LTS: Environmental Grants Informational Webinar

1. LTS: Environmental GrantsInformational Webinar

2. PowerPoint Topics • Overview of grant • Review of service-learning • Project examples • Overview of application • Grant writing & Budget guidance • Additional grant resources

3. Overview • The LTS: Environmental Grant Program is in its 3rd year of funding • Provided through funding from CSX • Middle School, High School & Collegiate FFA chapters are eligible to apply • Alumni chapters can serve as the fiscal agent and help a chapter write a grant. However, they cannot be the official applicant.

4. Overview • Due May 30 • May apply for up to $2,000 • Supports year-long service-learning projects related to environmental issues • Can be used to support a current project, as long as it meets the guidelines

5. What is Service-Learning? • Members utilize knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to meet a community need – hands on learning • Occur over the course of a year • Engages youth in all stages of the project • Creates reciprocal partnerships

6. Project Examples • Wildlife conservation • Develop habitats to increase animal populations • Land preservation • Watershed rehabilitation • Environmental education and stewardship • Water monitoring and improvement • Recycling and composting • Create a school, district, or community-wide recycling and/or composting program

7. Non-allowable Projects • Garden or other food production grants • Projects focused on environmental issues related to gardens, such as rain collection and composting, will be accepted • General landscaping or beautification grants will not be accepted

8. Successful Application & Project • Outlines a feasible project to run from August 2014 through June 2015 • Provides service to the community, not just for the FFA members • Includes educational outreach to the community to aid in sustainability • Demonstrates impact • Involves FFA members at all stages

9. Applications Process www.FFA.org/envirogrants

10. Applications Process

11. Application Overview Page 1 – Grant Info Page 2 - Chapter Information Page 3 - Project Narratives • Recommend completing the narratives in a Word document and then copy and pasting into the corresponding answer field. Page 4 – Timeline & Budget

12. Grant Writing Guidance Project Description–an overview of the project • Overview of how your chapter plans to meet an environmental need in your community. Should clearly summarize information from each of the application sections • Minimum 200 words • Suggest writing last because it is an overview of entire project

13. Grant Writing Guidance Environmental Need • Provide a short description of the environmental need in your community that you will address • Include statistics to support need - Wikipedia, Natural Resources Defense Council, local or state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Dept. Of Environmental Management, local papers, etc. • Minimum 50 words Community Partners • Describe potential community partners and their roles in the project

14. Grant Writing Guidance Educational Outreach • Describe the educational outreach that your chapter will include as part of this project. Educational outreach ensures that chapters are not just “giving a man a fish,” but also “teaching a man to fish.” Include the type of outreach, topics that will be covered, the frequency of outreachand potential audience. • Minimum 50 words Example: Our chapter will host four workshops on recycling over the grant period. Three workshops will be hosted for elementary students and one workshop will be held for middle school students. We will teach the students what recycling is and how they can participate. All workshops will be held at the participating schools.

15. Grant Writing Guidance Measurable Outcomes • Required to have • 1 Educational Outreach Outcome • 1 Project Outcome • Chapters may also include up to 2 additional outcomes for a total of 4 • Need to measure impact on community • Outcomes need to MATCH information from Narratives!

16. Grant Writing Guidance Educational Outreach Outcome Step 1 - Choose the educational outcome that best fits your projects outreach efforts. • # of workshops/events/forums conducted and # of workshop attendees • # of informational materials distributed to community (i.e. flyers, brochures etc.) • # of participants who utilize new skills at home (i.e. composting)

17. Grant Writing Guidance Ed. Outreach Outcome Additional Information Step 2 - Provide information on the chosen outcome • Target audience (choose ALL that apply) • Educational outreach topic(s) • Anticipated numerical goal(s) • Evaluation Tool Example - # of workshops/events/forums/conducted and # of workshop attendees • Elementary students • Composting 101 • 4 workshops, 70 total participants • Agendas and sign-in sheets will be created for each workshop

18. Grant Writing Guidance Project Outcome This outcome must measure the project's impact on the greater community. Ensure that the outcome is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound). In addition, detail how the outcome will be measured. Example:ProjectMeasurable Outcome: Build 6 new osprey nests to be placed throughout the coast by the end of the 2014-15 school year. Project OutcomeEvaluation Tool(s):Photograph building process and create map with GPS locations of new maps.

