How Surveys Help Community Coalitions with Grant Funding

3 Ways Surveys Can Help Your Community Coalition with Grant Funding

As a member of a non-profit, community-based coalition, you understand the need to seek out funding for your organization. Unfortunately, attaining a regular and predictable influx of federal funding to support your coalition’s programs and goals is not as easy as simply applying for government funds or soliciting community donations.

One effective and popular way to seek out funding opportunities for your community coalition is through grants, and many of these grant programs require measurement of the different aspects of your community that your coalition addresses, often through surveys. While they may seem tertiary to your goals, below we’ve outlined three ways in which surveys can help your coalition gain and maintain funding.

1. Surveys Can Help Your Coalition Get Federal Funding

As an active member of your coalition, you are likely already involved in your community and see many examples of need on a regular basis. However, in order to convey this need to review boards and decision-making bodies charged with awarding federal grants, you must demonstrate it in a non-anecdotal, quantitative way. One method of achieving this—and a method required by many grant programs—is through surveys.

Many federally-funded grants require coalitions to have a measurement plan in place as part of the application process. This plan generally involves a detailed map of how the coalition will use approved measures to establish baselines, track success, and report on results to all applicable sources. For example, the Drug Free Communities federal grant requires that coalitions “establish a system to measure and report outcomes, established and approved by the DFC Administrator, to the federal government.”^[1]

By ensuring that all grant applicants have protocols for measuring progress over time—in the case of the DFC grant, typically surveys of students in the community—award decision-makers guarantee that they will have a wealth of data from approved sources with which to evaluate the effectiveness of the program on an individual coalition level, and as a whole.

2. Surveys Can Help Your Coalition Keep Federal Grant Funding

As discussed above, during the course of the award period, many federal grants have a clause requiring that you track progress and outcomes. Consider this example: your coalition is focused on alcohol and substance abuse among middle and high school students in your community and receives a five-year federal grant to support education and awareness programs. As a result of being awarded the grant, you will likely be required to submit data on a regular, predetermined basis in order to track progress.

Using the real-world example of the DFC grant, the guidelines state that the “grantees are required to report updated progress data every 6 months, Coalition Classification Tool (CCT) data once each year (in August), and DFC core measures data every two years.”^[2]

Similarly, some grant opportunities, like the DFC, allow for recipients to apply for an additional period of funding after the initial period has completed. The data and results that coalitions obtain from the surveys conducted during the initial grant period can be used to inform the secondary application, making it more detailed and compelling.

Furthermore, many federal grants require funds matching, meaning that coalitions must attain a certain amount of money from alternate sources. Survey results and progress towards your coalition’s goal can be used in a number of ways to encourage increased community support and participation. For example, baseline numbers regarding alcohol abuse among teens can be publicized to encourage community members to volunteer their time in mentoring programs; or annual progress figures on lowered prescription drug abuse among students can be leveraged to solicit donations from local businesses.

3. Surveys Can Help Your Coalition Find Alternate Funding

Most of the federal funds your coalition may apply for, including grants, have time limitations on them. But, once your coalition hits the time limit on its eligibility for a specific grant, you want to ensure that funding doesn’t dry up completely. This is where it’s important to note that funding opportunities aren’t limited to just federal dollars. Many businesses, both local and national, offer financial support to community coalitions, as do many state and local governments and private foundations.

While they may or may not require survey data as part of the application process, providing decision-makers with specific information about issues in the local community and what your coalition is doing to address them can be helpful in encouraging financial support.

Finding the Right Surveys to Get the Right Funding

As the DFC guidelines note, “an effective coalition will utilize a variety of data to understand their community, build a data-driven plan, and monitor progress towards outcomes.”^[3] However, knowing what data to gather and how to collect it can be a process that many coalitions aren’t prepared to handle on their own.

If your community-based coalition has received or is applying for a grant that requires survey measurement, Pride Surveys can help. For over 30 years, we have been helping coalitions use scientifically reliable and valid surveys to evaluate students in their communities. Discover the range of different surveys we offer or read more about why Pride is the right choice for your survey partnership. Ready to get started? Give us a call at 800-279-6361 or fill out our quick online contact form.

