Common Grant Writing Mistakes

It is grant writing time again.

Here are common mistakes made by newer grant writers. If you want technical assistance on grant writing contact VALF at sandy.newell@dos.myflorida.com.  One of our board members can advise you and even read a draft of your grant.

Common Mistakes!

• Not reading (and following) the grant guidelines
• Writing the grant in isolation
• Not spending enough time doing the needs assessment
• Not knowing and using the language of the organization awarding the grant
• Not giving your draft to multiple readers for their suggestions
• Writing the proposal from the organization's perspective verses the needs of the potential adult learner

Grant writing requires more skills that being a good writer. Writing a successful proposal requires good planning and making sure your idea "fits" your organization's mission and the goals of the funder.

Follow the Directions in the Guidelines

I've written and reviewed many applications in my career, and one of the easiest tips I can give you is to read the guidelines. And, even more importantly, answer every topic or question in the guidelines. An easy way to do this is to list all of the topics in an outline form as a first step to writing. Then as you write, answer that topic. Having the topic as a heading in your proposal will help you make sure you answer every topic and make it easier for grant readers to find your answers.

This seems like such a simple strategy but it can make a difference on whether your application is even considered.  Not following the guidelines can put you out of the running before it is read. If the guidelines say 10 pages, write 10 pages not 11! In the past VALF has had to not consider a proposal when an applicant went over our page limit.

VALF President, Sandy Newell

VALF Grant Due February 25

Past Grant Recipient, Monroe County LVA

Since 2008, Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida has been awarding grants for adult literacy programs in Florida This year we will be awarding up to $1,000 to one or more volunteer literacy programs. Applications are due February 25 this year.

You still have time to apply.  To give more guidance, we added tips on grant writing to our blog this week.

New Instructional Tool for ELL -- Grant Application Due September 30, 2011

The Florida Literacy Coalition is partnering with IBM again to offer up to ten Reading Companion grants to eligible ABE, Literacy and Family Literacy programs throughout the state of Florida. Here are last year's grant winners. This grant (valued at $10,000) provides free access to IBM’s Reading Companion software.

Reading Companion uses innovative speech recognition technology that "listens" and provides individualized feedback to the user, enabling emerging readers to practice their pronunciation as they acquire fundamental reading speaking skills.English Language Learners really like the program.  You need higher level equipment and band width to use the program.  Because of that libraries and schools may be better positioned to apply for the grant.  The actual specs are below.

For more information on the Reading Companion Program, and to view a 4-minute video demonstrating this software, visit http://www.readingcompanion.org and click on “explore”. For more information about using technologies for adult literacy go to this report published last year.  To get the application:

March 2009 News and Notes

NEW NAME / NEW LOGO
VALF, Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida, has a new logo as well as a new name. The Lake County Public Library staff designed this new logo for VALF to reinforce our new name.

New Cycle of Grant Applications
VALF will award another round of grants to support Florida's volunteer literacy programs. This year, grant awards will be as much as $500, an increase from last year's grants of $300.

Organizations who are members of VALF can apply for a grant in March 2009. Grants will be awarded at the VALF annual meeting at the Florida Literacy Conference in Clearwater on May 7, Friday, at 10:00 a.m. If your organization is not a member, it only costs $25 to join. For more information about the grant program, email literacyflorida@hotmail.com.

This year VALF will award grants in honor of Jack Newell, a long time leader in volunteer and family literacy in Florida. We have extended the deadline for you to make a donation in Jack's honor. If you are a friend or colleague of Jack and want to be part of this surprise, complete the form posted in our blog below, and mail us your check. Our deadline was extended to March 31. If you send by then, we will award your dollars this year.

Jacksonville Program for Volunteer Literacy Programs
A program on the start up and improvement of volunteer literacy programs will be the topic covered at a networking workshop on Saturday, March 7, from 9:30 am - 12:30 p.m. at the Jacksonville downtown library. VALF is providing this free program for literacy groups. The main library is located at 303 N Laura St [32202]. Their phone number is (904) 630-2665 or see at map.

The session will be followed by the VALF Board Meeting. For more information about the session or board meeting, call Sandy Newell at 850-245-6624 or email her at snewell@dos.state.fl.us

Virtual Library Literacy Summit
The American Library Association is hosting the first library literacy virtual summit in April.

Literacy for ALL: Advocacy, Libraries, and Literacy

When:	1:00PM ET Tuesday, April 7th
Where:	Webcast

The current ALA President, Jim Rettig, will join the incoming President, Camila Alire, and leaders from all types of libraries to explore the roles of libraries in literacy. Go to the ALA Committee on Literacy's facebook account to learn the latest.

