PSCI 411.50 Nonprofit Administration Grant Writing Syllabus Instructor: Office Hours (online): (You can call me Dr. B) By appointment or via Skype Office phone: (214) 509 6553 Skype: dr.cindybriggs (anytime I am on) Email: cindy.briggs@umontana.edu or dr.cindybriggs@gmail.com Important Communication Tips: Emails: The best way to reach me is by sending an email (I check email often). I will answer your email within 24 hours this is usually much quicker. If you send me an email after normal work hours on Friday I may not respond until Monday. This is not definite I often do check emails over the weekend, but I do reserve weekend s to be with my family. Very important: I must assume that you open your email that is registered with the course (your UM email) DAILY, as this is the method I use to communicate with you directly. Skype: Telephone: Skype is free online service that allows real time communication. You can download the software and then request me as a contact (dr.cindybriggs). When I am available I turn my Skype on and you can feel free to ask questions, or just say hi. Think of it as my open door You may call me anytime at my office number (listed above). Please also send me an email if you have left a message on my office phone. Appointments: Online education can be tough I want to be available to you. We can schedule times to talk, or you are always welcome to visit me on Skype anytime that I am on! Mind Reading: Unfortunately, my mind reading skills have gotten very rusty over the years therefore, I will not know you need help unless you ASK for help. Remember I cannot see you each week so I cannot see the light bulb over the head or the confusion on your face. Never be embarrassed to ask for help it is why I am here!! Page 1
Course Description: A ten week course intended for students and professionals interested in learning the basics of grant writing. The course intends to prepare students to understand the grant process and the steps needed to complete a well developed funding application. Additionally, students will learn about the review process found in grant funding. Please note: All students must come to the class prepared to write a grant proposal. You can use your current organization, but if you are not affiliated with a nonprofit (501c3) you will need to find one to partner with during this course. Expected Study Learning Outcomes: 1. Students will understand common terms within grant writing 2. Students will be able to demonstrate and apply knowledge to complete pieces of a funding proposal 3. Students will demonstrate their mastery of key content areas through the completion of a draft grant proposal 4. Student will be able to utilize professional research and tools in the field of grant writing 5. Students will be able to understand the review process involved in grant writing 6. (Graduate Students): Students will learn to prepare a professional grant presentation to the potential funder. Method of Instruction: Students will use the Moodle system to access lectures, readings, and assignments, and to participate in discussions. Instructor will post lectures, other reading materials and assignments; critique written assignments; and monitor and evaluate discussion postings. This course has been developed using units. Each unit has a final due date with a checkpoint (grade) attached. Please be sure to follow your syllabus closely for assignment/due dates/etc. The syllabus is always the final word. My Philosophy I believe in education. I also believe that you get out of something what you are willing to put into it. This course is a college level course. The expectations will be that of college students (typically graduate students). I am tough and I do not make any apologies for this; however, I do tell my students that my goal is always the same and that is for you to leave this course with a better understanding of the material. I also remind my students that while this is an online course, I want you to think of it the same as if you were coming to a class. I hope you will schedule time to work on this course on a regular basis, and that you understand I try to be available as possible to help you. All of you have taken college courses before, so you understand that a professor is not just there to impart knowledge, but to help you learn even more. I want you to learn about writing grants, but my greater goal is that you learn even more about the nonprofit sector. Page 2
Undergraduate and Graduate Students Please note that in this course we will have both undergraduate and graduate students. The course materials are the same for both; however, graduate students are required to do an additional project (200pts). Graduate students must complete this project to pass the course. The graduate project can be found under course introduction. Participation Students are expected to fully engage and participate in this course. This course is online an asynchronous (meaning you do not have to all be on at the same day/time). Students can feel free to go through the units at their own pace; however, there are key items that must be completed by the scheduled due date. I do ask that you fully participate in the discussion boards. One reply is due for each discussion question, and