[1]https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/information-for-potential-applicants

[2]https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/grants-content/presentations/resources_dfc_comet_survey_review_process__2014_dec.pdf

[3]https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/grants-content/presentations/resources_dfc_comet_survey_review_process__2014_dec.pdf

Flexible Funding with ESSA, New Federal Education Legislation

Flexible School Funding with ESSA, a New Piece of Key Federal Education Legislation

New federal education legislation may soon be affecting school budgets and allowing more flexibility in terms of spending. In 2016, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into legislation, effectively replacing No Child Left Behind (NCLB). ESSA changes several key budgetary and spending requirements, which will allow for flexibility in state and school spending with a focus on evidence-based assessments and interventions.

Increased Spending Flexibility for Schools

According to the Department of Education, under ESSA, funding is no longer directed for federally-specific interventions; rather, the DOE will prioritize funds based on the state’s lowest-performing five percent of schools, low graduation rates, and low performance among subgroups of students. This shift increases schools’ flexibility to use funds for locally-tailored, evidence-based strategies created in collaboration with principals, teachers, and parents. As such, it is a critical step in shifting away from the federal approach of top-down interventions used in NCLB and towards instituting local level accountability and measurable goals that are meant to create higher overall standards and closing of achievement gaps.

ESSA Funding for Title I and Title II Schools

The Association of School Business Officials International states that funding under Title I has seen no changes. Under Title II, the allotment will change from the NCLB’s 35/65 funding model based on student population and student poverty to ESSA’s 20/80 model gradually over the next several years. Minimum awards granted to each state will be slowly discontinued; however, states are allowed more flexibility to use the dollars for things such as class-size reductions, teacher evaluations, development and training.
Under ESSA’s Title IV funding guidelines, many programs were eliminated and replaced with noncompetitive, formula-based grants. This section includes details about the support of safe and healthy students initiative, which emphasizes school coordination with other schools and community-based organizations (substance abuse, mental health, violence, etc.) in using evidence-based programs to create change.

Pay for Success (PFS) Grants Under ESSA

Additionally, the Pay for Success (PFS) grant model is implemented under ESSA, providing federal funding based on outcomes, which may be used by schools, districts, and leading education agencies (LEAs). Districts receiving above $30,000 must perform a needs assessment and then expend 20% of grants on safe and healthy school activities, 20% to a well-rounded education, and the remaining 60% on three priorities (with a 15% cap on technology spending).

Using Surveys to Assess Needs and Gather Evidence for ESSA Funding

Overall, these new regulations under ESSA are helping schools to move forward and will promote a more well-rounded education, while at the same time upholding accountability to ensure the progress of all students. With more flexibility in spending federal dollars, schools, districts, and LEAs have a better chance to create and promote change through assessments and evidence-based intervention programs.
One of the most effective and reliable ways to assess needs and gather scientifically valid evidence for the funding options available under the new federal education legislation is through school surveys. Pride Surveys offers a variety of measures that are customizable up to ten questions to help schools, grant recipients, and state agencies evaluate and address many topics from substance abuse and school climate to bullying and mental health in schools.
Browse our most popular surveys, find out why Pride is the right partner for your school’s surveying needs, or check out the valuable resources in our blog. Questions? Give us a call today at (877) 957-6870 or fill out our quick online contact form.

Taber, Tiffany. “Implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act to Enhance Equity and Excellence.” May 26, 2016 http://blog.ed.gov/2016/05/implementing-the-every-student-succeeds-act-to-enhance-equity-and-excellence/

Association of School Business Officials International. “The Every Student Succeeds Act.” January 2016 http://www.oasbo.com/documents/16WC-ESSA.pdf

How Schools Can Get Funding for Educational Programs

In today’s uncertain economic climate, it can often seem like money is constantly being chipped away from educational programs. As budgets dry up, important after-school programs, extracurricular activities, and fine arts classes are frequently being limited or discontinued. This is a dangerous trend for many reasons, particularly the fact that educational programs aimed at targeting critical issues like bullying, mental health, and substance abuse are often the first on the chopping block.

Luckily, even in the face of increased budget cuts and evaporating funding, there are numerous opportunities for schools to supplement their programs through educational funding initiatives. The tips below offer an introduction into the world of funding for educational programs and provide an overview of how to get funding for school programs.

