What is the size of a typical grant?
Grants are awarded in amounts up to $20,000. The range of recent grants has been $3,000 to $20,000
What is the duration of a grant?
See Criteria. Grant awards are for one year; grant funds must be used within the twelve months between July 1 of the award year and June 30 of the following year.
May use of the grant money be modified during that year?
See “Criteria.” A grant may be used only for the purpose stated in the grant application.
May programs apply the next year to continue the grant?
See “Criteria.” Organizations that receive funding for a program may reapply after: (1) the funded program has been completed and all funds have been spent; and (2) the organization has complied with all other conditions of the grant, including submitting the final report and participating in the final interview.
Assuming the above conditions have been met, an organization receiving a grant beginning July 2012 would be eligible to receive another grant beginning in July 2014. An organization that did not receive a grant in a funding cycle is eligible to reapply for a grant for that same program or any other program within the organization during the next grant cycle.
There are two exceptions to this policy:
(1) Large “umbrella” organizations, such as universities that have multiple independent, discrete entities and each entity is under different executive leadership (such as a school or agency). A specific school or agency that has received funding for a program may not reapply until the conditions outlined above have been met. A different school or agency may apply for a grant regardless of the funding status of other schools or agencies under the same umbrella organization.
(2) Independent, discrete entities that have their own executive leadership and are linked only by sharing the same organization as fiscal agent. An entity that has received funding for a program may not reapply until the conditions outlined above have been met. A different entity may apply for a grant regardless of the funding status of other entities using the same fiscal agent.
What information should be contained in a proposal?
Pay close attention to the information requested on the grant application, including questions related to Program Detail and Organizational Information. It is important to describe how your program will help women and their families achieve self-sufficiency, who the participants will be, what you hope to accomplish with your program, how you plan to staff and manage your program, and how you will determine if the program is successful. Also, be sure to explain what experience your organization has that will support the program’s success.
May men or boys be among those benefiting from a grant?
The majority of the money should benefit women and their families, including their male children. Men may not be the primary beneficiary of a grant.
May an organization submit more than one grant proposal?
No. An organization may submit only one grant proposal per grant cycle.
There are two exceptions to this policy:
(1) Large “umbrella” organizations, such as universities that have multiple independent, discrete entities and each entity is under different executive leadership (such as a school or agency). Different specific schools or agencies may submit grant proposals for the same year.
(2) Independent, discrete entities that have their own executive leadership and are linked only by sharing the same organization as fiscal agent. Any such entity may submit a grant proposal for a particular year, regardless of whether another entity sharing the same fiscal agent also applies for a grant.
What stumbling blocks have prior grantees experienced?
- Recruitment and Retention: How will you recruit and retain participants?
- Child Care: If young mothers are involved, will child care be provided while they are participating in a program?
- Transportation: Will transportation be a problem for participants, and if so, how will the problem be addressed?
- Time Schedules: How do program schedules accommodate participants’ schedules?
- Substance Abuse: How do you deal with client substance abuse?
What is the BWGC grant proposal review cycle and when will our organization know the outcome of its grant application?
- November 30 Grant Applications are due.
- December Grant applications are checked for compliance and completeness.
- January-May BWGC volunteer grant readers form small teams to review and evaluate grants, conduct site visits, and make final recommendations for grantee awards.
- May BWGC membership ratifies grantee recommendations at the May Full Circle Meeting.
- June Grant applicants are notified.
If my organization receives a grant, what are the reporting requirements?
A member of the BWGC Post Grant Evaluation Committee will contact you at the middle and end of the grant year to discuss the program’s status as well as factors leading to success and obstacles encountered. In addition, your organization will be required to submit a detailed written final report.