This workshop will identify best practices in federal grant proposal project management including developing a work plan and your work team. Participants will learn about the organizational capacity needed to successfully complete a federal grant proposal, how to assess and document your community's needs, and how to develop a time line for the successful completion of all aspects of the proposal.

1. Illinois Communities Rising Place-Based Pathways to Federal resources Improving the OddsDeveloping a Proposal Building Team Break-out Session: Presenters: Deborah Minor-Harvey& James Pfluecke, IRN Technical Assistance Providers

2. Step 1: Where Do I Begin? Research Federal Funding Sources Illinois ResourceNet (www.illinoisresource.net) Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Grants.gov Federal Register/NOFA (Notice of Fund Availability)

3. Step 2: Answer Key Questions Does your organization have clearly defined mission, goals and purpose statements? Is your mission and strategic plan aligned with the problem to be addressed in the RFP (Request for Proposal)? Who is driving the grant-seeking process? Who will manage the proposal development process?

4. Step 3: Assess Your Organization’s Capacity Board Governance Strategic Planning Management Systems Financial Management Systems Fund Development Plan Human Resources (Leadership, Management & Program & Administrative Staff

5. Step 4: Make Necessary Adjustments If Necessary Take A Pass Until Adjustments Are Made….

7. Eligible Applicants

8. Objectives

9. Evaluation Measures

10. Key Questions to Be Answered & Assigned PointsGrant Amount & Duration Target Group To Be Served Cost Sharing or Matching Application & Submission

11. Step 6: Assemble Your Proposal Development Team (Heavy Lifters) Proposal Development Manager Program Staff Community Partners/Collaborators Grant Writer

13. Professional Organizations Related to RFP Objectives

14. Educational Institutions

15. Board MembersClients Local Agencies Community Organizations Technical Assistance Providers

16. Step 8: Develop Project Time Line

17. Step 9: Develop Proposal Development Work Plan Assign Action Steps to Team Members According to Skill Set & Time Availability Have Proposal Development Manager Facilitate Work Plan Implementation Adjust Plan As Needed Maintain Clear Lines of Communication

18. Step 10: Assess Community Needs Reports from Program Staff Intake Forms Surveys of Target Population Community-Based Focus Groups Statistical Data (area organizations, educational institutions, local government agencies, planning departments)

19. Step 10 continued: Take inventory of existing programs & services provided for the target population Identify service gaps Document research results

20. Step 11: Conduct Strategy Development Sessions Brainstorm strategies that address the problem List all possibilities Identify opportunities for collaboration Reach consensus on strategy Develop program logic model Create draft budget

22. Problem assessment supporting data

23. Goals, objectives & strategies

26. Step 14: Follow Instructions Follow InstructionsFollow InstructionsFollow InstructionsFollow InstructionsFollow Instructions

27. Step 15: Develop Proposal Submittal Checklist

28. Step 16: Submit Proposal Do Not Wait Until the Last Minute

29. Step 17: Proposal is Submitted Celebration Time!