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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