Rusti.berent@vwr.com
v.usb
Partnerships and Finding Funding for Science: Needs, Resources, Contacts, and Worksheets
Wards Science Funding and Grants Services (Wardsci.com)
Needs: Two types of needs (beyond equipment): (1) Demographic needs. Examples: Low income, below-grade level, over-age and under credit, homeless, in
foster care, been incarcerated, at-risk of not graduating, gender and gender orientation, minorities, limited English speaking, students with disabilities,
economically depressed region, local "brain drain." (2) Need new approach or focus that will benefit the students. Examples: hands-on, inquiry-based learning,
workplace practice and skills, service learning, community problems, environmental studies, agriculture, technology. Needs are ALWAYS about the students and
are in the context of the community. Think: My students need X so that they can do Y. Why do they have the need, how will they benefit, who else may benefit?
Elevator Pitch: A 30 second synopsis. Purpose: to engage and motivate (hook!) listeners to learn more and contribute resources. Tips: Practice! Be interesting,
authentic, happy, and passionate. Know your audience: Introduce yourself to people you don't know with your name, your organization, your role (teacher, etc.)
and who your students are (9
th
grade biology students, intro to engineering students, etc.). See attached worksheet. Examples:
• "I'm teaching a new unit in biotechnology to my 7
th
grade students and I want my students to love it, own it, and be hungry for more. So, I'm looking for
your ideas to help solve the problem of motivation and relevance for my students. I want to show the students that biotech (STEM, your business) is fun,
challenging, useful to them and their families, and comes with great salaries even if they don't go to a 4-year college.
• Since our classes will cover science, technology, engineering, and math, I want to introduce my class to people in these industries to show the students
that what they do in the classroom has real world meaning. As a teacher, I am a valuable resource to my students because of what I can bring to them. I
am inviting you to be a part of the plan. WIIFY? (What's in it for you?) A real (and "feel-good") opportunity to help prepare your future employees and
to help insure economic vitality in our community. (Of course, we will also issue a press release so you will get publicity!)
NOTE: If you don't have business cards you can make them inexpensively online. Include your name, your school/organization, address, telephone number,
website, your email, and your role: e.g. 7
th
and 8
th
grade life sciences teacher; after school program coordinator; engineering instructor; etc.
Websites with resources for school information, proposal preparation, funding sources, partnerships, and others. Also check websites of professional
organizations for farmers, chemists, physicists, biologists, aerospace, etc. (These are enduring websites that should be active well into the future.)
www.foundationcenter.org www.neafoundation.org
http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator https://www.surveymonkey.com
http://www.cof.org
https://www.cof.org/community-foundation-locator
http://www.scribd.com/doc/28106226/K-12-Classroom-Teacher-Needs-
Assessment-Survey-306-11-08
www.tgci.com https://www.getedfunding.com
https://www.pltw.org/partnership-team-guide http://www.donorschoose.org
http://www.grantgopher.com www.grants.gov
