Grant Writing Prompt Templates

DIGITAL LITERACY FOR SENIORS PROGRAM
Proposal Narrative

THE OPPORTUNITY

Martha is 73, lives alone, and has not seen her doctor in person since 2020. Her clinic offers telehealth appointments, but she does not know how to use video calling. So she drives 45 minutes each way for a 15-minute blood pressure check - or she does not go at all.

Martha represents 40% of seniors in our county - an estimated 12,000 adults over 65 who lack the basic digital skills to access healthcare, connect with family, or handle increasingly online essential services. For these seniors, the digital divide is not an inconvenience. It is a barrier to independence.

THE PROBLEM

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a digital transformation that left many seniors behind. Services that were once accessible in person - banking, healthcare, social services - increasingly assume digital access and competence.

Our 2023 community needs assessment found:
- 40% of county residents over 65 cannot perform basic tasks like video calling or accessing a patient portal
- 67% of low-income seniors report feeling left behind by technology
- 52% of isolated seniors cite technology barriers as a reason they do not access telehealth

OUR SOLUTION

The Digital Literacy for Seniors Program will provide free, accessible technology training to 300 seniors across five community center locations over 18 months.

Program Components:

Structured Learning (12 weeks)
Small-group classes (8-10 participants) meeting twice weekly, covering device basics, communication tools, health access, and online safety.

Individualized Support
Volunteer tech buddies provide 1:1 assistance during and after the program.

Device Access
Qualifying low-income participants receive tablets to keep, removing the barrier of device ownership.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

- 300 seniors completing training
- 80% reporting increased technology confidence
- 60% using telehealth services within 6 months
- 50% reporting reduced social isolation

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY

Our organization has served seniors in this county for 15 years. Our 2023 pilot program demonstrated this model's effectiveness: 92% completion rate and 84% reported significantly increased confidence with technology.

TIMELINE

Months 1-3: Hire coordinator, recruit and train volunteers, finalize curriculum
Months 4-9: Cohort 1 (150 participants)
Months 10-15: Cohort 2 (150 participants)
Months 16-18: Evaluation and sustainability planning

Statement of Need

In our three-county region, nearly one in four young adults between 18 and 24 is not employed, in school, or in job training - almost double the national rate. These 2,300 young people represent both a crisis and an opportunity: a generation at risk of being left behind, and a potential workforce that could drive regional recovery.

The Scope of the Challenge

Youth disconnection in our region significantly exceeds state and national benchmarks:

- NEET rate (18-24): Our Region 23%, Kentucky 16%, National 12%
- Youth poverty rate: Our Region 28%, Kentucky 19%, National 15%
- Youth leaving for employment: 45% leave the region

The median household income in our service area is just 60% of the national average, limiting family resources to support young adults through education or career transitions.

Root Causes

Youth disconnection in rural Appalachia stems from multiple intersecting barriers:

Limited Local Opportunity: The decline of coal and manufacturing has eliminated traditional pathways to middle-class employment. Young people see few viable options that do not require leaving home.

Transportation Barriers: With no public transit and jobs often 30+ miles from home, young adults without reliable vehicles cannot access employment or training.

Skills Mismatch: Growing sectors (healthcare, advanced manufacturing, technology) require credentials our schools are not adequately preparing students to obtain.

Lack of Career Navigation: School counselor ratios (1:800+) make individualized career guidance impossible.

Consequences of Inaction

Without intervention, current trends will accelerate:
- Population decline: Our region has lost 15% of its population since 2000
- Intergenerational poverty: Disconnected youth are 3x more likely to experience poverty as adults
- Community deterioration: As young people leave and remaining residents age, essential services become unsustainable

The Opportunity

Despite these challenges, there is reason for hope. Recent economic development efforts have attracted employers seeking workers with technical credentials. The missing link is not jobs - it is connecting young people to pathways toward those jobs.

Budget Narrative

Personnel: $25,000

Program Coordinator (0.5 FTE): $25,000
Calculation: $50,000 annual salary x 0.5 FTE = $25,000

The Program Coordinator will dedicate 20 hours per week to managing all aspects of program delivery, including planning and leading STEM sessions, volunteer supervision, family communication, and data collection. This position is essential to program quality and consistency.

Program Supplies and Equipment: $10,000

This category supports hands-on STEM learning for 60 students across 30 program weeks:
- Robotics kits (10): $3,000 - Reusable kits for coding/engineering units
- Science experiment supplies: $4,000 - Consumables for activities
- Safety equipment: $1,000 - Goggles, gloves, lab coats
- Technology (tablets, 10): $2,000 - For coding and research projects

All equipment will remain with the organization for continued programming.

