Welcome to the Sustainability Grant Writing Workshop

Webinar participants please:

Dial in: (888) 622-5357 / Participant code 676397 Bottom left screen, turn down mic and speaker

volume to silent View grant resources here:

http://calstate.edu/cpdc/workshops/09_grant_writing.shtml

Grant Programs to Support Environmental Sustainability

Elizabeth Ambos (eambos@calstate.edu )Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Initiatives and Partnerships

Elvyra San Juan (esanjuan@calstate.edu)Assistant Vice Chancellor, Capital Planning, Design, and Construction

CSU Chancellor’s OfficeJanuary 29, 2009

Workshop Goals Increase knowledge of grant and contract opportunities

relating to environmental sustainability

Provide opportunities for faculty and staff with shared interests in sustainability to work together on proposals

All attendees will leave with a defined “next step”:– For some, the next step will be an outline of a grant proposal

– For others, the next step will be an idea for a proposal

– For a few, the next step will be a review and rewrite of a previously unsuccessful proposal

CSU Office of the Chancellor Sustainability Workshop Team

– Beth Ambos, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Initiatives and Partnerships

– Vi San Juan, Assistant Vice Chancellor, CPDC

– Marlene Nang, Sustainability Coordinator, CPDC

– Kim Tang, Staff Associate, Research Initiatives and Partnerships

Profile of Workshop Attendees

Workshop Schedule

8:30-8:50 a.m.: Welcome and Introductions 8:50-10:15 a.m.: Overview of Available Grants

and Contracts

10:30-11:15 a.m.: Discussion Section #1

11:15-noon: Program Officers’ presentations

Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Lunch &informal discussions

1:00-2:30 p.m.: Discussion Section #2

2:30-3:00 p.m.: Wrap Up and Next Steps

Overview of Available Grants and Contracts

Featured Grant Programs: Identifying CSU-appropriate grant and contract solicitations

“How to Write a Successful Proposal”: Proposal development processes

General information on CSU attributes andCSU initiatives in sustainability

Featured Grant Programs National Science Foundation

– Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)– Advanced Technological Education (ATE)– Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)– Innovations in Engineering Education, Curriculum, and

Infrastructure (IEECI)

Department of Energy– Wind Energy

Corporation for National and Community Service – Learn and Serve Higher Education

California Department of Conservation– Recycling Program

Important Note: Federal Grant Programs Campuses are required to submit their federal grant

applications electronically through Grants.gov, the federal government’s online application system.

First-time Grants.gov users, must be registered. Registration with Grants.gov:

Is a multi-step processTakes time; allow two weeksMust be completed before you can submit your applicationPrepare for transition in spring 2009 from PureEdge viewer

to Adobe Reader

If you have already registered with Grants.gov, make sure you renew/review your registration before you apply.

CCLI seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all undergraduate students

Estimate 100 awards annually, anticipate $35M

No limits on number of proposals per organization

Cost sharing – not required

Letters of Intent – Not applicable

Deadlines: Phase 1 proposals are due May 21, 2009

Phase 2 and 3 proposals are due January 13, 2010 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5741

National Science FoundationCourse, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)

ATE focuses on technician education (mostly at the two-year college level) in high-technology fields. The program involves partnerships between the ATE awardee and industry and/or four-year colleges

Estimate 75 awards annually, $46M anticipated funding

No limits on number of proposals per organization

Cost sharing – not required

Letters of Intent – Not applicable

Deadlines: Preliminary proposals encouraged/due April 23, 2009

Full proposals due October 15, 2009 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?

pims_id=5464&org=DUE&from=home

National Science Foundation:Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

GOALI promotes partnerships between industry and university using a variety of avenues: undergraduate and graduate industrial fellowships, faculty short-term funded appointments in industry settings, post-doctoral support for work in industry, collaboration on applied research projects of mutual interest, research experiences for teachers in industry, etc.

Estimate 60 to 80 awards annually; $10M anticipated funding.

No limits on number of proposals per organization, or PI

Cost sharing – not required

Letters of Intent – Not applicable

Deadlines: variable – talk with the NSF program officer http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?

pims_id=13706&org=ENG&from=home

National Science FoundationGrant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)

IEECI addresses four primary aspects of engineering education, among them integration of sustainability into engineering education

35 to 40 awards annually; $8.5 M anticipated

No limits on number of proposals per organization, or PI

Cost sharing – not required

Letters of Intent – Not applicable

Deadline: March 11, 2009

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?

pims_id=13374&org=EEC&from=home

National Science Foundation:Innovations in Engineering Education, Curriculum, & Infrastructure (IEECI)

This solicitation includes six different topic areas addressing issues relating to moving the U.S. toward 20% of its energy coming from wind sources by 2030. One of the areas is workforce development, others are applied research and commercialization focused

Estimate 18 to 39 awards; $4 M anticipated funding. No limits on number of proposals per organization, or PI Cost sharing – 20% Letters of Intent – Not applicable Deadline: March 3, 2009 Website: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/

Department of Energy20% Wind by 2030: Overcoming the Challenge

Learn and Serve Program

Major focus this year is on initiatives that aid in the U.S. economic recovery

Federal agency – Corporation for National and Community Service

Deadlines: Applications due on March 26, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Awards to be announced by the end of August 2009.

