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GrantProse, Inc., Newsletter
September 9, 2009
Vol. 2, No. 17
Newsletter Editor: Rita Lewis
North Carolina's leading newsletter for information on grants.
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Dear Colleagues,
The GrantProse vision is to provide high quality, personalized services and resources that are reasonably priced and widely accessible. Toward this end, we provide this newsletter free and hope you will forward it to your colleagues.
We continue to add features
to our newsletter and website to better serve the grants community.
If you've lost track of a website address that we've mentioned, now you can find the newsletter in our Archive. If you have news or a point of view you'd like to share, please email Rita Lewis, newsletter editor--we're always interested in items that might benefit our audience.
Our website continues to support favorite links such as Grant Alerts and Web Resources in a user-friendly environment that provides you the latest and best information on grant development resources. As always, thanks for your appreciation of our work.
Bill CarruthersGrantProse, Inc.
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Bulletin Board
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September 9-11, 2009. The NC Committee on Dropout Prevention will host technical assistance webinars for individuals and organizations applying for dropout prevention grants through the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The webinar on September 9 (10 am or 2 pm) is for currently funded applicants; the webinars on September 10 and 11 are for new applicants. Participants may register through DPI's website. All webinars will be recorded and available online after the live presentations have been given. Grant applications are due October 15.
October 8, 2009. Grants Information Network (GIN) of NC meeting, 9-11 am. This meeting will be devoted to a discussion of networking tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Visit GIN's webpage for details and directions.
October 13-14, 2009. GrantProse will conduct a focused two-day training program for intermediate to experienced grant writers at the western campus of Wake Tech Community College. The program--geared for members of K-12 schools, nonprofits and government agencies--features an emphasis on practice. Participants will create text in response to typical sections of a proposal, and share their work for critique. Topics to be addressed include logic modeling, evaluation and budgeting, among others.
In August, GrantProse completed another successful workshop for the intermediate to experienced grant writer. Its small size allowed considerable individualized assistance; all registrants felt they gained valuable information. Their evaluation comments included, "The assistance and level of detail were great," "More interesting and more useful than other grant workshops I've been involved in," "Can't think of any ways to improve it--it was great" and "Couldn't be better--the best."
Space for the October workshop is limited to provide an intense and individualized experience, so register early! Visit the GrantProse website for more information and for registration details.
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ARRA and NC
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News on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Free Webinar on ARRA Compliance
On September 22, 2009, UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Government will host a free webinar on reporting and contracting requirements for local government purchases and projects funded by ARRA. The first reporting period for ARRA funding recipients is October 1-10. Panelists will address such topics as advertising requirements, mandatory contract provisions, what information to report and ARRA terminology. For more details, representatives of local governments can visit the School of Government's website, which advises participants and all recipients of ARRA funding to also visit the websites of the federal Office of Management and Budget; www.FederalReporting.gov, the federal reporting website; and www.Recovery.gov, for recipient reporting information.
Recovery Workshops for Small Business Continue
The NC Office of Economic Recovery and Investment (OERI) continues its series of three-hour workshops for historically underutilized businesses (HUBs), including minority and small businesses. As part of its statewide awareness campaign, OERI is reaching out to these groups via workshops and other means to offer information and help with funding opportunities available through ARRA. The remaining three workshops are scheduled for Raleigh (September 16), Hickory (September 23) and Rocky Mount (September 30).
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In the Spotlight
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Changes in Grants Reporting for NC Nonprofits
On August 31, 2009, the
NC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) assumed
responsibility for state grants reporting; nonprofits that receive state grant
funding will no longer report to the NC Office of the State Auditor (OSA).
OSA's Grants Information Center is being replaced by OSBM's online
reporting system, NC Grants, which will become functional on September 30. NC
Grants will serve as a one-stop resource, also providing grant information and
resources for the general public, grant seekers and recipients, and state
agencies. Until September 30, online grants reporting will be unavailable, but
nonprofits with a due date this month will be granted an extension through
October 30, 2009. Grantees who need assistance during the transition can email OSBM or call
919.807.4795.
Janet Hayes Retires
The Grants Information Network of NC would like to say
congratulations and thank you to Janet Hayes, who recently retired as Director
of Management Services and Nongovernmental Compliance in the NC Office of the State Auditor.
Janet established the first division in state government with direct
responsibility for identifying and following up on state and federal grants.
