USING FUNDS SUCCESSFULLY George Godfrey MA/SERD/CSREES/USDA SERD Project Directors’ Conference New Orleans, LA April 1, 2005 Need logo

Notification of Award! On Schedule? Read Award Notice Notify Partners Objectives Budget Time Line Report Deadlines Start . . . Reports

Notification of Award! Delayed Start? Read Award Notice – Money on Hold Examples of Delays: Budget, Overdue Rpt Objectives and Budget Time Line - Reset? Report Deadlines Start Project . . . Reports Time Line

Getting Organized BUDGET OBJECTIVES BENCH MARKS ACTIVITIES REPORTS PERSONNEL . . . Reports Time Line

Project Period 1-5 Years Bench Marks Work Toward Objectives Activities Obligations Draw Downs $$$$ $$$$ Remember > 10 % and 5-year rules

Objectives & Budget Alignment 1 2 x End $0.00 . . . Reports Time Line

Changing Scenarios Scope or Objectives Key Personnel Project Leadership All of the above * . . . Reports Time Line * Refer to Terms and Conditions “B” : http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/awardterms.htm

Changes May Lead To . . . Original Time Line Adjusted Time Line No-Cost Extension (NCE)? - Request 30 Days Before End Date Original End Date NCE . . . Reports Original Time Line See slide #8 for time line information New End Date . . . Reports Adjusted Time Line

Project Adjustments (cont.) Prior Approval Required: Budget Change (> 10% Budget Rule) Change in Scope or Objectives Change in Key Personnel Absence/Change in Project Leadership No-Cost Extension http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/awardterms.htm

Project Communication PARTNER ADM & GRANT OFFICES PD CSREES FUNDS MGMT CSREES PROGRAM CSREES AWARDS

TECHNICAL IMPACT WRITING Saleia Afele-Faamuli MA/SERD/CSREES/USDA SERD Project Directors’ Conference New Orleans, LA April 1, 2005 Need logo

REPORTS ANNUAL FINAL FINANCIAL

WHY REPORT? IT’S REQUIRED

FOR WHOM? Our CONSTITUENTS Tax Payers Congress Stakeholders Fed/State/Local Officials Grants University Community Industry Representatives YOU!

HOW? IMPACT STATEMENTS!

WHAT is an IMPACT STATEMENT WHAT is an IMPACT STATEMENT? Brief description of differences made on health, social, environmental, economic, etc. Quantifiable/Qualitative Differences ….Target Audience and Public Your accomplishments and payoff to society

Impact is NOT Simply A Description of the Program # Meetings Held During Life of Project # Experiments # Students Enrolled in a Class

3 Components of an Impact Statement What is the Issue? What’s been done? So What? What difference did it make?

What is the Issue? A Descriptive Problem Statement: What? Why? How? Where? When?

What’s Been Done? Plan of Action ACTION/ACTIVITIES RE THE ISSUE Examples: # People Reached # Meetings Held # Experiments Completed # Students Enrolled in a Class

SO WHAT? What DIFFERENCE did it make? IMPACTS!

What Makes a Good Impact Statement? Clear/easy to Read Illustration of How Project Changed/Improved Lives of Clientele Benefits to Clientele/Public E.g. Financial Savings/Better Mgmt of Resources/Improved Health Investment Benefits Unique Situation

EXAMPLE 1: What is the Issue? CSREES expectations for funded projects Annual, clear updates Final Reports and IMPACTS must be clearly communicated for the benefit of: Program Recipients Public Congress

What has been Done? The 2005 Project Directors’ Conference was designed for program recipients and eligible institutions. Conference attracted ~250 participants and ~80 posters presentations.

What has been Done? (Cont.) Project Directors’ Conference goals: Better interpret grant RFA Enhance grant expectations/fiscal mgmt. Understand effective project impact writing Build network of initiatives Build partnerships for integrated proposal opportunities Have exposure to innovative ideas.

So What? What Difference Did It Make? Claims of the 2005 Project Directors’ Conference Participants: Have better understanding of a grant RFA, expectations, reports/fiscal mgmt. Formed new partnerships/collaborations. Adopted new ideas from other innovative projects. Ready to develop at least 1 innovative and competitive proposal.

National Impact Database Searchable impact database is open to the public View impact reports at: http://impact.csrees.usda.gov/impact