Martin Luther King, Jr.

End Date: 10/11/2005
CFDA # 94.007

Due to technical problems with eGrants, the Corporation for National and Community Service is extending the deadline for the 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grant to Tuesday, October 11 at 5:00 pm EST.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter the “Corporation’’) anticipates the availability of approximately $500,000 to award 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grants, subject to the availability of FY 2006 appropriations. The Corporation expects to make up to 5 awards covering a period of up to three years. The award amount for the first year will range from approximately $100,000 to $300,000. Upon approval, funding will be made available for only the first year. Funding for the second and third years is contingent upon satisfactory performance in the first year (including securing the applicable match), the availability of funds and other criteria established in the award agreement. The Corporation has no obligation to provide additional funding.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Eligibility

1. Where do I enter the “Summary of Accomplishments and Outcomes” narrative in eGrants for the 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grant?
    
   This section was left out of the Notice of Funding Opportunity in eGrants. Please type your response to this section in the “Other” section of the narrative.  The Summary of Accomplishments and Outcomes section of the narrative has a 4,000 character limit, as described on page 7 of the 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grant Application Instructions.
     
2. How do I know if my organization is eligible for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grant?
    
   By law, any entity otherwise eligible for assistance under the national service laws is eligible to receive a grant under this announcement. The applicable laws include the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended. This means all interested faith-based and other community-based organizations, intermediary organizations, associations of volunteer centers, Indian tribal organizations, state commissions on service, and community foundations, as well as state or local government agencies may apply.
    
   Organizations that currently operate a Corporation-funded program or are applying for other Corporation funding are eligible applicants.
     
3. Is the minimum grant amount of $100,000 flexible?
    
   Yes, $100,000 is only an approximate minimum amount for which an applicant can apply. However, applicants requesting substantially less than $100,000 are not likely to be selected for award because the Corporation expects each grantee to support at least 10 separate projects or events.
    
4. What does it mean that the second and third years of funding are contingent upon successful completion of the first year?
    
   Successful applicants will be approved to negotiate up to a given amount of funding for the first year of a three year program period. Following negotiation, the funds will be awarded to support the first year of the grant. The Corporation is under no obligation to provide continuation funds beyond the first year. Continuation funding for the second and third years of the grant is contingent upon the successful completion of the requirements established for the prior year of funding, including:
    
   • satisfactory performance, including securing the applicable match, as well as other measures of performance that will be established in the award agreement; and
   • submission of a second year budget, if revisions are necessary. The Corporation is under no obligation to provide additional funding beyond the first year;
   • submission of a successful continuation application.
       
5. Do I have to apply for a three year grant?
    
   Yes. This year applicants will apply for a three year grant. Applications for less than three years of funding will not be considered.
    
6. Do we write a grant narrative for one year or for all three years?
    
   Applicants need to provide a three year description of the needs and activities that include:
    
   • a process to select subgrantees or projects and selection criteria for each year of the grant, subject to revision based on prior experience;
   • strategies the grantee will use to ensure growth of the impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities in Years Two and Three, and to encourage Martin Luther King, Jr. Day volunteers to make long-term commitments to community service
      
7. We were a subgrantee two years ago and want to apply for another grant of $5000 this year, how do we do that?
    
   The strategy for the current Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service competition is to fund intermediaries with minimum grants of approximately $100,000, who will then provide many small subgrants.
    
   You can contact the grantees of the Corporation once the grants have been announced to inquire about becoming a subgrantee.
    
8. We are a state commission who can only fund projects in our own state; can we get a grant to be an intermediary?
    
   Yes, applications from state commissions will be considered if they are planning comprehensive statewide initiatives. A grantee is required to fund 10 or more projects in a statewide initiative.
    
9. How do you define a comprehensive statewide initiative?
    
   A comprehensive statewide plan will have projects or events in at least 10 sites across a state.

Use of Funds

1. Can the funds be used to support staff functions at the national organization that are not specifically programmatic, but support its work with sub-grantees? For example, could these funds be used for a staff person’s time whose work includes the financial management of the relationship between the national organization and the sub-grantees?
    
   Yes, up to 15% of the funds awarded may be used for administration of the subgranting process. The funds are only to be used for activities related to the proposed project. Indirect cost charges will follow both the CNCS guidance and the applicable OMB cost principles of OMB Circular A-122 (Section C, Indirect Costs) or A-21 (Section F, Facilities & Administration).
    
2. Can the overhead operational needs of our organization be paid for by this grant?
    
   No. Only the administrative costs of the subgranting process may be paid from this grant and even then only 15% of the grant may be used to cover such costs.
    
