5 Tips for Education Grant Applications

Though Mobile Ed Productions, Inc. prides itself on being affordable and accessible for all schools and educational programs, our goal remains to help educators bring in high-quality educational assemblies with as little limitations as possible. For this reason, Mobile Ed Productions is familiar with the plethora of grants available that help educators bring in more resources, new technologies, and educational experiences.

A grant is a sum of money given by the government intended to “provide public services and stimulate the economy.” The three basic steps in a grant lifecycle include: 

1. Pre-Award Phase: Funding Opportunities and Application Review
2. Award Phase: Decisions and Notifications
3. Post-Award: Implementation, Reporting, and Closeout

Grants for educators are proven to be vital for student success. According to Inside Indiana Business, grants greatly benefit both teachers and their students. By applying for grants, educators can minimize their personal costs inside their classroom, bring in new technologies, increase professional development, and create more opportunities for students. 

Increased finances in school districts creates more academic achievement for all students, but grants are especially important for lower-income school districts. Studies prove that the more funding available for low-income students, they are more likely to increase their academic success, increase future earnings, and decrease chances of poverty by 20%. 

Mobile Ed Productions, Inc has encouraged many of our schools to apply for public and private grants, including Innovative Education State Grants, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Magnet Schools, Magnet Schools, Abington Foundation, and many more. We believe schools that have the time and the resources to apply for grants should absolutely take the opportunity for the reasons listed above. We’ve gathered a list of Education Grants for our schools to refer to that encourage and support educational experiences. Many of the grants we provide on our Education Grants page support and encourage STEAM programs. 

The NEA Foundation is an organization dedicated to helping educators serve public schools as best they can. The NEA Foundation provides a free Grant Writing course. Here is a clear step-by-step outline of the process for applying for grants provided by the NEA Foundation. Read more about each step on their Writing Tutorial page.

Step 1: Deciding Your Approach

Step 2: Research

Step 3: Develop Relationships

Step 4: Writing a Grant Proposal

Step 5: Proposal Content

Step 6: Review Process

Step 7: Grantee Notification

Here are some of Mobile Ed Productions’ best tips to use when applying for education grants: 

1. Plan ahead. Applying and hearing back about grants takes a long time, so stay on top of the grants you want to apply for, including potential new ones. We recommend applying for grants from smaller foundations first before applying for federal grants. 
2. Understand your eligibility. What are your goals? What are your needs? How exactly will you implement the grant? Understanding your school’s background as well as your goals will help you apply for the grants you are most likely to obtain. 
3. Include data. Gather as much information as you can about your school, your needs, and your goals. Any form of data (statistics, research, graphs) can indicate your understanding of your needs and express your needs more clearly. 
4. Ask for help. Choose the grants that are right for you and commit to them.There are countless organizations missioned to help educators apply for grants. Resources such as the NEA Foundation and Grants 4 Teachers can offer guidance and tips during the long process. 
5. Make Changes. Grants are competitive, so you can’t obtain them all. Grant writing, along with all its preparation, is no easy feat, but not applying at all will automatically limit the opportunities for your school and your students. If applicable, make changes to your proposal and apply to new and old grant opportunities. 

Mobile Ed Productions, Inc. is here to provide excellent education to schools around the country, including equipping them with the resources to do so. Check out all of the grants you can apply for on our Education Grants page.