Replies

1. 
   mantuamaker | Oct 08, 2006 08:31am | #1

   Start looking for grants right in your own community.  Approach Target and WalMart, and the service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions).  Explain what you want to do and ask if they have a grant program.

   Then, get your ducks in a row:  Estimates from all your suppliers (machines, notions, fabrics, etc.).  Make a pile of paper.

   When writing the grant there are two aspects, the brain and the heart.  The brain is the technical stuff (seee paragraph above) and the heart is a discussion of the need for this instruction, what it can do for the children (self-esteem is a good hook) etc.

   When you get it all together, turn in the grant request form completely filled out, with no gaps, mispellings, etc. Watch the deadlines.  Don't forget to sign.  Don't give them amy easy excuse to pull your form out of the running.

   I have a sewing class at the local Boys & Girls Club.  Local Rotary grant paid for the sewing machines; local shop gave them at wholesale, WalMart gave us a grant for scissors, etc.   It is the most popular program at the club.

    

1. 
   blondie2sew | Oct 09, 2006 12:35am | #2

   Thank you so much for your insight and your encouragement!!Do you have an example that you yourself wrote for your grant?Like a template? If you do and wouldn't mind sharing I would love to see it! Thanks again for your passion. I share the same and I know that this will just be the best program for our after school just like your at the boys and girls club! Connie

1. 
   mantuamaker | Oct 09, 2006 01:57am | #3

   Sorry, Connie, that was years ago.  Try contacting the Rotary Club in your city.  find it at http://www.rotary.org.

   Vida

2. 
   ctirish | Oct 09, 2006 05:12am | #4

   Connie, if you go to Google and type in both grants and philanthropy you will get a list of information on how to write grants and apply for them. There is also a list of grant making foundations. I know that Microsoft is big on grants for helping children learn whether it is donating software to run your business or money for other things. good Luck. jane

1. 
   blondie2sew | Oct 09, 2006 05:18am | #5

   Thanks for that info too!! Ok now this gives me some places to go this week!! Any info is huge at this point and I say again Thanks a bunchI know I will need patience for this so I will just do one thing at a time!You two are great!! Connie

3. 
   Dianna | Nov 11, 2006 08:34pm | #6

   Connie,

   Have you made any progress?  You didn't state your background so I couldn't tell if you were aiming to do whole thing yourself.  You may also find a program already in place that needs a teacher (YMCA or community rec programs).

   Dianna

1. 
   blondie2sew | Nov 11, 2006 11:09pm | #7

   Hi Dianna,Yes I am making progress. I have met with our Principle and she is very excited and gave me some contacts within the School district whom those two contacts are just as excited. I have been to one of our local Kiwanis meetings to of course solicit money and that went well I will be hearing back hopefully soon,as well as they gave me another group that meets in a different area that they say have the money!! I have gotten the sewing machines that I was shooting for for a great price so that was huge undertaking. So my projected get started funding went down a great amount.My background has just been sewing for me and fun. my Daughter who is 10 is getting into sewing as well and thus prompted me to have this vision. I have worked with adults and my peers educating and inspiring others to succeed and help with self confidence and such but now my tide as turned and I want to instill this in the younger kids. I know that it starts now and then when they get to adults they have that background. Because I feel if they don't get it young it will take alot to get confidence and self esteem and alot of money with therapy (ha ha ha) And sewing does just that I believe it is alot more then just playing with fabric and I am excited to use Sewing as the vehicle for alot of life long life time skills for these young kids. So I hope this says a bit more to you on the why I want to start this. it is been in my heart for over a year now and now I am taking action.I do have the support of the School and District so that is making my life easy. I do have another appt with the Lady at the District level to see who else to approach this Tuesday. So right now I am just keeping patient and taking one step at a time. But I must say I am pleased with everything and all is moving forward step by step. I am really giving you cliff note version as I am soooo excited to see this happening.My goal is to hopefully Lord Willing get all my funding by the end of this year beginning of next. So I can maybe start this school year however realistic I am thinking my goal is Next school year being up and fully functional. I am going to look for others to help me out but at this point I am just trying to get my sea legs and it will just be me for now. I have a feeling with the word of mouth through the district and all a lot more schools might request doing this so I am looking into that aspect as well. Thanks so much for asking and I will keep you posted as I progress. I will let you know what my next steps are after my meeting on Tues I know more clubs for money this is the lady who will help me make this happen!! Chat soon
   Connie

