Dr. Marc Smithers, Grants Development Associate (Higher Education)
After hundreds of conversations with grantseekers at various institutions of higher education throughout the country, one of the tools I see most often overlooked can also be one of the most powerful: state funding. This consequence is likely attributable to the organizational structures present at most colleges and universities. If an institution has a Sponsored Programs Office that is distinct from the advancement or fundraising arm of an institution, the bulk of these staff members' time is devoted to securing large faculty research or student learning grants that are most likely funded by well-financed federal programs. If an institution has dedicated staff to grant writing housed in the fundraising office, their work often overlaps most frequently with the work of advancement professionals like relationship-building with foundations and other large individual donors in the philanthropic world. As a result of these structures that often work very effectively to bring in federal and foundation dollars, state grants are often unintentionally overlooked, even though they could serve as a vital and substantial portion of an institution's funding plans. Here are some reasons to consider state grants more seriously as a mechanism for institutional funding and steps institutions should take to begin including them in their grantseeking strategy.
Why State Grants are Important?
Substantial Funding Opportunities: Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that state grants should get more attention from institutional grantseekers is simply because some state funding programs are very substantial. While an institution in Arkansas, for instance, could put energy into applying for a federal grant for workforce development like the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Program from the Department of Labor that has a potential maximum award of $5 million, they should also consider applying for the state-funded Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development program which also aims to increase workforce development opportunities in high-demand fields and has a potential maximum award of $4 million. Similarly, a campus in Maryland could pursue funding for campus safety initiatives through a federal program like the Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program through the Office on Violence Against Women, using a small portion of the maximum $400,000 award for security technology enhancements. Additionally, however, they should also pursue funding through the Campus Safety Program funded through the state of Maryland which had a $5 million maximum award, all of which could be used for security technology. Though these opportunities vary from state to state and year to year, grantseekers need to know that state funding can be a source of significant amounts of funding.
Showcase State Priorities: Another reason to give more attention to state funding opportunities is that it helps institutions see the educational priorities of the state. Attention to these priorities has predictive value in seeing where funding will be directed and can help institutions strategically align initiatives to these priorities. While federal dollars have increased in the areas of workforce development, for instance, some states like Ohio have followed suit and invested heavily in this sector, and institutions of higher education in Ohio would be wise to consider how this may shape their grantseeking plans and strategic initiatives. From the $25 million available in total funding in the Aspire Grant Program to $8 million available in the Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills Program, Ohio and many other states are making significant funding available to institutions of higher education and other workforce development agencies in the coming years. Institutions seeking to grow enrollments and meet some of their technological needs through grant funding should pay close attention to these opportunities and seek to align aspects of their strategic initiatives to the educational priorities that their state has by paying attention to what programs the state is funding.
How to Best Stay Up to Date with State Grants?
Just as grant opportunities vary from state to state, the ways grantmakers can best stay on top of information for these programs vary as well. Some states, a small minority, cultivate helpful websites detailing all available opportunities in a kind of one-stop-shop for grantseekers. Regardless of how your state houses this information, there are a few pieces of advice that transcend these differences in state grant structures.
- Familiarize yourself with the structure of education in your state. Knowing where higher education fits within the structure of your state's government will help your grantseeking team know where to look for opportunities the institution would be eligible to pursue. In New York, for instance, the Office of Higher Education is housed within the New York State Education Department, whereas in Colorado, the Department of Higher Education is a standalone office distinct from other educational departments within the state. Understanding these nuances in your state will be imperative to improving your grantseeking efforts.
- Remember to look outside of the traditional educational funding departments within your state. Knowing how your state government is structured is important not only to keep tabs on education-specific funding opportunities but also to ensure you see programs your institution would be eligible for outside of the educational departments. Be sure to familiarize yourself with offices in your state that focus on Human Services, Agriculture, Workforce Development, and Cultural Activities as they may offer programs open to higher education institutions. The Local Share Account program from Pennsylvania, for example, is managed by the Department of Community and Economic Development and has awarded several projects at institutions of higher education. Being attentive to opportunities from outside traditional state funding routes will also help institutions broaden their funding streams.
- Network with other higher education professionals in your state. Grantseekers can still miss funding opportunities by only attending to what they find through advanced Internet searches and signing up for departmental listservs. The importance of networking with other higher education professionals cannot be overstated and can have an impact on grantseeking if you are intentional in your efforts! Taking the time to build relationships with other professionals who hold similar roles as you at other institutions within your state can expand your professional capabilities and also open up the possibility of talking about funding strategies with them. Seize opportunities to discuss funding challenges and potential opportunities for collaboration with others as you grow your professional network.
While it is understandable that state funding opportunities are often missed by some higher education grantseekers given the organizational structures found at colleges and universities, now is a great time to fight against this trend. As the nation welcomes a new presidential administration, one of the ways that institutions can prepare for the uncertainty in the federal funding landscape is by exploring the possibilities available to them through state funding opportunities. Diversifying your grantseeking portfolio to include state funding opportunities is an important skill for institutions to foster and could prove timely in our current educational climate.