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December 16, 2014

Southern Company

Five Star & Urban Waters

Proposal Writing Webinar

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Thank you for joining us!

• All phone lines are muted

• Questions at any point during the presentation? Please type them

into the “questions box” on the right side of your screen; we will

take breaks at several points to answer them

• Contact information for Program Staff is listed on the last slide

• This Webinar is being recorded and will be posted along with a

copy of these slides at: www.nfwf.org/fivestar

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This workshop is intended to

enhance grant writing skills

and foster innovative project

implementation strategies for

those located in the Southern

Company service area.

Due to the competitiveness of

the Five Star and Urban

Waters Restoration program,

successfully applying does

not guarantee an award.

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Nationwide grant program supporting on-the-ground,

community-based conservation in coastal, riparian

and wetland ecosystems

• Strengthen partnerships

• Empower communities

• Build stewardship

• Restore natural resources

• Southern Company

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• USDA Forest Service (USFS)

• US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

• FedEx

• Bank of America

• Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

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• Since 2006, Southern Co. has invested over

$1.6 million, funding 78 grants with a total

impact of nearly $9 million

• In 2015, approximately $300,000 is available

from Southern Co. and its operating companies (Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power and

Mississippi Power) to support projects in its core

service area

Restored over 960 acres and

over 126,000 feet of riparian

buffer to date

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excluding Lauderdale,

Colbert, Lawrence,

Limestone, Madison,

Marshall, Morgan, Jackson

and DeKalb Counties

west of the Apalachicola River

excluding Union, Fannin

and Towns Counties

23 counties, from Meridian

to the coast, with the west

boundary running from

Pearl River to Union County

We encourage you to reach out to the applicable

Southern Co. operating company regarding your proposal.

For more information, contact lindsay.vacek@nfwf.org

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On-the-ground restoration

Outdoor Conservation Outreach

Measurable results

1:1 match expected (cash and/or in-kind)

Any entity that can receive grants (but not for-profits)

*Partnerships with state and federal agencies are encouraged, but

those entities cannot serve as the grantee unless demonstrated

that the agency is best suited to coordinate the project

Award Range in Southern Co. service area:

$20,000 - $40,000

Average grant size:

$25,000

*Awards greater than $30,000 are only made to 2-year projects,

and grants of this size are significantly more competitive

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• Organization, name, email, etc.

• Quantitative Information: Request amount, match proposed, grant period

• Qualitative Information: Project title, project description, project abstract, keywords

• General Location: Country, state, congressional district

• Location Description: Project location using distinct geographic identifiers

• Create and submit a project location map by following the instructions listed in

Easygrants

www.nfwf.org/easygrants

The Five Star/Urban Waters Application

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• Financial documents (IRS form 990, GAAP Audit, Statement of Litigation, etc.)

• Proposal narrative

• Conservation activity being measured

• How the activity is being measured

• What will be the end result?

• Line-Item Budget: Items to be purchased using Five Star funds

• Description: What item is being used for

For competitive proposals, match should be at least 1:1

• How much is being contributed?

• Who is contributing funds or services?

• What is the contribution being used for?

(continued)

*Tip: Minimize supplemental

uploads and print out final

application to see how it will

display for reviewers.

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Proposal title, budget,

activities and metrics…

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Include specific geographic site names

Use state abbreviation if broad location unclear

List specific species and/or habitats addressed

Keep to 3 words or less

Use 1-2 words word for activity(s)

Describe with broad terms like restoration, clean-up, etc.

Activity

Location

Species/

habitat

Native Plant Restoration at

Reynolds Nature Preserve (GA)

(Character limit: 300 including spaces)

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List specific species and/or habitats addressed

Keep to 3 words or less

Include specific geographic site names

Use state abbreviation if broad location unclear

Use one word for activity(s)

Describe with broad terms like restoration, clean-up, etc.

Must state at least one quantitative projected outcome

Include qualitative outcomes, space permitting

Activity

Species

Habitat

Location

Restore 2 acres of bottomland hardwood forest in

. Project partners will remove invasive species,

restore native plants and build 200 linear feet of trails.

Outcomes

(Character limit: 1,000 including spaces)

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Species and/or habitat addressed

Location

General project activity(s)

Quantitative/qualitative outcomes

Partners

Threats and opportunities

Friends of Clayton County will partner with the National Audubon Society, the US Forest Service,

Boy Scouts of America, Clayton County Master Gardeners and Lowes to restore 2 acres of

bottomland hardwood forest and wetlands on Reynolds Nature Preserve in Morrow, Georgia. Multiple

invasive species including Kudzu, privet and garlic mustard currently out-compete native

plants at the Preserve. To address this growing issue, partners and volunteers will remove

invasives, re-plant native species and conduct various outreach activities to engage and educate the

public. Projected outcomes include 2 acres restored, 3 restoration training sessions held, recruitment

of at least 50 volunteers, and 200 linear feet of trails created.