19. Grant Writing Guidance Additional Outcomes (optional) Chapter's may choose to write up to 2 additional outcomes. These outcomes must also measure the project's impact on the greater community. Ensure that the outcomes are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound). In addition, detail how the outcomes will be measured. Example: Clear evasive species plant from 2 acres of land by June 2015. Tool: Students will map pre and post coverage of evasive plant.

20. Grant Writing Guidance Timeline • Detailed monthly timeline of activities • August 2014 through June 2015 • Include information on activities related to: • major learning or service days • marketing • educational outreach • meeting measurable outcomes • Include information on major purchases in budget

21. Timeline Example August • Receive grant funds and begin project • Students will create educational signage for around school and community September • Recycling containers will be purchased • Students will contact local media with project information • Waste Management County agents will make visits to classes and discuss how to properly handle recyclable materials October • Distribute recycling containers around schools • Co-share an educational booth on paper bins and general recycle information during the county fair • Students will post project updates to Blog and Facebook • FFA members will collect and weigh materials put in the recycling bins • Meet with city to plan first electronic waste recycling event

22. Budget Form Instructions • Download budget worksheet from application website (Excel Doc) • Complete the budget worksheet and "save as" to your desktop. Ask one of your members for help if needed • Name the document StateInitials_ChapterName_BudgetExample: IN_SmithvilleFFA_Budget • Upload the budget worksheet to the upload field.

23. Budget Guidance Nonexpendable Equipment Costs - Items having a useful life of more than one year. Examples include small tools, camera, tiller, etc. *Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity, Unit Cost, Total Materials and Supplies - Expendable items having a useful life up to one year. Examples include educational outreach materials, water testing kits, etc. *Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity, Unit Cost, Total Marketing and Communication - Any materials used for advertising or publicizing the project. Examples include brochures, flyers, etc. *Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity, Unit Cost, Total Travel - Costs to travel to sites related to project outcomes. Examples include travel to service sites, presentations, etc. *Destination, Reason for Trip, # of Miles, Cost Per Mile, Total Miscellaneous - Any other anticipated costs that are not included above. Examples include, equipment rental, substitute teacher pay, etc. *Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity, Unit Cost, Total

24. Budget Guidance • Maximum amount that can be requested is $2,000 • Fill in information at top of worksheet (State, Chapter Name, Advisor Name) • Be specific and quantifiable for line items • Ensure that items listed in your budget are discussed in your grant narratives • No one item with a unit price over $1,000 is allowed • Non-Allowable Example: 1 Compost Tumbler @ $1,100 • Allowable Example: 24 recycle bins @ $50 = $1,200 (total is over $1,000, but unit cost is under)

25. Budget Guidance • Round Unit Costs/Quantity to reach whole numbers • In the case of mileage - find a close # of miles that gives you a whole number • If there will be tax to purchase items, include it in the unit cost. However, still be sure to make the unit cost a whole number. • Ensure the TOTAL amount equals a whole dollar amount Correct: $1,800 Incorrect: $1,800.67

26. Grant Writing Guidance cont. Non-allowable expenses: • No ONE item over $1,000 • Stipends or scholarships to students or the chapter • Indirect costs (i.e. cost to administer funds) • Acquisition or construction of permanent buildings • Travel to/from National Convention or other state/national trainings • T-shirts,food, and giveaways

27. Budget Guidance Allowable expenses: • Substitute teacher pay • Transportation to and from service sites • Copying/ Marketing costs • Educational outreach materials • Vegetation – Ex: trees, bushes, etc. • Other expendable materials – Ex: animals, etc. • Small Equipment Purchase - Ex: Camera, GPS, tools, etc • Portable storage

28. Final 2 Questions of Application • If awarded, may a sponsor contact you to serve as a community partner as part of your LTS: Environmental Grant? • Provide a short (2-4 sentences) overview of your project that can be shared on our Community Walks interactive map if awarded. • Limit 50 words Example: Sample FFA is creating a school-wide recycling program to reduce the amount of trash entering the local landfill. In addition, the chapter will hold workshops for each grade level on what to recycle and the importance of recycling.

29. Other Resources on the website • Program Timeline • Application Guidance • 2013-14 Program Impacts Report • Scoring Rubric www.ffa.org/envirogrants

30. Reminder Applications Due May 30

31. Contact us with questions! www.ffa.org/envirogrants Kayla Lumpford-Mitchell: 317-802-4267 Stefonie Sebastian: 317-802-4462 LTS@ffa.org