If you set up your own facebook account, you can become a fan of the ALA Committee on Literacy and get the latest information on the Summit.

Some literacy programs and libraries use facebook and other free social networking tools to advertise their own literacy program.

VALF Program on National Trends in Library Literacy
Sandy Newell, President of VALF and Chair of the ALA Committee on Literacy, will lead a discussion on library literacy program issues during the Florida Literacy Conference. The session will be at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 8. It is one of several events nationwide follow-up on the ALA virtual library literacy summit. This will be the only opportunity for library literacy practioners to meet and discuss issues.

Tips for Program Managers, Tutors and Trainers

Gaming and Literacy Toolkit
Libraries are finding that games are excellent tools to foster literacy while attracting teens into the library. ALA has just published an online toolkit to help library staff who want to do their own gaming program. The toolkit contains a fact sheet on gaming and literacy.

Gaming helps a person gain vocabulary, solve problems and develop a higher order of thinking skills -- all necessary for literacy. During gaming sessions, students practice their reading while "having fun at the same time". Literacy programs have often used games to reinforce learning. Now the library could be a partner. Volunteer literacy programs who want to appeal to young adults could join with the library to provide a gaming night for their students.

ProLiteracy Provides Stimulus Webinar with No Mention of Volunteer Literacy

Joyce Whiddon, Tony Lagos and and Phil Anderson were Florida literacy professionals attending a free webinar hosted by ProLiteracy on February 26 on strategies and tips for accessing stimulus funding at the local level. Surprisingly, little was said about whether there was any help for volunteer literacy programs.

Nonprofit groups were briefly mentioned and schools were often cited as potential recipients. Groups were encouraged to connect with their state's politicians or advocate for adult education at the Local Education Agency (LEA) level. May 1 was a date mentioned on when plans on how state's utilize the dollars had to be completed.

A panel of experts discussed major provisions of the stimulus package, LEAs, and adult formula grants, along with other parts of the stimulus that could benefit adult literacy and basic education programs.

One of the observations made by several speakers was that the stimulus bill requires concurrency between attainment of basic skills and vocational skills. The bill is all about jobs.

Quality literacy programs are positioned to move quickly. Because many of our programs are small and use one on one tutors, we can work closely with students. Lessons often include instruction on reading, writeing and speaking English while teaching specific job skills and language. This link between the two may a key for volunteer groups to earn stimulus dollars.

Please share your ideas on how programs can tie job skills with basic skills here. We also want to hear your over all thoughts and suggestions about volunteer literacy in the comments section of this blog.

Links on How Facebook and Social Networking Sites to Support Literacy

MySpace, Facebook Promote Literacy article from School Library Journal 6/25/08 by Debra Lau Wheland
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6573270.html

Recruitment video on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1089097826690

Page Being Used to Ask for Donations
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/194131?m=8ef6a43a

How to Use Facebook
http://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/archive/2007/05/23/put-your-non-profit-on-facebook.aspx

Example of a Volunteer Literacy Tutor Wiki
http://adult-literacy.wikispaces.com/Instruction


Program Management Links

How to Start a Volunteer Literacy Program
Illinois Department of State

Florida Literacy Coalition
Resources and training opportunities for Florida volunteer literacy programs

National Assessment of Adult Literacy
NAAL finally released estimates for Florida, county by county using the numbers for basic prose literacy from the 2003 national survey. 20% of Florida's adults lack basic literacy. The poorest literacy rates coincide with the number on non-English speakers. Miami ranks the highest with 52%. St. Johns (7%) and Clay County (9%) have the best rates as compared to Hendry County with 42%. An excel spread sheet with these numbers can be downloaded from this site.

Grant Award to Jackson, Indian River and Monroe

Orlando, May 9, 2008- On behalf of Literacy Florida! volunteers (LFv), Sandy Newell, president is proud to announce the three $300 grant recipients: Literacy Volunteers of America- Monroe County, Inc., Literacy Services of Indian River County, Inc., and Jackson County Public Library Learning Services.

The grants will assist these volunteer literacy programs in serving adult learners and /or families. The grants were awarded at the Florida Literacy Conference, May 7- 9 at the Regal Sun Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Ann Bryan received the grant on behalf of the Jackson County Public Library.

Literacy Florida! volunteers (LFv), is a statewide membership association serving volunteers and volunteer literacy programs.

LFv is a membership association that focuses 100% on programs who use volunteers to tutor adult learners. We provide technical assistance, training and now grants to help Florida’s smaller volunteer literacy programs. To learn more about our group check out our blog at http://literacyfloridavolunteers.blogspot.com/ and our wiki at http://literacyflorida.wikispaces.com/ Group and individual membership applications can be found at http://www.aflo.freeservers.com/membership.htm

If you would like to learn more about LFv contact us at literacyflorida@hotmail.com.