Threats/

Opportunities

Expand description to include:

Partners

(Character limit: 1,500 including spaces)

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• Action performed during grant project

to achieve desired outcome

• Units used to measure conservation

activity performance (i.e. acres, #, percent)

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• Projected “value” at project completion

*DO NOT insert a dollar amount

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(Grant funds only)

• Salary associated with project work

• Individual must be employed by

grantee organization

• Tangible, nonexpendable property

having useful life more than one year

• Must cost $5,000+ per unit (if less, the

item is considered a supply)

*Equipment rentals should be put under

contractual services; only purchases should

be placed under the equipment category

• Work on project by entity other than

grantee organization (includes rentals)

• List all supplies and materials to be used

for project – be specific

• All project travel (air, rental car, hotel, etc.)

• Include number of trips, number of

travelers, mode of transportation, per

diem expenses, mileage and rates

*Mileage and gas costs cannot both be counted for

the same trip; current federal mileage rate is 56.5

cents/mile

• Any costs that do not fall within the five

previous categories

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In-kind or cash; federal or non-federal

Must be used directly for project and expended within the grant period

All partners and the value of their contributions should be listed as match

• Dollar value of contribution

• Cash or In-kind

• Application Submitted; Intend to Apply; Pledged; or Received

• Name of entity contributing match

• Type of entity contributing match (Federal/Non-Federal)

• How matching contribution will be used for the project

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• Project titles should be clear and to the point

No: Resurrect Resurrection Bay project

Yes: Resurrection Bay Restoration and Clean-up (AL)

• Budgets should look like a Home Depot receipt: Itemize – do not clump everything

under one name (e.g., restoration supplies) and merely provide a sum total

• Budgets should be diverse: Spread funds into multiple categories and DO NOT budget

the majority of or all funds towards salaries

• “Value at grant completion” in Activities and Metrics does NOT mean dollar value

• Although necessary to indicate who is providing match, you also MUST describe the

specific purpose the match is supporting

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The proposal

narrative…

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• Download the template from

Easygrants in your application

• Narratives should be no more than

six pages

• Keep the formatting – same font,

font size and margins and chart*

• DO NOT delete the text or chart

provided in the narrative*

• Upload into Easygrants either as a

Word doc or PDF

* Please delete unused rows in the chart (but

do not delete columns)

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1. Specify the total acres the project will

restore and identify the target

watershed and focal species/habitat.

Describe the project’s connection to

the watershed and explain the need

for the project.

State the total acres impacted/restored

Identify the target watershed and focal

species/habitat

Describe the project’s connection to the

watershed and explain the need for the

project

Explain how the project activities will

support watershed, conservation or species

plans that are established in the region

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2. State the number of community members

directly engaged or impacted. Describe

community characteristics of the project

area and identify any underserved or

high-need communities.

State the number of community members

engaged and impacted

Describe community characteristics of the project

area and identify any underserved or high need

communities

Identify the community characteristics of your

outreach activities and state whether there are

underserved communities engaged in the project

Use demographic data to document high-

need/underserved communities (poverty statistics,

school lunch data, demographic records to articulate high

need or underserved communities)

(continued)

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3. Will your project involve a USFWS-designated National Wildlife

Refuge or Migratory Bird Treaty Area? (Answer only if applicable)

If your project will involve a USFWS Refuge and/or an Urban Bird Treaty Site,

please note how the refuge and/or treaty will be engaged

*The only Migratory Bird Treaty Area overlapping with the Southern Company service area is in

Opelika, AL. Only two Urban Wildlife Refuges overlap: Grand Bay NWR in Pascagoula, MS and

Watercress Darter NWR in Bessemer, AL. But consider partnering with other refuges in your

community.

4. If your project is located in one of the corporate-sponsored urban

areas requesting a community service opportunity, describe the type

of day-long community service event you propose to host for up to

50 employees of our corporate sponsor and your partnership’s

capacity to carry out this event. (Answer only if applicable)

Describe the type of day-long community service event you propose to host.

Include event location, specific activities and approximate date (“Spring 2016” is fine)

*This applies to each city/county specified to qualify for FedEx, Bank of America and PG&E funding.

