Watch the webinar here! https://learn.extension.org/events/1037 Want to learn about federal programs that can help you build community food systems projects? Are you seeking basic grant-writing advice so you can apply competitively for grants and other federal funding to support your work? Learn the basics of finding and applying for grants.

1. Grant-writing Basics for
Food Systems Projects
A webinar co-sponsored by the
eXtension Community, Local and Regional Food Systems CoP &
the Community and Regional Food Systems Project

2. Watch for our public page launch soon!
www.extension.org
This is the second webinar in our webinar series.
Past & future webinars will be posted on eXtension’s CLRFS page (once launched), and at:
https://learn.extension.org/
Community, Local & Regional
Food Systems
A new eXtension Community of Practice
extension.org

3. Go to: http://people.extension.org
Click “Communities” and join our group.
Note: those with a University or Extension e-mail can join by getting an eXtension ID
Others, please e-mail slezberg@wisc.edu to request to join the group
Are you interested in food systems?
Join educators and practitioners in a national discussion
and collaboration.
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Search: “Community, Local & Regional Food Systems”
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4. Community & Regional Food Systems Project
“Evaluating Innovation and Promoting Success in
Community and Regional Food Systems”
Research, education, outreach, & advocacy to address food security in urban areas
Web-site: http://www.community-food.org/
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crfsproject

5. Welcome to the Webinar – May 1, 2013
eXtension Community, Local & Regional Food Systems CoP
Community & Regional Food Systems Project
Agenda:
1) An Introduction to the Co-sponsoring Organizations
2) Grant Writing Basics for Food Systems Projects.
Designing sound projects, finding funding, grant writing basics.
Presenters: Margaret Krome and Una Van Duvall
3) Questions & Responses

6. Grant-writing Basics for
Food Systems Projects
• Margaret Krome, Policy Program Director
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute,
East Troy, Wisconsin
• Una Van Duvall,
Cross Management Services,
Milwaukee, WI

7. Funding for…

8. Designing Sound Projects
Designing Sound Projects

9. Designing Sound Projects
Some questions to ask:
• What problem do you seek to address?
What are your goals and (measurable)
objectives?
• Have other people, locally or elsewhere,
addressed this problem? If so, what can you
learn from their work?

10. Designing Sound Projects
More questions to ask:
• Who else might care about your problem?
Should they be involved in your project?
• What is your principal strategy to address
your problem? (among several options)
• What's a realistic timeline for action?

11. Designing Sound Projects
More questions to ask:
• What resources (people, $$, materials) does
your project require? (What do you already
have?)
• Who else needs to know about your project?
What’s the best way to reach that audience?
• How will you measure and evaluate your
project's outcomes?

12. Identifying Possible Funding

13. Identifying Possible Funding
• Think creatively and broadly about your
project's needs. Can multiple types of
assistance be useful?
• Identify programs whose purposes and
available resources seem most suitable to
your purposes.

14. Identifying Possible Funding
Resources: Libraries, Extension, Networking, Internet
• Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=279
• Grassroots Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill, National Sustainable
Agriculture Coalition, 128 pages, 2008.
http://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/grassrootsguide
• USDA Organic Information: http://www.ams.usda.gov/OrganicInfo
• USDA NRCS Program Resources:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/
programs/?cid=stelprdb1048817#sthash.gXsyBcwh.dpuf

15. Identifying Possible Funding
Questions to consider:
• Would your project advance the program’s stated
mission and goals?
• Is the program’s form of assistance appropriate to your
needs?
• How big is its funding pool? What percent of applicants
typically get funded? What’s the average amount and
duration of grants?

16. Identifying Possible Funding
• What can you learn about past projects that
programs have funded?
• What are eligibility requirements, financial
match requirements, and restrictions on a
program’s use?
• Is funding available up-front or (more typically)
only on a reimbursement basis?

17. Identifying Possible Funding
• Are a program’s application deadlines and
funding timeframes appropriate to your
project’s timeline? Does the program fund
multi-year projects?
• Do past grantees feel that a program’s
reporting requirements are reasonable and that
the program is well-administered?

18. Identifying Possible Funding
How to answer those questions:
• Read the RFP (or MOSA, or NOSA, or RFA, etc.)
– get it from the websites listed, from linkages
from www.grants.gov, etc.
• Call the program staff. Contact info is on their
website and on the RFP. Inquire about training
sessions to help potential applicants apply.
• Ask past grantees

19. Grantwriting Basics
• Basic Do’s and Don’ts
• Common Grant Application
form

20. Basic Grantwriting Do’s & Don’ts
• Give yourself enough time –3X what you expect!
• Read the RFP at least 3 times and follow it
• Start with the budget before writing text
• Make your budget accurate, clear; use a budget
narrative if needed
• Don’t include materials not requested
• Explain how your proposal advances a program’s goals
• Be precise, accurate; don’t exaggerate

21. Basic Grantwriting Do’s & Don’ts
• Use clear, simple language to be readable
• Have it reviewed by a savvy editor friend or colleague.
Is it clear, readable, grammatical?
• Clarify questions by calling the program staff.
Be pleasant and non-combative
• Make sure you understand the review process
• If you‘re turned down by a program, find out why
before writing another. Don't be discouraged!

