Understanding the Grant Process: Strategies to Consider Before, During, and After the Grant Application is Submitted
This session will address common questions around the grant writing process, including what to consider when developing relationships with grant-making organizations, language to include in a proposal (or not to!), project budgeting, and other basics of writing a grant proposal. It will also address differences between grant-making organizations and strategies to find grant opportunities.
Kelly Ramirez currently serves as Program Director at a family foundation based in Wisconsin. Through her role, Ramirez works to cultivate and maintain relationships with organizations and individuals dedicated to high-quality education and character formation.
Ramirez is an educator at heart. She began her career as a middle school teacher in Milwaukee, WI. After leaving the classroom, Ramirez helped launch and expand a college-access program for students across the city of Milwaukee. Prior to joining the foundation in 2017, Ramirez was serving as the administrator of Waldorf high school in Milwaukee. Ramirez earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Wisconsin Lutheran College. She lives in Oconomowoc, WI, with her husband, two children, and six chickens.
Sunday, June 22
3:15 – 5:15 pm
Advanced Grant Writing Strategies: Crafting Compelling Narratives, Measuring Impact, and Ensuring Success
Building on the knowledge from the first session, this workshop dives deeper into the nuances of grant writing to maximize your chances of securing funding. Key topics will include:
- Crafting tailored narratives to align with specific grant-making priorities.
- Developing metrics for evaluating project impact and demonstrating success to funders.
- Strategies for managing post-award compliance and reporting requirements.
- Case studies of successful grant proposals and what made them stand out.
Participants will engage in interactive exercises, including peer review of sample grant components, to hone their skills and leave with a polished approach to grant applications.
Dr. Keshia M. Swaringam works as Vice President of Sales for SIBME. She lives in Henryville, Indiana and supports innovative educational leaders and K-12 school districts across the Midwest. Swaringam has held a variety of roles within both K-12 and higher education and is a licensed teacher, building-level administrator, and superintendent in Indiana. She specializes in grant writing, innovative funding, strategic planning, and designing high-quality professional development experiences for educators at every age and stage of their career in education. Swaringam holds a Bachelor’s of Secondary Education Social Studies (Indiana University), a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education: Technology (IUPUI), a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management (Kelley School of Business at IU), Education Law Certification (IU), Ed.S in Educational Leadership (IU), and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership (IU). In her spare time, Keshia enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, Emma (16), Matthan (13), and Cohen (9), leading community service projects in her community, and celebrating all things related to the Kentucky Derby.