggle to bring much-needed products and solutions to make a difference for learning. And there lies the big gap — the financial hurdle between the need for your solution and the uncertainty or lack of means to procure it.

As a sales or marketing expert, you are in a pivotal position to help bridge the gap. We know selling involves the need to build a trusting relationship with potential customers.  Naturally you want to educate and help your customers on recognizing the value of your product, but you can also build credibility by showing them how to tap into revenue streams. However, first youneed to have understanding what reliable revenue streams that purchasers can use to purchase your products and services. When the two of you can transfer this funding knowledge together, you have earned trust.

Here at RFPMatch.com we believe we should always strive for laughter and fun in the work that we do. My horse and I often laugh together and in doing so, we build a trusting bond. We want you to build that bond with your customers. And we want you to put the fun back in funding!

 

Back in Italy’s heyday, an iconic cathedral was built in Florence that included space to add a jaw-droppingly enormous dome.  The problem? Nobody knew how to design and build the dome structure to complete the cathedral. In 1418, the leaders launched a contest to see which great artisan was up for the challenge.

A number of men approached the leaders with design ideas. One of those men was Filippo Brunelleschi, who provided drawings that showed an enclosed dome without visible crossbeams for support. When asked how he would accomplish the dome without the typical supports, Brunelleschi allegedly showed them a turnip that he had carved as a model. (A favorite tidbit about that turnip: out of fear that others would steal his design, he immediately used the turnip to make a soup to keep his design secret safe.)  Brunelleschi’s design was ultimately chosen and is now the acclaimed Duomo of the Florence cityscape.

What does this architectural feat have to do with education funding and procurement? The process—right down to the turnip model—was not much different than the RFP protocol of current times.

Today’s RFPs might be a touch more sophisticated—many are online, require detailed budget spreadsheets, and some even require pre-bid qualifications to access the full proposal. But, the core qualities of a successful RFP have withstood the test of time:  creativity, clarity, and ingenuity.

Brunelleschi was able to convey his idea in a way that proved him to be the right designer for the job.  In the same way, the most successful solution providers in the education sector are able to understand the key issues and needs of their customers and to thoroughly address those challenges.

One way that your company can stand out from the competition is by deeply understanding the current insights and trends of the education funding landscape. If you know that a state’s long-term goals include stronger parental engagement, you are able to address how your solutions can help meet this need. If you understand the current focus on better linkage of CTE programs to local workforce needs, you have the ability to showcase certifications and curriculum that will accomplish this connection. See our Trend paper, Integration of Education and Workforce Development: A Courtship Funding Opportunity, to learn more about the current climate around this issue.

RFPMatch ONDemand offers funding resources, trends, and insights that will provide your company with an edge in the education sector. And, the best news of all is that this information is gathered and compiled in a way that makes it easy for you to find and use. Wading through hours of content to find relevant data is a thing of the past. Our virtual portal allows you to grasp the insights that matter to your solutions—wherever and whenever.

Register today to learn how we can support your company’s masterpieces of work.