Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists

1. 2018 Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists Applicant Webinar

2. Quick Webinar Items Thank you for joining us! To ask a question: • We have all phone lines muted; please type in your questions into the “Questions” box in the webinar controls on the right side of your screen. • We’ll answer these questions at the middle and end of the presentation, but you can type them in at any time. • Staff contact information is listed on the last slide. • The Webinar is being recorded and we will post a copy of these slides and the recording on the NFWF website at www.nfwf.org/youth.

3. Today’s Agenda • Program Overview • Funding and Program Details • Submitting a Competitive Application: • Eligibility and Restrictions • Project Title, Description and Abstracts • Budget • Metrics • Mapping • Proposal Narratives • Applicant Tips, Process and Timeline • Contacts & Additional Time for Questions Photo Credit: Utah Conservation Corps

4. Program Overview: Expended Program Two Funding Categories- • Conservation Stewards • Create and sustain partnerships combining grade level appropriate in-class learning, out-of-class experiences and hands-on conservation actions • Conservation Corps • Support young adults aged 16-25 in paid conservation corps and conservation-focused internships to connect young adults to the outdoors through conservation employment programs

5. Category One: Conservation Stewards Objective: • Engage children from preschool age to high school students • Integrate in-class and out-of-class experiences • Focus on conservation literacy and stewardship Grant Size: • Average grant size is approximately $125,000 • Grants range from $100,000 to $150,000 Photo Credit: Mt. Hood Community College

6. Category One: Conservation Stewards Category Elements • Coalition of at least 5 community partners   • Teacher Training • Place-Based Learning • Age-appropriate stewardship behaviors that reinforce environmental literacy efforts • Incorporate repeated engagement opportunities   Photo Credit: Sustainable Food Center

7. Category One: Conservation Stewards Grant term: • Projects should begin fall 2018 • Projects should be completed within 30 months from the contract award date • If you need to back-date your project’s start date, we will address this on a case-by-case basis if your project is selected for funding Photo Credit: League to Save Lake Tahoe

8. Category Two: Conservation Corps Objective: • Employment experiences for young adults • Conservation on BLM and Forest Service lands Grant Size: • Average grant size is approximately $50,000 • Grants range from $20,000 to $100,000 Photo Credit: Montana Conservation Corps

9. Category Two: Conservation Corps Category Elements • Conservation job opportunities for youth • Agency alignment • On-the-ground restoration • Mentorship, training and career exposure Photo Credit: Northwest Youth Corps

10. Category Two: Conservation Corps Grant term: • Projects should begin fall 2018 • Projects should be completed within 24 months from the contract award date • If you need to back-date your project’s start date, we will address this on a case-by-case basis if your project is selected for funding Agency support and alignment is key Photo Credit: Arizona Antelope Foundation

11. Questions Break! Photo Credit: The Greening of Detroit

12. Program Overview: Eligibility and Restrictions Eligible applicants: • Non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes and education institutions • BLM field offices eligible for BLM funds only Ineligible applicants: • U.S. Federal government agencies, businesses, unincorporated individuals, international organizations Restrictions: • No political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, terrorism or litigation • Not to implement legal requirements (mitigation, permit conditions, etc.) • May enhance or improve upon baseline compliance efforts

13. Project Title, Description and Abstract • Project Title • Short, descriptive name that distinguishes your project • Include the state abbreviation at the end of the title • Don’t call your project “Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists” • Example: “Bringing Island Youth Together in Conservation (WA)” • Project Description • Two sentence description • First sentence: state the main activity/method being used to address a specific species/habitat and location • Second sentence: expected outcome and main metrics that will be completed from the investment and relevance to conservation • Example: Employ 22 youths of diverse background to conduct on-the-ground restoration projects and conduct biological monitoring for research and recovery efforts in the San Juan Islands, Washington. The project will include seed collection, restoration efforts for Indian Paintbrush and Marble Butterfly, wildlife monitoring and assessments, 100 acres of invasive species removal and trails restoration.

14. Project Title, Description and Abstract • Project Abstract • Expands upon the Project Description • List the project partners, grant deliverables, major activities/outcomes (including both on-the-ground and outreach) and project location. • Example: Anchorage Park Foundation will provide 24 youths with jobs where they will perform approximately 300-400 feet of streambank restoration across two sites along Campbell Creek and the Bureau of Land Management Campbell Tract in Far North Bicentennial Park in Anchorage Alaska. The erosion control at Campbell Creek is important to maintenance of Campbell Airstrip Road, which provides access to one of the areas main trailheads. This area serves as an outdoor learning classroom for many of the 40,000 students who frequent the science center each year. In recent years, the creek has shifted and Campbell Airstrip Road is now threatened during high water events. Youths will also receive mentorship from agency partners and learn skills important to potential habitat conservation careers.

