GRANT WRITING FOR MUNICIPALITIES Advanced Training Thursday, November 1, 2012 Trainer: Natasha M. McCoy, NM2C, LLC Louisiana Municipal Association Louisiana Municipal Advisory & Technical Services Bureau Corporation
Logistics Review training agenda Bathrooms and other amenities Ground rules Parking Lot for questions
ICEBREAKER
Icebreaker Introduce yourself to someone you have not met before Record their name Ask if this is their first time participating in a LMA Grant Writing Training
Icebreaker If no, ask them to cite one key lesson learned or worksheet/tool used since the first grant training If yes, ask about latest grant writing activity or last successful project
ICEBREAKER Five (5) Minutes to COMPLETE INTRODUCTION AND RECORD INFORMATION
Training Objectives Discuss federal applications, data, survey methods and budget considerations Practice logic model, evaluation plan and budgeting Receive tips and lessons learned from Louisiana municipalities Provide information on marketing and promotion of municipal grant or grant writing successes
Parking Lot Questions
FEDERAL APPLICATIONS
EDA APPLICATION
Grant Proposal Components Abstract Executive Summary Background or Justification or Statement of Need Project Description Organizational Information Partner Information (including scope of work) Budget Attachments / Supplementary Information
DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS
Statement of Need Common areas to be addressed: Problem, issue or situation to be resolved? Who is the project s intended audience? What is the project s intended outcome? What happens if nothing is done? Evidence of the issue Quantitative Qualitative
Quantitative Information Derived from statistical data collection and analysis Actual numbers Quantified and verified Amenable to statistical manipulation Focus on numbers, percentages and frequencies Examples: Experiments Questionnaires
Qualitative Information Data that is relevant but described narratively Focus group information captured with open ended questions Describes Conveys meaning and experience Provide in-depth description Examples Case Studies Interviews
Survey Methods Interview Focus Group Observation Participation Questionnaires and surveys Analyze documents and materials
National Data Sets United States (U.S.) Census Data: www.census.gov American Community Survey www.census.gov/acs U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: www.bea.gov National average per capita income Changes in personal income Gross domestic product United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.bls.gov National unemployment rates
National Data Sets U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD Program Income Limits: www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.html Qualified Census Tracts and Difficult Development Areas: http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/qct.html United States Department of Labor: www.dol.gov State and Local Employment Data State and Local Unemployment Data
Louisiana Data Sets Louisiana Health Insurance Surveys: http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/1586 State of Louisiana - Louisiana State Legislature web portal: www.legis.state.la.us State Senators State Representatives Congressional District Maps House District Maps Senate District Maps
Louisiana Data Sets Louisiana Association of Planning and Development Districts: http://www.lapdd.org/ Louisiana Regional Planning Districts (Louisiana Economic Development): http://www.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com/additional -resources.aspx?rc=8
Cost Benefit Analysis Comparative assessment of all project benefits Decision making tool used to determine the benefit of engaging in one project versus another
Cost Benefit Analysis Key Steps - Assign a dollar value to every aspect of the project - Consider - Recurring and non-recurring expenses - Labor costs and holiday expenses - Costs for not engaging in a particular project (think hazard mitigation)
EXERCISE: COST BENEFIT
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS
Budget Considerations No cost extension Carryover Amendment Offset
No cost extension Budget scenario in which funds already disbursed must also be used to cover expenses for any subsequent grant budget period Example: Town of Win Em receives a $100,000, 2-year grant, to be disbursed in two annual payments of $50,000 for each project period. Win Em receives notice that the grant is now subject to a no cost extension at the end of Year 1. Therefore, the $50,000 provided in Year 1 must also cover expenses for Year 2.
Carryover Budget situation in which funds provided are not spent by the grantee by a specified time. Funds are administratively added to any future grant disbursements. Town of Win Em receives a 2-year $100,000 renovation grant to be disbursed in two annual payments of $50,000. Work began during Year 1. At the end of Year 1, work is not complete and there is $15,000 remaining. The funder has given Win Em permission to receive its second disbursement of $50,000 and keep the $15,000 from the Year 1 disbursement.
Budget Offset Budget situation in which funds provided are not spent by the grantee in a designated time and is administratively offset by the funder against a future grant disbursement. Town of Win Em receives a 2-year $100,000 renovation grant to be disbursed in two annual payments of $50,000. Work began during Year 1. At the end of Year 1, work is not complete and there is $15,000 remaining. The funder has decided to offset the Town of Win Em s second disbursement by $15,000 and will only give a second payment of $35,000, since Win Em still has $15,000 remaining from Year 1.
