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2009
Extension Risk Management Education Grants Program
Application Information
The Western Center for Risk Management Education (Western Center),
in conjunction with the Northeast, North Central and Southern Center
announce a funding opportunity for projects that help farm and
ranch families succeed through targeted risk management strategies. Awards
will fund projects conducted between July 1, 2009 and December 30, 2010. Grant awards are generally between $5,000 and $50,000, however
there is no absolute upper or lower limit on the funds provided
to a single project.
Pre-Proposals are due by 5 pm PST on Thursday
December 11, 2008.
Stage One of the application process requires
the completion of a Pre-Proposal. The Pre-Proposal is a short application
that must be completed online. All sections in the online
Pre-Proposal must be addressed within the specified word counts.
In your Pre-Proposal, clearly identify the Proposed Risk Management Results
you want your participants to learn, achieve and apply. Then clearly
identify the participants, and why they will choose to participate
in your project. We are looking for concise and specific information
for each section of the Pre-Proposal.
Stage Two of the application process applies
only if you are selected to submit a Full Proposal. Pre-Proposal
information will automatically be included in the Full Proposal
and will not have to be re-entered; however you will be required
to complete additional sections in the Full Proposal application.
Finalists chosen to submit a Full Proposal will be selected and
notified by February 2, 2009.
HOW TO APPLY
Pre-Proposal Stage
1. Read the Western Center's 2009
Request for Applications (RFA) carefully. The two-stage online
grants application process (Pre-Proposal and Full Proposal application)
is fully explained in the Western Center's 2009 RFA. The RFA
is the binding document on application instructions.
It is very important that you read and follow all of the instructions
in the RFA.
2. View Proposal
Resources through the online application website.
These applicant resources have been developed to help you prepare
a successful proposal and include the following:
- Educational Video Stream – Results
Based Projects
- Samples – Pre and
Full Proposal
- Tutorials – Pre
and Full Proposal
- SF424 R&R Cover Sheet and Budget Instructions –
- PowerPoint – Theory
and Practice of Results Based Grant Making
These resources give a full explanation for every item requested
in the Pre-Proposal and the Full Proposal Application. The online
application also contains online help instructions(click the "Instruction" button that appears in the upper right-hand section of each page). Applicants
who view, read and follow these instructional resources will have
a far greater chance of success in receiving funding.
3. Registration Information: To register click here. Select New
Grant Proposals/Pre-Proposals/Registration. From the online
application screen, click on ‘Register’ under New
Project Heading in the left blue menu bar.
4. Project Number and Password: After you
submit your online registration information, you will be emailed
a project number and the password you selected in the registration
process. Please
store these in a safe place as they will be used to enter your
Full Application (if you are selected as a Finalist) and to complete Progress Reports if
your project is funded.
5. Pre-Proposal Log In: Click again on Registration,
select New Grant Proposals/Pre-Proposals/Registration,
log in using your new project number and password and follow the
instructions for completing the online Pre-Proposal. (You
may share your project number and password with other members of
your project team so that they can read your Pre-Proposal and make
changes, if desired).
Until you "submit" the
Pre-Proposal through the online system,
you may return to the application website as many times as
you wish and continue entering or editing your Pre-Proposal.
You will need the project number and password each time
to access your application.
Your Pre-Proposal
must be submitted electronically through the online application
system by Thursday at 5 PM PST, December 11, 2008. |
HOW TO APPLY
Full Proposal Stage
(This Section for Finalists Selected to Submit a Full Proposal)
- Full Proposal Log In: Click again
on Registration,
select New Grant Proposals/Pre-Proposals/Registration,
log in using the same project number and password from your Pre-Proposal.
- The Full Proposal requires that additional sections
be filled out in the online Full Proposal application. Carefully
read the instructions on pages 11-13 of the RFA for information,
materials and format required for Full Proposal submission.
