1. Office of Criminal Justice Services Grant Writing Training
Jacquetta Al-Mubaslat
Melissa Darby

2. Office of Criminal Justice Services
Lead criminal justice planning agency: technology, policy, research, grants
Federal and state funding streams: more than $20 million in grant funding

3. How OCJS Receives Funding
Federal solicitation
Application
Allocation
Provide a brief overview of this section. Understanding that OCJS is the state administrator for the previously mentioned programs.
Pass through Funds in which special conditions at the Federal level are passed on to the subgrantee.

4. Request for Proposal Read! Read! Read! Eligibility Purpose Format
Submission

5. Eligibility Guidelines
Must be eligible to receive funding
Contact agency with questions
Examples: OIBRS data, subgrantee, etc.
This a good reference to “What Grantmakers Want Applicants to Know”…rather do your research. Does your agency and project fit within

6. Important questions to consider:
Program and Purpose
Important questions to consider:
How does the proposed project fit with the funding source?
Who is implementing the project?
Does the mission and purpose of the implementing agency align with the project scope? Or…
Gathering background:
Concept
How does the program that the applicant is requesting funding for fit with the mission and purpose of the agency?
Program
Scope of the project
How it will be implemented
Timeline for the project
Anticipated outcomes and measurement tools
Staffing and volunteer needs
Expenses
Planning stage requires some outline depicting whether budget costs will be in proportion and reasonable to expected outcomes

8. Format and Submission
It is critically important to follow the RFP guidelines regarding format & submission….it could mean being considered for funding or not being considered for funding simply because the guidelines were not followed.

9. Planning Program Elements
Preparation
Gathering Data
Planning Program Elements
Writing Application

10. Grant Making Process 1 2 3 Internal Compliance Review
Outside Peer Review
Internal Subject Matter Expert 3
OCJS Director’s Review
This page is an introduction to the discussion in the upcoming pages—but the most important point at this section is to READ the RFP.
Once we receive our state allocation awarded by the Feds we then release a request for proposals.
READ----Within the RFP to have an understanding of the above RFP components.

11. Key Proposal Elements

12. To give away money is an easy matter and in any man's power
To give away money is an easy matter and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man's power nor an easy matter.
—Aristotle

13. Problem Statement
The Problem Statement defines the fundamental problem that the applicant is addressing, and provides a compelling logical reason why the applicant’s proposal should be supported.
The problem statement is essentially a statement of need. It provides a compelling logical reason why the proposal should be supported. It specifies the conditions you wish to change.
It should relate to the purposes and the goals of the organization. It should make clear the relationship between your organizations and the problem to be solved. It should also provide a connection between the project and the guidelines or the goals established within the solicitation.
The problem should be stated in terms of the clients needs not the organization’s.
It should be of reasonable dimensions—The focus of the project is something that can be reasonable address within the project and the projected timeline.
Supported by relevant statistical evidence—This is an extremely important piece and often a large gap within grantseeker applications. It provide the rationale/justification for the problem. OCJS emphasizes the need to submit this information within the RFP.
Defines the target population: It describes who they are and how they will benefit. OCJS also requests that applicants describe who the underserved population--how underserved populations will be identified and how the needs of those populations will be served.
Underserved populations include geographic location (rural isolation), underserved racial and ethnic populations, special needs populations (language barriers, disabilities, alienage, or age); or any other population determined to be underserved by the U.S. Attorney General or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate.
“Why is this a problem?” Don’t assume that the grantmaker knows about the problem you have identified. Not everyone will see the problem in your community as clearly as you.

14. Description of the scope of the work and expected outcomes
Methodology
Includes:
Description of the scope of the work and expected outcomes
Outline of activities
Description of the personnel functions with the names of key staff and consultants if possible.
--May or may not be “titled” as a component.
--may be referred to as narrative
--It is description of your method and process.
This may not be a specific section of an application, however this is what needs to be thought of when composing various sections of a proposal.
In essence it is a detailed description of the method and process of how the goals and objectives will be accomplished.
Includes:
Description of the scope of the work and expected outcomes
Outline of activities
Description of the personnel functions with the names of key staff and consultants if possible.

15. Project Description Describes the model Describes the evidence
Describes the activities
Describes the impact
Restatement of the problem and the objectives
Describe the process and activities that will be implemented to achieve the objectives.
Reasonable scope of activities within the allotted time.
Discusses the evidence that justifies the approach (model)
Is logical and relates to the needs of the identified target population
Clearly describes the activities and the reason for the selection of the activities
Demonstrates fidelity to the chosen model
Links to evidence based models when appropriate
Discusses the impact of the activities for the target population, the community and the staff that will carryout activities
The Project Description is a restatement of the problem and objectives and should therefore flow naturally from the problem to the objectives. ( the objectives-which we will discuss).
The activities presented should be of reasonable scope and are activities that can be accomplished within the time allotted for the program and within the resources of the applicant.
There should be clear discussion as to why a model was chosen and why this approach is appropriate for the project and the target population.

16. Performance Indicator
Objectives
Objective
Performance Indicator
Baseline
Data Collection

17. Objectives SMART Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time bound
WHAT, WHY, WHO, WHEN & HOW?
WHAT—are we going to do?
WHY—is it important for us to accomplish this activity?
WHO—is going to be responsible for the activities?
WHEN—do we want this to be completed?
HOW—are we going to do these activities?
So,--Who will make what change by how much, where and by when?

18. Objectives
internal
agency
Process
external
target population
Outcome

19. Timeline/Activities Activities Persons Responsible Daily Monthly
Quarterly
Annually
Identifies activities from the beginning to the end of the project.
Program activities
Grants administration and program reporting activities
Data collection activities
Collaboration activities
Components of a timeline include:
Identifies project activities and when those activities begin and end.
OCJS requires the timeline of activities to include grants management administration and collaboration board activities
Identifies who is responsible for implementing each activity
Identifies how the activity relates to a stated objective and related data collection activities.
Activities may be ongoing, daily, monthly and quarterly

20. Organizational Capacity
Mission
History
Staffing
Volunteers
Cultural Competency
Physical Resources
Grants Administration
Demonstrate whether your organization has the ability to successfully implement the project design outlined in your grant proposal
Describes:
Organization—Mission/History
Staff—levels, expertise, qualifications/credentials, trainings, cultural competency
Physical Resources—space, technology, relevant equipment
Previous grants administration experience

21. Collaboration Boards
Collaboration Boards are a required OCJS grant component
Collaboration allows groups with a shared purpose to address an identified problem and need within their community
Collaboration Boards allow for the sharing of resources to maximize capacity and the success of project goals and objectives.
Relevancy/Appropriateness
Letters must be uploaded upon submission of the application.

22. Executive Summary
Governor’s office, local, state, federal agencies, public information requests, etc.
Serves as a concise and accurate description of the proposed project.
Snapshot of the proposed project.
Should not introduce new information.

23. Executive Summary Purpose Statement Problem Statement
Project Description
Participating Agencies/Collaboration

24. Executive Summary Purpose Statement
clear and concise
describes what the applicant is going to do
the population that is going to be served
how it will be accomplished
why it is important
The information provided within the purpose statement is reported to the FFATA Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS) in response to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Legislation.

25. $$$ Budget Cohesive Amount Narrative Problem Statement
Project Description
Objectives
Amount
Funding caps
Reasonable
Narrative
Required
Further explanation of essential elements

26. Office of Criminal Justice Services
Contact Information
Melissa Darby – JAG, JAG LE, RSAT
Jacquetta Al-Mubaslat – VAWA, FVPSA
Office of Criminal Justice Services
1970 W. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43223
Main Number