1. Welcome! We will begin our webinar at the top of the hour
As you log on, do not be surprised if you don’t hear anyone else; participants are placed on mute in order to limit background noise

2. National CASA Association 2016 Local Grants Program
Presenters:
Sally Erny – Chief Program Officer
Denice Hairston – Director of Grants Administration and Accountability
Coral Edward – Grants Associate

3. Objectives for the Webinar:
Review the 2016 National CASA local grants program policy
Learn about the grant categories and the criteria and eligibility requirements for each
Discuss the 2016 grant application materials and timeline
Understand the application review process
Identify points of contact at National CASA for technical assistance
Answer your questions

4. 2016 LOCAL Grants Policy

5. Guiding Principles Fund our strategy
Allocate funding with greater impact
Position ourselves for funding increase
Manage more effectively and efficiently
Increase accountability

6. Grant funding in alignment with Enabling Focus Areas
Alignment to our Strategic Framework
Grant funding in alignment with Enabling Focus Areas

7. 2016 Grants Policy Development
State Leadership Council (SLC) discussed grant strategy and directed National CASA staff to develop draft annual grants policy
Discussion and vetting of draft annual grants policy by SLC
SLC reviewed policy and voted unanimously to support
National CASA Grants Department reviewed and recommended annual grants policy to full National CASA Board of Trustees
Review and approval by Board of Trustees
Ongoing engagement of and input from the CASA/GAL network

8. 2016 local program Grants Policy Summary
National CASA Association will sub-award $1.2 million in competitive grants in two categories to local CASA/GAL programs and state CASA/GAL organizations that provide direct services.
The grant term for the local program categories will begin on January 1, 2017 and end on December 31, 2017.

9. Questions

10. Grant Categories, Criteria, and Eligibility

11. Summary of Categories Capacity-building Growth
Select 15 to 20 applications:
To fund initiatives that will strengthen the foundational elements of the local program and contribute to long term sustainable change resulting in more volunteers activated and additional children served.
Growth
Select 8 to 15 applications:
To significantly increase the number of abused and neglected children served by CASA/GAL volunteers.
Designed to demonstrate effective strategies and practices for growth that are documented and may be developed as model approaches and replicated throughout the CASA/GAL network.

12. Key Criteria and Considerations
Both Grant Categories:
Funding Goal Requirements
# of New Volunteer Advocates Activated
(i.e., assigned to a case)
# of Additional Children to be Served
(i.e., assigned a CASA/GAL volunteer)
$20,000 Request 15 37
$40,000 Request 30 75
$60,000 Request 45
112
$80,000 Request 52
130
$100,000 Request 65
162
The minimum amount that can be requested/will be awarded is $20,000. (Capacity-building)
The maximum amount that can be requested/will be awarded is $100,000. (Growth)

13. Eligibility Requirements
Both Grant Categories:
CASA/GAL local programs and state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates
Full Member in good standing with the National CASA Association
Current paid membership for 2017
Completion of the 2015 annual survey & 6-month reports
Compliance with National CASA Association Standards
Successful past performance on previous National CASA grants
Submission of a one-page letter of support from the state director/organization

14. Questions

15. Capacity-building Grants

16. Capacity-building Grants
Purpose: Initiatives funded through National CASA Association’s partnership with Jewelers for Children will build program capacity resulting in an increase in the number of abused and neglected children served by CASA/GAL volunteers
Applicants:
Local programs or state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates
Applicants must be in good standing with National CASA Association

17. Capacity-building Grants
Projected Awards:15-20 awards anticipated
Amount: Ranging from $20,000 to $40,000
Grant Period: 1/1/2017 through 12/31/2017
Eligibility: Local programs and state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates.

18. Capacity-building Grants
Requirements:
Letter of support from state director/organization for all local programs.
Capacity-building plan (three page maximum) to increase the number of volunteers activated and children served.
Explanation of any gaps between the demographics of volunteers and children served. If a gap exists, the applicant must submit a diversity plan.
May be asked to engage in some form of public relations event if selected.

19. Capacity-building Grants
Award decisions will be based upon:
Strong project plan with measurable objectives, goals, and timeline
Demonstrated ability to expand the number of volunteers and children served during the grant period as written in the capacity-building plan
Successful past performance with National CASA Association grant funds and grant goals, if applicable
Clearly explained, reasonable, and realistic grant budget based on the projected increase in children served
Comprehensive sustainability plan

20. Questions

21. growth Grants

22. growth Grants
Purpose: Initiatives funded through National CASA Association’s cooperative agreement with US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will significantly increase the number of abused and neglected children served by CASA/GAL volunteers.
Applicants:
Local programs or state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates
Applicants must be in good standing with National CASA Association

23. growth Grants Projected Awards: 8-15 awards anticipated
Amount: Ranging from $40,000 to $100,000
Grant Period: 1/1/2017 through 12/31/2017
Eligibility: Local programs and state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates.

24. growth Grants Requirements:
Letter of support from state director/organization for all local programs.
Growth plan (three page minimum) to increase the number of volunteers activated and children served.
Explanation of any gaps between the demographics of volunteers and children served. If a gap exists, the applicant must submit a diversity plan.
May be asked to engage in some form of public relations if selected.

