Grant Writing 101
Experiential learning in the Master of Public Administration classroom
T
he Master of Public Administration
program gives students practical skills
and experience in working with others
to address the complex problems facing our
government and our society. Dr. Kimberly
Gray takes that mission seriously when she
teaches the program’s Grant Writing and
Administration class. Students learn to write a
grant proposal through short activities, lecture,
and practice assignments in class. Applying
the theory to practice is the most critical part.
Students practice writing a personal grant to a
mock foundation, review examples of real grant
proposals, and then write a grant proposal of
their own for actual submission.
Offered in the summer, the class provides a
condensed timeframe for students to learn and
apply their skills in grant-proposal writing.
Students work in small groups to identify a local
non-profit organization with which they want
to partner. They then work with the non-profit
to write a grant proposal to submit to the CSRA
Community Foundation. If needed, Gray helps
them identify a local non-profit and introduces
them to a collaborator. Students must contact
the non-profit organization to initiate the
project, as well as ensure it is completed by the
class assignment deadline in late July. At the end
of the class, the non-profit organizations have a
strong, completed proposal ready to submit to
the Foundation by the mid-August deadline if
they desire.
During a recent class, two students partnered
with Old Fella Animal Rescue in Burke County.
Together with the president of the organization,
the students prepared a proposal to fund a spay
and neuter program. They put their hearts into
the assignment.
“Overall, this was a good exercise that
encouraged real-life experience,” said Ashley
White, one of the students who worked on the
project. “It will ultimately be up to Old Fella
to submit the grant with the other required
documentation, but they are very excited and
appreciated the help.”
Ashley’s partner in the class, Claire Chavez,
added, “I enjoyed this project because I felt that
24 | #WeArePamplin · Spring 2019
Ashley White (right) is pictured with Barry McFeat of Old Fella. (Photo provided by Ashley White)
I was given the opportunity to do hands-on
learning and gain experience through a realistic
example. I am excited to see if it gets funded.”
Gray provides reviewer feedback and offers
guidance to improve the proposal.
“It is rewarding to see students engaging
with their work and showing excitement and
passion,” said Gray.
Old Fella Animal Rescue submitted the
resulting grant proposal to the Foundation
in mid-August. In late-December, they were
awarded $15,000 for the spay and neuter
program. The students were ecstatic to see
they had helped to solve a real problem in the
community, advancing the MPA mission.
For more stories on the MPA program, visit
http://jagwire.augusta.edu/archives/tag/master-of-
public-administration.
Claire Chavez was one of the students who helped
write the grant proposal for Old Fella Animal Rescue.
(Photo provided by Claire Chavez)