3. Do applicants submit three years of annual budgets with their applications?
    
   No. Applicants must submit a budget and budget narrative for the first year for the program. Budgets for subsequent years’ program activity will be submitted and approved prior to approval of Years Two and Three continuation grants.
    
4. Do I need to spend all of the funds within the first year of the grant?
    
   Yes, all funds, including matching funds, awarded for the first year must be expended by the end of the first year, which is September 30, 2006.
    
5. Can the grant be used to support a luncheon or party celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and accomplishments?
    
   No, funding from the grant can only be used to support service program activity. Applicants may not use any part of an award to pay honoraria or fees for speakers. The award must not be used to support a celebration banquet or other activity that is not connected to the actual service. Although celebrations, parades, and recognition ceremonies are valuable activities and may be a part of the activities that subgrantees plan on the holiday and lead to or celebrate a commitment to service, these activities do not constitute direct service under this grant and the grant may not fund such activities.
    
6. What do I need to include in the budget submission?
    
   See Appendix F in the Application Instructions. The budget should be sufficient to perform the tasks described in the proposal narrative for the first year of the grant. Refer to the Federal cost principles at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html for information on allowable costs in Federal grants.
   
   We recommend you prepare your project budget off-line before entering it into eGrants. eGrants will create the budget and the budget narrative automatically from the detailed budget information you entered.
    
7. Are we required to select subgrantees prior to submitting an application?
    
   No, you do not have to have subgrantees chosen at the time of application. However your application should reflect a well thought out plan of how you will do outreach and selection of subgrantees. An applicant may indicate subgrantees at the time of application, if they are known.
    
8. How must we select our subgrantees?
    
   Applicants must propose within their applications subgrantee selection criteria that are fair and open, which will be used each year in the selection of subgrantees. Grantees can make subgrants to past recipients, as long as the selection criteria and process is fair and open.
    
9. Do we have to make grants to organizations outside of our organization or network?
    
   Yes, applicants are required to commit approximately 20% of the funding to support out-of-network events or activities. This is required for national or multi-state applicants as well as single-state applicants. If you are unable to fund events or activities outside of your network, you must explain in your application your reason for not being able to do so.
    
10. How do I calculate the 20% funding for out of network events and activities?
     
    Grantees are required to use 20% of their total grant award [federal funds plus match] as subgrants to groups or organizations outside of their own network.
     
11. How do you define an applicant’s network?
     
    For purposes of this grant, a network is a preexisting group of organizations that are affiliated with the applicant or a single large organization with multiple offices/chapters/affiliates in multiple locations.
     
12. Prohibition on use of funds for certain purposes.
     
    • attempting to influence legislation;
    • organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes;
    • assisting, promoting or deterring union organizing;
    • impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements;
    • engaging in partisan political activities or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office;
    • participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;
    • engaging in religious instruction; conducting worship services; providing instruction as part of a Program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship; constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship; maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship; or engaging in any form of religious proselytization;
    • other activities as the Corporation determines will be prohibited, upon notice to the Grantee.

    Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the above activities on their own initiative, on non-Corporation time, and using non-Corporation funds.

Match Requirements

1. Do I have to meet the 70% match of total project costs?
    
   Yes; by statute, the federal grants we provide for this project, together with all other federal funds you use to plan or carry out the service opportunity, may not exceed 30 percent of the total project cost. Therefore, your match must be at least 70% of the total project cost.
    
   For example, if you request $100,000 in federal dollars, you must have a total projected cost of at least $333,333 and a non-federal match of at least $233,333 (cash and/or in-kind contributions). If you request $300,000 in federal dollars you must have a total projected cost of at least $1,000,000 and a non-federal match of at least $700,000 (cash and/or in-kind contributions). In other words the total project cost multiplied by .30 is the maximum amount of money you can request from the federal government. (Total project cost minus federal dollars requested equals the required match). It may assist in the calculation to apply the formula as follows:
    
   Total Project Cost x .30 = Maximum Federal Contribution.
   Total Project Cost - Federal Dollars Requested = Non-Federal Match.
     
2. Could you give examples of how an organization could meet the funding match requirements for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service grant?
    
