Writing a Grant

1. Identify Your Needs and Eligibility:

Public, Private, Title 1, or Non-Profit.

Before you look for funding, clearly define who you are and what you need. Different grants target different demographics:

Title I & Public Schools: Look for state, federal, and corporate grants focused on education reform, physical education, and at-risk youth.

Download our guide to writing a grant with Title I Funding.

Private Schools & Non-Profits: Focus on foundational grants and community organizations that support youth development, innovative educational methods, and community wellness.

Determine exactly what you are trying to fund: Is it a full ABL Sensory Lab? Kinesthetic desks for a single classroom? Teacher training? Having a specific goal makes matching with a funder much easier.

2. Find the Right Grant Match:

Don't waste time applying for grants that don't align with your school's profile. You want to find funders whose mission matches yours.

Use the ABL Grant Finder Tool: We regularly update our site with state and national grants perfectly suited for kinesthetic classrooms.

Look Locally: Local businesses, community foundations, and grocery store chains (like the Casey's Cash for Classroom grant) often love funding physical improvements to local schools.

Check the Game Changer Grant: ABL offers our own grant annually, providing up to $10,000 to schools applying for Action Based Learning Labs.

3. Gather Your Data and Research

Funders want to invest in proven solutions. You need to back up your request with both local data and broad research.

• Your School's Data: Gather your demographics, test scores, behavioral referral rates, and absenteeism records. Paint a clear picture of where your students are struggling.
• The Science of ABL: Leverage the brain science! Cite research showing how movement increases retention, reduces behavioral issues, and improves overall wellness. (Feel free to use the research summaries provided on the ABL website!)

4. Craft a Compelling Narrative

Numbers tell part of the story, but emotions win grants. Frame your proposal around the students who need this the most. At ABL, we always focus on the "3 L's":

1. The Last child in line at recess.
2. The child Lost in the school system.
3. The child Least likely to succeed.

Explain how kinesthetic equipment will directly impact these students. Describe what a day in your newly funded classroom will look like and how it will transform the learning experience for children who struggle with traditional, sedentary seating.

5. Build an Itemized Budget: Be specific and realistic.

Your budget must exactly match your narrative. If you asked for a Sensory Lab, every item in that lab needs to be accounted for.

• Include the exact cost of the ABL equipment (stations, desks, mats).
• Don't forget shipping, installation, and any necessary teacher training.
• Provide quotes directly from the vendor (our ABL team is always happy to provide official quotes to attach to your grant applications!).

6. Review, Get Approvals, and Submit:

Never submit a first draft. Have a colleague outside of your department read your proposal—if they can't understand your vision, the grant committee won't either.

Ensure you have all required signatures. Many grants require a signed letter of approval from your principal or district superintendent supporting the project. Once you have double-checked the deadline and formatting requirements, hit submit!

Remember, grant writing is a skill that improves with practice. Even if your first proposal isn't funded, you will have built a powerful template that you can tweak and submit to other organizations.