Best Practices for Federal Nonprofit Grants Cynthia Dudzinski, Grants Management Specialist Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety, US Coast Guard

Preparing to Apply: Things to Know Where must you be registered in order to apply? SAM.gov Grants.gov Program or agency-specific application submission systems How do I learn about Funding Opportunities? GovDelivery What in the world is a NOFO? – Notice of Funding Opportunity 2 CFR 200 Appendix I

Key Resources Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 2 CFR 200 Grants.gov Form Repository SF-424 forms Post-award forms Programmatic webpages Technical assistance opportunities Competition FAQs Post-Award Guidance – understand what current grantees do Review databases of previous and current recipients

Transparency in Government Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006: Agencies are required to disclose all entities and organizations receiving federal funds USASpending.gov USCG Recreational Boating Safety Website: http://www.uscgboating.org/grants/nonprofit-grants.php

Before you apply… Do not sell yourself short Know what you’re applying for  Understand the timeline, eligibility requirements, and expectations of the grant Read the submission instructions carefully Submit only what is required unless it explicitly states otherwise Do not exceed page limit requirements Be realistic Do you have enough time to put together a quality application? Are you capable of meeting program requirements? Do not sell yourself short

Narratives & Budgets Write your narrative to address the Selection Criteria in order Be direct and succinct; leave behind the flowery words and thesaurus Do not use specialized jargon or uncommon terminology; clearly explain acronyms Submit a budget with realistic anticipated costs Do not propose “pie in the sky” amounts Do not propose numbers that look good but can’t get the job done Provide a strong, concise budget narrative that supports your proposal

You didn’t get funded. Now what? Request Applicant Feedback Identify areas for improvement Reconsider if your organization is a good fit for the program Rethink the structure of your project: Partnerships? Additional staffing? It’s not you, it’s “us” Multiple applications for a targeted priority Balancing a portfolio: fewer grants with more money vs. more grants with less money Apply again

You got funded. Now what? Be excited. You should be. It was a lot of work! Communicate your achievement(s) to external stakeholders. It’s okay to brag. It could help you leverage future partnerships. Be prepared to hit the ground running. If your proposed timeline is set to begin two months after the targeted award date, be ready to execute. Be cognizant of agency: Expectations Communications Reporting Requirements

Expectations Know and review the information you’ve been given Understand your Terms & Conditions They are there to inform and protect you; to keep your grant on track. Execute your agreed-upon timeline and/or deliverables Register the appropriate staff on grants management systems Don’t let yourself be surprised – “Oh I didn’t know we had to do that” “I wasn’t aware that was a program requirement” Know and review the information you’ve been given

Communications Be responsive to your agency liaisons. They should be responsive to you too! Do not be afraid to ask questions. We are here to help. We want grant programs to succeed. Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness. Did your program do something awesome? Tell us. Keep us informed. Let us know when you have planned activities. If a timeline gets delayed and/or a project cannot proceed as initially planned, let us know. Delays and “course corrections” happen. It does not automatically equate poor performance.

Reporting Requirements Reporting requirements should be included in the competition NOFO. They should never be a surprise. Be timely. If you need an extension, ask. Understand that reporting includes both financial and programmatic When in doubt, consult 2 CFR 200 Performance and Financial Monitoring and Reporting (2 CFR 200 Parts 200.237-200.329)

General Advice Learn, live, love 2 CFR 200 Understand the Terms & Conditions of your award agreement and how they relate to program activities Keep your federal agency involved Learn to maximize your grant funds When in doubt, give us a call!

Cynthia Dudzinski Cynthia.M.Dudzinski@uscg.mil (202) 372-1064 Contact Information Cynthia Dudzinski Cynthia.M.Dudzinski@uscg.mil (202) 372-1064