25. growth Grants Award decisions will be based upon:
Strong project plan with measurable objectives, goals, and timeline
Demonstrated ability to expand the number of volunteers and children served during the grant period as written in the growth plan
Successful past performance with National CASA Association grant funds and grant goals
Clearly explained, reasonable, and realistic grant budget based on the projected increase in children served
Comprehensive sustainability plan

26. Questions

27. Application Materials

28. Applications and Instructions
Application materials are available on National CASA website CASAforChildren.org
At the home page, click the State and Local Programs at the top of the web page
Login with Program ID # and password
Click the National CASA Grants to access grants page
Click Download Instructions and Application/Submit Completed Application and Attachments
The application is provided as a PDF fillable form

29. Applications and Instructions

30. Application FORMAT
National CASA Grant Application has 12 distinct sections:
Summary Sheet
Program Information
Organizational Information
Project Need for each category
Project Approach
Project Management
Evaluation
Sustainability
Grant Budget Narrative
Grant Budget Summary
Program Reporting
Current Budget

31. Additional attachments
Additional attachments have to be uploaded as one combined PDF file.
Letter of support from state director/organization required for all local program applicants
Capacity-building plan required for all capacity-building applicants
Growth plan required for all growth applicants
Organizational chart required for all applicants
Diversity plan, if required due to demographics
Audit/monitoring corrective action plan, if applicable
Additional staff list, if applicable

32. Summary sheet Page 1 consists of: Grant category applying for
Amount requested
Project abstract
Authorized Representative and Title

33. Program information Pages 2 – 5 consist of: Applicant information
Additional information
Staff list
Program statistics
Court/judicial statistics
Financial history
Explanation on reserves in excess of $200,000
Explanation on statistical information on pages 3-4

34. organizational information
Pages consist of:
Significant challenges or opportunities
Program area and population served
Governing body

35. Project need – capacity-building
Pages consist of:
Current capacity and need for capacity-building
Governing body and program involvement in assessing need
How building capacity will be supported by your strategic plan

36. Project need – growth Pages 10 - 11 consist of: Need for growth
Growth plan details
Data and process used to calculate actual growth
Three-year average growth chart

37. Project approach Pages 12 - 14 consist of:
Goals, objectives, activities and timeline
Grant funded position(s)
Hiring of consultant, if applicable
Diversity

38. Project management, evaluation and sustainability
Pages consist of:
Project Management
Key staff ensuring success of project
Oversight and reporting on this project
Evaluation
Sustainability

39. Grant budget narrative and summary
Pages consist of:
Grant Budget Narrative
Personnel Salaries
Taxes/benefits
Travel
Printing/Copying
Supplies
Equipment
Rent/Utilities
Other
Grant Budget Summary

40. Program reporting Pages 23 - 24 consist of:
National CASA grants received in the last three years
Grant reports filed on time
Grant goals met
Grant project sustained
External audit/grant monitoring, any findings

41. Current budget
Page 25 consists of:
Revenue/Expenses and Net Change

42. Application scoring Sections Headings / Application Page References
Point Value
Summary Sheet & Program Information / Pages 1-5 10
Organizational Information / Pages 6 - 7
Project Need / Pages 8 – 11 20
Project Approach / Pages
Project Management, Evaluation, & Sustainability / Pages 15
Grant Budget Narrative & Summary / Pages 18-22
Program Reporting / Pages 23-24 5
Current Budget / Page 25
TOTAL POINTS
100

43. Tips to preparing a complete, quality application
Completely answer all questions
Provide unique answers to each question; do not duplicate responses
List staff positions by job title, not personnel names
Ensure grant amount requested on pg 1 matches grant budget summary total
Show formula/calculation for grant budget amounts
Submit all required applicable attachments
Be sure to use the latest version of Adobe available
8) Submission of a comprehensive capacity-building or growth plan that addresses program need

44. Application Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by individuals with knowledge of the CASA/GAL network:
External Reviewers
National CASA Staff
Reviews will be conducted based on standardized criteria as outlined in the grant application and instructions
Potential reviewers with a conflict of interest for any category will be excluded

45. Application Review Process
Applications that will not make it to the review process (i.e., ineligible for funding):
Not uploaded by 5pm PST
Missing any required attachments
Amount requested below minimum or above maximum
Files other than application/attachments uploaded

46. Key Dates Tuesday, November 15 – Grant materials released
Friday, December 16 at 5pm PST – Grant Applications Due
Friday, January 20, 2017 – Awards announced (tentative)
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 – Terms & Conditions due
Sunday, January 1, 2017 – Grant Period begins
Sunday, December 31, 2017 – Grant Period ends

47. Contact Information
Grant Application or Process Inquiries: Membership Questions: Resource: Question and Answer (Q&A) Document

48. Questions

49. THANK YOU!
Office of Juvenile justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Disclaimer
Points of view or opinions expressed in this webinar are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of OJJDP or the U.S. Department of Justice.