Directions Leading you to Grant Success

Directions Leading you to Grant

Success

Jennifer Hemmerich, MPACogent, LLC

Grants Consultant, CEO

Agenda

• Cogent, LLC“Every thing a grant

should be”

• Intro to Grants– Funding Sources– The Typical Grant

• Proposal Writing– Need– Program Design– Identifying

Outcomes– Budget

• Where to seize the Opportunity– Internet Sources– Cogent

• Programs– Currently Available– Agencies to Watch– Non-traditional options

• Advice– Things to Consider– General Tips– Situations to Avoid

About COGENT, LLCThe Definition

• Cogent: (adjective) Telling, weighty powerfully persuasive;

– "a cogent argument"; – "a telling presentation"; – "a weighty argument"

• Also meaning potent, powerful having the power to influence or convince; – "a cogent analysis of the problem"; – "potent arguments"

About COGENT, LLCWhat We Do

• Connecting Industry, Communities, and Resources…– Grant research and analysis– Grant writing– Grant editing– Grant publications– Grant education and seminars

• …Bridging the Gap Between the Public and Private Sectors

www.cogentgrants.com

Grant Funding Sources

• Federal

• State

• Corporate & Foundation

• Other Programs & Sources

Intro to GrantsFunding Sources: Federal

• $400 billion nationally

• Tend to be large and restricted

• May go to states or directly to local municipalities and CBOs

• May be distributed based on competitive or formula basis

• May be subject to SPOC oversight(www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html)

Intro to GrantsFunding Sources: State• May grant state funds or re-grant federal funds

• Typically funneled through a particular agency

• Forms differ by agency

• States differ in distribution

• Coordinates many Homeland Security-related Funds

Types of Funding: Competitive

• Six weeks from date of announcement to apply

• Request for proposals (RFP, NOFA, etc.) specifies application requirements

• Review & scoring against established criteria

• You must apply to be funded

• Not everyone who applies will be funded

Types of Funding: Formula

• Usually an annual deadline

• Requires forms to obtain funds

• No competitive scoring, but you may have to meet certain criteria

• Based on this criteria - funds are typically totaled (a formula)

Intro to GrantsFunding Sources: Foundation

• $24.5 billion nationally

• National foundations –

systemic reform

• Local foundations –

local impact

Intro to GrantsFunding Sources: Earmarks

• Little competition

• Assigned by/for Congress

• Associated with specific legislation

• Broad latitude in spending

• Primarily to nonprofits & municipalities

• A $28 billion reality

The Typical Grant

The Statute

• Assigns the grant to a department

• Defines program purpose and eligibility

• Authorizes funding

• Find bill info at www.congress.gov

or

http://thomas.loc.gov

The Typical Grant

Federal Register Posting• Official announcement of the grant

competition

• Provides deadline and contact information

• Posting will also occur on the relevant Department’s website

• http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html

The Typical Grant

Program Guidance

• Complete description of the program

• Describes submission requirements

• Usually includes forms and specific directions for the application packet

• May include scoring guidelines

The Typical Grant The Review

• Usually 3-5 per proposal

• Made up of experts, practitioners, agency staff, or other appointees

• May receive limited training

• Extreme scorers are often statistically moderated

The Typical Grant Final Funding Decisions

• Proposals are ranked by score from highest to lowest

• May or may not be strictly peer reviewed

• May be more or less objective

• Political considerations (geographic, urban/rural) figure in at the end

Proposal WritingCommon Grant Elements

• Need (Why?)

• Program/Project Design (How?)

• Output/Outcome (What?)

• Budget (How much?)

• Reporting (When?)

Proposal Writing Submission Pieces

Proposals consist of:– Standard Forms– Table of Contents– Abstract/Project Summary– Project Narrative– Budget– Budget Narrative– Letters of Support

Abstract

• When to write it… FIRST or LAST?

• Less than one page

• Summarize key narrative points

– Who, what, where, when, how, and WHY

• Not usually scored, but often posted

Proposal Writing Need

• Statistical Facts that support project

• Needs Assessments (Surveys)

• Expert Testimony

• Mandates / Obstacles

** Give a clear sense of urgency **

Proposal Writing Program/ Project Design - Narrative

• Organization Background

• Summary

• Methods

• Evaluation

• Project Sustainability

Proposal Writing Identifying Outcomes

• Express in quantifiable terms

• Add timeframe this event will occur

• Avoid stating in terms of methods, activities, or processes

• Goals/Objectives that are realistic and achievable

Example: 90% increase in knowledge of the coastal make-up, in the next 12 months with the use of this software.

