Resources for Gathering Data

Using Research-Based and Statistical Data to Develop a Grant Proposal

     Many funders these days are interested in grant proposals prepared with statistical evidence of the need for the proposed plan; statistical, research-based evidence that the proposed project/program works; and an evaluation plan that includes both qualitative and quantitative (statistical evidence) data.

     For an overview of the project, concept paper or initial plan, you may not need statistical evidence (unless you already have it). However, for the final proposal, funders are now asking that the need-based evidence include research-based statistics - such as research on community demographics, statistical evidence of need and evidence of research-based effectiveness. (In plain terms: “What Works”…)

Some sources for finding such data are listed below:

*Data on CNM is available from the Planning, Budget and Institutional Research (PBIR) office. If you know what data you will need and make a list, you can e-mail it to smeyerer@cnm.edu and she will send it to the appropriate researcher. OR you can request data through the PBIR web site link at http://planet.cnm.edu/ipr/data_request_form.htm

 PBIR’s researchers will need a reasonable time period to gather the data.

*Or to find your own data you can use PBIR’s web site: http://www.cnm.edu/depts/pbir/index.php

Click on “Institutional Research”: http://www.cnm.edu/depts/pbir/instres/

Several Options will come up. A good source: Comprehensive Resource Manual: http://www.cnm.edu/depts/pbir/instres/compresoumanual.php

*Sources for Community demographics include: http://www.census.gov; also “Quality Counts” Report and Chance for Success Indicator (NM places last in 50 state overview): http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2007/01/04/index.html

*Data on schools is included on the State Department of Education web sites. You can also use practitioner research (what have you – or other educators in the field -observed, studied, evaluated); focal groups; case studies; examples; quotes; news stories; reports; surveys. Other school data sources are School, District and County web sites.

*The National Staff Development Council (NSDC)- http://www.nsdc.org provides reports on “Results-Based Staff Development” www.nsdc.org/connect/projects/resultsbased.cfm. (NSDC also has grants.)

*Also check out these web sites: www.ed.gov/nclb (No Child Left Behind);

www.excelgov.org/evidence (Evidence-Based Policy);

www.nifl.gov  (National Institute for Literacy – also has Grant Opportunities)

www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading (This is the “evidence-based” site of the NIFL).

*http://www.aera.net/grantsprogram: American Educational Research Association (AERA) provides list of grant opportunities in research on education, as well as published its findings. Great source for what works in education as well as how socioeconomic climates affect learners.

*http://nces.ed.gov/: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): Collects, analyzes & makes available data related to education in the U.S. and other nations.

*Google Searches: If you have a subject, i.e. “Learning Communities,” you can usually do a google search and recent publications on the effectiveness will come up. Additionally, if you search “What Works..” i.e. What works in… literacy learning, community colleges, English as a Second Language, etc. results will pop up.

Grant Writing, Development and Funding Sources Resource List

www.grants.gov : Federal grant opportunities. Click on “Find Grant Opportunities.” Listed by departments. Or click on “Site Map” and will lead you to “For Applicants.” Can also register for DUNS number & to be daily informed of grant opportunities via e-mail.

www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci: Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Site is self-explanatory and really has wonderful information.

www.foundationcenter.org: List of foundations. Also can view 990’s to see programs foundation funds & amounts donated. Can use without being a “member.” Type in foundation name. Also includes information on grant writing. Can become a member for between $19.95 - $179.95/month.

www.guidestar.org: Like Foundation Center, Can view 990’s of organizations. Cost is $49.00/month.

www.calvin.edu: Click on A-Z Index under “Search” heading. Click on “Grants.” Click on “Helpful Links” in the right-hand column. Under “Finding funding Sources” click on List of funding sources. Brown box on left says “Funding Sources.” If you click on “Alphabetical” - this will bring you to an alphabetical list of hundreds of sources by first letter- just click on any letter to see list. Also lists sources by Subject: Arts & Humanities, Sciences; Social Sciences; Research/Sabbaticals. This site also contains good information on grant writing.

www.michigan.gov/mde: Brings up Michigan Department of Education. On right-hand side click “Grants.” Will bring up list of grants. Click on anyone to review grant opportunity. Can also click on “Directory of Grant Programs” for a list, as well as “Other Federal & Private Grant Sources” in right-hand column. If you click on “Departments/Agencies” in the left-hand column (top); it will bring up other departments in MI gov. ******Note: I tried this with the state of Ohio & got referred to www.ohio.gov  - then I followed their links to “Departments” & found the Dept. of Ed.; it’s web site is www.ode.oh.us & it has a link to grants. I suppose you can try this with any state. (Yep – looks like it. I tried it with: www.newmexico.gov & got referred to an alphabetical list.) You will just have to negotiate the site for the state in which you are interested. For New Mexico, I typed in “state grant opportunities” in the search box & came up with many grant opportunities.

www.nationalservice.gov: Corporation for National and Community Service – Provides a free, downloadable 20 page resource: “National Service: A Resource for Faith-Based and Community Groups;” Main programs involve Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn & Serve America (Service-Learning Projects).

www.schoolgrants.org: Great information includes an Index to Grant Opportunities; an Index to view Sample Proposals, Grant Writing Tips and Links to Resources. Excellent for PK-12 school grant opportunities.

www.grantproposal.com: Aesthetics & Technicalities for Grantwriters including writing inquiry letters, full proposal, research, advice from funders and tips on getting started. Great samples included.

http://www.centerfornonprofitexcellence.org/funders.htm: Center for Non-Profit Excellence; List of funding sources, deadlines, and web sites of funding sources. Includes funders’ areas of focus. Continually updated.

http://www.edupr.com/grants.htm: Public Information Resources, Inc (PIRI) web site. List of funding programs, including NSF, Education, Literacy, Charter Schools, School Reform. Great site for information on education.

http://www.os.dhhs.gov/grants/index.shtml: U.S. Grant Information page – very comprehensive. Provides information on sources of government & business grants.

http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/knowabtgrants/index.html: U.S. Department of Education grant development page.  Includes sources & a manual on how to write grant proposals. (entitled: What should I know about ED grants?) This site is “Archived Information.” Click on “Grantmaking at Ed” for an updated version.

http://www.aera.net/grantsprogram: American Educational Research Association (AERA) provides grants for research on education (funded by NSF and the National Center for Education Statistics. This is also a great site for finding research-basked evidence on what works (or doesn’t work) in education as well as how socioeconomics affect learners.

http://www.tulsacc.edu/page.asp?durki=1532: Tulsa Community College grant development page. Includes a list of funding sources (many in Oklahoma) as well as information on proposal development & writing.

http://nmag.org/grantseek.php: New Mexico Association of Grantmakers. Don’t be fooled by the name. This site lists sources & resources from across the nation. Includes sites to view sample grant proposals. Excellent.

http://www.technologygrantnews.com/grant-index-by-type/higher-education-grants.html: College and university advancement grants index. This site also has a grants index for community initiatives; K-12 education, and others. The site to click on “grants indexes” and choose your subject is: http://www.technologygrantnews.com/grant-money-index-type.html. Although to subscribe, you need to pay money; these sites also list sources without paying.