Pursuing Federal Grant Funding

1. Pursuing Federal Grant Funding Mona K. Koerner, Ph.D. Policy Consultant Koerner Solutions

2. Goal of Resource Development • To generate enough excess revenue over expenses to sustain the organization in order to carry out its mission by: • Increasing resources and creating conditions that make better use of those resources • Allocating resources more efficiently among competing uses • Finding the right balance between income-generating activities and mission-driven activities • Planning for resource utilization so that resources are allocated in a way that creates the greatest benefit

3. Federal Funding • Pros • May provide larger grants than private sector • May provide funding to pay for things that you can’t otherwise find funding for • Cons • Competitive and time consuming application process • Sometimes Onerous reporting requirements

4. Federal Funding Processes • Block Grants to States and Entitlement Communities • HOME, ESG, CDBG, HOPWA • MFA, City of Albuquerque • Low Income Housing Tax Credits • Federal Home Loan Bank • Affordable Housing Program (CIP, HELP, SNAP, HAVEN) • Economic Development Program • Partnership Grant Program • Federal Discretionary Grants • Continuum of Care, other Departments, grants.gov

5. Examples of Discretionary Programs • USDA Rural Development • Housing Application Packaging Grants • Self-help Technical Assistance Grants • Technical & Supervisory Assistance Grants • Housing Preservation Grants • Rural Community Development Initiative • Health and Human Services • Planning Grants to Develop a Model for Intervention for Youth with Child Welfare Involvement at Risk of Homelessness • Substance Abuse and Mental Health • Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals – Services in Supportive Housing

6. National and Regional Intermediaries • Enterprise Foundation– HUD Capacity Building Grants • Rural LISC • Habitat for Humanity International • Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation

7. Preparing for Federal Funding • Adequate Systems and Controls • Fund or Functional Accounting • Finance Committee • Research Grant Programs • Dedicated person (Not the ED) • Government Contract Registration • System for Award Management

8. Funding Matrix • Action to be Taken • Opening Date • Closing Date • Response Time • Agency • Division • Purpose/Uses • Match Requirements • Funding Range • Requirements

9. Government Contract Registration • Formerly Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) • System for Award Management (SAM) • www.unitedstatesbusinessregistration.us • Get a D-U-Ns Number from Dun & Bradstreet Number

10. Successful Federal Grant Applications • Fit the Stated Goals/Objectives of Program • Thorough and Complete • Answers the Questions • Formatted Appropriately

11. Tips for Preparing Successful Applications • Carefully select the correct program • Draft the application BEFORE the Notice is released • Begin with the budget • Calculate the match correctly and document • Write the letters of support yourself • Compete the forms last

12. Repeating or Renewing Funding • Perform as promised • Be timely and thorough in reporting

13. Conclusion • Plan ahead. This year’s resources were generated with last year’s planning. • Build relationships with funders, banks and organizations that have done what you are trying to do. • Develop the systems within your organization that will allow you to make good resource allocation decisions. • Improving efficiency and productivity will allow you to do less fundraising. • Pursue Federal funding only when it is cost effective to do so and is consistent with the goal of generating more revenue than expenses.