NCompass Live: Continuing Education/Training and Library Improvement Grants Information Session

Continuing Education/Training & Library Improvement Grants:
Grants Information Session
NCompass Live – November 12, 2009

About the presenters
Research Analyst
Special Projects Associate
Grant writer
Evaluator
Kathryn.Brockmeier@Nebraska.gov
402.471.4002

Laura Johnson
Continuing Education Coordinator
Continuing Education & Training Grants
Laura.Johnson@ Nebraska.gov
402.471.2694

Richard Miller
Library Development Director
Library Improvement Grants
Richard.Miller@ Nebraska.gov
402.471.3175

About you
Your role
Library Director
Trustee
Friends/Foundation Board
Your credentials

About you, cont’d

Online Information
http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/libdev/grant.html
http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/libdev/Conedgrants/ Cegrant2010/index.html
http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/libdev/lsta/lsta.html
Please read very carefully through the information presented on these pages, to be in compliance

NLC Grant Guidelines
Eligible entities
Purpose and activities (priorities)
Types of support
Deadlines
The Nebraska Unicameral will be meeting in a special session in November and is expected to approve budget cuts to state agencies. The amount of money available for grants is likely to be less. We will inform the library community of any such reductions.

Eligible Entities
CE / Training Grant
Accredited public libraries (may be in conjunction with recognized community organizations or agencies)
Groups/consortia of public libraries
Regional library systems
State-run institutions
Library Improvement Grant
Accredited Nebraska public libraries
Identified institutional libraries
Nebraska Regional Library Systems
Other organizations can partner with an eligible entity for purposes of submitting a grant application for a collaborative project.

Purpose and Activities (priorities)
CE / Training Grant
Assist Nebraska libraries to provide improved library services to their communities through continuing education and training for their library personnel and supporters.
Library board members, volunteers, advocates, and other supporters may be included in the training, as appropriate.
Facilitate growth and development of library programs and services in Nebraska public and institutional libraries, by supplementing local funding with federal funds designated for these purposes.

Purpose and Activities (priorities)
CE / Training Grant
Applications from libraries cooperating with other libraries or entities will be given first consideration
Applications from libraries which have never received a Continuing Education and Training Grant will also be given preference

Types of Support
CE / Training Grant
Projects which develop the knowledge and skills of Nebraska library personnel in furtherance of the institution's mission.
$250 to $5,000 will be awarded
 cost of academic education for individuals
 cost of attending statewide professional conferences
One or more of the six “LSTA purposes”
http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/libdev/lsta/lsta.html
Minimum grant award is $500

Deadlines
CE / Training Grant
Available Nov. 3, 2009
Due Dec. 17, 2009
Recipients announced Jan. 15, 2010
Available Oct. 20, 2009
Due Jan. 6, 2010
Recipients announced Feb. 16, 2010

Before the Application
Three organizing principles:
Program
Marketing
Financial

Org. Principle #1: Program
Problem statement / needs statement
Goals & objectives
Methodology (Action / tasks / activities plan)
Publicity plan
Evaluation plan
Impact statement

Problem / Needs Statement
Rationale – substantiate
Community needs or patrons’ needs or even staff’s needs ( we need $)
Describe the target audience
Tell your story
Stay focused on the need, not the solution

Goals & Objectives
Goals
Based on the vision of where you want the program or target population to be when the grant period is over
Can you write it in one sentence?
“To…” or “Will…”
Include target population
Objectives
Measurements or timelines go here
Specific, measureable outcomes of your program
Your promised improvements in the situation you described in the problem statement
“Reduce,” “increase,” “provide”

Actions / Tasks / Activities
Clearly tell the reader what you will do (this is your solution to the problem)
State reasons for selection of activities
Describe who will perform the tasks and what they are responsible for
Describe sequence of activities
Include a timeline; it demonstrates you have thought your program through; don’t forget to include evaluation/ reporting
Again…What – How – Who – When

Publicity Plan
How will you communicate with your target audience?
How will you promote your program or service to your target audience (marketing)?
How will you let others know about this program or project?

Evaluation
How effective is your program?
Covers outputs, outcomes and process
Describes data gathering methods
Testimonials, success stories, observations, pre and post testing, questionnaires, interviews, activity logs, performance reports
Final report form as your guide?

Impact Statement
Illustrates the impact your program will have on staff, library patrons, community
How is the project significant or unique?
How is the project addressing issues in the library or community?
Can the funder’s money make a difference beyond the library?
Can this project help you fulfill your own mission statement?
Can others incorporate your program?

Org. Principle #2: Marketing
Introduction
Formatting / presentation
Funder research
Attachment items

Introduction (cover letter?)
Organizational background
Mission and vision or purpose and goals of organization
Describe library programs or previous training
About your patrons or staff
Collaboration (incl. volunteers)
Interesting
Free of jargon
Brief
(May add summary here?)

Formatting / Presentation
Provide what’s requested and follow directions
Be coherent, logical; have someone else read it
Pay attention to grammar and spelling
Use bullet points or *’s to bring out important points
Speak their language: use funder’s vocabulary

Funder Research
Seek funding to meet your mission
Seek funding to meet your goals
Is your project and the aim of the grant a good match?

Attachments
Cover letter – shine through!
Letters of support; partnership letters
Certification statement if required
Signature page if required
Estimates from suppliers
List of materials for purchase
Résumé/background of contracted personnel
Course descriptions

Org. Principle #3: Financial
Project budget
Budget justification / narrative
Sustainability / dissemination

Project Budget
Link dollar amounts to the components (what and who) that show up in actions/tasks/ activities
Salaries/wages (your staff/personnel, your volunteers, contracted services) & benefits dedicated to this project
Travel and per diem*
Training costs/ registration fees
Materials/supplies/ equipment
Communications (printing, postage, ads)
Grant funds – no more than 75% of total budget
Local funds – at least 25% (in-kind & cash match)
Cash match – minimum 10% of total budget
* Per diem = daily allowance (for example, meals, lodging)

Budget: Job search assistance
Total budget: $1,485
Request from funder = $1,100, or 74% of total budget
Total match = $385, or 26% of total budget
Cash match = $165, or 11% of total budget

Budget: Leadership Institute
Total budget: $1,038
Request from funder = $778, or 75% of total budget
Total match = $260, or 25% of total budget
Cash match = $260, or 25% of total budget

Budget Justification/Narrative
Amount you are requesting
What percentage of the total budget are you requesting?
Details behind the budget line items
Narrate line items in the same order as your budget

Sustainability
Funding sources want to know how you will continue/maintain/support your program after the funding runs out
Can this program be replicated?
Dissemination – how will you share information about the activities and results?

Writing a Summary
In cover letter?
Write it last
Be brief
Grab the most significant sentences from each section of the narrative
If you can write this, you know you’ve made your point
Proposed initiative
Program design/plan of action
Problem statement/ statement of need
Goals
Measurable objectives
Impact on problem
Cover letter?

Questions?
CE credits