Grant Proposals

Introduction


When I was an undergraduate I was always told that grants were "free money" but I feel like this is far from the truth, especially after writing my own. I've seen other people write grant proposals, both public and private, and I feel like I knew before hand how important it was to be able to write a good proposal. I still included a lot of information in this sections, especially because I feel that no matter how many grant proposals I write, I'll still be happy with all the help I can get.




Textbook Chapter:


1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 203-227. While this chapter is on money management, it has a couple pages on grant proposals. While the instructions are not very detailed, they are still helpful.


Article from Prof Library Literature:


1. Gerding, Stephanie, ed. "Writing Successful Library Grant Proposals." Public Libraries 45, no. 5 (2006): 31-33. This article is short but it gives great tips for starting on a grant proposal and how to make it successful. This article suggests the incorporation of strategic planning into writing a grant proposal. This article is supposed to be used by public librarians, but I believe that the tips it gives could be applied in almost any kind of library.

2. Sullivan, Laura A. "Grant funding for libraries." The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances 20, no. 4 (2007): 157-160. This article outlines different agencies which give grant money to libraries on a regular basis. It gives one good starting points on where to look for grant money.


Article from Prof Management Literature:


1. Carnow, Gary A. "Strategies for Writing a Grant Proposal." Technology and Learning 31, no. 12 (2011): 16. This article is very short but it is packed with strategies on writing successful grant proposals. It is geared toward a classroom environment, but it could be applied in a school library.


Examples of Library Policies and Procedures:


1. Rutger's University Libraries Policies Regarding Grants This set of policies and procedures gives good examples of practical policies and procedures regarding grants and grant proposals in an academic library.


Other Resources:


1. Internet Resources on Grant Preparation While this is aimed at a public library in New Jersey, it contains some great resources for helping a person write a grant proposal.

2. Grants.gov This website is the "clearing house" for all twenty-six government agencies which give out federal grants. This is a good starting place when you are looking for money.