6B9V
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA530-F-97-051
December 1997
www.epa.gov/osw
Preparing Successful Grant
Proposals
WASTE
MANAGEMENT
IN INDIAN COUNTRY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of
Solid Waste recognizes that the lack of adequate funding is an
impediment to effective solid waste management activities in
Indian Country. To help tribes, Alaska native villages, and tribal
organizations secure financial assistance for solid waste management
programs, EPA recommends following the process described below
when developing grant proposals or applying for funding for solid
waste management activities.
PREPARING FOR
THE PROPOSAL
Grants are sums of money
awarded to finance a par-
ticular project. Federal, state,
and private organizations all
sponsor grant programs for
various reasons. Since organi-
zations base their funding
decisions on an applicant's
ability to meet the goals and
objectives of their specific
grant program, you should
have a thorough understand-
ing of those goals before
developing your proposal. If
possible, contact the organiza-
tion to discuss their program
goals before you prepare your
application. Remember, the
basic requirements, applica-
tion forms, information, dead-
lines, and procedures will vary
from one grant program to
another, so you are strongly
encouraged to contact the
grantor before preparing your
application.
WRITING THE
GRANT PROPOSAL
Successful grant proposals
are thoughtfully planned,
well prepared, and concisely
packaged. More important,
they are written to meet the
requirements and objectives of
the grantor's program. In
general, a solid proposal
package contains the following
10 basic components:
1. Proposal Summary-
Present a brief outline of the
project for which you seek
funding. It can take the form
of a cover letter or a separate
page, but it should be no
longer than two or three
paragraphs. Write your
summary after preparing the
rest of the proposal, so that all
key points and objectives of
the project are sure to be
included. This summary
provides an initial impression
of your tribe, village, and/or
organization. It may be the
only part of the application that
the grantor carefully reviews
before deciding whether to
consider your project.
2. Title—Provide a descriptive
name for your project.
3. Background—Include
information about your tribe,
village, and/or organization
and a general description of
the project. Some features to
consider are a brief history of
your tribe, village, and/or
organization; resumes of key
Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
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staff members; goals,
philosophy, and track record
with other grantors; and any
success stories.
4. Problem Statement-
Provide a clear, concise,
and well-supported
statement of the problem
that will be overcome using
the grant funds.
5. Goals—Describe in detail
the goals of your project
and how the requested
funds will help you
accomplish them. Describe
the expected results and
benefits for each objective,
list the specific criteria of
the grant program, and
describe how the proposal
meets each criterion.
6. Activities—Provide a step-
by-step list of tasks that
meet the goals of your
project. Break larger tasks
into smaller ones and
present them in a timeline.
This breakdown provides
an opportunity to consider
the personnel, material, and
other resource needs of the
project.
7. Methodology for
Measuring Success-
Describe what the project
will accomplish and how
you will measure the
progress made.
8. Timeline—Describe
approximately when each
activity will be completed
in terms of the lifespan of
the funded project (e.g.,
Month 1 or Month 24)
rather than using specific
dates.
9. Sustainability—List
anticipated sources of
continuing funding to be
used when the proposed
grant ends. You also may be
required to list other current
sources and amounts of
funding obtained.
10. Budget Detail-
Demonstrate how funds
will be spent. At a
minimum, divide items into
the following categories:
personnel, fringe benefits,
travel, equipment, supplies,
and other. "Other" can be
subdivided into telephone,
rent, printing, and mailing
costs, etc. If the grantor
requires applicants to
provide matching funds or
in-kind contributions, use
separate columns for
requested funds, matching
funds, and total project
costs.
GRANT RESOURCES
For a catalog of available grants, consult the guidance
document Grant Resources for Solid Waste Activities in Indian
Country. To order a paper copy, call the EPA RCRA,
Superfund, and EPCRA Hotline at 800 424-9346 or TDD 800
533-7672 (hearing impaired). Callers in the Washington, DC,
metropolitan area must dial 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323.
To download an electronic version (ASCII or PDF), visit
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/publicat.htm on the Internet.