I ask that during the course you reply to a colleague within each discussion question. I do not make due dates for the replies, but all must be completed by the end of week #9. Holiday During this course, we may encounter a holiday. With online learning, we do not take any time off. Learning units are posted at the start of the course, and the due dates are listed in the syllabus. It is your responsibility to know the due dates, and to get your work done. Submitting Assignments Be sure to format your paper as you would if you were turning it in (name, course, date, etc.) All assignments should be submitted through the learning unit tab. No assignments will be accepted via email. PLEASE NOTE: Absolutely NO late assignments will be accepted during this course without prior approval of Dr. Briggs. This is crucial in grant writing. Remember, a late submission could cost you a grant! Assignment times and due dates are clearly listed in the syllabus and course calendar be sure to review these regularly! References This is a graduate level course; therefore, you will be required to use appropriate references in your work. Please use APA Style Manual when referencing work. In the course introduction there is information on APA help. It is your responsibility to review this information and ensure your work meets the standards (for references ONLY). Course time and preparation It can be very difficult for me to estimate the amount of time it will take you on this course. On an average, students can expect to spend approximately 8 10 hours per week on this course. Remember, the goal of the instructor is to have you gain workable knowledge on all main parts of writing a grant which can be a time consuming process. Request for Withdrawal Please see the Extended Learning website for information on withdrawing from courses and on refund policies. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the full UM policy on Withdrawal from the University. (Please note I do ask Page 3
that you just contact me to let me know you are thinking of withdrawing. I may be able to help.) Course Materials Required: Smith, N.B. & Tremore, J. (2008). The everything grant writing book. Avon, MA: F +W Publications. ISBN#978 1 59869 633 2 Optional: American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6 th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. Grading Unit Checkpoints (4 @100 pts) 400 points Discussion Questions (5 @20 pts) 100 points Final draft proposal 200 points Total possible points: 700 points (undergraduate) GRAD Student: Presentation 200 points Total possible points: 900 points (graduate) Letter grades are based on standard percentages: 90% 100%= A; 80% 89%=B; 70% 79%=C Student with Disabilities Students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodations in this online course. To request course modifications, please contact me as soon as possible. I will work with you and Disability Services in the accommodation process. For more information, visit the Disability Services website at http://www.umt.edu/dss/ or call 406.243.2243 (Voice/Text). Student Conduct Code The Student Conduct Code, embodying the ideals of academic honesty, integrity, human rights, and responsible citizenship, governs all student conduct at The University of Montana Missoula. You are expected to adhere to this code. It is also expected that each student will help foster a collegial learning environment by sharing his or her experiential and academic knowledge and practices, as well as respectfully listening to the viewpoints of others and following basic netiquette rules. You are expected to complete all reading assignments so that you can discuss them intelligently in discussion forums, individual assignments, and small group (collaborative) assignments. Please Dr. Note: Cindy Briggs, CFRE I try to Grant make Writing this syllabus Syllabus: as complete Spring 2015 and correct as possible. I do reserve the right to make any necessary changes. If that happens, I will give ample time and post notes in the announcement Page 4 section and via email. I do not foresee this needing to happen, but please understand that sometimes circumstances may warrant such action.
Course Outline Spring 2015: Grant Writing Unit Topics Assessments Due Date(s) Course Introduction Learn about the course/ syllabus review Key terminology Self introduction post (Discussion) Wed. Jan. 28 @ 5pm Unit I: Preparation Unit II: Writing the Grant Unit III: The Review Process Course Wrap Up Research Planning Problem Statement Goals/Activities Budget Evaluation Capacity/Collaboration/Sustainability Executive Summary/Cover letter Understanding the review process Engaging in the review process Putting it all together What s next Career planning Unit I Discussion Unit I Checkpoint Unit II Discussion Unit II Checkpoint 1 Checkpoint 2 Unit III Discussion Unit III Checkpoint Wrap up discussion Mon. Feb. 9 @ 5 pm Mon. Feb. 9 @ 5pm Mon. Mar. 2 @ 5 pm Mon. Mar. 2 @ 5 pm Mon. Mar. 16 @ 5pm Mon. Mar. 30 @ 5pm Mon. Mar. 30 @ 5pm Wed. Apr. 1 @ 5 pm Discussion replies * All reply posts are due by Thur. Apr. 2 @ 5 pm Final Course project * Final proposal due by Fri. Apr. 3@5 pm Graduate Assignment * Graduate Assignment due by Thursday, Apr. 2 @ 5 pm Page 5