"We want a grant for 20 computers." This was the author's directive from district administrators nearly 25 years ago. As a district grants specialist, she dutifully wrote the grant for computers so that the schools would be prepared for the 21st century. Back in the late 1980s, the computers themselves were the crux on the federal grant application. But as she continues to work as a grant specialist in this new age of districts needing "evidence of effectiveness" and "data-based decisions," it is no longer enough simply to request computers for the sake of becoming a tech-savvy school. A grant proposal must focus on a comprehensive, evidence-based, research-backed program. To compete for a federal grant in 2011, those computers, once the focus of the application, will be introduced as a tool, just as a textbook or science materials might be. In this article, the author explains how school tech leaders must secure their funding not just from one big federal fund, but from various avenues. IT directors who are prepared and educated will partner with other district personnel to ensure that technology is a key factor of success for communicating, accessing, and sharing data, engaging students and, ultimately, increasing student achievement overall.