Workshop Houston CAR Grant Proposal (Research Proposal Sample)

Read Chapter 22 (Proposals) before completing this project.
Part I: Background
Premise: You have been hired as the grant writer for Workshop Houston, a local after-school
program that is seeking funding to expand the organization and support its young student
members. Using the background information provided below, write a persuasive grant
proposal asking for the Community Arts Rise grant (CAR grant) from the National
Endowment for the Arts.
Workshop Houston was built on the belief that learning is more than just what happens in a
classroom. Founded by four Oberlin College graduates in 2003, Workshop Houston has
grown into a well-established youth development agency and important neighborhood
resource. Using a hands-on, arts-based educational philosophy to respond to the needs of our
community, your program has served thousands of youth through after school and summer
programs that help students to build technical skills, develop a meaningful creative practice,
and gain academic confidence.90
Workshop Houston website: https://www.workshophouston.org/
♣ Who You Are | The Mission
Workshop Houston’s goal is to provide youth with creative, technical and educational
resources. Our vision is to lay the groundwork for a just society by creating a community that
provides youth with support, expanded opportunities and alternative definitions of success.
♣ What You Do | The 4 Workshops
Workshop Houston offers innovative youth development programs through four
studio/classrooms: 1. Beat Shop (music production), 2. Discovery Shop (computer
programming and robotics), Scholar Shop (academic enrichment), and the Style Shop
(fashion and graphic design.)
Review the more detailed description of the 4 workshops provided by Workshop Houston:
https://www.workshophouston.org/pages/the-shops/
National Endowment of the Arts RFP (request for proposals)
♣ CAR Grant Award Criteria
The Community Arts Rise grant is the National Endowment for the Arts’ education and
community-based grant award. The NEA is requesting proposals from after-school programs
that make an impact on underserved communities in the United States. Programs that meet
the CAR grant criteria will seek to close the opportunity gaps for children from lower-income
neighborhoods. Chosen programs awarded the CAR grant offer activities that involve art,
education, culture, and design, while seeking to enhance the creativity, critical thinking, and
independence of its student members.
Part II
Assignment Instructions:
The Workshop Houston campus (located on 3039 Holman Street) has served at-risk youth
from underserved communities for nearly two decades. The tutors at Workshop Houston are
dedicated to offering students an artistic, educational, and skills-based outlet in the form of its
4 Workshop Programs. But now the organization wants to expand and make an even greater
impact on the community’s youth.
You, as the grant writer for Workshop Houston, have been hired to draft a grant proposal
applying for the CAR Grant Award—a financial grant awarded in the monetary amount
between $20,000 to $200,000 dollars.
Here is the problem you will be addressing in your proposal:
Workshop Houston currently offers 4 workshops (Beat Shop, Discovery Shop, Design Shop,
and Style Shop). The popularity of these workshops, however, has resulted in a waiting list of
new students seeking to enroll.
Grant Proposal Options:
1) Propose the development of a fifth workshop based on any artistic or educational subject
that interests you. Your shop will be taught on the Workshop Houston campus. Whatever
new shop you propose must be aligned with the values and mission of Workshop Houston
(study their website).
2) OR: Write your proposal as if you want to expand an existing workshop. Review the
workshops closely and then suggest creative and original (to the best of your ability)
additions to that program—new lessons, skills, materials, technology, projects, or events,
fairs, or showcases that you believe would complement what is already offered.
Funding Amount
Your budget will request a targeted funding amount that will range between $20,000 to
$200,000 dollars.
Length: 2-3 pages single spaced text, but this does not include any optional images, graphics,
or charts you might include (approximately 1,000 to 1,250 words)
Textbook Proposal
You may use the funding proposal for the SMU Torch on p. 561 (Chapter 22: Proposals) as a
basic model for your own project. However, you have creative flexibility with the writing,
style, and development of your proposal—write in your own voice, be persuasive and
passionate. Don’t copy the paragraph length or language from the SMU Torch, which is a
very conservative and rather flatly written example of a proposal.
♣ Your proposal is about making an impact in the lives of children from underserved, lower-
income communities. Write a proposal that reflects your commitment to that goal.
Required Parts:
Your proposal should only have these 9 parts—this is all you are responsible for: 1) Cover
Page 2) Overview 3) Background 4) Statement of Problem 5) Plan 6) Method 7) Staffing 8)
Budget 9) Conclusion 9) References.
