Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities Maine Association of Nonprofits

November 8, 2010 Dial in to hear webinar: 1-866-740-1260 Enter: 8 7 1 1 8 8 5

Intro to Federal Grant Opportunities

Deborah Schilder Director for Planning & Development Broadreach Family & Community Services [email protected]

338-2200 Ext 112

Webinar Goals

To increase participants’  Understanding of the organizational capacity needed to apply for, implement and report on federal grants;  Ability to search for and evaluate available federal funding opportunities; and  Understanding of the process for applying for federal grant funds.

Get Ready!

Purpose of Federal Grants To secure funding for a specific project or to address a specific problem that

directly assists or benefits the public in such areas as education , health , public safety , public welfare , and public works .

Some Types of Federal Grants

 Capacity Building  Challenge  Conference  Construction  Demonstration  Dissemination  Equipment •General Purpose •Matching •Operating •Planning •Renovation •Research •Training

Federal Funding Mechanisms

 Block or Formula Grants  Entitlement Grants 

Project or Discretionary Grants

 Appropriation (Earmark Grants)

Federal Grant Process: Overview  Public Grant Announcement: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)  Release of Application Materials

Federal Grant Process… more

 Bidder’s Conference or Webinar  Question and Answer Period  Sometimes: Pre-Application  Deadline for Proposal Submission

Federal Grant Process… more

 Grant Review  Award Notification  Contract  Reporting

Are You Ready for a Fed Grant?

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Previous experience with federal grants?

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Reporting & audit capacity?

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Ability to meet tight deadlines?

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Ability to manage long-term multi dimensional project and partnerships?

Get Set! Grants.Gov

 Search for grant opps  Register to apply for grants  Apply for grants  Track grant applications

Also- agency websites, such as www.e-grants.ed.gov

Analyzing a Notice of Funding Availability  Eligibility of organization  Goals of the NOFA: Relevance to your organization  Grant Requirements  Organizational feasibility of developing a proposal

Analyzing…

(continued)  Probability of funding success  Feasibility of managing project, partnerships, reporting etc  Probability of meeting objectives/ project success

Gathering Info Review all available printed and posted info Call or email contract officer with questions Find out who else has been funded and for what purpose Review sample funded proposal

Get Set

 Learn about upcoming deadlines  Line up partners  Research needs & opportunities  Register with grants.gov (or update registration information)  Do as much advance planning as possible

BEFORE you write a grant

 Know your organization, mission & strengths  Identify the community problem/ need  Connect with potential partners  Analyze the RFP  Gather necessary information

then…. Get organized to write the proposal

GPRA

The Government Performance and Results Act , 1993 GPRA addressed a broad range of concerns about government accountability and performance. Its goals were to improve the confidence of Americans in federal government, focus on the actual results of government activity and services, support congressional oversight and decision-making, and improve the managerial and internal workings of agencies within the federal government.

State Review Exec Order 12372

Donna Bradstreet State Planning Office 184 State Street 38 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0038 Telephone: (207) 287-6077 (Direct) (207) 287-5649 Fax: (207) 287-6489 [email protected]

Go! The Game Plan  Study all grant requirements, including eligibility, reporting, budgeting  Review timeline-- Deadlines are IMMUTABLE!

 Bring together partners ASAP  Review scoring process

GO!

      Make a checklist of all components and timelines Organize your filing system Gather necessary info Ask for clarification if needed Outline the project goals, activities & outcomes Make a plan for writing the grant – who/ what/ when with deadlines for completion

GO!

 Write drafts of all parts 

Often

it is helpful to start with the budget  Review and rewrite/ edit drafts  Assemble, review  Read instructions again  PROOFREAD  Submit 48 hours ahead of time

A Successful Grant Proposal is Clear Concise Well-planned Specific Passionate

A Successful Grant Proposal presents 

A problem

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A solution

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A way to measure success

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A clear budget

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A plan for sustainability

Partnerships 

Benefits of Collaboration

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Eliminate duplication of other efforts

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Fiscal Sponsorship

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MOUs vs. Letters of support

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Involvement of stakeholders

Is there broad community support for the idea?

Evaluation 

Internal vs External

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How will you know the project was a success?

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What tools will you use to collect data, measure progress?

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Must be part of project design

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Connect objectives, activities, impact

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Be truthful

Sustainability 

What happens to the project after the grant period?

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Is it a one-shot project? A pilot project?

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How will additional funding be leveraged?

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How will results be disseminated?

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Demonstrate long-term planning

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Collaborations

If you are turned down for funding

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Request scoring sheets and comments

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Review carefully

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Plan for next NOFA

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Try again

Top Tips for Successful Grants

      Give yourself enough time.

Do your homework.

Contact the funder if you have any questions.

Be organized. Make a checklist.

Follow directions, format & timelines.

Pay attention to scoring information.

More Top Tips…..

     Be concise. Clear. Don’t use jargon. Do use bullets and tables. Appearance!

Be specific, use numbers when possible.

How will the project make a difference? (Show enthusiasm & define success).

Be truthful.

Have someone else read the proposal before submitting it.

Proofread!

Final Tips for Beginning Federal Grantwriters  Collaborate with an experienced partner.

 Ask for reviewers comments/ scoring sheet.

 Stay abreast of funding trends & legislation.

 Plan ahead.

Deborah Schilder Director of Planning and Development Broadreach Family & Community Services

[email protected]

(207) 338-2200 Ext 112 www.BRMaine.org