15. Proposal Budget • Use the green plus sign to add line items to the budget • Use the pencil to edit line items in the budget • Use the ‘notepad’ icon to add a narrative description for each section of the budget • Indirect: federally approved NICRA rate OR 10% de minimus rate • More information: • http://www.nfwf.org/whatwedo/grants/applicants/Pages/indirect-policy.aspx • http://www.nfwf.org/whatwedo/grants/applicants/Pages/budget-instructions.aspx

16. Matching Contributions • Select the status of the contribution • Select the Source Type (federal or non-federal) • Select the Type (cash or in-kind) • Describe the contribution • Enter the Amount

17. Proposal Metrics • Load program metrics using the “21CSC Template” • Use the “# jobs created metric” to measure the number of youth hired through the project • Must include at least one conservation metric (acres/miles restored, miles of trail improved, etc.) • “Target Value” amount should always be greater than the “Starting Value” amount Photo Credit: Forest Guild

18. Project Location Mapping • Use the full proposal mapping tool to draw your project location or upload a shapefile • Map the location(s) where on-the-ground project work will occur • Be as specific as possible! • You should not select an entire state or county as your project location unless your project spans the entire region Step-by-step instructions are available at: http://www.nfwf.org/whatwedo/grants/applicants/Pages/mapping-tool.aspx

19. Questions? Photo Credit: Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District

20. Proposal Narratives • Download the template from Easygrants • Make sure you have the correct template for your category • Narratives should be no more than6pages • Keep the formatting – same font, font size and margins, do not delete text or table columns (ok to delete example rows) • Upload into Easygrants either as a Word doc or PDF

21. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • Alignment with NFWF priority areas: • Describe the alignment between the project’s activities/outcomes and NFWF business plans. • 2. Project Timeline and Milestones: • Outline expected timeline for the project including planning and execution of the activities • Identify milestones towards project outcomes for the duration of the project. Photo Credit: Foundation for the Provo-Jordan River Parkway

22. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • 3. Activities and Outcomes: • Elaborate on the primary in-class and out-of-class activities supported through this grant. • Explain how these activities will lead to the outcome of increasing the number of students with environmental literacy and stewardship behaviors • Identify target student audiences and developmental milestones tied to activities. • Estimate the percentage of students engaged through this project who have received previous conservation education and stewardship opportunities • Estimate what percentage of the students engaged through this project will have future opportunities • Describe how these activities relate to conservation needs in the specific project location.

23. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • Activity Costs and Partnership Table:

24. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • Activity Costs and Partnership Table: • Identify each partner including the applicant • (Partners can be contributing more than one good/service)

25. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • Activity Costs and Partnership Table: • Identify that partner’s activity and contribution • (Partners can be contributing more than one good/service)

26. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • Activity Costs and Partnership Table: • Break out the cost of the activity from the grant funds and the match, this may mean combining or splitting budget items

27. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • Activity Costs and Partnership Table: • The total for the grant funds should equal the budget total and the match total should equal the total of the matching contributions

28. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Stewards • 5. Tracking Metrics: • Indicate how the project will monitor/assess progress on the metrics selected previously in the application. • Note any challenges or limitations anticipated with tracking the metrics. • 6. Project Team: • List the key project staff who will be involved in the project • Describe their qualifications, including educational background, past work experience, experience leading similar projects, etc. Photo Credit: NatureBridge

29. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Corps • Federal Agency Partnership: • Identify the agency (or agencies) your project will partner with • Explain the alignment between project activities and partner agency’s priorities • Describe benefits your project will bring to the agency’s lands, facilities, adjacent areas, programs and/or missions • 2. Recruitment and Employment Activities: • Provide an overview of the outreach methods • Identify any targeted recruitment of urban, tribal or underserved youth • How many hours will each individual work and what is the amount of paid compensation each will receive? • Discuss all opportunities for mentorship, job training and career development and describe how these opportunities relate to the project outcomes. Photo Credit: Ohio River Foundation

30. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Corps • 3. Restoration Activities: • Elaborate on the primary activities supported through this grant. Explain how these activities will to lead to the outcome(s). • Describe how these activities relate to established plans (management, conservation, recovery, etc.) and priority conservation needs in the specific project location. • 4. Outcome(s): • Explain how you will achieve your outcomes through the project activities • How will you measure progress? Photo Credit: Conservation Legacy

31. Proposal Narrative: Conservation Corps • 5. Tracking Metrics: • Indicate how the project will monitor/assess progress on the metrics selected previously in the application. • Note any challenges or limitations anticipated with tracking the metrics. • 6. Project Team: • List the key project staff who will be involved in the project • Describe their qualifications, including educational background, past work experience, experience leading similar projects, etc. Photo Credit: Gila Watershed Partnership

32. Additional Tips for Applicants • If you’ve never used Easygrants before, create your login TODAY and familiarize yourself with the system. • If you aren’t new to Easygrants, check and make sure your login is working and that your organization’s record is up to date in our system. Take time to familiarize yourself with the new layout and proposal fields (especially the budget) • Start the application at least a week before it is due to minimize last minute Easygrants trouble. • Don’t call your project “Developing the Next Generation Project” • Spend time developing your project with input from your agency partner(s)

33. Application Process NFWF Screens Proposal and Assigns for Review to All Applicable Funding Sources Applicant Submits Proposal Reviewers from NFWF and Federal Partner(s) Review Application Review Team finalizes all selections for grants (about 25%) NFWF notifies Congress and the NFWF Board of Directors of all grants under this program. NFWF notifies applicants of awards or declines to award a proposal.

34. 2018 Program Timeline April November June July- September October 21st: Proposals due Congressional and board notification period Announce Awards 5th: RFP released and open in Easygrants 17th: National Applicant Webinar Proposal review and follow-up period Photo Credit: Leroy Springs & Company

35. Contacts Carrie Clingan Program Director, Community Stewardship and Youth 202-595-2471 Carrie.Clingan@nfwf.org Danny Bowater Coordinator, Community-Based Conservation 202-595-2434 Daniel.Bowater@nfwf.org www.nfwf.org/youth