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External Funding: Sources and Processes Grants and External Funding The intelligence function should be part of the law enforcement agency’s regular budget • It should not be operationally dependent on external funding External funding is to supplement the budget, notably for: • Equipment • Training 2 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Grants and External Funding The intent of this presentation is to provide: • Resources for external funding • Tips on grant proposal preparation • Tips on how to maximize the chance of receiving a grant award Getting grant awards is not necessarily easy – requires planning 3 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Grants and External Funding Awards from the federal government most typically include: • Grant: An award of funding to accomplish a specifically defined purpose as outlined in the proposal • Cooperative Agreement: An award of funding to accomplish a specifically defined purpose as coordinated and directed by the funding agency • Equipment Award: Given to an agency for an explicit crime control purpose Often will require an evaluation report on the equipment after a specified amount of time 4 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Grants and External Funding Issues you should know: 5 • • • • • • • • • Project monitor or grant monitor Budget reprogramming Supplanting funds Commingling funds Indirect costs Specified reporting periods Audit accountability No cost extensions Final report obligation Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Collective Federal Funding Resources Counterterrorism Training and Resources • http://www.counterterrorismtraining.gov/fund/index.html Grants.Gov • http://www.grants.gov/ Federal Grant Opportunities • http://www.fedgrants.gov/ FirstGov • http://www.firstgov.gov/Government/State_Local/Grants.shtml The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) • http://www.cfda.gov/911.htm 6 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Federal Agencies Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) (DHS) • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/grants_goals.htm Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) (DoJ) • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/ Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) (DoJ) • http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=46 7 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Federal Agencies National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (DoJ) • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding.htm Office of Justice Programs (OJP) (DoJ) • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) (DoJ) • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/fund/welcome.html 8 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Equipment, Materiel and Training Office of Domestic Preparedness, Equipment Acquisition Grants • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/grants/goals.htm Crime Identification and Technology Act (CITA) • http://www.ojp.gov/archive/topics/cita/ Federal Surplus Property • http://www.fss.gsa.gov/property/ Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center • http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/ctac/ 9 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Equipment, Materiel and Training Information Technology Initiatives (OJP) • http://it.ojp.gov/index.jsp Technology Opportunities Program • http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) • http://www.fema.gov National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center • http://www.nlectc.org/virlib/ 10 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Private Sources Look for private foundations in your state – smaller foundations are the best bet • Foundation Center http://fdncenter.org/ • Foundations Online http://www.foundations.org/ • Internet Prospector http://www.internet-prospector.org Corporate contributions (create a Foundation to manage funds)– See… • http://www.philanthropicadvisor.com/How_to_Create_a_Foundation.htm 11 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Planning Points Find a funding source that fits your need If you don’t have grant writing experience, find a partner who does Read through the complete RFP (Request for Funding Proposal) • Read through the complete RFP a second time and highlight important parts such as: 12 Date of submission Letter of intent Percent match (if any) How many pages Format (e.g, double spaced, font etc.) Think of the RFP as a puzzle with many parts Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Planning Points Identify partners and divide responsibilities • Have partners work on different pieces of the puzzle according to their talents and expertise. 13 Identify one person to assemble parts to make the content flow as one Create a due date that is at least one week before the submission deadline Secure letters of support or collaboration Have at least two people proof read the proposal Have someone double check your budget figures Make sure you have all of the proper approval from your agency/organization Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Grant Writing Tips 14 Grants are given for two reasons: 1. Demonstration project or experiment 2. A resource supplement with an explicit purpose of contributing to a goal Be explicit and clearly directed on what you want the money for—leave no doubt whatsoever • Clearly describe the project • Provide project goals • State the intended outcome of the project • Describe how this project will help others (i.e., “lessons learned”) Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Grant Writing Tips Be reasonable in grant requests • Be specific and request the monies you need to effectively perform the project as proposed, however… • Don’t be greedy! In your proposal, provide a timeline of intended accomplishments and critical stages – be explicit Other useful elements • Describe agency and personnel expertise • Create an Advisory Board • Partner with organizations 15 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Grant Writing Tips Describe what your agency is contributing to the project • “In kind” contributions are important, such as office space, personnel, vehicles, etc. • Show that the project is of sufficient importance that the agency is making contributions Describe what has been accomplished thus far • What has been done to lay a foundation – or groundwork – for the project, fully discuss this • This demonstrates commitment and planning 16 Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Grant Writing Tips Justify all expenses and show clear method of estimating costs • Every budget must have a budget narrative • Narrative must be specific – describe: Why the budget item is needed Basis for determining the amount of money 17 Granting agencies are most critical of hardware requests • Justify why the hardware is necessary • If it looks like an “extra”, it will receive less favorable review Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University Five Final Observations for Success 18 The investment (and commitment) you make in obtaining grants correlates to both the success and amount of money received Partnerships with other agencies or colleges/universities increases your probability of receiving grants Always be creative yet reasonable – the value of creativity or uniqueness in a grant project cannot be overstated Share… • Ideas • Commitments • Accolades for success Publish results of projects – with greater publicity, the greater the chance of continued funding Copyright 2005 © Michigan State University QUESTIONS and COMMENTS