From network video surveillance to access control systems to mass communication systems, schools have many different solutions they can purchase to enhance their safety and security initiatives. Of course, funding those initiatives can be challenging as a great deal of school budgets continue to be cut. With that in mind Campus Safety Magazine’s “12 Common Mistakes Campuses Make When Applying for Grants” (Source: Campus Safety Magazine, 6/26/2008) is especially relevant now.
Some of the mistakes schools make when applying for grants include using boilerplate templates, which may not be credible with the review panel, and only going after large sums of money. Often, smaller funding amounts can satisfy many school needs, especially if the school is smaller.
Of course, one mistake that guarantees schools won’t receive grants is not applying for them. While hiring grant writers might seem cost prohibitive, the article points out that a good grant writer “will far out pay in grant awards what he or she charges in fees.”
Have you applied for grants for projects that will help provide a safer learning environment for your schools? What kind of experiences have you had with grant applications? Have you won any grants?