Federal Grants

Spring, We Have Contact!

Spring, We Have Contact!

Spring into Grant Connections This is our second blog in an exciting partnership blog link group “Linky Party”  with esteemed grant writers from across the country, including Jana Jane Hexter, Diane Leonard, Heather Stombaugh, and Mark Whitacre. Click on the links throughout this article to read their fascinating and educational perspectives on Grants in springtime. Look for more Linky Party articles in the future! How-Do-You-Do?   In the Upper Midwest, for nearly 6 months, we rarely see our neighbors. During our sub-zero winters, when we do venture outside for a walk in the neighborhood we are unrecognizable anonymous bundles of…read more →

Federal Grant Reform and GPC

Federal Grant Reform and GPC

Federal Grant Reform and GPC   GPC isn’t just for Grant Professional Certification, post-nominal letters I am proud to display. GPC is also the acronym for the  Grants Policy Committee.    Grant Policy Committee This GPC, a committee of the U.S. Chief Financial Officers Council, has responsibility for coordinating government-wide streamlining and simplification activities for federal grants and cooperative agreements. This GPC recommends financial assistance policies and practices to the Office of Management and Budget and coordinates related interagency activities. This GPC is moving us forward with federal grant reform. Busy GPC The GPC’s improvement efforts gained significant momentum when the committee assumed…read more →

We Love Our Funders But …We Work Better Together

We Love Our Funders But …We Work Better Together

WE LOVE OUR FUNDERS BUT… WE WORK BETTER TOGETHER!   This is our first blog in a new and exciting partnership – a Link Party – with esteemed grant writers from across the country, including Jana Jane Hexter, Diane H. Leonard,  Heather Stombaugh and Mark Whitacre. Click on the links throughout this article to read their fascinating and educational perspectives on this subject. Look for more LinkParty articles in the future!   In my 15 years plus working with grants I have found funders and their staff to be some of the most amazing and passionate people. I have worked…read more →

16 HUD Office Closures

16 HUD Office Closures

HUD OFFICE CLOSURES U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to close 16 of its 80 offices and 900 HUD employees may have to move or change jobs. The HUD Office closures will save the agency between $110 and $150 million over a 10-year period. The savings will begin to be realized in FY 2014.   WHY IS HUD CLOSING 16 OFFICES: HUD, like other Federal agencies is balancing program delivery needs against the budgetary resources available to the Department. This action is in response to a White House executive order for more efficiencies.  Federal government has stated that the…read more →

Program Officer Part 2

Program Officer Part 2

Program Officer:  Friend of Foe? Part 2  In our second installment of Program Officer: Friend or Foe we find that the exceptional Program Officer has become more than a friend and moved into the role of Champion!  Five years after Project Streamline explored the burdens of grant applications and reporting, their new report explores streamlining trends, success, barriers and perceptions. It looks at where the field is with streamlining and where it should go next. This new report Practices That Matter: Taking Stock of Streamlining  exposes the Streamline Champion!  Streamlining grants applications and reporting requires grant makers to take time to gather information about their process…read more →

Chase the Money

Chase the Money

How Can You Get More Grants? Don’t Chase the Money!   Here is what I know for sure, a motto if you will – Don’t chase the money. Chase your dream! The money will follow. What do I mean by chasing money? Don’t go after a sponsor, a grant or an investor for their money. Be aggressive in planning your dream, your vision, your impact.  Go to a funder with you plan in hand. Approach a funder as a partner, an investor in YOUR vision.    There are many funding opportunities for all kinds of things from social enterprises to nonprofits, from…read more →

Effort Reports & Payroll Certifications

Effort Reports & Payroll Certifications

Effort Reports & Payroll Certification – The ‘What’s and ‘Why’s  Grant makers, at all levels, are seeking greater accountability,accuracy, efficiency,transparency and timing for contracts and grant compliance activities. Federal agencies are accountable to Congress and to the public for the use of the funds they award. Many agencies require Effort Reports or Payroll Certification.  The federal government requires institutions to have a process in place to certify that salary expenses on federally funded sponsored projects represent an equitable distribution of charges based on an employee’s work activities.   As specified in applicable cost principles, at a minimum, adequate time and effort reports…read more →