   The non-federal match may include cash and in-kind contributions (including, but not limited to):
   • Volunteer “staff” who help plan and supervise the volunteer activities. These are people who are donating their time to setup the project. (This does not include volunteers just participating in volunteer activities.)
     • cost of service donated or regular hourly rate
     • # of “staff volunteers” x # of hours they served x $17.55* =
       • * is the average hourly rate for volunteers as established by the Independent Sector (this rate can only be used for people helping plan and setup the volunteer activities)
   • Staff time to plan, setup and run the service activity
   • Supplies used in the service activities (paint, construction materials, etc.)
   • Transportation costs related to the service activity
   • Any snacks or meals provided to the volunteers during the day of service
   • Cash from non-federal sources;
   • Building costs if doing an indoor project
     • People’s time to open the building
     • Cost of renting such a space out
     • Security costs
     • Cost of using the space for the time of the project
   • Advertising and outreach costs for getting the word out about the project
   • Donated staff tune for planning, setup and implementation from collaborating organizations
   • Shirts or equipment created for the event, whether donated or purchased with non-federal funds
      
3. Can volunteer participants’ time be counted as a match to the grant?
    
   No. Volunteer participants must not be counted towards the match. Participants are defined for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grant as those individuals who show up and take part in the pre-planned volunteer activities.
    
4. Must matching funds be cash or can we use in-kind sources also?
    
   The non-federal match may include cash and in-kind contributions (including, but not limited to, supplies, staff time, trainers, food, transportation, facilities, equipment, and services) necessary to plan and carry out the service opportunity. The match can come from funds or resources provided by the grantee, subgrantees, private funders, local businesses, citizens’ groups, foundations or from state and local government sources.
    
5. Do we have to wait until we have raised the entire match to receive the federal Funds?
    
   No, federal funds will be released as you demonstrate commitments and have a need for the funds. At the end of the first year of the award, all grant funding and matching funding have to be accounted for.
    
6. If we are passing funds through to state or local programs, does the match on those funds have to be raised at the state or local level?
    
   It can be raised at either the national or local level, but the grantee is ultimately required to document the matching funds to the Corporation.
    
7. Does the match have to correspond to or be proportional to particular line items?
    
   Even though match relates to individual lines in the budget, the total match is the key factor in determining whether the requirement is met.
    
8. Can we use public dollars for match, for example, from a school district or local government?
    
   Yes, the restriction on matching funds is that they are from non-federal sources.

Application Requirements

1. Is the deadline really October 6, 2005?
    
   Yes.
    
2. Where do we obtain the application guidelines and instructions?
    
   You can obtain the application guidelines and instructions on our web site at http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp.
    
3. Will it strengthen the application to provide more than the one required performance measure?
    
   The Corporation requires a minimum of one performance measure for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grants. That measure must relate to the number of volunteers you expect to mobilize in service and the number of service hours they accomplish. You are encouraged, but not required, to submit additional measures, as appropriate to your program, that relate to the citizen service that will be carried out with the grant. Grantees will be held accountable for achieving the performance objectives submitted.
    
   If you want to learn more about performance measures, read the Performance Measurement Toolkit on the Corporation’s website: www.projectstar.org/star/AmeriCorps/pmtoolkit.htm.
    
4. To the extent that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service projects will be done by sub-grantees, what level of detail is required in the grant application regarding the plans for volunteer recruitment/management?
    
   Provide enough detail on your expectations of the service to be performed, so that your ability to identify subgrantees that will carry out quality planned activities can be assessed.
    
5. If there is a discrepancy between the NOFO and the application instructions what should we do?
    
   If there is a discrepancy between the NOFO and the application instructions, please use the language from the NOFO as the guide.
    
6. Are we required to submit our application via the on-line eGrants system?
    
   Yes. In the event you have any questions about eGrants or problems accessing it, follow the guidance contained in the NOFO.
    
7. What other documents are required in addition to the application? Where do I send them?
    
   Financial Statements or Audits and Program Evaluations must be submitted to the Corporation by the application deadline. Materials should be mailed to:

Corporation for National and Community Service
Attn: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grants
1201 New York Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20525

Include a hard copy of the completed SF424 Facesheet with the materials to indicate with which application the documents correspond. Please see Application Instructions for additional information.

We will not accept any other supplementary materials. If submitted, they will not be reviewed.

Miscellaneous

1. Additional questions?
    
   This notice, with the complete application instructions is available on the Corporation’s web site at http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp. For further information or for a printed copy of this NOFO and the application instructions, contact James Willie at jwillie@cns.gov or 202-606-5000, ext. 280.

Technical Assistance Information:

Conference calls for organizations interested in learning more about the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grant opportunity took place on September 8 and September 21, 2005. Each call was recorded and will be available for replay through the October 6^th deadline. The replay information is highlighted below.

Replay Information for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grant Technical Assistance Calls

September 8, 2005
Phone Number: 800-947-6314

September 21, 2005
Phone Number: 800-947-6840