The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Coastal Training Program

1. The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Coastal Training Program Grant Writing Basics Don Staub Carteret Community College October 27 & 28, 2009

2. Effective program planning vs Chasing the dollar

3. One way… Research Funding Sources Read RFP Create Proposal Repeat

4. “This reactive approach to grantseeking can have both short- and long-term negative consequences. In the short term, staff may resist implementing the new program. Board and staff members begin to feel confused or unclear about the mission. Supporters may begin to question what the organization is really all about. Longer-range consequences may include a gradual loss of mission-focus and ultimately of organizational integrity.” http://www.tgci.com/newsletter/archives/09_2008_1_3.ASP

5. Perhaps a better way… Organizational Plan Identification of a (relevant) Need Design a Project Research Funding Sources Analyze RFP Create Proposal Repeat

6. The Organizational Plan 1. The Organization • Describe the business and service(s) offered 2. The Service • What is the need you are fulfilling + benefits • Why is this unique • Past, present, and planned projects (outcomes & objectives) 3. Clientele • Who are they? • How large is the group? • What are their primary needs (in relation to your service)?

7. The Organizational Plan 4. Management • Leadership • Organizational Structure 5. Personnel • Describe the team + their qualifications 6. Financials • Sources of funding • Sustainability Plan 7. External Environment • Partnerships • Competition(?)

10. Key goals of MSEP: (the basis of the grant-seeking process) http://www.carteretedc.com/assets/files/MSEP_tab.pdf

11. Organizational Plan Identification of a Problem Design a Project Research Funding Sources Develop a Project Analyze RFP Create Proposal Repeat

13. Organizational Plan Identification of a Problem Design a Project Research Funding Sources Analyze RFP Create Proposal Repeat

14. Great, I’ve gotta write a grant. Now what do I do? Or, effective strategies for getting it done on time.

15. 80% • Step 1: Analyze the RFP • Dollars & Dates • Parameters • Criteria

16. Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Grants

17. The New Reality(?)

18. Funding criteria * Non-federal match of 40% of total request or 60% federal contribution + 40% non-federal match = 100% grant funding (to calculate this match multiply the federal portion of the request by 2 and divide the result by 3, that is take 2/3 of the federal request)(this confuses more applicants but the matching funds do not equal forty percent of the federal contribution, think 40/60=2/3.). * Monitoring for watershed-scale projects and an accompanying quality assurance/control plan. * Reports: quarterly and final/closeout. * Project abstract upon selection of project. * Invoices to DWQ in order to receive reimbursement for expenditures (in other words, you pay bills associated with your project and submit an invoice with proof of expenditures and matching funds to DWQ requesting repayment). http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/319FundingCriteria.htm

19. “Above all, proposals must have measurable environmental results.”

20. “Above all, proposals must have measurable environmental results.”

21. Parameters

22. Boating infrastructure Grant Program US Fish & Wildlife

26. Step 2: Get to know the funding agency • Introduce yourself to the program officer • Previously funded projects (amount & type) • Request copies • Technical Workshops Still have questions? If you need further information, please contact Kim Nimmer, 319 Grant Program Coordinator, by email (kimberly.nimmer@ncmail.net) or phone (919-733-5083 x582). Questions are encouraged if applicants are unsure of the eligibility of their project or need assistance with the application form.

27. Step 2: Get to know the funding agency • Introduce yourself to the program officer • Previously funded projects (amount & type) • Request copies • Technical Workshops

28. Step 3: planning ahead • The executive summary • Letters of support • Roles & responsibilities (for writing and implementation) • A speaker representing a Federal department recently made an astounding and blunt statement: • "Whether our request for proposals requires a partnership or not," he said firmly, "I have to tell you, if it ain't collaborative, it ain't gonna be competitive.“ • Provided by: Judy Hills, Planning Director, • Eastern Carolina Council of Governments

29. Judy Hills, Planning Director Eastern Carolina Council of Governments email:jhills@eccog.org web: http://www.eccog.org Public Service Announcement

30. ECC Weekly Information Bulletin October 23, 2009 Workshops/Meetings/Events/Deadlines coming up soon 10/24 Make A Difference Day http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/aboutmadd.html 10/27-28 Workshop: Grant writing for environmental improvements in Beaufort http://www.nccoastaltraining.net/Course-Catalog/Coastal-Training-Events/Funding-Environmental-Improvements-In-Your-Communi/138.aspx. 11/4-6 Transportation Planning Conference in Raleigh http://www.ncsite.org/index_ncsite.html 11/5-6 Rural Partners Forum at North Raleigh Hilton www.ncruralcenter.org 11/6 NCSU BMP re-certification course in Greene County http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/bmp-im/classes.html 11/16-17 NC Beach, Inlet, and Waterway Association Annual Meeting in Carolina Beach http://www.ncbiwa.org/09NCBIWARegister.pdf 11/23 Deadline to register for Natural Resources Leadership Institute www.ncsu.edu/NRLI

