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Preparing for Proposal Development

Workshop #1

Dr. Paul Kavanaugh, CEEJH

pkavanau@umd.edu

Medessa Burian, EFC

msburian@umd.edu

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Session Agenda

Learning Objectives for this Session
Required Federal Registrations
Finding relevant funding opportunities
Getting prepared
Determining if a funding opportunity is the right fit

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As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to:

Register their organization in Grants.gov.

Register their organization in the System for Award Management (Sam.gov) and obtain Unique Entity Identification (UEI) numbers.

Locate federal, state and private funding opportunities for their projects.

Evaluate if a funding opportunity is suitable for their project.

Learning Objectives for this Session

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Required Federal Registrations

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Grants.gov

Includes Grants Learning Center – Grants 101, Policies, Eligibility, Grant Terms, Programs, and more!
Check out the Grants.gov website and REGISTER!
There is no fee to register or renew at SAM.gov

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The Grants.gov webpage says that the Grants.gov registration process can be completed in minutes.

However, it can take longer so do this far in advance to ensure you’re able to submit your application properly. �
It is highly encouraged that you register your organization with Grants.gov NOW at this symposium.

Register with Grants.gov

Directions on how to register at

https://www.grants.gov/register.html

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Government-wide registry for organizations doing business with the Federal government.

SAM registration is required for nonprofits to receive grants.

Grants.gov uses SAM.gov to establish organizational authority for its users and to provide unique entity identification (UEI) numbers.

There is NO fee to register or renew.

The registration process can take up to TEN days, so start early!

Registrations must be updated yearly to remain active.

Register with the

System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Register here:

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

Sam.gov provides a central location for grant recipients to change organizational information.

If you want to apply for federal awards as a prime awardee, you need a registration. A registration allows you to bid on government contracts and apply for federal assistance. As part of registration, we will assign you a Unique Entity ID.

For registration, you are required to enter information about your entity. See Entity Registration Checklist

If you are only requesting a Unique Entity ID and not completing a registration, you only need to provide to provide your legal business name and physical address.

If you select Register Entity, your Unique Entity ID will be assigned during the registration process. Registration is for organizations that want to directly bid on government contracts and apply for federal assistance.

You can get a Unique Entity ID for your organization without having to complete a registration. If you only con duct certain types of transactions, such as reporting as a sub-awardee, you may not need to complete a registration. Your entity may only need a Unique Entity Identifier.

If you choose to only get a Unique Entity ID, you cannot apply directly for federal awards.

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The Unique Entity ID generated in SAM.gov is now the authoritative identifier for those doing business with the federal government.

The DUNS Number is no longer valid for federal award identification.

If you are registered in SAM.gov (active or not), you already have a Unique Entity ID. It is viewable at SAM.gov.

If you are new to SAM.gov and will be registering for the first time, you will receive your Unique Entity ID during SAM registration.

Unique Entity ID

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Finding Relevant Funding Opportunities

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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Solar for All
National Clean Investment Fund
Clean Communities Accelerator

Environmental & Climate Justice Thriving Communities Block Grant

Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grants

Funding to Address Air Pollution at Schools

“Building a Clean Energy Economy: A Guidebook to the Inflation Reduction Act’s Investments in Clean Energy and Climate Action”

https://www.epa.gov/invest/epa-funding-announcements-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-and-inflation-reduction-act

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Inflation-Reduction-Act-Guidebook.pdf

-Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (aka Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) represents the largest federal investment in water in infrastructure in the history of our nation. It will help rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind. ($55 billion will go to water infrastructure alone.)

-The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is a landmark US Federal law which aims to curb inflation by reducing the fed gov’t budget deficit, lowering prescription drug prices, and investing into domestic energy production while promoting clean energy. It was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in August 2022

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Environmental Justice Grants, Funding & Technical Assistance

Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub mini-grants of $20,000, https://sph.umd.edu/MATCH/grants

Region 3 EPA Thriving Communities - Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC), https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance-centers

Frontline Resource Institute (FRI), https://www.frontlineresourceinstitute.org/grants/

EPA – Environmental Justice Grants, https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-grants

EPA Grants Update Listserv, https://www.epa.gov/grants/forms/subscribe-epa-grants-update-listserv

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National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, https://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake-bay-stewardship-fund

Benefits communities, habitats, farms, & wildlife of the Ches Bay region
Multiple, distinct, annual funding opportunities

Delaware River Program, https://www.nfwf.org/programs/delaware-river-program

Dedicated to restoring the fish, wildlife habitats and water quality of the Delaware River and its tributaries
Two annual funding opportunities

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program, https://www.nfwf.org/programs/five-star-and-urban-waters-restoration-grant-program

