Grant Applications Questions and Answers
The Compassion Massachusetts Grant Application
The application is due at 4:00 PM on November 19, 2009. It can be mailed or hand delivered to Compassion Massachusetts, Attention Kathleen Jackson, 94 West Ave, Great Barrington, MA 01230. The last day to ask UMass and/or Project Manager Kathleen Jackson any questions in regards to the grant will be November 13, 2009.
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Q&A FROM PAST YEARS APPLICANTS
Q: Is purchasing equipment an eligible capacity building activity?
A: Yes, providing you document the way it will expand your capacity to improve or increase service capacity.
Q: Can these funds be used to explore a new best practices model or developing evaluation or outcome measures?
A: Yes.
Q: If an organization already has staff and space, but has training needs can this fund training for staff?
A: Yes, providing you document the way it will expand your service capacity or quality.
Q: How do you separate faith-based activities from programming funded through a capacity building grant?
A: You can use a bible study room for your program (that improves the life of a person“regardless” of faith). You can’t say in the grant-funded program “let us pray”, or that the Bible tells us that you must make X choice or decision. No religious activity can be part of the capacity building activity provided by the federal government. For example, your program can do games from 8-9 p.m., but if there is to be a prayer activity, you must end the game portion, take a break and totally separate the two activities. Let the youth know that it is optional if they stay for a prayer activity and you will reconvene at “X” time in “Y” space. “There must be a clear separation from the religious and “grant-funded” secular activity. Please seek technical assistance from the project manager if you have more questions. We are here to help.
Q: If our mission statement is too long to fit into the application space, what do you we do?
A: Please keep answers brief and stay within the space limitations of the application.
Q: If we want to bring in our own consultant for our capacity building project, can we do so?
A: Yes, providing it fits with your capacity building assessment and workplan.
Q: What does f.t.e. mean?
A: It means “full time equivalent” of employees. For example, if your organization has two staff who each work 20 hours/week. each would be a .50 f.t.e.; combined they would make one (1.0) full time equivalent staff persons.
Q: What if our youth program is part of a larger organization, would we still be eligible?
A: These situations will be determined on a case by case basis, based on the information provided in your partnership application. If we have any questions, we will contact you? Examples of when you might be eligible include: being part of a part of a larger organization, because you are “incubating”; or if there is distinct separation between your program and the larger organization, which only provides “back room” services.
Q: If we are creating a new space and have volunteers providing the labor, could a grant be used to purchase the materials?
A: Yes, providing it is tied to your capacity building needs assessment.
Q: Our organization will be housing a collaborative youth resource center, could this grant be used to purchase software programs and shared by the other collaborators?
A: Yes.
Q: Is the budget maximum for the youth program or for the whole organization? It is for the whole organization.
Please explain capacity building more fully.
A: Capacity building refers to activities that will increase the amount of services or number of youth served; the quality of services, or enhance the stability of the organization.
The rule of thumb is: once the funding goes away, the impact of that funding continues. Examples of capacity building activities include:
- Strategic planning
- Financial management systems development
- Staff/volunteer development and training
- Board assessment and development
- Improvements to information collection and tracking
- Fund development, e.g. creating of a fund development plan, consulting time
- Structuring strategic partnerships and collaborations
- Community needs assessments
- Purchase/upgrade of computer equipment, software, and other technology.
- Hiring a consultant for further technical assistance, including providing guidance, training and grant-writing.
- Hiring full/part time staff to fill administrative positions, if awardee can demonstrate sustainability beyond the sub-award
- Upgrade of the organization’s current facility (although not construction).
- Training and travel expenses for staff and board members, including stipends.
- Communication/outreach strategies marketing.
- Materials, supplies, printing, etc. associated with capacity building.
Q: What do you mean by At-Risk Youth and by At – Risk Youth Programs? How will we determine eligibility within this criteria?
A: Many communities use Youth Behavior Risk Surveys or Prevention Needs Assessments to determine the risk factors for youth that increase the likelihood of five problem behaviors: Drug Use, Delinquency, School Dropout, Teen Pregnancy and Violent Behavior. Berkshire County youth in grades 8, 10 and 12 participated in two surveys (2006, and 2007). The results of these surveys including protective factors in the community that reduce risky behavior may be found at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Website, www.nbccoalition.org, click on Prevention Needs Assessment Survey Results. This will give you an overview of conditions among youth in Berkshire County, including the types of programs that are effective in reducing risky behaviors among youth.
Q: How many hours are involved in the Partnership (now Community of Support) Program?
A: Partners (now Associates) would be required to participate in quarterly meetings; complete a Capacity Building Self-Assessment, receive 5 hours of 1:1 technical assistance, during which they will receive help with developing a Capacity Development Plan. Additionally, partners would be strongly encouraged to attend/or send staff, volunteers, or youth to five capacity building trainings that will be held in the Spring and in the Fall, based on interest/needs indicated by community feedback. Partners will be eligible to participate in a 30 hour training pro-social skills training for youth workers conducted by the New England Network for Family and Youth Services (NEN). Two partners will be selected to enroll in youth focused “Improve” Evaluation and Outcome tool.
