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Grant Resources
Applying for grants can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task, but the benefits of doing so can be worth it. There are a number of grants available related to dental hygiene from a variety of different organizations and while each one is slightly different the process for applying shouldn’t be viewed as an obstacle. Below we’ve put together our tips for grant writing as well as some of the grants currently available. You can also download the grant writing tips in a PDF format.
Things to Think about – Getting your ducks in a row before you apply:
- Write down your ideas for projects/ideas to be funded – talk to people within your organization and potential partners about feasibility and interest in your ideas
- Understand there are many different types of grants and awards available to fund innovations and ideas
- Different types of grants/awards (i.e. research oriented, federally funded, privately funded, etc) will have different requirements to qualify
- Have specific local/state data on-hand that will strengthen your application – having data on-hand will save time once a grant is posted
Some examples of types of data that may be helpful:
- Workforce data and Population Statistics :
- Access data
- State oral health coalition websites for information on access/need
- State and Local Department of Health
- Foundations (like Kellogg, Pew, and Kaiser)
- Peer reviewed journals/data – PubMed search
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (www.cms.gov)/State Medicaid agencies
- Organizations (e.g. Safety Net providers, hospitals, FQHCs)
- Misc Supplemental Information
- Curriculum vitae (CV)/resume
- Organizational chart
- Contact information for potential partners
- If applying for a grant/award on behalf of an organization, understand the internal approval process for submitting an application (e.g. approval for budget, who must sign/approve, etc)
- Consider how potential partners can strengthen your project/idea
Writing the Application - Crossing your “T”s and Dotting your “I”s
- Carefully read the grant application and guidance(instructions) completely, if not twice, to ensure you are eligible and your project is consistent with the funding requirements
- Review how grant applications will be scored and prioritized
- Learn the “lingo”– use the same key terms in your application as used in the guidance
- Keep in mind that grant reviewers cannot interpret or draw conclusions about your answers, be specific about needs, objectives and outcomes – do not imply, explain
- Be thorough – tell your story of what your project will achieve - answer every question posed in the guidance to ensure your application is scored as highly as possible (consider that partial credit may not be given for incomplete applications)
- Highlight partnerships and collaborators
- Be realistic with objectives, timeframe, and how you will evaluate your progress - consider duration of funding and project sustainability
- Project evaluation, if required, is a vital component of an application
Final Considerations before Hitting “Send”:
- Develop template letters for partners who you will ask to support your application or collaborate – a template developed by you will help supporters understand what their role is in your effort and will expedite the process for soliciting letters
- Get copies of any partner support letters
- Have others read/review your application to check for errors and to determine whether or not the intent has come through in the application
Follow-up – If at First you don’t Succeed…
- Solicit feedback from the grantor after you have submitted your application – ask for grant score or specific feedback about strengths and weaknesses in application to better prepare you for future submissions
- Continually look for grant opportunities that may the project
Websites containing Grant Money Opportunities:
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