Grantsformation, Inc.

03/13/2022

Friends, Colleagues, and Colleagues who have become Friends:

It is with a LOT of excitement and a LITTLE trepidation that I announce I am “retiring” Grantsformation, effective April 1, 2022. NO, it’s NOT “April Fool’s”—it’s really happening!

I KNOW! I can’t believe it EITHER!

Before I tell you why, I want to tell you THANK YOU! I have been writing grants since 1996 and have operated Grantsformation for TWENTY YEARS now. When I started my business, I didn’t know if I would be able to eat and pay the rent. I just knew I had to do it. In December of 2002, I left a nice enough job as an Assistant Principal with a salary and benefits and stepped out into the world of the self-employed in the middle of the school year. As of January 1, 2003, it was just me and my laptop. Thank goodness for my Super Power of Turning Words Into Money. We’ve done alright.

My fabulous assistant, Millie Rutto, has been with me for 12 of these 20 years. Together, we have won over $600 MILLION for some TRULY AMAZING schools and nonprofits—and that includes all of you who are reading these words right now. It has been the joy of my life to be able to continue in Education and to fill a specific niche for school and district leaders. You have all let us be your PARTNERS on these projects, and we have had some incredible successes!

I have been so fortunate in this business you have helped me create. I’ve gotten to work with clients in 10 states and the Navajo Nation, won some VERY prestigious grant awards, traveled to speak and present about my craft, and met the most BRILLIANT, DEDICATED, COURAGEOUS people ON THIS PLANET! You inspire me and always have.

So why am I hanging it up? What started off as a “side hustle” has grown into QUITE the career!

Some of you may know that I own and manage three short-term rental properties in Florida. In January this year, I took on the project of rehabbing #4 and hope to bring it online in a few months. I am also a licensed Realtor who has been selling VERY part-time since 2016—until last year. (Do you see where this is going?)

Last November, I had the amazing opportunity to join a high-producing real estate team that ONLY focuses on short-term rental property investors, and this avenue has exploded into more than a full-time gig. It’s lucrative and super exciting, makes use of an entirely different skillset, and it’s where I want to spend my time right now. Will I NEVER do grants again? Never say “Never”, but for now, this is my focus.

I’m sad, too. It’s a bittersweet day.

When I first started Grantsformation, I had never stayed in one role for more than 2 years in my entire professional life. Even as a teacher and administrator, I changed schools or grade levels or subjects several times in 14 years. That kind of variety is what I have also loved so much about grant writing. New projects, new clients, new things to learn ALWAYS. But I was worried I would want to quit and do something else only two years in. Well, SURPRISE! I stayed for 20. Again, it’s all thanks to YOU!

So let me say again, THANK YOU!

THANK YOU for hiring me, for trusting me, for allowing me to be your thought partner and keyboard workhorse.

THANK YOU for going above and beyond YOUR job to get our grant projects DONE and SUBMITTED and FUNDED.

THANK YOU for referring me to other colleagues who referred me to partners of theirs. That is the BEST review of Grantsformation I could have ever asked for!

THANK YOU, too, for teaching me about your worlds.

THANK YOU for being a FRIEND as well as a client. We can still be friends, right? : )

Here’s to new adventures for ALL of us! I wish you well and love you deeply.

XOXO,
Jan

12/22/2021

Don’t put your hands on the children.

Don’t put your hands on the money.

These are the only 2 rules.

🙄

A Harvard University professor was convicted by a federal jury on Tuesday of lying to the US about his involvement with China's government, the Justice Department announced.

10/28/2021

"Nonprofit" ≠ "No Money"

That's NOT what that word means!

In this 60-minute webinar, Stephanie Sample will explore tools and strategies to increase nonprofit staff compensation. We will identify how compensation impacts staff retention, charity ratings, as well grant proposal success. This webinar is designed for nonprofit professionals, staff managers, ex...

10/14/2021

The EPA has a grant for environmental education (EE). Lord knows we need more of THAT!

Information on environmental education grant opportunities, including how to apply, current solicitation notices, tips for applying, past awarded grants, and contact information.

10/14/2021

Here are two discretionary competitive grants from the Texas Education Agency, both due on November 9. Need help applying?

1. T-STEM PLANNING: The purpose of the Texas Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM) Planning Grant is to develop new T-STEM Academies in the College Career Readiness School Model (CCRSM) Network aligned to the T-STEM Blueprint and the Texas STEM Framework. The T-STEM Academy will provide students with technical, academic, and STEM fluency skills needed for a smooth transitional experience to postsecondary and the workforce. T-STEM Academies allow students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma with a STEM Endorsement while simultaneously earning industry certifications, level 1 or level 2 certificates, and/or an associate degree on or before graduation at no cost to the student.

2. EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL: The purpose of the Early College High Schools (ECHS) model is to allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma and either an associate degree or 60 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree. The ECHS provides dual credit at no cost to historically underserved students, targeting those who are at-risk and/or economically disadvantaged. The ECHS offers rigorous instruction and accelerated courses and provides academic and social support services to help students succeed in college-level coursework. The ECHS provides students with highly personalized attention which promotes improvement in college readiness. ECHS campuses partner with Texas institutions of higher education (IHEs) to reduce barriers to college access. The IHE partner(s) serve on the ECHS Leadership Team to provide support and provide guidance to the ECHS in curriculum development, resource acquisition, and student/community outreach. Together, the ECHS and IHE develop course equivalency crosswalks that lead to Level 1 and Level 2 certificates, associate degrees, and completion of the Texas Core Curriculum to provide stackable credentials as students advance on the academic pipeline.

[email protected]

09/23/2021

We are SUPER STOKED to announce that we have won 1 of only 7 Promise Neighborhoods grants awarded in the entire nation!

Our client, South Ward Children's Alliance, will be expanding their successful Promise Neighborhoods program to two additional communities. We are grateful to be part of this team, and we are excited to see what gets created in Newark as a result of an additional $30M in funding for this amazing organization!

The U.S. Department of Education today awarded over $40 million to the newest cohort of Promise Neighborhoods grantees across seven states. This announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona continues the Department’s “Return to School Road Trip” in Indiana today.

08/09/2021

Discretionary Grants Q&A:

https://oese.ed.gov/files/2021/07/grantmaking421.pdf

07/25/2021

Here's my latest answer on Quora:

Q. Who in a company structure typically applies for government grants (e.g. covid grants, or local grants for movie production) - would that be something a Financial Controller would handle?

Jan Mitchell Johnson's answer: No. In fact, that person (or any other financial personnel) would have budgetary input (format, content, thresholds, fringe %, other org specifics) and that’s it (well, maybe also input on how the grant will get reported on, but usually the funder tells you what the....

05/19/2021

If you're a new or growing charter school needing funding for operations or expansion, CONTACT US!

We've won over $600 MILLION in grant money, and if you're doing great work, WE CAN WIN SOME FOR YOU!

[email protected]

05/19/2021

Excited to report that we have won $150,000 for Bob Hope Charter School in Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX as one of only NINE grants given in the state.

04/22/2021

https://www.fiestabowl.org/sports/2020/3/31/grant-cycle-information.aspx

Grant Cycle Information