How are those Innovation Grant proposals going? I’ve been hearing some good questions from your colleagues about the process, and I thought I would post some tips for generating grant-winning ideas. Here are five: 1. Think “Project Runway” So if you’ve ever chatted with me for more than 5 minutes, then you probably know I’m a huge fan of “Project Runway.” I’ve watched this fashion competition since the first episode in 2004. I love Tim Gunn and the “unconventional materials” challenges the most, but I also reference the show when trying to explain the creative process. Specifically, how constraints tend to bring out the most creativity. For example, the show is built around challenges for fashion designers: Limited time (usually a day or two), a limited budget ($200 at most) and a specific focus, such as fashion that looks good under black lights … or dresses made only out of stuff sold at a grocery store …. Or an outfit for professional stiltwalkers (this was real). So when I’m asked about coming up with winning grant ideas, I analogize with “Project Runway.” Think of yourself as the creative designer. The grant rules and regulations …. i.e., the maximum budget, the… Continue Reading If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for the Innovation Grant …Read More
So perhaps you have some creative ideas floating around your head … ideas to help students succeed, or possible solutions to help with student retention. If you’re like me, your idea might feel a bit half-baked … the start of something cool, but you feel like you need to talk it out with another colleague. Awesome, let’s work with that. Or maybe you love your idea but are totally mystified and overwhelmed by the grant process. That’s OK, we’ve all been there. So let’s take some baby steps to see what might be possible with the Educational Foundation’s Innovation Grant: an excellent starter grant with pretty good odds for funding. Step 1: Read the Innovation Grant application. All the way through. It’s only five pages long (which, compared to a federal grant RFP, is easy-peasy). Give the application just 10 or 15 minutes of your time, even if you skimmed it before the holiday break. Personally, I like to print out all documents and read with a highlighter in hand. Go ahead, I’ll wait …. The most important information for this grant (or any grant) should be in this application, including an explanation of the submission process … the deadline… Continue Reading Thinking about an Innovation Grant? Don’t skip these important first stepsRead More
More than 20 years since I first watched “Apollo 13,” I’m often reminded of one particular scene. And no, it’s not, “Houston, we have a problem.” In order to save the Apollo crew, a group of NASA engineers raced against the clock to create a carbon dioxide filter from the limited equipment available in the spacecraft. They quite literally had to figure out how to put a square peg in a round hole. I love this scene because it required not only creative problem-solving skills but also teamwork under life-or-death stress. Watch it here. After hearing Dr. Sandel and Dr. Monty Sullivan challenge us to work together on our enrollment and retention goals — to influence our future instead of being at the mercy of the trend lines — I was reminded once again of that dramatic “Apollo 13” scene. Racing against the enrollment declines, I imagine our college sitting around a big table with the parts of VWCC spread around for all to examine … questioning and re-imagining their original purpose. How might we make the parts work better together … to help all of our students shoot for the moon? Our budget isn’t the only potential casualty. The lives of… Continue Reading ‘Western, we have a problem’: 5 tough takeaways from Dr. Monty SullivanRead More
About Shelley
Shelley Lyons is glad to be back on campus as she is a Virginia Western alum, and has served as the Administrative Officer for Grants Administration at Virginia Western since early 2022. Prior to VWCC, her career focus was within the Human Services and Arts fields. She wrote her first grant in 1996 on a whim and has continued to plan and learn since that time. She most enjoys seeing a well-planned project come to fruition, where funder, project manager and beneficiaries can all feel success and see impact.
Recent Posts
- Have you heard? October 28, 2024
- The Game of Life – Innovation Edition! August 29, 2024
- Why Try An LOI? May 10, 2024
- Grant Nerds Unite! March 12, 2024
- The Power of Collaboration November 17, 2023