Chapter Community Grants Workshop

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Chapter Community Grants Workshop
South Carolina ChapterMarch of Dimes
Presented by Jessica Mullen Director of Program
Services
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Workshop Objectives

• By the end of this workshop, participants
• will be able to
• Identify the mission of the March of Dimes.
• Identify chapter community grant giving funding
  priority areas for the second Request for
  Proposal opportunity.
• Understand the timeline and application process
  for the chapter community grant cycle.

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Overview

• The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve
  the health of babies by preventing birth defects,
  premature birth and infant mortality.
• The March of Dimes carries out its mission
  through programs of research, community services,
  education, and advocacy.
• In 2003, the March of Dimes launched a multiyear
  multimillion-dollar campaign to address the
  increasing rate of premature birth.
• Chapter community grants provide one tool for
  advancing the March of Dimes mission in community
  services, public/professional education and
  Prematurity Campaign areas.
• Chapter community grants do not fund research
  projects or advocacy.

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Chapter Community Grants Purpose

• Proposals will be accepted for projects
  supporting one of the following strategies
• Increasing Access to and Quality of Health Care
  for Women and Infants
• Increasing Availability of Prevention Services
• Priority will be given to projects that help to
  reduce disparities in preterm birth.

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Eligibility

• An organization must be an incorporated
  not-for-profit 501(c)(3) or for-profit
  organization or a government agency (e.g. health
  department, university, WIC program).
• Individuals are not eligible for chapter
  community grants.
• Services must be provided in our state.

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2008 Funding Priority Areas

• Increasing Access to and Quality of Health Care
  for Women and Infants and Increasing the
• Availability of Prevention Services
• Enhancing prematurity education and support
  services for high-risk pregnant women.
  Preference will be given to interventions that
  focus on reducing disparities in birth outcomes.

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2008 Funding Priority Areas

• This may include
• A demonstration project aimed at improving birth
  outcomes for African American Families.
• An intervention utilizing the Centering
  Pregnancy Model (for more information, view
  www.centeringpregnancy.com ).
• Conducting educational workshops to educate
  pregnant women on the signs and symptoms of
  preterm labor and risk reduction related to
  preterm birth.
• Demonstration project within the clinical setting
  to improve birth outcomes among their patient
  population.
• Educating healthcare providers/professionals
  about the risk factors, causes, and prevention
  strategies for preterm births.
• Promoting faith-based prematurity messages in
  at-risk communities.

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2008 Funding Priority Areas

• Enhancing preconception/ interconceptional
  education and support services for women at
  high-risk due to previous poor outcomes, chronic
  conditions (i.e. diabetes, hypertension),
  sexually transmitted infections, or other risk
  factors.

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Grant Application Timeline

• Full Grant Applications Due September
  10, 2007
• Notification of Awards
  January, 2008
• Project Year Begins March 1, 2008
• Project Year Ends February 29, 2009

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Full Proposal

• Proposal must have the following components
• Project Abstract
• Project Description
• Project Objectives /Activities
• Evaluation Plan
• Project Impact
• Budget
• Required application forms
• Cover Sheet (must be signed)
• Objectives and Methods/Activities Form
• Budget Form (must be signed)

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Measurable Objectives

• Process Objectives
• Refer to something the target group will receive
  or do within a specified time.
• Example
• By March 2008, 500 pregnant women will have
  received information about premature birth.

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Measurable Objectives

• Outcome Objectives
• Shows measurable change in a target group within
  a specified time.
• Example
• By December 2008, at least 85 of pregnant women
  enrolled in the program will demonstrate an
  increase in pre-term birth prevention knowledge.

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Measurable Objectives

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-limited

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Evaluation - Process vs. Outcome

• Process Evaluation
• Assesses how a program was implemented and
  operated.
• Outcome Evaluation
• Measures the health, knowledge or behavioral
  change for a target population.
• Measurement tools
• Survey, Interview, Observation, Questionnaire,
  Focus Group, Records

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Budget - Allowable Costs

• Salary - Grant funds may be used to cover
  salaries for project-related employees, but
  cannot be used to pay salary costs for employees
  who are already employed full time.
• Materials and supplies (e.g. office supplies,
  health-related materials, refreshments)
• Printing and travel that are reasonable and
  necessary for project implementation.
• Indirect costs are allowable for grants of
  25,000 or more only and cannot exceed 10 of
  total costs.

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Budget - Non Allowable Costs

• Salary for existing full-time staff (some
  exceptions)
• Construction, alteration or maintenance of
  buildings/building space
• Dues for organizational membership in
  professional societies
• Tuition, conference fees, or awards for
  individuals
• Billable services provided by physicians or other
  providers
• Permanent equipment unless essential to project
  implementation and not available from other
  resources
• Non-March of Dimes educational materials
• Indirect costs for grants under 25,000
• Advertising of materials and purchase of media
  time/space (depending)

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Budget Justification

• Written budget justification should include the
  calculations used to estimate each cost (line
  item) listed in the proposed budget.
• Example
• Line Item Purchase mama Magazine - 225
• Justification 10 pkgs _at_ 22.50/pkg 225

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Proposal Writing Resources

• The Grantsmanship Center
• http//www.tgci.com
• Granthelp
• http//granthelp.clarityconnect.com
• The Foundation Center
• http//fdncenter.org
• Support Center for Nonprofit Management
• http//www.supportctr.org/

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Checklist For Success

• Make sure your proposal concept has
• Project goals compatible with the March of Dimes
  mission
• A specific target audience
• A measurable and realistic number of people who
  can be reached
• Projects objectives that are measurable and
  realistic, especially given the one year
  time-frame

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For technical assistance contact

• Jessica Mullen
• Director of Program Services
• 803-252-5200
• jmullen_at_marchofdimes.com