Field Trip Transportation: $5,000

Four educational field trips to local STEM facilities. Calculation: Charter bus rental ($1,000/trip) x 4 trips + admission fees ($250/trip) = $5,000

Snacks: $3,000

Healthy snacks for 60 students across 60 sessions. Calculation: $0.83/student/session x 60 students x 60 sessions = $3,000. Many participants come directly from school without time to eat.

Curriculum Materials: $2,000

Licensed STEM curriculum package ($1,200), supplementary books ($500), printing ($300).

Background Checks: $1,000

Full screening for 20 volunteers. Calculation: $50/check x 20 volunteers = $1,000

Evaluation: $2,500

Pre/post assessments ($1,000) and contracted evaluator for analysis ($1,500).

Administrative Overhead: $1,500 (3%)

Covers accounting, HR support, and facility costs. This rate is well below our federally negotiated indirect cost rate of 15%.

[Organization Letterhead]
[Date]

[Foundation Name]
[Address]

RE: Letter of Intent - Community Health Innovation Fund

Dear [Program Officer],

[Organization Name] respectfully submits this Letter of Intent requesting $150,000 from the Community Health Innovation Fund to launch a mobile health unit serving isolated seniors in [County].

The Need

In rural [County], 3,200 adults over 65 live more than 20 miles from the nearest healthcare facility. Without reliable transportation - and with no public transit - many delay or forgo essential care. Our data shows that patients over 65 living in remote areas miss appointments at twice the rate of those in town.

Our Solution

We propose to bring healthcare to these patients through a fully-equipped mobile health unit operating 3 days per week in underserved areas. The unit will provide primary care visits, preventive screenings, vaccinations, and care coordination.

We project serving 800+ unique patients in the first year, with a target of reducing preventable hospitalizations among this population by 20%.

Our Capacity

[Organization] has provided full primary care in [County] for 20 years. We operate two fixed clinic sites, serve 12,000 patients annually, and have demonstrated ability to deliver care outside traditional settings through our COVID-19 vaccination outreach.

Budget Overview
- Vehicle lease and outfitting: $60,000
- Personnel (NP + MA, partial FTE): $65,000
- Supplies and equipment: $15,000
- Fuel and maintenance: $8,000
- Administrative: $2,000
- Total: $150,000

Alignment with Foundation Priorities

This project directly advances [Foundation]'s commitment to health equity and access for underserved populations. By eliminating transportation as a barrier, we can ensure that geography does not determine health outcomes.

We would welcome the opportunity to submit a full proposal.

Sincerely,

[Name]
Executive Director

Evaluation Plan

Evaluation Purpose

This evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the job training program in achieving its primary goals: employment placement and retention for formerly incarcerated adults. The evaluation serves three purposes: accountability to funders, learning for program improvement, and building evidence for sustainability.

Outcomes and Indicators

| Outcome | Target | Data Source |
| Employment placement | 70% within 90 days | Participant tracking |
| Job retention (6 mo) | 60% employed | Follow-up survey |
| Job retention (12 mo) | 50% employed | Follow-up survey |
| Wage levels | $15+/hour average | Employer verification |
| Credential attainment | 80% earning credential | Program records |

Data Collection Methods

Participant Tracking Database: All participants entered at enrollment. Staff record attendance, credential attainment, and placement information.

Follow-Up Surveys: At 6 and 12 months post-completion, staff contact participants to assess employment status, wages, and job satisfaction. We achieve 75%+ response rate through multiple contact methods.

Employer Surveys: Partner employers complete brief surveys at 90 days post-placement to verify employment and provide feedback.

Participant Interviews: External evaluator conducts in-depth interviews with a sample of 20 participants to understand experiences and program strengths.

Timeline

- Enrollment and process tracking: Continuous
- Monthly outcome dashboard review: Monthly
- 6-month and 12-month follow-up surveys: Rolling
- Full evaluation report: End of grant period

Evaluation Team

Internal: Program Director oversees data collection and uses real-time data for program management decisions.

External: [Evaluator] will conduct independent analysis of outcome data and qualitative interviews, ensuring objectivity and credibility.

Use of Results

Findings will be used to improve programming through monthly data review, report to funders through quarterly progress reports, and support future funding applications with documented outcomes.