1. 
   blondie2sew | Nov 11, 2006 11:43pm | #8

   My apologies Dianna,I just realized I didn't at my first post explain what I was working for.Ok I am working on starting a Wed After school program for kids to sew.I live in WA State and our Puyallup District has for the past 3 or so years maybe longer has implemented Wed Half days. So every Wed the Elementry Kids get out of school at 12:30pm. So the teachers can do training and other things this is suppose to help in not having all those other half days here and there throughout the school year. So many of the community has stepped up to offer some after school Wed programs. and other individuals as well in the different schools we have here in Puyallup, However in all these years none has ever done a sewing program. Not any of our local Sewing Dealers or fabric stores and so on. Of course we do have classes but nothing for our Wed after school programs. This is what I am working towards and I am starting out small and at my own kids' school but I know in my heart this is going to be a blessed venture and is bigger then I can imagine especially with all the wonderful excitement and feedback I have been getting.But like I said in the other post this has really been on my heart and in my mind for a very long time really in the for front in the past year and now in the last few months I am now voicing it and here I go.I want share my talents and teach these kids self esteem, self confidence and follow through and all that sewing will teach which is a lot.....math, geometry, instruction, alot more my mind went blank. So I hope this now makes sense. I am very passionate for this program and I want to see how I will be used. I am now at point in my life I want to serve and know I have made a difference using what I have been given and I know just recently that I have a wonderful talent and I too just got my confidence after all these years of me sewing(20 or so) to say hey I think I am more then just a beginner. Too funny huh, So there you have it a bit of insight on me and my vision and the purpose of this kids program.Connie

1. 
   Dianna | Nov 12, 2006 06:34pm | #9

   Connie,

   Thanks for the additional info in such a clear and concise manner (a positive skill for grant writing!).  I appreciate your objective, share your addiction to sewing and also a desire to teach/share.

   There are many questions that come to mind (my previous stint as a business analyst wants to kick in here) and trust that your list is longer than mine.  I am particularly interested in how you develop your curiculum and teaching materials (lesson plans, etc) given the age ranges. 

   Dianna 

    

1. 
   blondie2sew | Nov 13, 2006 04:21am | #10

   Well actually my curriculum is one I have found. The woman who is the founder/owner to this program whom I chatted so far with several times use to be a pattern designer for a certain pattern company. This program is a licensed program and utilizes a work book as well as patterns (which is a years worth of curriculum). So this program is on going with years and years of sewing to all different skill levels!! I was really impressed with it myself. Basically this is a business I am buying into. However at this point I want to not use it as such with the program I am wanting to start up. Thus hoping to have help get me started in this. The program is Kids Can Sew & Fashion Design It of course is a one time fee to get started and then you have to keep up your license every year. Here is her web site if you would like to check it out. You may have already known about this but here it is anyway.http://www.kidscansew.comI am choosing not to use her sewing machines (that is an option which is more) I chose to go else where because I wanted to get these kids where they are now....Techno kids..so I chose to shoot high and I am excited to say I am working with a local dealer (whom I have been with for 20 years or so) and the owner is letting me have 4 Pfaff Smart 200c machines for a great price like practically nothing considering what they are retail......so that was huge to me!! My daughter will be sewing on this machine as I have hers on layaway now and I am telling you the thought to her of a computer in the sewing machine was way cool!! She sees mine and of course thinks it is cool but this one is young hip and fresh and a great machine for the kids today and a great one for a beginner too.Anyway I just went off on a tangent there.I hope this answers your question.And yes I do have a zillion things on my list and my head is swimming!!Smiles to you
   Connie