MODEL SYLLABUS
Grants Administration and Management

I. SYNOPSIS

Concepts and practices of the discipline; techniques and strategies of grant administration and management; types of financial assistance to public and quasi-public agencies.

II. CONTENT

The course serves as a concentrated elective in the study of grants administration and management. It is designed to develop an appreciation for vocabulary, an awareness of the concepts and practices within the field, and an opportunity to practice the requisite skills in obtaining funds from outside sources.

III. GOALS

Become acquainted with concepts and practices of grants administration and management. Understand the issues and roles of individuals and agencies within the public service. An acquaintance with grants development in the future.

IV. OBJECTIVES

Through reading, lectures, class discussion and critique, specific learning outcomes will be: (1) The development and appreciation for the vocabulary of grants administration and management; (2) An understanding of the types of financial assistance to local public and quasi-public agencies; (3) The development of skills in proposal writing; (4) A knowledge of various approaches for an effective grants project management system; (5) An appreciation of the intergovernmental grants review process.

V. COURSE ORGANIZATION

The course is divided into fifteen learning modules. The syllabus identifies each modular instructional goal and objectives, outcomes, instructional approach, study activity and assignments.

VI. REQUIRED TEXT

Daniel M. Barber, Finding Funding: The Comprehensive Guide to Grant Writing. Long Beach: Bond Street Publishers, 2002.

Recommended Texts (Some may be out of print - available only in the Library)

1. Deil S. Wright, (DW) Understanding Intergovernmental Relations. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1988.
2. Howard Hillman, (HH) The Art of Winning Government Grants. New York City, NY: Vanguard Press, 1977.
3. Armand Lauffer, (AL) Grantsmanship, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 2nd Edition, 1983.
4. Virginia P. White (VW) Grants, New York: Plenum Press, 1975.
5. S. Kenneth Neuber, Needs Assessment, Beverly Hills, CA. Sage Publications, 1980.
6. Richard Steiner, Total Proposal Building, Albany, N.Y.: Trestletree Publications, 1988.
7. Ralph C. Chandler, Public Administration Dictionary, New York: ABC/CLIO, 2nd edition, 1988.
   
   
   

VII. EXAMINATIONS

The midterm and final examinations are presented in an essay format and will be evaluated and graded according to the following criteria and percentage assignments:

1. Organization and mechanics;
2. Analysis and application learning data to concepts;
3. Clarity of presentation
   a. Midterm Examination (large bluebook) closed........25%
   b. Final Examination (large bluebook) closed.............30%
4. Seminar Participation..................................................................15%
5. Grant Writing Project.....................................................................30%
   

VIII. COURSE ASSIGNMENT: DRAFT GRANT PROPOSAL

The report will consist of three typed documents:

1. Proposal Design (one to three pages) This should include (1) a concise, clear and succinct narrative description of your grant or topic, and (2) your methodology and approach, the general areas of possible support (you may wish to cite actual foundations or government funding sources), and your timetable for completing the proposal at the time it is due for this course. (This may or may not coincide with the actual due date).An original and one copy of the design should be given to the instructor on the date specified in the syllabus. The instructor will return one copy of the design with comments and approval, disapproval, or conditional approval. It is due at the beginning of the class of date due.
   
   
2. Whether you are proposing to a real or hypothetical funding source it is still suggested that early on you: (a) Find a suitable RFP or grant announcement. (b) Obtain the necessary forms and instructions. (c) Keep a detailed journal and log of your activities. (d) Write the proposal in as much detail is approved, indicating with explanation special forms, or elements that you know are required but are not possible for you to obtain or create. Up to two students may work on the same proposal, however, the complexity and detail of the proposal must reflect twice the expectations of a single student. The final grade for each student on the project portion of the final grade will be identical.
   
   
3. A good guide for proper style and format is Kate. L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations; Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1975, or a comparable guide. The Grant Proposal should also follow the specifications of the RFP or program announcement.
   
   
4. Carelessness in punctuation, word division, spelling, will be regarded as shortcomings; this indicates non-professionalism. The original and one copy of the Report will be given to the instructor at the beginning of the class on the date specified in the syllabus. Staple the original in the upper left-hand corner and attach pertinent RFP.s attachments, etc. in the most reasonable manner. If you submit two copies , one copy will be returned to the student with a critique, and a letter grade on the date specified in the syllabus.
   
   
5. Grant Summary (one page only). The summary should represent a concise
   and succinct digest of the grant writing process. An original and one copy of the course report, must be ready on the date specified in the syllabus. A copy of the summary should also be furnished to each member of the class.

The summary should be utilized as the basis, but not the entire effort, for the final presentation of the course report by the student to the class. The use or reading of the course report for final presentation purposes will be subject to grade reduction of the course report.

The final project will be evaluated and graded according to the following criteria and percentage assignment:

1. Writing Quality - includes mechanics and organizations.
2. Conceptual Quality - involves logic and coherence with particular reference to the topic that provides the basis for discussion.
3. Relevance to Task - clearly defines the purpose, well documented, and on target clearly dealing with the topic under discussion.
   a. Grant Project Report-- original and one copy. . . . . . . . . . . .30%
   

IX. LEARNING MODULES

Legend: Objectives: Objs; outcomes: Otcs; approach: Aprh; activity: Acty; assignments: Asnt; chapter: CH; appendixes: APP; Deil S. Wright: DW; Howard Hillman: HH; Virginia White: VW; Armand Lauffer: AL. Barber: DMB (LEARN TO LOVE ACRONYMS.)

