Time restraints will likely prevent our completing the entire grant proposal, but we will do what we can with the time we have to lay the foundation for an actual grant proposal to be pursued by our friends at the Forest Hills Backpack Buddies Ministry. I lay out here the important first step in the grant process and will add another couple of steps as the unit progresses: I'll post announcements for each assignment update.

Step 1: Individually, scour all available sources for organizations that solicit or welcome grant requests for financial support in the $3,000 to $10,000 range for non-profit organizations working to alleviate childhood hunger in the U.S. Eliminate any possibilities that do not or cannot support church-based (or faith-based) organizations. Each of you, compile a list of the top five options you discover, with very brief comments on the pros and cons of each option. No need to submit these elements just yet, but do this work early in the unit:

Step 2: We will continue working in the same two teams of five, but it is up to each team whether you keep the same leaders in place. Emalyn and Haley have done thoroughly outstanding work, from my vantage point, and it would be right and fair to allow another student in each team the opportunity to take the reins for this last significant project. You don't have to change team leaders if your group really prefers to keep thing as they have been—and if the leader is honestly happy to continue. It's up to you guys.

Once the leadership is ironed out, the next step is to work together sifting through the grant possibilities gathered in the first step and narrowing the focus to the most promising two or three to start pursuing.

Step 3: Meet at least once virtually to plot a sequential list of tasks (numbered but not necessarily with dates) the team would need to follow in order to complete a professional-caliber, polished grant application to the top two, or possibly three, of the opportunities identified in Step 2.

What you submit: Just the document listing the numbered tasks created in Step 3. Have the team leaders submit one copy for each group as a whole.