Budget Amendments Budget scenario in which grantee has been given approval to use funds for one line item and wishes to move funds from one line item to another. Town of Win Em needs $1,500 to secure additional consultant services. The town has a $1,500 surplus in its travel line item that is no longer needed or will not affect the outcome of the project. Town of Win Em requests permission from the funder to move the $1,500 from the Travel to Consultant budget line item.
SERVICES AND SUPPORT
Services and Support Services to support functions of the municipality May find need to solicit such services for special projects or day-to-day services Most grant awards provide reimbursement for administrative and contractual services; not a common practice
Association of Fundraising Professionals AFP represents individuals with education and experience in generating financial support for people with a philanthropic mission Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater New Orleans Chapter North Chapter Baton Rouge Chapter Greater Northshore Chapter Southwest Chapter Website: http://www.afpnet.org
Engineers Without Borders USA Engineers Without Borders: Support for community-driven development programs worldwide Smaller scale infrastructure projects in a community program framework EWB Louisiana Chapters Louisiana State University Louisiana Tech University Baton Rouge Professional Chapter New Orleans Professional Chapter University of New Orleans Chapter Website: http://www.ewb-usa.org/chapters/locate-chapter/
Contacts for Support Services Louisiana Hudson and Veteran Initiative Listings Louisiana Economic Development Louisiana Municipal Association National and Local Associations School Districts Universities Colleges Community Services Groups State Government Programs Large Nonprofit Organizations
BREAK
Project Description Approach Mission and goal statements Objectives Methods Timeline
Develop a Strategy Strategy is the high-level how of the situation Gives a very general understanding of what you intend to do to address the situation Strategy is typically followed by defining the tasks and logistics of the situation
Develop a Work Plan Work plan defines: Goals Objectives Relevant activities / tasks Who s responsible for completing the tasks Resources needed
Goals and Objectives Goal is a concise statement addressing the intended outcome of the project Example: Increase resident use of the Town of Win Em s paper and plastics recycling services by 25%.
Goal Statement Goal is a concise statement addressing the intended outcome of the project Example: Our (Copper Harbor) goal is to replace the current playground with new equipment that blends with Copper Harbor s natural environment. Copper Harbor Playground Project: http://copperharborplayground.org/about/
Objectives Want to ensure development of S.M.A.R.T. objectives S- Specific M Measurable A Accurate R Relevant T - Timely
Objectives Objectives should address the following: Who What For whom By when Where How much or to what extent
Objectives Write objective based on the desired outcome: Goal: Increase resident use of the Town of Win Em s paper and plastics recycling services by 25%.
Objectives Write objective based on the desired outcome: Goal: Increase resident use of the Town of Win Em s paper and plastics recycling services by 25%. Objective: By December 31, 2012, launch public media campaign to educate Town of Win Em residents about the municipality s paper and plastics recycling services.
LOGIC MODELS AND EVALUATION
Logic Models Describes logical linkages among a program s resources, activities, outputs, audiences, and short-, intermediate-, and long-term outcomes Used to illustrate a sequence of cause-and-effect relationships Helps identify critical measures Must link the issue (situation) to the project (inputs and outputs) and the impact (outcome) McCawley, Paul. The Logic Model for Program Planning and Evaluation. University of Idaho Extension.
Logic Models Resources Activities Inputs Outputs Short-term outcomes Intermediate outcomes Long-term outcomes Helps identify critical measures Impact (outcome)
McCawley, Paul. The Logic Model for Program Planning and Evaluation. University of Idaho Extension.
Evaluation How you will measure and ensure successful completion of the project and the project s intended outcome
Evaluation Develop a set of process questions Develop a set of impact questions Determine what is available or will need to be developed to collect information to properly answer both questions
Using Logic Model to Develop Evaluation Process Evaluation Activities Outputs Evaluation Outcomes Short-term Intermediate Long-term Impact Evaluation Impact (Goal)
McCawley, Paul. The Logic Model for Program Planning and Evaluation. University of Idaho Extension.
EXERCISE: GRANT PROPOSAL
Group Exercise Pick one scenario and use the information provided to: (1) Select the best funding mechanism (2) State what data is needed for the proposal and data collection method (3) Develop project logic model, evaluation plan and budget
GROUP REPORTS
LUNCH
BREAK
GROUPS REPORTS
PANEL DISCUSSION
MARKETING & PROMOTING MUNICIPAL SUCCESS
LMA HANDBOOK & DISC
QUESTIONS?