Proposal Writing Identifying Outcomes

• Input

• Activity

• Output

• Outcomes– Immediate– Intermediate– Long-term

Outcome Terminology

• Improved• Reduced • Increased• Changed • Modified• Altered

Benefits After the Grant has Finished

Examples of Outcome Process

Outcomes Indicators Targets Timeframe

Improved coordination w/ other first responders

Decreased Response time

Response time statistics

Immediately

Improved knowledge

Increase in area mapped

Region dimensions

Within one year

Proposal Writing Budget

Matching Requirements (if any)

In-kind Contribution

Estimated Expenses Staff Supplies / Equipment Travel Utilities

Indirect / Administrative Costs

Grant Angles GIS

• Conservation

• Transportation

• Emergency Response Mapping

• Economic Development Planning

• Research – Proof of Concept

Local Intelligence

GIS Grants(current)

• Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FEMA)

Deadline: April 7th!• Homeland Security Preparedness

Technical Assistance Program (DHS)Deadline: April 9th!• Preservation & Access Reference Materials

Grants (NEH)Deadline: July 17th!

Local Intelligence

GIS Grants(agencies)

• National Science Foundation

www.nsf.gov

• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin.

www.ago.noaa.gov

• Dept of Transportation

www.its.dot.gov/index.htm

Grants that could allow GIS• Assistance to Firefighters

DUE Friday, April 7th!• Fire Prevention & Safety

(Anticipated Sept. 2006) Mapping Emergency Routeswww.firgransupport.com

• Emergency Response & Crisis Management Anticipated deadline of 6/20/2006Schools MUST partner with local law enforcement, local government, public safety, mental health, & public health.

• Awards are $100,000-$500,000• Approximately $30 Million available in 2006 www.ed.gov/programs/dvpemergencyresponse/index.html

Internet Links for Sourcing• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

www.cfda.gov

• Federal Registerwww.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html

• Federal Electronic Grants Clearinghouse www.grants.gov

• Federal and state program staff www.firstgov.gov

• Foundation grant databases Foundation Center: www.fdncenter.org

CA State Resources• State Homeland Security

www.calguard.ca.gov/cajs-hs/index.htm

• Economic Developmentwww.commerce.ca.gov

• Community DevelopmentState Council on Developmental

Disabilitieswww.scdd.ca.gov/programs_projects

• Office of Traffic Safetywww.ots.ca.gov/grants/default.asp

Foundation Center Access(cooperating collections)

• CD ROM

• CD & Internet Access

• Foundation Center: www.fdncenter.org

Things to Consider

• Build relationship with the funder

• Collaboration• Matching

Requirements• Reporting

Requirements• Timeframe of

Project• Planning Ahead –

after the grant

Commonly Overlooked Organizations

• Schools

• Universities

• Libraries

• Housing Authorities

• Hospitals

• Community Development Groups

Tips to More Grants Learn as much as possible about each program to

which you intend to apply.

Involve others in your project, but be judicious; have a purpose for their involvement.

Customize each proposal to the requirements of the funder and follow the directions.

Get reviewers comments for non-winning proposals and use their feedback in future proposals (www.fcc.gov/foia).

Tips to More Grants Be specific in your budget; most funders

have generous allowances for budget length.

Don’t include materials other than those specifically requested by the funder.

Have an outsider edit your proposal before you submit it.

Tips & AdviceAVOID• Jargon or Unexplained

Acronyms

• Superfluous letters of support, charts, articles

• Inconsistent budget and narrative

• Un-measurable objectives

• Projecting too broad an impact

Next Steps!

**Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or to receive a faxed or emailed copy of the presentation. Thanks for attending!

**Interested in grants information specific to your individual needs? Contact our offices for more information.

Need Assistance? Contact Us…

COGENT, LLC

• Jennifer L. Hemmerich, MPAGrants Consultant, CEOjhemmerich@cogentgrants.comOffice: 585.413-0344Mobile: 585.269.9497

• Rosalie J. Mangino-CrandallGrants Consultant, COOrmangino@cogentgrants.comMobile: 716.474.0981

www.cogentgrants.com

Thank You!