1. Goal: Orientation to the Grants Course

Objs: Course goals and objectives, framework, linkages to the core MPA program, assignments and requirements.

Otcs: Overview of course structure and content. Awareness of Instructor's role and expectations, and student's interest and expectations.

Aprh: Explanation and discussion.

Acty: Discussion of course philosophy and components, and Course Report topic.

Asnt: Indicate area of interest for Course Report topic. Begin assignment text readings.

2. Goal: A Short History of Grants

Objs: Federalism, and people in the intergovernmental grants review process.

Otcs: Identifying IGR changes, and successive phases, plus key terms.

Aprh: Lecture and dialogue.

Acty: Assessment of alternate concepts, models and vocabulary.

Asnt: DMB CH 1., Glossary and Bibliography

3. Goal: Funding Sources: Public Monies

Objs: First hand experience with government grant guides, catalogs and source material.

Otcs: Understanding of public money, sources and strategies.
Review of available resources and literature.

Aprh: Lecture and dialogue

, Grant Writing Exercise; Brainstorming ideas

Acty: First opportunity to submit Report Design.

Asnt: DMB CH 2.

4. Goal: Funding Sources: Private Monies

Otcs: Understanding the activities, functions and view points of funding from foundations, corporations and individuals.

Aprh: Lecture and dialogue.

Grant Writing Exercise: How to do a needs assessment.

Acty: Assessment contemporary data, and identification types of grants involvement and issues.

Asnt: DMB CH 3. Second opportunity to submit Report Design.

5. Goal: Understanding The Forces Behind The Forms

Objs: Local and state profiles of actors and their roles.

Otcs: Perspectives on fiscal issues, public policy and policy choice.
Aprh: Lecture and dialogue.

Grant Writing Exercise: Lining Up the Players

Acty: Appreciation of historical background and current conditions.

Asnt: DMB CH 4 and outside readings.

Last opportunity to submit Report Design.

6. Goal: Locating and Connecting with Funding Services

Objs: Understanding the literature of the field.

Otcs: Significance of various solicitations and evaluation schemes

Aprh: Lecture and demonstration of materials:

Grant Writing Exercise: Picking the Target(s)

Asnt: DMB CH 5.

7. Goal: Dissecting the Request for Proposal

Objs: Examination in detail of the elements of RFP's

Aprh: Lecture and dialogue.

Grant Writing Exercise: Bring in any RFP and Dissect It

Acty: Visual Presentations.

Asnt: DMB CH 6. Review classes 1 through 7 text assignments and activities.

8. Goal: Midterm Examination

Objs: Maximum application learning experience.

Otcs: Measure comprehension and progress.
Aprh: One large bluebook, closed book in class.

Acty: Midterm Examination.

Asnt: Review class 1 through 7 text assignments and activities.

9. Goal Getting Ready to Write: Preparing the Proposal Objs: Design a pre-proposal for an NPO or CBO.

Otcs: Basic steps in proposal formation.

Aprh: Lecture and dialogue.

Grant Writing Exercise: Dissecting your RFP

Acty: Approaches and strategies.

Asnt: Bring in examples of successful grant applications. DMB CH 7.

10. Goal: Writing the Proposal Cooperative and Joint Ventures

Objs: Responding to a need.

Otcs: Knowledge of elements of successful proposals, and writing dialogue.

Aprh: Grant Writing Exercise. Prepare an outline of the whole proposal following the RFP.

Asnt: DMB CH 8

11. Goal: Writing the Grant

Objs: Preparing the final proposal from A to Z.

Otcs: Step-by-step review of the preparation of a grant.

Aprh: Lecture and dialogue.

Grant Writing Exercise: Write something on each element of your proposal. Turn in on a CD and one hard copy.

Asnt: DMB CH 9.

12. Goal: Build the Budget

Objs: Knowing the budget of a grant project.

Otcs: General tips on budgeting for grants.

Aprh: Lecture and dialogue.

Grant Writing Exercise: Provide data, real or hypothetical for every budget area.

Acty: Discussion of types and uses of budgets.

Asnt: DMB CH 10.

13. Goal: Project Management and Finishing Touches

Objs: Program control, intergovernmental review process cross-cutting
requirements.

Otcs: Alternate organizational mechanics, area-wide requirements, grant
conditions. Selling the agency.

Acty: Identification funding agencies. View video 1095 "Technical Proposed Evaluation" VC 5113 "Making a Public Service Announcement". Begin Course Reports

Apch: Grant Writing Exercise: Make out a detailed check list of all the packaging and mailing instructions for your grant

Asnt: DMB CH 11

14. Goal: Final Inventory, Proposal Review, Selection, Course Reports

Objs: Understanding intergovernmental grant policies and selection criteria.

Otcs: Assessment, intergovernmental roles and functions.

Aprh: Course Reports begin, papers due at beginning of class.

Acty: Class discussion.

Asnt: DMB CH 12. Review class 9 through 12 activities.

 

15. Goal: Final Examination

Objs: Maximum application of the learning experience.

Otcs: Final measure comprehension and progress.

Aprh: One large bluebook, closed book in class.

Asnt: Review class 9 through 14 text assignments and activities.