By Chris LaPage
The Real World
We are now a society driven by the proliferation of the Internet and an insatiable appetite for instantaneous information, often times expecting the analysis to already be completed, distilled and presented as the bottom line. It should surprise no one that public safety agencies, schools, hospitals and non-profit organizations adopt this bottom line approach and typically express their needs in terms of the technology and products neccesary to accomplish their organizational objectives. After all, this is the real world. Public safety agencies need communications equipment, schools must provide student access to computers, and hospitals are trying to move into the 21st Century with electronic health records.
Grants Fund Projects... Not Products
When it comes to grants, the industry mantra is that "grants fund projects... not products". Unfortunately, this approach does not always mesh nicely with the bottom line, real-world perspective. Grant programs are created with the intended purpose of solving some type of dilemma in new, unique and innovative ways. The simple acquisition of technology products in and of itself rarely accomplishes such hearty and far-reaching objectives. In the grants world, technology should be viewed as an enabler of projects. In that respect, technology can be supported by grants insofar as the products are key components of a broader project that advances the specific goals and objectives of the funding opportunity. Furthermore, in addition to equipment, a well-rounded project will typically include a budget for personnel, training activities, contract services and a variety of other elements necessary to carry out the initiative.
The key questions you must ask yourself are "Why do I need this particular product, or piece of technology?" and "How does the technology and overall project advance the objectives of the grant program?". For instance, a grant program may be available to increase the number of students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. Leveraging hardware and software associated with distance learning technology may be a component of a project that seeks to connect students with real-world professionals, such as professionals that work for NASA. The idea is that providing such immersive experiences will increase interest in students to pursue such careers and the technology simply enables a school in Oregon to connect with NASA in Florida.
Writing Technology into your Proposal
Understanding how technology can be leveraged in grant-friendly projects is only half the battle. Many folks trip up when it comes time to put pen to paper. It may be true that technology is a primary enabler for a particular projects and absolutely critical to the overall success of a particular project. However, that does not mean the technology and products associated with the projects should be placed front and center in the proposal. Too often folks will focus on specific technologies and the product descriptions provided by the vendor. Most funders are more interested in a well-thought out vendor selection process that highlights the specific functionality of the required technology. Certainly you will need detailed pricing from specific vendors in order to create a budget as well as provide proper justification. However, you must avoid the tendency to allow the technology to dominate the project narrative. Remember that the grantmaker is providing funding to address a particular problem. The narrative must focus on the overall project and how it will meet the objectives of the grant program. In order to be competitive, the project must be unique and innovative. Simply leveraging a piece of advance technological equipment does not in itself make a project innovative. The narrative must explain how the accompanying changes in workflow, process and overall approach of the project is innovative, not just the technology.
In Conclusion...
Although it may seem like two worlds colliding, the good news is that grants are indeed a great source of funding for technology. Doing so requires the formulation of a well-rounded project that provides a proper context for the enabling technology. Next time you are analyzing the viability of a particular grant program for your technology-enabled project, be sure to do so with these lessons in mind. Now you have the proper mindset... time to go get the money!