- Subcontracts – If a portion of your
project will be performed by a subcontractor organization, the
following documents must be provided as part of your online
submission: a) Separate SF424 R&R Cumulative Budget, b) Separate budget
narrative, c) Statement of work from the subcontractor organization
and d) Letter of Commitment from the subcontractor organization. Profit
or non-profit subcontractor employee rates of pay cannot exceed
an Executive Level IV (currently $145,400 per year or $559/day). This
does not include fringe benefits, G&A or overhead or other
expenses.
- Consultants – If
your proposed project will use a consultant, (i.e. someone
who renders expert advice in his/her field), the consultant
should not be affiliated with the performing organization.
In the budget narrative, identify each consultant, the services
he/she will perform and a breakdown of the amount being charged
to the project (e.g. number of days of service, rate of pay,
travel, per diem, etc). The proposal budget narrative should
provide a justification for the use of such services, include
a statement of work from the consultant providing the service(s)
to be performed, and a resume or curriculum vita for each consultant.
Please note that paying individual consulting fees to
attorneys is not allowed. They may be paid to
contribute their services towards a workshop, presentation, seminar
or conference, which excludes one on one consultation with project
participants.
Until
you "submit" the
Full Proposal through the online system,
you may return to the application website as many times
as
you wish and continue entering or editing your Full Proposal.
You will need the project number and password
each time
to access your application.
Your Full Proposal must be submitted electronically
with all requested documents through the online application
system by Thursday at 5 PM PST, February 26, 2009. |
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR PRE AND FULL PROPOSAL PROCESS
Participant/Trainee Support Costs - (Section E. in online Budget) The Review Panel discourages funds for participant support costs in the way of travel, registration subsidies/scholarships and lodging for project participants. Please call the Western Center if you need further clarification.
Capital Purchases – Capital
purchases will not be funded under this grant program – See Section C in online Budget and Instruction form.
Train
the Trainer & Curriculum Development – If
your proposed project includes a train the trainer component
that involves a new curriculum or learning tool, make certain
that you differentiate between participant educators and participant
producers in the Proposed Results Section of your proposal specifically
and elsewhere in the application that describes your target audience. A
project that exclusively focuses on trainers is not likely to
be selected unless you identify specifically when and how producers will
attain risk management results from the training given to the
trainers.
Project Director Designation – If someone
other than the Project Director writes a proposal, the Project
Director must be actively involved at all stages of the application
process (carefully read the instructions on page 6 of the RFA).
Failure to do so may jeopardize your chances for funding.
Risk Management Improvements – Applicants
will be asked to explain clearly the connection between the risk management results
being proposed for participants and the specific risk issues that
these targets address. Any of the five risk categories that
are being addressed through your proposed program delivery should
put producers in a better position to manage the overall financial risks
related to each of these risk categories – Change in title for 2009 application process.
Producer Audience Group Definitions (Page 1 of the RFA) -
- Beginning farmer or rancher means a person that has not operated a farm or ranch; or has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years.
- A socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmer, rancher, or agricultural producer is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of his or her identity as a member of the group without regard to his or her individual qualities. SDA groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
APPLICANT ASSISTANCE
We encourage you to contact us if you have questions. Western
Center staff is available by telephone or email to answer questions
that arise during Pre and Full Proposal preparation. Upon request,
we will review your Pre and Full Proposal drafts and provide
feedback if received by the close of business days on December
5, 2008 (for Pre-Proposals) and February 20, 2009 (for Full Proposals).
Western Center office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM PST, Monday
through Friday.
If you are unable to complete the application materials
online, please call the Western Center at (509) 477-2168 or email warnerj@wsu.edu.
Western Center for Risk Management Education
Washington State University Extension
222 N. Havana St., Spokane Valley, WA 99202
Voice: (509) 477-2168
Fax: (509) 477-2197
E-mail: warnerj@wsu.edu
URL: http://WestRME.wsu.edu
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2008
Extension Grants Program Timeline
What is Risk
Management?
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