Accessing Grant Money: Tips & Best Practices Joan Bard Miller Paul Mallet 1

Agenda Finding Potential Funding Skate Canada Fund Creating Community Partnerships Preparing an Application Practice Session Questions 2

Government – Federal – Provincial – Municipal Charitable Foundations Partners charityvillage.com Directory Direct contact with funding agencies Opportunities vary across the country 3 Finding Potential Funding Lists of potential funding will soon be available in the Partner Programming Toolkit Info.skatecanada.ca

4 Finding Potential Funding Available soon, by province, in the Partner Programming Toolkit on the Info Centre _________________________________________________________________________ Grant Name/OverviewFunding ($)DeadlinesWebsiteApplication Criteria/Requirements Community Healthy Living Fund - Capacity Building offers funding to strengthen the ability of incorporated municipalities to build their knowledge and skills in order to address and support an active and healthy lifestyle in their communities $1,000- $15,000 Ongoing sd.gov.nl.ca/gra nts/chl_fund.ht ml  From the date the payment is issued, successful applicants have one year to use all funds  The final report must be submitted no later than 30 days after the project ends The Provincial Physical Activity, Recreation and Sport Annual Funding Program is a strategic initiative supported by the provincial governments recreation and sport strategy, Active Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador, designed to promote and support physical activity and the recreation and sport delivery systems Not specified sd.gov.nl.ca/rec reation/financia l_assistance/pp arsafp.html  To determine if your organization is eligible to receive funding please contact Manager of Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Community Development

Skate Canada Fund Focused on 5 key areas: Skate for Life Skate to Win Coaches Officials Leadership Make a donation – small contributions are valuable Promote the fund by: Talking about it Encouraging potential donors (family, friends, skating community) Forwarding the Skate Canada Fund page Communicating via social media skatecanada.ca/donate/ 5

Creating Community Partnerships 6 Successful application Successful program Foundations, government, businesses Clubs, coaches Schools, settlement agencies, charities Identifying Partners: Who will benefit from the project or program? Who can bring different resources to the program? Partner contributions: Support for concept -Show need for program -Value of solution Reach out early to potential partners and brainstorm Resources to help program delivery -Financial support -In-kind contributions -Volunteers Demonstrate support: -Letters of support -Metrics Confirmed contributions strengthen applications

Partnership Example: KWSC School Program 7 Case Study: KWSC “SchoolSkate” Pilot Program KWSC strategic plan includes: OBJECTIVE: Increase the number of children that learn to skate with KWSC STRATEGY: Develop innovative opportunities to increase learn-to-skate reach

Partnership Example: KWSC School Program 8 Biggest barrier preventing getting more children into skating lessons is the availability of… Canada has over 2,600 indoor rinks…but demand outpaces availability in most communities

Partnership Example: KWSC School Program 9 Biggest barrier preventing getting more children into skating lessons is the availability of… IDEA: Offer weekday daytime skating lessons!

Partnership Example: KWSC School Program 10 Challenges… School Budget Membership fees Many children do not own suitable equipment PA’s are (mostly) in school

Partnership Example: KWSC School Program 11 “KWSC SchoolSkate” Pilot Program

KWSC “SchoolSkate” Pilot 12 Approach : Grade 1 classes bus to rink for 50-minute lessons taught by CanSkate coaches once per week for 6 weeks 2-3 classes share ice Delivered by CanSkate coaches supported by PA’s and high school co- op students

KWSC “SchoolSkate” Pilot 13 Approach (cont’d) : Skaters grouped by abilities so that both new and experienced skaters enjoy the program Students can bring own skates/helmet, or rent on cost-recovery basis Skaters provided achievement ribbon and club registration information at program conclusion

Preparing an Application 16 See workbook for further details Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Granting organization’s eligibility rules Funding priorities Granting agency’s priorities may not be perfect match Can project be adapted for better fit? Reach out to granting agency for questions/clarifications.

Preparing an Application 17 See workbook for further details Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF) priorities: provide Ontarians with opportunities to engage in community sport, recreation and physical activity targeted at groups who lack equitable access to participate KWSC strategic plan: Develop innovative opportunities to increase learn-to-skate reach Re-focused SchoolSkate project to address equitable access to skating for low income families, and new Canadian families

Preparing an Application Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Project Management Make a list What do you need for application? Who is responsible? Consult key people early 18 See workbook for further details

Preparing an Application Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Project Management Program Description Must be clear to individuals outside your organization Value of project must be explicit What problem are you solving? What is link to funding agency’s objectives? 19 See workbook for further details

Preparing an Application 20 See workbook for further details Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF) objectives: increase opportunities for participation in PHYSICAL ACTIVITY embed PHYSICAL LITERACY as foundation for lifelong physical activity Increase CAPACITY of the sport and recreation sector to deliver quality sport and recreation KWSC objective: Increase the number of children that learn to skate with club Grant application project title: “Skating is FUNdamental to Physical Literacy”

Preparing an Application Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Project Management Program Description Program’s Impact Who is your program reaching? Link back to funder’s objectives What will happen at program conclusion? 21 See workbook for further details

Preparing an Application 22 See workbook for further details Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF) priorities: provide Ontarians with opportunities to engage in community sport, recreation and physical activity targeted at groups who lack equitable access to participate ice shortage problem quality/safety of school skating activities lack of equipment low income cultural barriers KWSC SchoolSkate program addresses:

Preparing an Application Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Project Management Program Description Program’s Impact Capacity to Deliver Even the best ideas won’t be funded unless there is strong potential for effective delivery Illustrate your organization’s strength Provide examples of your previous work 23 See workbook for further details

Preparing an Application Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Project Management Program Description Program’s Impact Capacity to Deliver Budget Preparations Carefully planned and described Must align with funding rules Explain how project provides good value for money 24 See workbook for further details

Preparing an Application Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Project Management Program Description Program’s Impact Capacity to Deliver Budget Preparations Performance Indicators and Evaluation Plan Identify performance indicators that define project’s success What will you evaluate? What will you do with the results? Are there other groups that can learn from your results? If so, how will you share your results? Will you be able to learn from negative outcomes? 25 See workbook for further details

Preparing an Application Eligibility, Priorities & Criteria Project Management Program Description Program’s Impact Capacity to Deliver Budget Preparations Performance Indicators and Evaluation Plan Apply Early and Apply Often Getting competitive grants requires persistence Second submission is much less time consuming Ask granting agency for feedback 26 See workbook for further details

Practice Session In groups of 2-3, attempt to answer the sample questions from actual grant applications that are included in your workbook. Potential project concepts have been provided but feel free to use your own ideas. 27

Summary 28 Program Concept Funding Opportunities Project Management Engage Partners Support for Concept Delivery Resources Preparing the Application Don’t get discouraged!

Questions? 29