Different Types of Educational Funding Available

There are many different types of funding for school programs available to educational institutions of all types, from preschools and STEM schools to private schools and public universities. Grants are the most common of funding format, and their qualifications can range from quite broad to highly specific.

Some grants may be targeted specifically for technology development in inner city schools, while others may be designated for funding anti-bullying programs in after-school activities. For schools, educational funding offerings typically come in the form of grants from three different sources:

• • Federal Funding: There are hundreds of different types of grants available through most of the federal government’s agencies. Examples of federal funding include the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant program^[1] and the STOP Act grant program^[2], both of which offer funding for substance abuse programs and are backed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
• • Local & State Funding: Historically, local and state funding has accounted for the majority of funding for educational programs (93% in recent years), according to the National Center for Education Statistics^[3]. These types of funding sources are likely to be much more specific to your state or region, and can vary widely from location to location. For example, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education recently offered an Indiana STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund Grant to recruit, train, and place new STEM teachers into underserved Indiana school systems^[4].
• • Private Educational Funding: This type of educational funding comes from non-governmental bodies, such as corporations, foundations, charities, and other independent entities, both on a national and local level. One example of private educational funding is the W.K. Kellogg Foundation^[5]. Established in 1930 by the founder of the staple breakfast brand, the foundation annually offers a wide array of grants covering everything from children’s health and educational programs to social and civic improvement services.

How to Apply for Funding for Educational Programs

Funding applications for educational programs will vary widely from grant to grant, and their complexity and competitiveness will be largely dependent on whether you are pursuing private, local, state, or federal funding.

Once you have decided which grant(s) you are interested in pursuing, it’s important to first ensure that your school (or classroom, program, etc.) fits within all of the given eligibility requirements and judging criteria. It’s a waste of valuable time and energy to apply for a grant for which you aren’t eligible.

After determining your eligibility, it’s critical to strictly follow any and all application guidelines, paying special attention to any important dates and deadlines. Additionally, make sure to craft the application to fit within any formatting or content requirements laid out in the grant instructions. Check and double-check for any spelling or grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, or confusing and unclear verbiage.

Present your school’s story in a clear, compelling way, and provide any requested data or supplementary information. In short, you want to make it as easy as possible for the selection committee to focus on your school’s story and funding needs, rather than on any distractions like misspelled words or missing parts.

Using Surveys to Qualify for Educational Funding Opportunities

Oftentimes, one of the primary criterion that schools are judged on when applying for educational funding is their specific need. The word “need” here can be applied to just about anything that a school is currently unable to provide that would greatly improve the educational and social environment of the school or the community. Depending on the school, that could mean IT and technology needs, musical education course needs, substance abuse education program needs, and more.

One of the best ways to identify and demonstrate your school’s needs and qualifications for educational funding is through survey data. School surveys allow administrators and decision-makers to acquire a non-biased, comprehensive representation of the issues affecting the students, teachers, and parents involved in the school environment. These empirically tested measurements can evaluate and provide information about a wide range of subjects, such as substance abuse, bullying/mental health, and school climate, among other things.

Similarly, multi-year grants and other long-term educational funding sources often require that schools demonstrate progress towards goals and benchmarks. Using school surveys is an immensely helpful way to evaluate the effectiveness of the funded programs and initiatives. When conducted every year or every other year, they are especially helpful in showing trends and change over time.

How to Get Funding for School Programs

Every year, federal, state, and local governments, along with corporate and private foundations, offer billions of dollars of funding for educational programs. The process for garnering additional educational funding may seem daunting at first. But with a little research, hard work, and dedication, your school can receive valuable funding for school programs that will have a profoundly positive impact on your school and your community.

[1] “Drug-Free Communities Support Program.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sp-15-001 on January 28, 2016.

[2] “STOP Act Legislation.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sp-15-001 on January 28, 2016.

[3] “How Do We Fund Our Schools?” PBS.org. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wherewestand/reports/finance/how-do-we-fund-our-schools/?p=197 on January 28, 2016.

[4] “Indiana STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund Grant.” Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Retrieved from http://www.in.gov/che/files/CHE_STEM_Teacher_Recruitment_Fund_Grant_Application.pdf on January 28, 2016.

[5] The W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.wkkf.org/ on January 28, 2016.