Federal Grants 101 Webinar

Grant Tips

v     Visit www.grants.gov for funding opportunities, instructions for online submission, steps for registration, and to sign up for email funding alerts.

v     Tribal planning and preparation begins now!  Involve the community in the planning process.  It’s good PR and gets support for the project.

•         Look at community needs

•         Make sure grants have been closed out properly

•         Prioritize projects

•         Review old grant applications and RFPs for potential project ideas and to begin drafting new proposals.

•         Prepare standard text (organizational capacity, financial management system, management structure, program delivery process, description of community)

•         Update organizational chart, resumes, biographies, and position descriptions

•         Research pricing, salaries and other expenses

•         Contact potential partners and draft MOU’s

•         Draft resolutions and fill in the blanks once budget and other information is finalized

•         Hold planning meetings

v     Write to the criteria listed in the most current funding announcement; use the criteria as headings in the narrative; and provide in the order as requested.

v     The narrative should be written in a clear and concise manner.

v     For each project determine issues that could delay or derail the project during implementation and provide a contingency plan to show that you are prepared with a Plan B if problems come up during the course of the project.

v     Show organizational experience in managing projects of similar size and scope.

v     Develop partnerships and leverage resources.

v     The budget, goals, and project should be realistic and can be completed within the allowed timeframe.

v     Attach all required documents with signatures for those that are needed.

v     Make sure all budget numbers are the same on the line item budget, resolution and Standard Forms.

v     Use the most current forms. 

v     Follow format instructions such as page limitations, margins and font size. 

v     Number the pages.

v     Have a team of individuals not involved in the writing to review the draft proposal and compare against the requirements of the funding opportunity announcement to identify any missing information or questions that could arise.

v     Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application as there could be problems with the mail service or the electronic system.