FY 09 Grant Questions

 

 

Questions and Answers from the December's Bidders Conference for the FY 09 Grants Applications.

 

 

Q: How many pages are required? Is it 6 or 8?

 

A: The correct number of pages is 8. This does not include the face page, but it does include the narrative, action plan template, and budget form?

 

 

Q: Question two asks for references? Do you need written letters?

 

A: No, we simply want the name and contact information of up to three references. Preferably the agencies or individuals you are collaborating with.  If checked, we hope that the organizations are aware of their specific role with the project. This is in lieu of a more traditional MOU.

 

Q: Is the abstract on a separate page and included as the 8 page total?

 

A: The abstract can be no more than 1/2 page and is included in the narrative section as part of the 8 total pages.

 

Q: How are the continuation grant categories weighted.

 

A: They are not truly weighted scores. Here how this section is scored. All grants receive a total score and are ranked on questions 1-7. Continuation grants must include additional questions 8 & 9 for an additonal 25 points.  If a continuation grant is among the top ranking grant scores from questions 1-7, then the score on the additonal points will be compared against other grants in this category.

 

 

Q: Can I repeat what I wrote in Question 5 in questions 8 & 9?

 

Questions 8 and 9a are uniquie and require an answer. Question 9b is repetitive. You may use the same answer as Question #5, but you must repeat it in this section.

 

Q: What if I am not sure which category my idea fall under?

 

A:  Email Peg Sallade psallade@comcast.net and schedule a phone conversation to review.

 

 

Q: If I did not get my letter of intent in by the deadline, can I still apply?

 

A: Yes, if the letter of intent is submitted no later than Dec 15. We need to track how many applictions we expect to receive and under which selected categories.

 

Q: Are there any special mailing instructions.

 

A: Yes, if you Fed Ex the pacakge, make sure it is marked to be delivered without signature (left at the door) in case no one is in the office to sign for the package.

 

Q: Isn't the bidders conferece typically held before the letter of intent is due so organizations can better determine if they want to submit an application or not?

 

A: Yes, we'll make this scheduling adjustment next year.

 

Q: How many applications are you expecting?

 

A: At the time of the bidders conference, we had 23 letters of intent.

 

 

 Q: Will we get any feedback on our grant after they are submitted? What is the process?

 

Grant recipients will be notified by email after the review team has made decisions.  If you do not hear by January 31, please contact Peg Sallade to inquire.

If you want information on streghth and weakness of your grant, again, please inquire. During the review process, key strengths and weaknesses are recorded per applicant as well as total grant score, and rank.

 

Q: How do you expect the current financial environment to impact plans for sustainability? We can not predict future funding.

 

In the sustainability question, we recognize that you can not garantee future grants. However, we do expect you to be specific about your sustainability plan. For example, how many funders and which ones do you plan to apply to? Do any of these funders have a history of funding your organization? Do not simply state "we will seek grant funding." Another example might be: is a portion of your current budget spent towards grant writing, if this is your sustainability plan, and/or do you have a designated person to write the grants. Bottom line, you must demonstrate specific strategies for sustainabiliyt. We recognize we can not predict future decisions, but the likelihood is enhance by clear strategy.

 

Q: How much money is being dispursed through grants this year?

 

The toal budgeted grant allocation is up to $110,000.