Discussion: Agency/Organization Identification
A grant can be a dynamic catalyst for change and an exciting prospect for individuals, groups, agencies, organizations, and partners who seek to merge their goals with those of funders. The path to obtaining a grant, however, must be followed thoughtfully and deliberatively. Competition for grants can be intense, and a successful outcome requires attention to detail every step of the way—from beginning to end. Your Professional Administrative Study (PAS) can be a tool to help you get a grant and further your studies. Throughout this course, you will examine how your PAS and seeking funding for research can go hand in hand. Although you are not required to have funding to complete your PAS, funding would provide a vehicle to further your research.
To Prepare
Review the Professional Administrative Study (PAS) guidelines and rubrics in the Weekly Resources.
Review the assigned chapters of your course text. Although this textbook discusses thesis and dissertations, the same principles will apply to your PAS.
Think about a potential problem that your PAS might evaluate or resolve.
Think about how funding might be used for the problem you identified.
Identify the agency or organization you are considering for your PAS. You should include a description of the organization, including whether it is public or nonprofit, the mission it serves, the target population, and the initial problem that your PAS may solve. Include why your PAS might be a good candidate to receive funding.
Required Readings
Locke, L. F., Spirduso, W. W., Silverman, S. J. (2014). Proposals that work: A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.  Chapter 1, “The Function of the Proposal” (pp. 3–24)
Chapter 3, “Developing the Thesis or Dissertation Proposal: Some Common Problems” (pp. 41–62)