ACLP is excited to partner with Disney on our new pilot program, the Child Life Program: Needs Based Grant! Grants will be used to support child life programs with budget constraints that provide children and families from diverse, underserved communities with physical and emotional support through play and innovation. This program offers child life programs the opportunity to submit grant requests to cover expenses to support child life program activities such as the purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment, as well as to fund innovation and creativity in new programming.
Whether you've submitted dozens of grant applications or are embarking on your first grant journey, the following breakdown and resources can help you write a compelling proposal that meets the application requirements. But first, read through the grant overview and criteria to ensure you understand who is eligible for the grant and how it should be used: Guidelines and Criteria
Please Note: Examples and resources are not specific to the ACLP grant application and may contain sections and information unnecessary to this application cycle.
Executive Project Summary: After filling out your basic information, you will be asked to include an executive project summary. A project summary is a snapshot of what your proposal intends to accomplish, who it will impact, and why it is important. Learn more about crafting your summary with these resources:
Executive Summary Components
How to write an executive summary, with examples
Statement of Need: Next, you will be asked to describe why the issue your addressing or project you are planning is important. A strong statement of need includes data and supporting evidence. These resources can help you write an effective needs statement:
Statement of Needs Components
Writing Effective Needs Statements
Grant Writing Toolkit: The Needs Statement
Project Impact: This element asks you to describe who the project will help and how. It also includes questions specific to the grant application criteria. There are two sections associated with project impact in the application:
1. How will this project impact the children and families you serve? How will this project serve a diverse, underserved population?
2. How will it foster creativity and enhance the quality and effectiveness of your program.
The following resources can assist you in defining and describing your project's intended impact:
Brace for Impact: How to Write a Grant Impact Statement!
Five Essential Tips for Writing an Impact Statement
Project Goals: In this section, you will set goals, list objectives, describe activities, and indicate a timeline. Individuals are encouraged to set SMART goals with specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely outcomes. Learn more about goal writing and objectives with these resources:
Setting SMART Goals in Child Life Practice
How to Write Goals and Objectives for Grant Proposals
Examples of SMART Goals/Objectives in Grant Writing
Evaluation Tools: Evaluation is an essential part of grant work that tracks progress and assesses success and impact. You will be asked to name the evaluation tools you will use and how you will determine if and what improvements need to be made. Use the resources below to craft an evaluation plan.
Developing an Evaluation Plan
How to Write an Effective Grant Evaluation Plan
Staffing and Partners: This is where you discuss all the people and partners who will make this project happen! You will describe how this project will be accomplished using staff, consultants, volunteers, etc. and if any resources will be provided by external partners. Learn more about compiling this section here:
Defining collaborations in grant proposals
Project Budget: Your budget outlines the estimated income and expenses associated with your proposal. This should be detailed and account for any internal and external funding along with line items for all expenses related to the project. This section requires you to upload a budget document. You can find explanations and templates in the resources below:
How To Craft Grant Budgets for Winning Proposals
3 Examples of Grant Budgets That Will Win Over Funders
Budget Narrative: This is where you justify the need for budget items and discuss how costs were estimated. The narrative should be comprehensive and address funding requested from ACLP, as well as funding from other sources and in-kind support. Find more about budget narratives here:
What is a Budget Narrative?
Budget Narratives: A Simple Explanation
Supplemental Information: In this section you will upload documentation that your program has an annual operating budget under $500,000. You will also have two opportunities to upload supplemental information. This could include data that supports your project, statements of collaboration from partners, a cover letter, examples of ongoing work that supports the project, graphics and charts, or anything else you think grant reviewers may find helpful while considering your application. Please provide a short description of each document in the description section.
Now that you're familiar with the application elements, check out these overall resources for grant writing!
Grant Writing Overviews:
Grant Writing Basics, 11 Things You Need to Know
Fundamentals of Grant Writing: Writing a Grant Proposal
How to Write a Grant: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide
Tips for Successful Grant Writing
Grant Glossary
Grant Writing Examples
Example of a Winning Proposal
Women’s Impact Network Examples
Example of a Proposal
Ready to apply? Check out the full application here.