Seeks to develop nationwide community stewardship of local natural resources
Prioritizes partnerships and urban waters

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Community Development Block Grants

Funding to uplift urban communities through quality affordable housing and expanding economic opportunities

Supports construction of, or improvements to, public facilities (i.e., water/sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, schools, energy conservation, renewable energy)

Principally for low- and moderate-income urban communities

There are multiple, distinct grant and loan opportunities

https://www.hudexchange.info/

programs/cdbg/

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State Opportunities

Check out the grants from your state agencies

Maryland Governor’s Grants Office https://grants.maryland.gov/Pages/maryland-contacts.aspx
Sign up for email notifications

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Getting Prepared

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Content to Prepare in Advance

“Qualifications”

Short organizational history
Short bios for your team and partners
Resumes
Experience in doing the kind of work your project idea entails

“Past Performance”

Successes in applying for and managing grants

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Steps to Take in Advance

Register with Grants.gov, https://www.grants.gov/register
Register with SAM.gov and receive a “Unique Entity ID”, https://sam.gov/
Become familiar with federal forms, https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html
Become familiar with submission portals

TIP: Make sure your Adobe Reader is up-to-date!

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Is the Funding Opportunity

the Right Fit?

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Step 1: Evaluate the

Basic Requirements

To answer this, you must consider:

Is there time to gather the required documentation?
Can you secure any required approvals (i.e., landowner, board of directors, or city council)?
Is there time to line up partners and obtain letters of support?

Are you an eligible applicant?
Do you have enough time to develop a compelling, well-written proposal?

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Step 1: Evaluate the

Basic Requirements

3) Is the amount of time and effort worth it for the amount of funding available?

4 ) Do you have the capacity?

To write the proposal
To manage the grant and complete the project, if funded

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Step 2: Evaluate if Your

Project is a Good Fit

1) Carefully review the RFP to determine if you have a project or project idea that meets the criteria of the announcement. Most RFPs have several project categories, each with specific requirements.

Can you meet the project requirements such as:

Mapping requirements?
Nutrient reduction calculations?
Landowner agreements?
Permitting?
Pre-application visit with the funder?

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Did You Know?

Announcements go by many different names:

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Request for Applications (RFA)

Request for Proposals (RFP)

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Step 2: Evaluate if Your

Project is a Good Fit

2) Do you have the capacity to do everything in-house, or do you need a partner?

Even if you have in-house capacity, including partners can be a BIG asset! Consider if partners could:

Meet a requirement or fill a gap?
Bring a specific, needed skill set (i.e., designer, engineer)?
Be an eligible applicant?
Strengthen the project in some other way?

Is a contractor required for your project? Getting bids can add several weeks to your timeline!

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Step 2: Evaluate if Your

Project is a Good

If a partner is needed, consider the following:

Do you have an existing partner, or do you need to identify someone new?
Do you have the time and capacity to identify and obtain a new partner?
Can partners work within your timeline?

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Step 2: Evaluate if Your

Project is a Good Fit

3) Pay close attention to evaluation criteria.

4) Make a list that contains the required

information and documentation.

5) Make a list of questions.

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Step 3: Reach out to the Funder

Do not underestimate the importance of this step!
Ask questions and get feedback on your idea before writing the proposal.
Federal funders respond to frequently asked questions. Check back often; new responses are added while the announcement remains open.

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Step 4: Moving Forward

with a Proposal

7 Tips for Success:

Clearly establish a project team and project lead.
If applicable, establish a point of contact with each partner.
Clearly identify the information required from partners (i.e., letters of support, resumes, proposal content, and more).
Delegate tasks to team members.i
Set deadlines and check-ins with your internal project team and partners throughout the application period.
Set your final due date several days prior to the submission deadline.
Submit early! the information required from partners.�early identify the information required from partners.�

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Attend events to MEET and TALK to people who have applied for and/or received grant funding. Learn from their experience. Ask funded organizations if they are looking for entities with whom they might partner and establish sub-awards.

Look at previously funded proposals, https://archive.epa.gov/osem/stategrants/web/pdf/utpre-proposal.pdf

Watch Technical Assistance webinars. EPA archives their grant webinars, https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-grants-webinars

Check out EPA’s Federal Grant Writing Resources Guide, https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/Federal-Grant-Writing-Resources-Guide-2021.pdf and

Tips for a Successful Grant Application, https://www.epa.gov/ports-initiative/tips-successful-grant-application

Additional Proposal Development Tips

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What are Your Tips and Tricks?

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Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

Dr. Paul Kavanaugh, CEEJH

pkavanau@umd.edu

Medessa Burian, EFC

msburian@umd.edu