DISTRICT RESOURCES - Grant Opportunities

Southern district onetime savings are the source of funds for the Southern District Innovative Grants Program.  On an annual basis, the amount of funds available will vary.  One-time funds will be used to provide consultant support to assist faculty and staff in identifying, writing, and securing grants.

Purpose:

Innovative Grant funding will be used to provide consultant support to assist faculty and staff with grant source identification, protocol and completion.

The goal of the Innovative Grant Program is to support new and creative programming in the Southern District.

These funds will enable grant preparation and application support for multi-county and regional programming, agent and/or specialist collaboration, and collaborative program efforts with other agencies or to establish other new partnerships.

Expectations:

Priority will be given to the development of grants and proposals that are educationally supportive of staff and clientele, such as providing assistance with programming (personnel), educational materials, educational equipment or other educational expenses.

Participating UW-Extension Southern District faculty or academic staff must provide the application and administrative lead for any grant application.  This includes:

• Developing the proposal to request the grant for support of a consultant or grant writer.
• Managing grants dollars to hire a grant consultant or grant writer.
• Submitting a grant application to an outside funder includes a 5% project administration fee necessary to cover overhead costs.  This 5% project administration fee will be turned over to the Southern District
• Submitting a copy of the grant proposal to the Southern District Office at the same time it is submitted to any potential funders.
• Assuming overall responsibility for implementation and reporting of the grant.

In addition to meeting one or more of the above purposes, special consideration will be given to proposals that:

• Encourage teamwork
• Explore and develop new delivery models
• Leverage additional funds
• Can be replicated within the district
• Significantly and positively impact targeted audience(s)

Conditions of funded projects:

Proposals are invited from any faculty or staff in the Southern District.

Grant awards will be made on individual merit, regardless of geographic or program affiliation.

The Southern District Resource Team will make the award decisions.  They will assume responsibility as the oversight committee for the Southern District.

When a Southern District faculty or staff does apply for any additional grant (s) from a different funder outside the Southern District, the proposal summary of that grant application (s) will be sent to the Southern District Office at the same time it is sent to the funder.

No coordinator who applies to the Southern District for the innovative grant assistance shall receive more than $3,000 in any one year.  (Or no more than 30% of the one time funds available).

Grant dollars must be used within 12 months of receiving the grant funds.

The deadline for submitting proposals for grant assistance shall be:

• October 1, 2000
• January 1, 2001
• April 1, 2001

Additional grant applications being made to outside funders are to be completed and submitted to potential funders within one year of receiving the Southern District funds.

All grant award recipients will be required to report annually to the Southern District Office with a short written summary of the grant status and its program impacts.

Special Conditions:

The District Resource Management Team supports the use of the Innovative Grant Program funds as seed money for obtaining grant dollars to enhance your programming efforts.  Any proposal will be considered for funding even if it does not use the funds specifically for grant writing or consulting.

Application process:

To apply for this innovative grant, prepare a brief proposal.  The suggested proposal contents should be used as an outline.

Proposal Contents Format
(Application must include the following)

1. Project Coordinator

Name
Title
Address
E-mail
2. Statement of Need:  What issue, concern or opportunity will your educational programming or practice address?
3. Explain the project goals and objectives and how they relate to your county, multi-county or district needs.
4. Personnel:  Describe potential project partnerships/list project participants.
5. Budget/Dollars requested:

a)  How much are you requesting;
b)  Specifically how will the Innovative Grant Dollars be used;
c)  Do you have a consultant or grant writer who will work with you on this project;
     (If yes, please list consultant name or company?)
6. County UWEX Office Department Head Signature approval (not applicable to Basin Educators or Area Resource Agent)

Application Submission

Applications will be accepted at the Southern District Office any time during the year.  They will be reviewed by the Southern District Resource Management Team soon after October 1, 2000, January 1, 2001 and April 1, 2001.

Upon notification of application success, the coordinator who will be receiving the grant will be expected to accept the grant in writing within 30 days of notification.  If the coordinator fails to accept the grant, the funds will no longer be available to that coordinator.

Southern District Resource Management innovative Grant Program
Evaluation Criteria

A.  Educational Program Elements (25 points)

1. Is the program targeting the needs of local clientele? (5)
2. Will the program significantly and positively impact target audience(s)? (5)
3. Is the program in line with the goals and objectives of UWEX? (5)
4. Does the program explore and develop new delivery models? (10)

B.  State, District, County and Local Support (30 points)

1. To what extent is the program a "shared" effort?  Are two or more counties working together?  Is this program shared across UWEX program areas?  (10)
2. Is there cooperation between UWEX county faculty/staff and UWEX state specialists? (10)
3. Are new partnerships and relationships being explored?  (i.e. UWEX working with faculty at UW System schools (Madison and others), Ag, Research Stations, Technical Colleges etc.)?  Is there diverse support/commitment from outside of UWEX? (10)

C.  Potential Impacts and Benefits (35 points)

1. Are the Innovative Grant funds being used specifically to procure and/or support a more substantial grant?  (Maximum points given if funds are being used specifically to hire a grant consultant or grant writer) (15)
2. Are the Innovative Grant (IG) funds being used to leverage additional funds (not coming from a grant)?  Preference given if IG funds are being matched at a 50:50 rate or greater.  (10)
3. Can the program be replicated within the district/have wider reaching benefits? (10)

D.  Budget/use of funds (10 points)

1. Is the manner for using the IG funds clearly defined?

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