31. The Executive Summary • One page • Who is proposing • Amount requested • The issue • The proposed solution • The outcomes • Timeline • Partners • Leveraged funding

32. The Proposal Introduction (to the issue and the organization) Needs Statement Objectives Inputs, Outputs, and Outcomes Methods Evaluation Sustainability Budget Appendix / Supplemental Materials

33. The Proposal (pull this from your organizational plan) Introduction (to the problem and the organization) Nature of your organization Size, structure, history, mission, etc… Nature of the issue/challenge (broad overview)

34. Background Statement for Carteret Catch: The fishing communities of Carteret County, North Carolina are enduring tremendous stress in a dynamic global market. Commercial fishing has been an integral part of the Carteret County economy for generations. The growth in tourism, recreational fishing, environmental regulation, and the number of new residents settling along the central North Carolina coast have altered the traditional economic base. Yet fishermen have suffered the most financial strain from an influx of lower-cost, imported seafood. Foreign seafood commodities, which are taking ever more market share from the local seafood industry, are threatening the long-term viability of traditional coastal Carolina towns and their rich cultural heritage… In 2003, a Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI) grant to Carteret Community College provided funding to the group of community volunteers in order to assist local fishing communities to realize greater public visibility and revenue for the commodities they sell. The goal was to stimulate demand for local seafood to make commercial fishing economically viable and protect a heritage that characterizes the central North Carolina coast…From among 14 brand name and tag line options, the RCCI team chose “Carteret Catch” as a brand name and “Select North Carolina Seafood from the Fishermen of Carteret County” as a tag line.

35. The Proposal The Needs Statement Quali-Quant Research-based No drama

36. Source Material: • Information used to support assertions • Facts & figures presented in clear, coherent manner • Hard Data: • Statistics about the context & clientele • Sources (e.g. Empirical studies, EDC, ESC, Census, Rural Economic Development Center, Chamber, Schools…) • Soft Data: • Correspondence and verbal feedback • Published articles (paper, magazines, etc…)

37. Carteret Community College / NC Marine Training and Education Center application to the Golden Leaf Foundation

39. The Proposal Objectives / Outcomes • Objectives are… • What you will do to accomplish your outcomes • Obtain, Collect, Analyze, Determine, Identify… • By when? Outcomes are benefits or changes for individuals or populations during or after participating in program activities. They are influenced by a program's outputs. Outcomes may relate to behavior, skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, condition, or other attributes. Outcome Measurement Resource Network http://www.liveunited.org/outcomes/

40. The Proposal Methods Align reasonably with the needs and the objectives Clearly describe program activities If an RFP requires "evidence-based practices," make sure you know exactly how your funder interprets the term Inputs include resources dedicated to or consumed by the program. Examples are money, staff and staff time, volunteers and volunteer time, facilities, equipment, and supplies. Outputs are the direct products of program activities and usually are measured in terms of the volume of work accomplished-for example, the numbers of classes taught, counseling sessions conducted, educational materials distributed, and participants served.

41. Evidence-based practices usually refer to programs or practices that areproven to be successful through research methodology and have producedconsistently positive patterns of results. Evidence-based practices or modelprograms that have shown the greatest levels of effectiveness are those thathave established generalizability (replicated in different settings and withdifferent populations over time) through research studies. The implementationof proven, well-researched programs is rapidly becoming standard practicetoday and required by most funding sources. What is Evidence-based Practice? By Pamela Waters, Med www.scattc.org/pdf_upload/Beacon001.pdf BMPs: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/

42. Through the acquisition of technology made possible by the funding of this proposal, MARTEC, via its marine-trades programs, anticipates training over 700 students during the next three-year period.

43. The Proposal Methods Personnel (qualifications) Align with budget request One reviewer’s comments: “It's hard to imagine that someone capable of reaching the fairly ambitious goals of this proposal would be willing to work full-time for 3 years at the amount proposed for the position “

44. The Proposal Methods … the timeline Tables…Good

45. The Proposal Methods … activities and responsibilities

46. The Proposal Evaluation This really should be the starting point…not the end. Data to be collected (objectives & outcomes) How it will be collected Timeline for collection Analysis The feedback loop

47. The Proposal The Budget Is it aligned with tasks? Is it realistic? Is it accurate? Is it thorough? Note: don’t sell yourselves short!

48. SF 424A Some funders provide a form…

49. Some funders are OK with a homemade spreadsheet…

50. The Budget Narrative