Important Note: When you write your proposal, closely read the sections below and follow
the instructions for each proposal part detailed below:
PARTS OF YOUR GRANT PROPOSAL: Write your proposal to match the description and
values of the Community Arts Rise Grant—the NEA is the organization who will be offering
you the funding, and your proposal will likely reference the criteria stated in the CAR grant
description.
1) Cover Page
a. See SMU Torch example
2) Overview
a. An effective overview is a relatively brief introduction. (5-8 sentences). It offers a concise
and persuasive statement of the key participants and problems addressed in the proposal—it
should be engaging and persuasive and hook your audience. In this section, you will identify
the purpose and values of Workshop Houston, and suggest the importance of receiving the
CAR Grant Award.
3) Background
a. Provide relevant background on Workshop Houston. Review the website and persuasively
describe who you are, the values of your organization, the mission statement and goals. DO
NOT simply copy the text—that’s plagiarism. However, you will use many of the same key
terms or concepts listed on the website, since you work for them. [I will review the
plagiarism rules in a video lecture].
4) Statement of Problem
a. The statement of problem and plan are closely connected. For example, if you proposed a
Physics Workshop as your plan, then your argument about the problem could focus on the
importance of science education. You could research the American education system, and
low-test scores in science—and/or research the importance of physics as a foundation in
many careers, and its many related benefits.
b. You might also discuss the audience—teenagers from the Houston community (Houston
youth) who come from low-income neighborhoods, or attend low-income public schools
where after school programs are often non-existent or underfunded.
5) Plan
a. Write an introductory paragraph that describes the concept of your
Workshop (or discuss how you want to expand and existing
Workshop). You are writing to the NEA and you want to be
enthusiastic about your subject. Explain why you believe the lessons
or skills or outcomes from your workshop will benefit students.
6) Method
a. Now get specific. How will your workshop function? Be creative and remember your
audience—how do you make it fun and engaging? What’s the curriculum? What kind of
lessons will you offer? What materials will you work? What software will they learn?
Perhaps you combine a mix of traditional lessons with practical, hands-on workshops?
Maybe you include end of the semester (or annual) contests, fairs, or showcases for what the
students produce? You have complete flexibility. *You are welcome to use a table or chart
for this section to help organize.
7) Staffing:
a. Part of your budget will be used to pay for the teacher/tutor who will run your workshop.
What are their qualifications and required background? Write a brief bio/description of their
qualifications and required experience.
8) Budget:
a. Make up the numbers.
b. You’ll have to decide how specific to be. Is this the kind of project that needs line-by-line
budgetary information, tables, pie charts, or can you group tasks into categories and discuss
how much each category will cost? Remember, the staffing section must also be included.
c. Review the SMU Torch Example and any other budget example from the textbook you
prefer.
9) Conclusion:
a. Unlike some business proposals, grant proposals should NOT include a deadline date for a
business offer. Rather, you should remind the reader of the key benefits of your plan and try
to motivate them to offer you the CAR Grant Award. This is the last opportunity to compel
your audience to act—to award you the funds. The conclusion is typically short, concise, and
persuasive.
10) References:
a. Your proposal will have a research component that will include at least 3-4 outside sources
to support your argument. Online sources are allowed. Sources should be documented using
correct APA format for in-text citations and work cited page.
b. Your textbook includes information APA format, but below I have also included links to
the North Carolina Writing Center:
APA Citation Links:
How to Insert a quote in the text:
http://guides.lib.unc.edu/citing-information/apa-intext
List of “signal phrases for introducing quote:
http://www.capella.edu/interactivemedia/onlineWritingCenter/downloads/handoutSignalPhra
ses2009.pdf
Documenting Online Sources:
http://guides.lib.unc.edu/citing-information/apa-online
Sample References Page:
http://guides.lib.unc.edu/citing-information/apa-sample
GRADING CRITERIA:
Your proposal will be graded according to the criteria by which proposals are typically
accepted or rejected. A successful grant proposal will:
Demonstrate an understanding of Workshop Houston’s values and mission statement.
Be organized into clear sections with proper headings.
Illustrate the soundness/practicality of the plan being offered.
Identify a relevant problem in the community and a feasible approach to its solution.
Illustrate the quality of the project’s organization and management.
Demonstrate an ability to control costs.
Include a research component with correct citations.
Demonstrate the qualifications of the staff to be assigned to the project.
Use persuasive techniques (including a clear focus on audience needs and benefits, honest
and supportable claims, appropriate detail, readability, convincing language, accessible and
attractive page design, proper citations of any sources or contributors, etc.).
Display correct grammar and mechanics. Demonstrate concision, clarity, and fluency.