Only Atlanta (FedEx priority) overlaps with Southern Company service area.

(continued)

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5. For each conservation metric, identify

and briefly describe the major

restoration activity that your

partnership will undertake.

Describe each major restoration activity and

the conservation metric corresponding to that

activity

Provide a description of how each activity will

advance the conservation goals of the project

and the health of the watershed

Explain how the activities will support the

conservation goals of the Five Star and Urban

Waters program, the watershed and/or

conservation plans and your organization’s

long-term goals

*Remember to include all the metrics entered into Easygrants and

describe how these activities will come together into the project

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6. For each outreach/educational and

conservation metric, describe each

corresponding, major educational/outreach

activity that your partnership will undertake.

Describe each major educational/outreach activity and

the metric corresponding to that activity

List each outreach/educational activity and provide a

description of how that activity will meaningfully advance

the educational and conservation goals of the project and

benefit the targeted communities

Provide context for each outreach activity by including

all metrics entered into Easygrants and describing how

these activities will come together into the project

Explain how the activities will support the stewardship

and educational goals of the Five Star and Urban Waters

program and your organization’s long-term goals

(continued)

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7. What are your long-term educational

and conservation outcomes for this

project and how will you measure

progress?

Identify and describe your organization’s

long-term goals

How will you measure progress towards

these goals?

How will you share information with NFWF

and other groups about the project?

(continued)

*Remember to include conservation target species, habitats

and any threats to these species and habitats you will address

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PARTNER QUALIFICATIONS CONTRIBUTIONS $ VALUE

Jones County Master Gardeners

COMMUNITY GROUP

Restoration coordination,

horticultural training

Training and coordinating

volunteers for restoration $1,000.00

US Fish and Wildlife Service

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Horticulture

Providing seedlings for

restoration $3,000.00

Lincoln Financial Group

CORPORATION Volunteers

Restoration project will be

part of Lincoln’s volunteer

workday program

$750.00

Calhoun Middle School

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION Volunteers

Students will plant seedlings

one day of restoration work $800.00

Jones County Parks Department

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Property Owner

Donating supplies, technical

support and meals $1,500.00

CA Wildlife & Fisheries Foundation

NGO Grant funding

Funding to cover site

planning and design $5,000.00

8. Complete the table to describe how all partners are involved in the project.

At least 5 diverse partners are contributing a variety of expertise to the project

Reflect dollar value equivalent for all partner contributions that

correspond exactly to “matching contributions” section

Expand on partner roles

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9. Describe how the project partnership will

build capacity for expanding community

stewardship in the area.

Describe how the partnership established and/or

expanded during this project will build capacity for

community stewardship

Explain how the partnerships created or sustained

for this project will grow and facilitate investments

in restoration and community stewardship for the

watershed and in the target communities

Discuss the relationships you and your partners

have with target audiences in your community and

how this will influence future stewardship efforts

Identify how existing relationships and the new

relationships formed will contribute to long-term

outcomes

(continued)

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10. Explain your plan for monitoring

project achievements beyond the

project period (3 years or more).

Explain your plan for monitoring project

achievements beyond the project period

(3 years or more)

Please provide details on your plan to

monitor project sites and target

communities to ensure that the project

success will continue past the end date of

the grant

Include details on how your partnership

will implement to ensure the sustainability

of the project’s results

(continued)

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• Avoid a lot of background information – Get to the point quickly!

• Be sure to describe specifically how project activities are supporting an

existing management plan – don’t just state that it is

• Don’t meander – make your project components connect

• Maintain consistency between sections of the proposal – don’t use different

metrics in different sections without clarification

• Partner contributions should always reflect a dollar equivalent value as match –

Please do not put N/A (or $0) as “Value of a Contribution” in the partner table

• Start with broad goals and describe how the activities will achieve long-term

results – look critically at project results, apply lessons and adapt if necessary

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November • 5th: RFP released

• 18th: National applicant Webinar

December • 16th: Southern Co. area Webinar

February • 3rd: Proposals due

March- April • Proposal follow-up and finalize

award decisions

May-June • Congressional and NFWF Board

notification

July • Awards announced

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Complaints

www.nfwf.org/fivestar

carrie.clingan@nfwf.org lindsay.vacek@nfwf.org

Manager, Community-Based Conservation Coordinator, Eastern Partnership Office

Programs [Southern Co. Service Area]

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

(202) 595-2471 (202) 595-2433

Sarah.mcintosh@nfwf.org

Coordinator, Community-Based Conservation

Programs

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

(202) 595-2434