The U.S. General Services Administration publishes the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, a list of all federal
domestic assistance programs. To read the catalog online, visit
aspe.os.dhhs.gov/cfda/index.htm. To order a paper copy,
contact the Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Staff (MVS),
General Services Administration,
300 Seventh Street, SW, Suite
101, Washington, DC -
20407. Phone: *
202 708-5126.
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CASE STUDY
THE SITKA TRIBE OF ALASKA'S
JOBS THROUGH RECYCLING GRANT PROPOSAL
In 1996, the Sitka Tribe of
Alaska received a Jobs
Through Recycling (JTR)
grant from EPA. JTR provides
money for recycling and reuse
businesses that contribute to
economic development and
job creation or retention. In its
grant proposal, the Tribe
described its plans to develop a
fish and timber waste com-
posting facility. They explained
how the facility would stimu-
late the creation of jobs and
reduce the amount of waste
going to municipal solid waste
landfills. The Tribe's grant
proposal effectively followed
the directions in the JTR grant
guidance and was successful
for the following reasons:
PROPOSAL SUMMARY:
Included a concise, three-
paragraph abstract describing
the project and its participants,
how it met the objectives of
the JTR grant program, and
how it would enhance the
immediate and future
community recycling market.
TITLE:
Sitka Tribe of Alaska Recycling
(STAR) EPA Jobs Through
Recycling Program.
BACKGROUND:
Provided a brief description of
the history of the Sitka Tribe
and listed resources available
to the Tribe for use during the
project.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
(OR NEEDS
ASSESSMENT):
"Alaska lacks markets for waste
materials that are recyclable. In
order to create a market,
increase recycling, and create
industry, a technology suitable
for implementation in Alaska
must be developed.
Composting is a proven
technology that can work in
Alaska."
GOALS:
Demonstrated how the project
met all of EPAs objectives for
JTR grants. The proposal
established a clear link
between the goals of JTR and
the composting project.
These goals included:
+ Waste diversion, increased
market capacity, and
reduced generation of
greenhouse gases.
+ Partnership development
with other groups and
leveraged resources.
+ Economic development and
job creation and retention.
ACTIVITIES:
Stated clearly all planned
activities during the first 18
months of the project. Larger
tasks were broken into smaller
ones on a timeline.
METHODOLOGY FOR
MEASURING SUCCESS:
Explained how the Tribe would
determine whether the project
made an impact on the problems
they sought to correct, if the
project achieved its stated
objectives, and what elements of
the program would be changed
to improve the effectiveness of
the program in the future.
Included specific methodologies
for measuring success, such as a
database, a visual charting
system, and periodic evaluations
by participants.
TIMELINE:
Outlined objectives and
corresponding activities on a
monthly basis.
SUSTAINABILITY:
Demonstrated how
collaboration on recycling
economic development
projects would sustain
technology transfer, as well as
ongoing and future initiatives.
BUDGET DETAIL:
Used the three-column format
to describe grant requests, other
funding sources, and total
budget. Also included a brief
narrative for each feature of the
budget.
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CHECKLIST FOR PROPOSALS
D The proposal clearly describes how the project will meet the criteria outlined for the particular
grant program.
D There is a clear identification and background description of the population to be served
by the grant.
D The proposal mentions other groups with whom the tribe will partner. The application
includes letters of commitment from these groups.
D The proposal adequately outlines the problem and the approach to solving it.
D The proposal clearly links the goals of this particular project to those of the agency or
organization providing the funding.
D The application identifies specific tasks, objectives, and timeframes.
D The methods for evaluating or measuring the success of the project
are clear, and success is achievable.
D The project can be completed in the specified funding period.
D The budget figures add up.
D The basic requirements (e.g., correct number of pages and
copies, etc.) have been met.
D The application includes all the information specifically
requested.
D The proposal has been checked for spelling, grammar, and
typographical errors, as well as for format consistency.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Solid Waste (5306W)
401 M Street, SW.
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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