8/3/2019 Applying for Federal Funding Tips
1/3
Applyingforfederalfunding:tipsforTJ
programsJune,2011
ManyfederalfundingopportunitiesforTransitionalJobstaketheformofcompetitivegrants
madedirectlytoTransitionalJobsproviders.InordertohelpTJproviderswithpreparingfederal
fundingapplications,theNationalTransitionalJobsNetworkoffersthesetipsforrespondingto
federalsolicitations.
Beforeyouprepareyourapplication
Identifyyourpotentialpartnersnowmanyfederalsolicitationsinvolveabroadscopeofworkthatmaybebeyondthecapacityofoneorganizationtodeliver.Some
solicitationsevenrequirethatapplicantsformgroupswithmultiplepartner
organizationsinordertobeeligibletoapply.
InthecaseofTJ,lookcloselyatthecore
elementsandbestpracticesanddeterminewhereapartnershipwouldbebeneficialto
fullydeliveringthatelement.
Registerwithgrants.govearlyinordertosubmityouapplicationonline.Registrationprocesstakeslongerthanyoumightexpect,andsomesolicitationsnowacceptonly
onlineapplications.Getregisteredhere:
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp
MakesureyourorganizationhasbeenassignedaDUNSnumber.Allapplicantsforfederal
grants
need
to
have
one.
Apply
for
a
DUNS
number
by
visiting
http://fedgov.dnb.com
Grants.govhasaguidetorequestingaDUNSnumber:
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/request_duns_number.jsp
Readthesolicitationcarefullyimportantrequirementsandinstructionsareoftenburiedwithinsomewhatdensetext.Multipleclosereadingsareusuallynecessaryto
fullyunderstandapplicationrequirements.
Participateinbiddersconferencecallsorwebinars.Thisisyourbestandsometimesonly
chance
to
get
clarification
on
the
solicitation.
Be
sure
to
have
carefully
read
the
solicitationfirsttomakesureyouhaveallyourquestionsready.Ifyoumissthecall,they
aretypicallypostedonlineafterwardsinrecordedand/ortranscribedform.
Preparingtowriteyournarrative
Constructatimetableforwhensectionsofyourproposalshouldbecompleted.Allowampletimeforrevisions.
8/3/2019 Applying for Federal Funding Tips
3/3
Additionally,yourstate,countyormunicipalitymayalsoprovidedataforthelocallevel
ontopicslikeeducationalattainmentandworkforceskilllevels,aswellasfigureson
unemployment,prisonerreentry,andreceiptofpublicassistance.
IfyourorganizationisalreadyprovidingTransitionalJobs,youcanalsouseinternaldata
todemonstrateanincreaseindemandforthoseservices.
Howmanyrequestsor
referralshaveyouhadtoturnawayduetolimitedcapacityorinadequatestaffing?How
doesyourannualcapacitytoprovidetransitionalemploymentcomparetothenumber
ofpeopleinthetargetpopulationinyourregion?Forexample,ifyourprogramserves
100formerlyincarceratedpeopleannuallyinacitywhere10,000peoplereturnfrom
prisoneveryyear,youcanmakeastrongcaseforlocalneedforadditionalTransitional
Jobsservices.
Youwillbeexpectedtosubmitadetailedbudget;itisagoodideatodeterminefirsthowmanyparticipantsyouwanttoserve,andbuildyourbudgetfromthere.Forhelp
withestimatingbudgetamounts,consulttheNTJNsbudgetestimationtool.
MoreresourcesTheDepartmentofLaborEmploymentandTrainingAdministrationoffersaguidetoDOLETA
grantapplicationshere:http://www.doleta.gov/grants/applyinggrants.cfm
ProposaldevelopmentguidefromtheCatalogofFederalDomesticAssistance:
http://njms.umdnj.edu/research/orsp/DevelopingAndWritingGrantProposals.htm
Grants.govapplicantresources:http://www.grants.gov/applicants/resources.jsp
Grantwriting
tips
from
the
National
Institutes
of
Health:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grant_tips.htm
AguidetograntapplicationsfromtheSubstanceAbuse&MentalHealthServices
Administration(SAMSHA):http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/ta/index.aspx
InformationonfederalfundingandgrantsfromtheAppalachianRegionalCommission:
http://www.arc.gov/funding/GeneralInformationAboutGrantsandFunding.asp
Formoreinformationortorequesttechnicalassistance,[email protected]