22. COMMON GRANT APPLICATION FORM
Who uses it? Many foundations, and some government programs
have procedures that are based on similar ideas. Check with a
program to see if they use the CGA.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
The application has three parts. Be sure to complete each question
of each part.
Type all proposals (minimum 10 points).
Provide all of the information in the order listed.
Submit only one copy with numbered pages; do not bind or staple.
Common Grant Application form

23. Common Grant Application form
PART ONE: GRANT AND ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Grant Request
Total Amount Requested: $
Funder applying to: Date Submitted:
Name of Project:
Duration of Project: from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 When are funds
needed? January 2013
Nature of Request: capital project operating program endowment
other
In what geographical location will the funds be used? MY HOME TOWN

24. Organization Information
Name: My Organization’s Name Here
Address: 5555 N. Every Where . Drive City: Milwaukee State: WI ZIP: 53210
Phone number: (TTY: FAX Number:___)
Email: uvandu@xxxxx.org Federal ID #: 45-1896815
Date of Incorporation: 1999
Chief Staff Officer (Name &Title): I am the Executive Director
Phone number: (414) 555-1550 x105
Contact Person (Name & Title): Me , Myself & I
Phone number: (414) 555-1550 x105
Board Chairperson (Name & Title): Mr. Big Bucks
Phone Number: (414) 555-7684
Common Grant Application form

25. Organization Information (cont’d)
Dates of organization's fiscal year: January 1-December 31
Organization's total operating budget for past year $1,587.371 and current year
$1,932,346
Please list the organization’s staff composition in numbers: Paid full time 19 Paid
part-time 13 Volunteers 30 Interns Other 11 (seasonal/Temp)
Total staff (both professional and volunteer) 73
Has the governing board approved a policy which states that the organization
does not discriminate as to age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, sex or
national origin? Yes No
If yes, when was the policy approved? 1999.
Does the organization have federal tax exempt status? Yes No If no, please
explain on separate sheet.
Common Grant Application form

26. Population Served
Please check the primary service category of organization (check
only one): __ Arts/Culture __Health __Human Services
__Civil/Economic Development __Education __Environment
__Other (specify) _________________________
Provide percentages and/or descriptions of the populations the
organization serves: 69% African-American 1%
Caucasian Native American 10% Asian American 20%
Hispanic/Latino Other please list
Common Grant Application form

27. Authorization
Has the organization’s chief executive officer authorized this request? Yes No
An officer of the organization’s governing body (such as a board member) must
sign this application:
(You will have to print out this form and sign the application for submission.)
The undersigned, an authorized officer of the organization, does hereby certify
that the information set forth in this grant application is true and correct, that the
Federal tax exemption determination letter attached hereto has not been revoked
and the present operation of the organization and its current sources of support
are not inconsistent with the organization’s continuing tax exempt classification as
set forth in such determination letter.
Signature Print Name/Title Date
(Remember to include all materials requested with this application!)
Common Grant Application form

28. PART TWO: GRANT PROPOSAL NARRATIVE - the Who, What, When,
Why of the Matter
Please provide the following information in the order presented
below. Note that some sections are not required for general
operating support. Refer to the glossary of terms (last page) as
needed when preparing the narrative. Use no more than five
pages; excluding attachments.
Organization Information and Background
Provide a brief summary of the organization’s mission, goals, history,
programs, and major accomplishments, success stories and
qualifications.
Show evidence of client & community support.
Common Grant Application form

29. Project/Program Description (NOT required for general operating
requests)
Abstract: Briefly describe the proposed program, how it relates to
the organization’s mission, capacity to carry out the program and
who will benefit from the program.
Explain the significance of the program and why the organization is
qualified to carry it out.
Describe the expected outcomes and the indicators of those
outcomes.
Document the size and characteristics of the population to be
served by the program.
Common Grant Application form

30. Project/Program Description (cont’d)
Outline the strategy/methodology and timeline to be used in the
development and implementation of the program.
What is the plan to involve the population you intend to serve in the
design?
How does this program enhance the existing services in the
community?
Common Grant Application form

31. Evaluation
Briefly describe the evaluation process and how the results will be
used.
Explain how the organization will measure the effectiveness of the
program.
Describe the criteria for success.
Describe the results expected to be achieved by the end of the
funding period.
Common Grant Application form

32. Funding Considerations
Describe plans for obtaining other funding needed to carry out the
project/program or organizational goals, including amounts
requested of other funders.
If the project/program is expected to continue beyond the grant
period, describe plans for ensuring continued funding after the grant
period.
List the top five funders of this project (if applying for a program
grant) or organization (if applying for general operating support) in
the previous fiscal year, the current year, and those pending for the
next fiscal year.
Common Grant Application form

33. PART THREE: REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
This is standard information, It should be submitted at the same
time as the request. Not to do so may disqualify your request.
Submit the following attachments (in the order listed) with the
completed proposal:
1. Complete list of the organization's officers and directors.
2. The organization's actual income and expense statement for the
past fiscal year, identifying the organization's principal sources of
support.
3. The organization's projected income and expense budget for the
current fiscal year, identifying the projected revenue sources.
Common Grant Application form

34. PART THREE: REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS (CONT’D)
4. The organization's most recent audited financial statement
including notes and IRS Form 990.
5. Copies of the IRS federal tax exemption determination letters.
6. Program Budget (multi-year if applicable). NOT required for
general operating requests.
7. Grantee Report (if previously funded).
Common Grant Application form

35. • Today’s webinar will be posted at
https://learn.extension.org/
• Documents useful to grantwriting are posted at:
http://www.community-food.org/2013/04/webinar-
grant-writing-basics-for-food-systems-projects/
• MFAI offers free grantwriting advising in the Midwest,
especially for underserved farmers and groups that
assist them http://michaelfields.org/grants-advising-
services-provided-through-michael-fields-agricultural-
institute/
Additional resources to help you:

36. Questions?