CSCB Matching Grant Program Overview

1. CSCB Matching GrantsMarch 24, 2016Presented by Tammra StraubCSCB Grant Administrator

2. Agenda CSCB Matching Grant Program Information Historical Grant Funding / Statistics Tips for Writing Matching Grant Applications

3. CSCB Matching Grant Program Information • The CSCB Matching Grants Program assists Colorado Conservation Districts with: • Implementing enduring on-the-ground conservation practices • Establishing and sustaining educational activities for protecting Colorado’s natural resources

4. CSCB Matching Grant Program Information • Authorized by the Colorado Legislature, administered solely by the Colorado State Conservation Board • General Funds and Severance Tax Revenue • Equal opportunity for each conservation district for a Matching Grant award • Grant program funds may fluctuate as Severance Tax Revenue and General Funds change • Funding levels ~ $1,000 - $25,000

5. CSCB Matching Grant Program Information • Single district, multi-district, or watershed level projects • Can apply for up to three prioritized projects • (3 separate, prioritized applications or contained within 1 application) with an aggregate total of $25,000 • Multi-district or watershed level projects may apply for more than the $25,000 under certain conditions • Timeline ~ April/May - program announced; June -submission; Summer - applications evaluated; Fall -awards announced for following year

6. CSCB Historical Funding / Statistics Upper South Platte River Watershed 2009 – 2015 $371,868 for on-the-ground conservation 23 projects in 8 Conservation Districts Projects focused mostly on Soil Erosion issues, Rangeland Management, Noxious Weeds, and Educational Activities Innovative Projects: Bailing Twine Recycling & Integrated Pollinator Habitat

7. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • Do the homework • Does your Board know what your landowners want/need? • Follow the instructions given for the application • Start early and develop an outline & then write a draft; set it aside for a few days • Re-reading it a few days later can provide a fresh perspective • Use words convey what you intend • “The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.”

8. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • Define terms/acronyms used in application • Use the “active voice” and keep sentences short • “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. & • E. B. White • Describe how/if your project fits into your Long Range Plan or Annual Plan of Work • If not part of the LRP or APW, describe how project came about • Be specific in your request; Avoid generalizations as • in, “…plan to install conservation practices such as….., but not limited to …”

9. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • Provide a breakdown of practices to be addressed if application is broader in scope • e.g., 50% fencing, 30% water tanks, 20% noxious weeds • Include an educational component where possible • “Teach a person how to fish vs. give them a fish” • Document secured partnerships as they may be viewed more favorably • e.g., landowners/partners already lined up vs. having to solicit them once grant awarded • list specific partners and detail their importance and roles in supporting your success

10. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • Explain why an EQIP-eligible project is not in that program • It is not a requirement to apply and be rejected by EQIP to be considered for a CSCB Grant, however the CSCB program attempts to bridge the gap for projects not eligible for EQIP • Opt to include landowner evaluation criteria with application • Indicates a well-thought process to select projects • Show less reliance on NRCS staff to implement project • Involve more District Board members/employees

11. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • Show clear timelines and measurable deliverables • What will happen and when? What is the expected finished product/project? List specific follow-up activities; Who will do follow- up/tracking and when/how long will it be done? • Document past grant success and spending • If less than 100% expended, explain why and what has changed to increase the likelihood of full expenditure now • Extensively use the Budget “Notes” section • Put yourself in the Reviewer’s shoes; what details would you want to know to explain the budget?

12. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • Resolve conflicting Reviewer feedback from previous applications • Err on the side of providing more, yet concise detail in your current application • Read the application out loud • Helps catch awkward or unclear wordage • Find some editors - Have someone not involved in the grant writing process read the application for technical content • Perhaps a another Board member/District employee/NRCS staff

13. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • Read the application aloud slowly again • The brain is conditioned to “fill in the gaps” and skip words (why speed-reading is effective); reading aloud may help to catch misspellings that spell-check misses • Spell-check will not correct: • manger intended to be Manager • coarseintended to be course • fanningintended to be farming • platingintended to be planting • Check your use of hyphens and abbreviations • http://grammarist.com/

14. Tips for Writing Competitive Grant Applications • A Reviewer may not be from your area so write concise descriptions in every section of the application • “Spoon feed” the information to a Reviewer • Reviewers are conservation professionals, but may not be familiar with your specific District and its projects • You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression • Give the Grantor what they ask for • Follow the requested format and instructions • Determine whether including optional, allowable material will support your request (i.e., including an unidentified picture may actually hurt your application)

15. ApplicationSubmitted, Now What? CSCB Grant Administrator reviews applications for eligibility, completion, and budget details Review panel independently evaluate applications based on an objective scoring rubric/matrix Each application reviewed by 3 people Reviewers submit individual evaluations to the automated review system, which then averages the scores electronically, ranking highest to lowest Reviewers meet as a group to discuss applications, especially those with a wide disparity in individual scores, to resolve the disparity and to recommend funding to CSC Board

16. ApplicationSubmitted, Now What? CSCB Grant Administrator presents Reviewer funding recommendation to CSC Board who has final funding decision-making authority CSC Board may or may not follow exact Reviewer recommendations CSC Board may opt to ensure geographic & project-type funding distribution across the state and watersheds Awards announced

17. Awards Announced, Now What? Contracts are generated Can take up to 60-90 days to be effective depending on gathering pertinent signatures CSCB staff working on decreasing this timeline Projects commence Projects completed Sign-off on all paperwork, reimbursement request submitted, final report submitted CSCB Grant Administrator develops project factsheet from final report to inform legislators of public funds expenditure and to generate public awareness

18. Thank you! Contact CSCB Grant Administrator for assistance 303-869-9040 Tammra.Straub@state.co.us Your CSCB Field Specialist is also available to assist you! Announcements, deadlines, and blogs on L.A.N.D.S. site https://sites.google.com/a/state.co.us/lands/