California State University’s Center for Community Engagement will be

submitting a consortia grant proposal to Learn and Serve America for

the 2009-2012 grant competition (please contact Judy Botelho

(jbotelho@calstate.edu) for additional information)

http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp

Special note: next technical assistance call will be 2/11/2009

The Division of Recycling (DOR) offers grants to assist organizations with establishing convenient beverage container recycling and litter abatement projects, and to encourage market development and expansion activities for beverage container materials. The Multi-Family Beverage Recycling Grants are open to Colleges and Universities.

In the 2008-2009 cycle, awarded $15M to 62 projects, including $365K to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, $58K to CSU Los Angeles; $40K to CSU Long Beach (Associated Students)

http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dor/grants/Pages/mfbcrg.aspx

California Department of ConservationRecycling Program

Other Promising Federal Opportunities

Program: Environmental Health Sciences Research Agency: National Institutes of Health Deadline: 6/5/2009 http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/

Environmental Education Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Deadline: likely – 12/09 http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html

Other Private Foundation Grant Possibilities

American Honda Foundation. Projects that support youth, STEM, and environmental education improvement

http://www.foundation.honda.com

Compton Foundation. Peace & Security, Environment & Sustainability, & Population & Reproductive Health

http://www.comptonfoundation.org/

PepsiCo Foundation. Global Health, Environment & Global Inclusion

http://www.pepsico.com/PEP_Citizenship/Contributions/index.cfm

Establish need for and viability of program– existing partnerships – particularly K-12, community foundations and

organizations, business, and industry – need to be discussed in narrative and letters of support

– campus must usually have a large, diverse team to carry out the program activities – in terms of faculty, staff, and students

– long term change will be achieved at your institution and communities through the particular grant

Establish strong program elements– Prepare your $budget$ before identifying program elements– Identify roles and responsibilities for all members of the proposal

“team” who will implement program on campus Clearly specify those of program coordinator – the individual who

will carry out the “nuts and bolts” of running the program– Letters of support from school district, businesses, community

foundation partners and Deans, etc. should be substantive (no boiler plate)

How to Write a Successful Proposal: Part 1

You may need to build in a project evaluation component

– Check with your institutional IRB before submittal

Establish PI and institutional credentials– PI (principal investigator) should have experience managing

grant funded programs– Institution should have track record in partnerships with K-12,

CCC, community foundations or organizations, businesses

Establish evidence of institutional priority, infrastructure and program sustainability

– Institution should commit to continuation of some program elements/outcomes; if this will be a $$ commitment, need commitment before the proposal is submitted

– Disseminate program outcomes; this can be through conferences, websites, YouTube, etc.

How to Write a Successful Proposal: Part 2

Sustainability…in the Grant-Funded Project Sense… Seek additional support for grant activities’

continuation in the first year of your funded program

Explore synergies between federally funded programs and state and CSU funded programs.

Institutional Infrastructure is Key

You can only be funded (and successfully implement!) most grant-funded programs if you have a solid infrastructure in place

Solid infrastructure means:– A program coordinator who can work with you as PI to

implement the day-to-day management of the program– Good support from Chair, Dean, Provost, VP for

Finance, Facilities Offices, Advancement, etc.– Good financial management support from your grants

and contracts office

DO: have a firm vision for what you want to accomplish as

a result of the grant funding

DON’T: write a grant for the sake of the $$ when the grant

topic isn’t aligned with your needs and vision

DO: start the grant proposal several months in advance,

and be sure to get the “blessing” of your supervisor and

campus grant approval process

DON’T: wait to the last minute…or try to do the proposal

totally on your own…people want to help you achieve your

goals…but only if they can set aside time in advance!

The “Tool Kit” Approach – How do I get started on a Grant or Contract Proposal?

Step 1: Identify a grant or contract opportunity Step 2: Notify your supervisor, and your sponsored

programs/pre-award office of intent to apply; if opportunity is to a private foundation or corporation, also notify the appropriate development officer

Step 3: Meet with representative of your pre-award office to discuss the proposal solicitation; prepare budget (often best to do this before finalizing narrative), narrative, and all other materials required for the grant submittal

Step 4: Complete grant clearance process, including prospect clearance: obtain approval from supervisors, and from sponsored program office; submittal of grant will be by the campus office with that specific responsibility

Step 5: Complete proposal and your campus office will forward to agency or foundation

Pre-Award Process: Focus on Proposal Preparation

Proposal Preparation:

Step 1: Identify a Grant or contract opportunity

– Colleagues

– Professional groups

– AASCU Grants Resource Center service

– Funding agency websites

– Workshops like these!

