Grant Development

Overview

The Milwaukee Public Schools Department of Financial Planning & Budget Services guides and supports grant development efforts of district, school and partner organization personnel to secure external resources for strategic projects, programs and services that impact outcomes for students, families and staff. To fulfill this work, grant development personnel will:

• lead district grant development teams and engage the appropriate district staff;
• provide timelines, templates and feedback for draft proposals;
• provide professional development and support for grant writing;
• monitor the status of proposals and report grant awards to administration including the Milwaukee Board of School Directors;
• research and disseminate grant opportunities;
• facilitate partnership grant support; and, 
• support district strategic plan initiatives.

Types of Grants

External funding through grant opportunities can support project and program activities requiring new or supplemental financial support. There are three types of grant opportunities support by grant development staff which include:

Grant Development Processes

Approval Process

Approval of an opportunity is the first step in the grant development process before grant writing begins. To start the grant application process, complete the grant intent webform or the partnership intent webform. District and school-based grant applications require a grant intent form and are led by a district employee. Partnership grants in which an external organization is the lead and fiscal agent require a partnership intent form.

Grant and partnership intent forms must be typed and thoroughly completed by the project point of content. The grant development team will then secure electronic approval by the school leader, department director, regional superintendent and/or overseeing chief. Writing and development may commence once the intent form has received final approval.

For more information on partnership grants, please view the partnership grant protocol quick reference guide.

Grant Opportunity Research Process

Milwaukee Public Schools employees have access to a searchable grant opportunities database that can be sorted by focus area. Grant development staff can support a wider search of grant opportunities that align with the needs of the project concept, as needed. Grant development staff may also help district staff identify open grant opportunities through a grant opportunity search request.

District staff are also welcome to subscribe to the grant development listserv and receive information on several grant opportunities each month. Sign up here.

Development Process

For detailed information on district and school-based grant development processes, review the District Grant Protocol Reference Guide and the School-based Grant Reference Guide.