Grant Writing Melanie Bondera Rural Cooperative Development Specialist Laulima Center for Cooperative Business Development The Kohala Center December 4, 2012
Today s Schedule 9am 9:00 Grant Writing Problem-Project-Impact How To Producer & Coop Grants 11:00 Discussion of Producers Vision 11:30 Summarize with Plan 12pm working lunch 12:30 Articles (name) & By-laws 1:30 Draft Membership Agreements & Rules 2:30 Steering Committee with Workplan/Timeline 3pm PAU
Agriculture Business Development Nicole Milne Financing strategies for agriculture businesses Agricultural coops, farms & ranches, agriculture processing businesses Research, loan forms, grant applications
USDA Funding FNS- Food & Nutrition Service RD- Rural Development VAPG- Value-Added Producer Grant SSDPG- Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant RBEG- Rural Business Enterprise Grant RBOG- Rural Business Opportunity Grant B&I- Business Program Loans & Grants CF- Community Facility Direct Loans & Grants NIFA- National Institute of Food & Agriculture BFRDP- Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program CFP- Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program SARE- Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education NRCS- Natural Resource Conservation Service CIG- Conservation Innovation Grant AMS- Agricultural Marketing Service FMPP- Farmers Market Promotion Program FSMIP- Federal-State Market Improvement Program SCBGP- Specialty Crop Block Grant Program RMA- Risk Management Agency COAPP- Community Outreach & Assistance Partnership Program OAO- Office of Advocacy & Outreach OASDFR- Outreach & Assistance to Socially-Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers FSA-Farm Service Agency FSA Operating Loans FSA Land Loans
HI State funding Specialty Crop Block Grant Sponsorship and Product Promotion grant SPP13, MMP12 CBEDT- small grant Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Private Foundations Ulupono Initiative Feed the Hungry Sacharuna
Research Grants Applicant type (farmer, coop) Eligibility Project match
Strategize What are my chances of getting this grant? Get on grant announcement lists Look at previous deadlines to create yourself a rough calendar Talk to potential partners or consultants before the grant is announced Sign up for Grants.gov
Work Plan/Timeline Start with due date and work back Leave time for all stages Assign the work to involved people with deadlines
Get help UH-CTAHR extension service Small Business Development Center Agribusiness Incubator Program The Kohala Center Private Consultants
Grants vs. Loans Grants are for Planning & Marketing Loans are for Land, Infrastructure, Equipment, Salaries, and Cash Flow
No money is Free money Your time = money They decide Granting cycles and timelines are different than business or farming cycles and timelines.
Check Eligibility Applicant entity Project eligibility Geographic region Timeframe $ amount Special requirements
Contact the Program Officer Check eligibility Check your project idea Ask additional questions Establish a rapport now, for issues closer to the deadline
The Deadline Date Hour Timezone
Submission Method Grants.gov Email final document Snailmail final document
Grants.gov Incorporate your business Get your federal tax ID EIN or SSN Get a DUNS # Go to SAM for a CCR (CAGE #) Grants.gov password & ID
Personal cash Match In-kind (work, expertise, equipment, production inventory, projected income, land) Loan Partner 3 rd Party in-kind (consultant work) Coop share equity
Letters of Support Letters of Commitment or Intent Partners Markets Experts Community Members Politicians
Read RFP CAREFULLY!! Think like the Reviewer Details count Get help Read it again when editing
Draft the Budget first How do you want to spend the $? Check Eligible and non-eligible uses Make it realistic Research real costs, and footnote Use exel and balance the budget Use their budget categories Indirect Costs/Overhead, fringe
Evaluation Criteria What they plan to use to make the decision If weighted by %, then use that to determine your sections length Make sure you answer these Edit to check you answered well
Write Narrative Draft Outline the Sections required with # of words/pages and required content Outline in bullet points, the content you want in each section Write the narrative Write Abstract/Executive Summary last Know your own writing process
Proposal Content Problem/Opportunity Project Work Plan Outcomes/Benefit
Edit Reread, rewrite Get 2 people to edit (content, language) Final proofread
Budget & Justification Edit draft Balance Write justification from research Cite where possible Have another person read it for legitimacy, with a calculator Make sure $ amounts in text match budget
Follow-Up Announcement date Funding begin date Understand reporting requirements Ask for the reviewer comments
Implementing Grant Turn in Reports, On Time Ask Permission before you make Changes No money is Free money
The Laulima Center www.laulimacenter.org" Melanie Bondera Rural Cooperative Development Specialist mbondera@kohalacen ter.org (808) 640-7076 Nicole Milne Agriculture Business Development Specialist nmilne@kohalacenter.org (808) 987-9210