{"id":10580,"date":"2021-12-01T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/grants\/?p=10580&preview=true&preview_id=10580"},"modified":"2021-10-01T09:57:38","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T13:57:38","slug":"innovation-grant-lab-series-how-to-budget-november","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/grants\/2021\/12\/innovation-grant-lab-series-how-to-budget-november\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovation Grant Lab series: Add some secret sauce (December)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hello, and CONGRATULATIONS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have followed our asynchronous workshop series, How to Design a Successful Innovation Grant<\/strong>, from the beginning — and have completed most of the “homework” — then this means you have trekked the most difficult part of the journey! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It gets easier from here, I promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The series began in September, and it will end in March 2022, the same month Innovation Grant proposals are due to the Virginia Western Educational Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopefully this approach will help you slowly explore your ideas — on your own time, at your convenience — as you continue to juggle your regular to-do list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re just now joining us, it’s OK! You still have plenty of time to catch up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s review some of our Lab Lessons<\/strong> so far, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1:<\/strong> Grant proposals are not time wasted … even if you FAIL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2:<\/strong> Know the rules of the game<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3<\/strong>: Focus on NEEDS first, solutions second<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4: Begin with the budget<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lab Lesson #5<\/strong> is my favorite: Relationships are the secret sauce<\/strong>. Always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve obsessed about relationships for over a year on this blog, starting with this post<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I left Virginia Western, my greatest regret was that I couldn’t explore the idea of career communities<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what does this mean for your brilliant Innovation Grant project?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It means that you should be talking about your progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bounce your ideas off your colleagues — perhaps at a holiday event, or January in-service?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chat about your challenges — what might be puzzling about the process so far? Don’t be afraid to reach out to Carolyn Payne<\/a> at the Educational Foundation with questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there any community organizations that should know about your proposal? Who else could be included?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe start talking about some early outreach ideas with the Marketing team? Lean on the expertise throughout this college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tweet me! I would love to hear about your idea. I’m @smogilvie<\/a> … or track me down on LinkedIn<\/a>. (I would love an invite to connect!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just enjoy the conversations, see what bubbles up, and revise as necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what’s next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will return in the new year with the next segment, which will focus on the nitty gritty of the grant application. This will include the project timeline and outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at our progress so far:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September<\/s><\/td>Put on your thinking caps …<\/s><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
October<\/s><\/td>Data:<\/strong> What problem are you trying to solve?<\/s><\/td><\/tr>
November<\/s><\/td>Budget:<\/strong> How will you do it?<\/s><\/td><\/tr>
December<\/s><\/td>Collaboration:<\/strong> Who will you connect with to make this successful?<\/s><\/td><\/tr>
January<\/td>Outcomes:<\/strong> What does this change look like if you’re successful?<\/td><\/tr>
February<\/td>Sustainability: <\/strong>Why would this grant be a good investment?<\/td><\/tr>
March<\/td>Finish line:<\/strong> Proposal ready to submit! Huzzah!<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Until then, here’s your homework checklist to help stay on track:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the new year: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n