She helped improve the accuracy of oversight and compliance reporting of grants
to nongovernmental entities, reducing noncompliance from 25.3% ($48 million) in
2006 to 12.2% ($24 million) in 2008. Janet coordinated the design and
implementation of a data warehouse and an online reporting system for
nongovernmental grants, the first of its kind in the nation, with access open
to grantees, grantors and the public. She also forged relationships with
personnel at UNC General Administration and the NC Local Government Commission
to allow the first compilation of reports on grants to the university system
and local governments. Janet established a grant investigations unit to audit
grantee and grantor functions, identifying $1.5 million in questioned costs
since the fall of 2006. And she established a training function for grantees
and grantors in the proper accounting, reporting and use of grant funds,
training more than 12,000 individuals across the state since the fall of 2005.
If this wasn't enough to keep Janet busy, she also gave presentations at the Grants Information Network's
biannual grant writing programs for the last four years. In retirement, she
plans to get in some relaxation before considering her next career options!
Thank you, Janet, for the great work you've done for the state and the help you
provided to the Grants Information Network!
GIN News
At the August 27 meeting of the Grants Information Network (GIN) of NC, Anastasia Bush (Durham County Library) and Kelly Laraway (NCSU) volunteered to serve as co-chairs of the Program Committee. Anastasia and Kelly will be developing topics and scheduling speakers for GIN's bimonthly meetings. GIN members are excited about devoting the next meeting on October 8 to a discussion of social networking tools; visit GIN's webpage for details and directions.
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Guest Column
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Strategies for Tough Times
By Judy Hills
If you're
wondering why you keep seeing the same grant offerings over and over, it's
because that's what there is right now. You know what is happening with
federal and state budgets; those woes are causing grants to ebb. Foundations
that depend on stocks and bonds for their income may not be making money; some
of them are not making any grants this cycle. It may be several years
before we see the situation turn around.
So what can a
nonprofit do in these trying times? One suggestion is to explore companies
(especially those with state or national connections) that have an investment
in your community. For example, check out insurance companies, credit unions,
banks, railroads, gas/propane companies, electric companies, phone companies,
cellular companies, airlines, bottling companies, food stores, department
stores, chain stores, manufacturing companies, distribution companies,
wholesale companies, supply companies, farms, etc. Try to find a link between
their mission or business and yours. Do an Internet search and see if
those companies have foundations or charitable arms that give back to the
community. Not all companies are financially troubled.
And don't just
seek money. If you can use something that they sell or produce, ask for a
donation of goods. If you need help, ask for a donation of employee
time. Find even the smallest way to partner with them so you can build a
relationship. This may pay dividends in the future, when times are better.
Watch for businesses that are closing; they may have goods or products you can
use.
Don't forget to
send thank you notes. It is not passé, but it's seldom done in today's
electronic age. Make it especially creative, like putting a photo of the
project on the outside of the card. Or have a recipient of the program
write the note. Send project reports (with pictures) to
contributors. Let them know how their money was spent or goods were used.
Many of you are
struggling. Now may be the time to consider joining forces with another
organization--merging with those whose mission is compatible with
yours. Yes, some might lose jobs, but it may be the difference between
continuing to serve the community and closing your doors. These are tough choices
for tough times.
Another
problem, especially in small rural areas, is the heavy competition for fewer
resources. Put yourself in the shoes of a company in that community. It
must be difficult to have numerous agencies asking for your help. This is
another reason for merging.
We need to
learn to work together and to work smarter. Let's hope that we all survive
this financial downturn and that we learn the important lessons it has to
teach us.
Keep up the
good work that you do!
Judy Hills, Director
of Economic and Community Development for the Eastern Carolina
Council of Governments,
has been involved in federal- and state-funded programs for over 20 years and has helped write
applications resulting in more than $10 million in grants. She administers a
grant writers' listserv and has taught grant writing and grants management for
various entities, including the Duke Nonprofit Management Program and Craven
Community College.
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Grant Opportunities
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Deadline: 10/08/09
Program: Local Energy Assurance Planning Initiative (CFDA 81.122)
Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory
Description: Funding to create local jobs and allow city governments to develop standardized energy assurance and resiliency plans.
Award Amount: $60,000-$300,000
Website: Grants.gov
Eligibility: Government agencies
Deadline: 10/15/09
Program: Dropout Prevention Grants
Agency: NC Dept. of Public Instruction
Description: Funding to support programs and initiatives that target students at risk of dropping out of school.
Award Amount: Up to $175,000
Website: DPI
Eligibility: K-12, nonprofits, government agencies
Deadline: 12/18/09
Program: Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
Agency: NC Dept. of Health and Human Services
Description: Funding to implement programs that have been shown to be effective at reducing teen pregnancies. Applicants must participate in a pre-application conference call 9/15 or 10/20.
Award Amount: Not specified
Website: NC DHHS
Eligibility: K-12, nonprofits, government agencies
Eleven new grant alerts have been uploaded to the GrantProse website. To view these and many more opportunities, visit www.GrantProseInc.com.
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