Proposal Preparation: Step 2: Send email to Sponsored

Programs Office – notifying them of intent to submit

– Pre-award offices– For private foundation – also

send notification to appropriate development officer

– Place grant submittal on calendar

– Makes sure people are in the office to help you!

– Intensive writing occurs in this time period

– Try to schedule pre-review with trusted colleague

Proposal Preparation: Step 3: Talk with Sponsored

Programs Office/Create Budget/Start Clearance

– Talk with Sponsored Programs Office/pre-award Office:

Go over grant requirements

Discuss cost-matching Create Budget Consult with staff who

know forms Consult with facilities, IT,

or other offices, as needed – particularly important for any construction-oriented proposals

– Start Clearance

Proposal Preparation: Focus on Chancellor’s Office Role: When is the CO the Lead Institution for a Grant or Contract?

Sponsor approaches the system to submit a proposal on behalf of the system or multiple campuses

The effort will be inter-segmental or in partnership with a national affinity organization (e.g. American Council on Education)

Existing system-wide office (e.g. Center for Community Engagement; International Education) submits proposal, with cognizance of campus offices

At campus request, when a system proposal is deemed to be more competitive

CO needs to exercise fiduciary responsibility over a multi-campus grant or contract, and doing so will result in risk minimization – the Office of Sponsored Programs at the CO will exercise oversight of the administration of the contract or grant

Cost Matching means that some portion of your institution’s resources will go toward grant or contract activities

Most cost matching involves facilities or personnel time

Most cost matching is provided by supervisors from their existing budgets

YOU SHOULD DISCUSS COST MATCHING WITH your Supervisor/Chair/Dean (WELL) BEFORE PREPARING PROPOSAL

If proposal is funded, you, your department/office, and Sponsored Programs Office/post-award office must keep records to document cost matching

Proposal Preparation: Focus on Cost Matching

Necessary to support infrastructure for research & sponsored program activities

Covers costs for ALL administrative support as well as facilities (including labs, equipment, operations and maintenance, etc.)

Reducing the F&A rate on your proposal does not (usually) mean your grant will be more competitive

Sponsors may limit F&A costs to a lesser percentage than the campus federally-negotiated rate

– Sponsored Programs Office or Principal Investigator will request policy/directive indicating reduced rate from sponsor before granting exception

– If no documentation is provided, the exception may be denied

Proposal Preparation: Focus on Facilities & Administrative Costs (aka – Indirect Costs)

Clearance means that your proposal has been approved by both your department/division and the Sponsored Programs Office (note: submittals to private foundations and corporations also need formal approval from the appropriate development office)

WHY?????

– Individuals (except in rare instances) cannot submit proposals, only institutions can

– Without institutional clearance, proposal usually rejected by agency without review

Proposal Preparation: Step 4: Clearance Process

Proposal Preparation: Focus on Clearance Process

PI – You!

ImmediateSupervisor/Chair/Dean

Academic & Finance review

Development Office(if private or corporate)

Sponsored Programs

Proposal Preparation:

Step 5: Submit Proposal– Electronic submittals

are common– Electronic submittals

take longer– Coordinate schedules

for submission

Step 1: Identify a grant or contract opportunity – 3 to 6 months

Step 2: Notify department supervisor, division leadership, Sponsored Programs and Development (if private or corporate) of intent to apply – 1 to 3 months

Step 3: Meet with Sponsored Programs Office staff to go over proposal needs, create budget – 1 month to 2 months

Step 4: Complete clearance process: obtain approval from department supervisor, Academic & Finance Vice Chancellors or designees, CSU Foundation (if private or corporate), and Sponsored Programs Office – 1 week to 1 month

Step 5: Proposal completed and sent to agency or private foundation – 3 days

Summary: Proposal Preparation/ Pre-Award Process

General information on CSU attributes and CSU initiatives in sustainability

Often, your proposal will need some “boilerplate” description of your campus, the CSU, etc.

Two helpful links at the CSU CO are:– Analytic studies – provides data on enrollments,

degrees, demographics, etc.

– http://www.calstate.edu/as/

– System-wide sustainability web page

– www.calstate.edu/cpdc/sustainability

Fall 2007 CSU Enrollment by Ethnicity

Derived fromExcel spreadsheetOf Fall 2007Enrollment data

www.calstate.edu/cpdc/sustainability

Questions?

Elizabeth Ambos eambos@calstate.edu