M7 S1

Overview of Business Plan and Grant Proposal Discussion

• Emphasis on the significance of the upcoming working sessions for the grant proposal.

• Highlighting the involvement of Doctor Becky Salu regarding insights on owning and operating a business as an occupational therapist.

Grant Proposal Guidelines

Call for Proposals

• Importance of reading the call for proposals thoroughly:

  • Not a mere formality; it provides specific directions for proposal alignment.

  • Must reflect the information and align with proposal requirements.

Proposal Alignment

• Considerations when reusing content from the business plan:

  • You may reuse goals and other sections from your business plan.

  • Reuse is permitted; it should not be a cause for concern about grading conflicts.

  • Ensure alignment with the funding request and expectations of the grant.

Timeframe for the Project

• The grant proposal's projected timeline is 12 months:

  • Must include clear goals for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months, as opposed to longer-term goals (e.g., 5-year goals).

Financial Request Specifics

• Clarity in funding needs:

  • The grant's total request must align with the specified amount (e.g., do not request $100,000 when the grant is for $50,000).

  • Funding requests must reflect realistic amounts—avoid wide ranges (e.g., between $150,000 and $300,000).

  • Requests should be within a narrow margin (within $1,000).

Crafting the Grant Proposal

Essential Elements

• Importance of aligning proposal with funding priorities:

  • Incorporation of technology or innovative service models if they are prioritized in the grant.

  • Demonstration of how business goals align with the rigorous requirements outlined in the proposal.

Skills Development

• Grant writing as an essential skill:

  • Valuable for both research and program development opportunities.

  • Businesses often seek individuals with grant writing experience.

  • Can improve job prospects in community-based settings, such as mental health facilities.

Formatting and Structural Guidelines

Proposed Structure

• The paper structure should include:

  • Executive summary outline

  • Headers: "Statement of Need" and "Problem Solution Connection" to organize content.

  • Narrative format is encouraged over numerous graphs or tables.

  • Use of bullet points is acceptable, but the overall tone should remain narrative and persuasive.

Formatting Specifications

• Page Limitations:

  • The document should be 1-2 pages (single-spaced), excluding references.

  • No running head or title page necessary.

  • In-text citations must adhere to APA formatting;

  • A separate reference page at the end.

References and Source Validity

• Appropriateness of sources:

  • References can be more than five years old, though it's advised to utilize newer sources for recent statistics.

  • Statistics, particularly current data points, need to be updated for relevance (e.g., referring to data points from 2009 may not suffice).

Budgeting Details

• Requirement for clarity in budget presentation:

  • Specificity regarding total funding requests and cost allocations is essential.