Managing NAWCA Grants Lessons Learned

Involve grants administrator in writing of grant Involve grants administrator in writing of grant Clearly delineate grant, match and non-match Clearly delineate grant, match and non-match Include indirect costs/direct allocation Include indirect costs/direct allocation Build in costs such as NHPA and NEPA for amendments Build in costs such as NHPA and NEPA for amendments Be thoughtful when selecting partners Be thoughtful when selecting partners Ensure that match partners understand obligation Ensure that match partners understand obligation Successful management starts with a well planned proposal

Have a good sense of project certainty Have a good sense of project certainty Landowner commitments through option agreements and earnest money Landowner commitments through option agreements and earnest money Be thoughtful about extremely rare habitat types Be thoughtful about extremely rare habitat types Successful management starts with a well planned proposal

Reporting and Financial Management – The Backbone Good grants management tools and organizational systems essential Good grants management tools and organizational systems essential Balance of $ and acres challenging Balance of $ and acres challenging Multiple grant and partner projects Multiple grant and partner projects Complex management requirements Complex management requirements Finance and science expertise Finance and science expertise Challenge for small non-profits Challenge for small non-profits

Project Area Grants 2 NAWCAs EPA USFWS Private Stewardship NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program U.S. Forest Service National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Bonneville Power Administration Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 5 Washington State Salmon Grants 2 Private Foundation Grants

Reporting and Financial Management – The Backbone A-133 Audit A-133 Audit Expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards Expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards Adds $ to audit cost Adds $ to audit cost Start working with partners well in advance of due date for annual and final reports (3 months) Start working with partners well in advance of due date for annual and final reports (3 months) Learn from others administering NAWCAs. Joint Venture, LTA, state coalitions Learn from others administering NAWCAs. Joint Venture, LTA, state coalitions

Expense Tracking

Acres Chart

Communicate Clearly with Grant Partners Match partners need to understand obligation upfront Match partners need to understand obligation upfront Must meet NAWCA administration standards Must meet NAWCA administration standards For acquisition, Notice of Grant agreement For acquisition, Notice of Grant agreement For restoration and enhancement, property must be managed for time period specified in proposal For restoration and enhancement, property must be managed for time period specified in proposal Acres AND dollars can’t be committed to any other federally funded program Acres AND dollars can’t be committed to any other federally funded program Is partner staff person authorized to commit match? Is partner staff person authorized to commit match?

Grant Partners Continued You must track ALL projects in the grant for term specified. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE! You must track ALL projects in the grant for term specified. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE! Clear agreements with sub-recipients outlining commitments and scope of work Clear agreements with sub-recipients outlining commitments and scope of work Match and sub-recipient projects often involve many other partners; not all partners understand the requirements and dynamics of your grant Match and sub-recipient projects often involve many other partners; not all partners understand the requirements and dynamics of your grant Delays in partner projects can impact your grant timeline. Delays in partner projects can impact your grant timeline.

Be Thoughtful with NACWA Amendments Wait to ensure that the project is going to move forward before amending it into the grant Wait to ensure that the project is going to move forward before amending it into the grant Work closely with joint venture coordinator and grants administrator. Communicate issues ASAP. They want you to succeed! Work closely with joint venture coordinator and grants administrator. Communicate issues ASAP. They want you to succeed!

Bottom Line: Communication is Key!

Brad Paymar Columbia Land Trust