FUNDING TIPS

Is your school or nonprofit excited about implementing TUNEin™ to READING but short on funds? Here are 7 tips on how to bring in the resources you need. For foundation and corporate grant leads, click here.

1. Start at the Top. Arrange a face-to-face meeting with your organization's funding leader - a superintendent, a grants director or resource specialist. Ask about existing or expected funds that could be used to purchase the software.

2. Explore the Grassroots. Make a presentation to the PTO or any local nonprofits or businesses that support your students. The TUNEin™ to READING Starter Kit is an ideal fundraising project for a PTO.

3. Contact the District's Educational Foundation: Most school districts have an educational foundation that provides grants for innovative projects and curricula. Visit your district's website and look for the education foundation link.

4. Apply for Foundation or Corporate Grant Funds: Click here to review a select list of national and local funders with relatively simple application forms and an interest in literacy, music or educational technology. Another good place to start looking is your own school district's website.

5. Apply for Government Grants: TUNEin™ to READING is aligned with the goals of a number of federal grant programs such as the U.S. Department of Education's Title 1, 21^st Century Community Learning Centers and IDEA programs. For more information, go to: http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml?src=ln

6. List Your Project on DonorsChoose.org. This website links school projects with individual donors. You describe your TUNEin™ to READING implementation and its cost - if a donor is interested, they will provide funding. http://www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html

7. Subscribe to GrantWrangler.com. The Internet is awash with funding information, but much of it is outdated or irrelevent. This little website offers a grants database, a blog with information on how to write good grant proposals and a free bi-weekly grants bulletin. The site's creators are experts in educational technology. http://www.grantwrangler.com/