LFvolunteers Literacy Grant Announcement

We have a new grant program dedicated to Florida's volunteer literacy programs. We are awarding 3 small grants for $300 at our annual meeting at the 2008 Florida Literacy Conference. The application should be emailed to literacyflorida@hotmail.com by April 4. Here is the application.

Volunteer Literacy Program Resources

Read more below about health literacy, board management, fundraising, grants, recruiting trainers, and how to become a member of LF! volunteers.

Health Literacy
As tutors and adult learners know, coping with poor health and hospitals is more difficult if you struggle with reading. Patients entering hospitals are asked if they have an advance directive, but the form is too hard for many to read. A simpler form is now available.

Typical written advance directives are written at a 12th grade level. This form is used by patients to document end-of-life treatment wishes, designate decision-makers, and promote discussion on treatment. An easier to read advance directive form written in a 5th grade level can be downloaded for free in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese at http://www.iha4health.org/

Volunteer programs can use this and other medical forms as real life examples in lessons.

Board Management
Many of Florida’s literacy programs are run by nonprofit boards. To learn more about board basics go to:
Frequently Asked Questions About Nonprofit Board Management
http://www.allianceonline.org/FAQ
This site compiles questions related to Board Development, Strategic Planning, Fundraising, Financial Management and Risk Management.

At your next board meeting, use the following list of fundraising tasks to evaluate your program.

BOARD FUNDRAISING TASKS
Have input into fundraising plan
Organize and participate on fundraising committee
Identify and cultivate new prospects/donors
Ask peers for donations
Always be an advocate for the agency
Make introductions for staff to follow-up
Accompany staff on key visits to funders
Help with expressions of thanks when appropriate


Give to the volunteer literacy program

STAFF FUNDRAISING TASKS
Accompany staff on key visits to funders
Help with expressions of thanks when appropriate
Research new and existing donors
Write case materials
Assist board in any way possible
Write proposals
Accompany board members on solicitation visits
Ask for money when appropriate
Take care of all logistics related to fundraising activities
Plan, plan, plan

Grants
Dollar General
The Dollar General Adult Literacy Grants award funding to non-profit organizations that provide direct service to adults in need of literacy assistance. Organizations must provide assistance in one of the following instructional areas:
Adult basic education;
General education diploma preparation; or
English for speakers of other languages.
The next open solicitation for request for proposals will be in January 2008. Please check in January at http://www.dollargeneral.com/community/communityinvestments.071019.aspx
If you would like advice on grant writing, contact Sandy Newell, 850-245-6624 or literacyflorida@hotmail.com.

Florida Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants
The next application for LSTA grants is due March 2008. The application will be available at http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/bld/Literacy/Funding2.html Libraries can use the 2007 application as a template to develop a draft. There will be no major changes in the grant application for 2008. Technical assistance for libraries on grant writing is available through Sandy Newell snewell@dos.state.fl.us



Recruiting Trainers
One of the most interesting and challenging aspects of running a volunteer tutoring program is training tutors. Well trained tutors is the basis for a successful literacy program.





Programs need to offer volunteers additional opportunities to help your program. Recruit and mentor new trainers. Look for those who do well in the tutor training workshop. Observe their communication skills and understanding of how to work with adults. Candidates include experienced tutors and people with good facilitation and communication skills. Potential trainers need to know how to provide quality, interactive learning experiences for adults.





New trainers can attend a train the trainer workshop at a preconference to the 2008 Florida Literacy Conference. Technical assistance on program improvement and training trainers is also available from LFv. To get the latest on the 2008 preconference, go to http://www.floridaliteracy.org/con2008.html.

Here are more tips for recruiting trainers:

Recruit teams to work together.

Provide a “quality” workshop template with easy to follow instructions for the tutor

Invite potential trainers to a training workshop to share their experiences in specific area.

Observe new tutors and tap those who are most effective.

Contact experienced tutors who can not tutor regularly. They may not want to commit to tutoring a student weekly now, but may be willing to give a block of time within a couple of months to present the 10 to 16 hours needed to provide a workshop.

Always be on the look out for trainers and list this and other "jobs" as a volunteer opportunity on your tutor intake form.

Have a tutor trainer job description with specific duties and amount of time needed to prepare and give a workshop.

How to Become a LFvolunteer Member:
Individuals can join LF!v for only $15 and a group cost $25. Go to http://www.aflo.freeservers.com/membership.htm
for the membership form.