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Grants can help turn dreams into reality

by Alex Leon, Office of Communications, Marketing, and Foundation


Recently I was working on a project that needed a funding source, and I did some preliminary work to see if it would be a good fit for the prospective donor I had in mind. It turns out it wasn’t, but what I learned about the process can help others in search of grants and how to get them.

            Finding a funding source for a particular project can be daunting, but there is a process being set up at the college through the Resource Development Committee and Office of Communications, Marketing & Foundation that can offer valuable assistance in writing grants.

            With the guidance and assistance of the RDC in writing grants and crafting proposals, you may find federal, state and private funds to help support projects that meet particular goals or guidelines. External funding may provide new equipment, enrich the experience for student learners, or create innovative instructional and student services programs.

            Because grant writing is an art and can be a lot of work, the RDC has developed some guidelines and services the committee provides to help you achieve your goals.

There are three basic steps to getting started:

¾         Identify a problem impacting students at Glendale Community College or related to meeting the educational needs of the community.  Then come up with a solution and fill out the Funding Request Form. This first step in the planning process will help you identify items you’ll need to include in your proposal, such as reasonable objectives that your proposed program will achieve and the budget required to achieve them.

¾         Set up a meeting with the Resource Development Committee. The Resource Development Committee will help you find your best funding match. There are three potential funding categories – public (government), private or fundraising activity.

¾         Funding to write grants could be available. RT/EP for college personnel could be available for those interested in writing the grants themselves.

 

Identifying and pursuing grants is not easy but your efforts are worthwhile. It’s very rewarding to see your ideas turned into institutional programs. You bring the passion, experience and subject matter, and we will do our best to assist you in crafting a winning proposal.

            Please call the Elana Edelstein, Assistant Director of Communications, Marketing, & Foundation, at x5163 for more information about grant writing and the process entails. &

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