Insight Grants

2016 PEP Grant Application Period Now Open

The application period for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program grants, or PEP grants, opened today. Applications are due 5/20/2016. You can access the application package and instructions via grants.gov here. Click on the Funding Opportunity Number (ED-GRANTS-032116-001) to go to the grant summary page. Then click on the “Package” tab to download the grants.gov package and the RFP. You can also access the RFP directly by clicking here. Good luck!

-Rosalie

2016 Carol M. White PEP grants due 5/20/2016!

Although the docket indicated Monday, the Federal Register Notice for the 2016 Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant competition was published very early this morning. The Notice shows the application will be available/application period will open Monday, 3/21/2016. The deadline for all applications is 4:30 pm Washington DC time on 5/20/2016.

Grants.gov submission is required. If you’d like to apply and your organization does not already have an active grants.gov account with an approved AOR Role, go to grants.gov to establish (or reactivate) an account as soon as possible beginning on Monday. (The system is down this weekend for maintenance.) Grants.gov account establishment requires your organization to have an active sam.gov account first. If this is your organization’s first time establishing a grants.gov account, and/or if your organization’s sam.gov account is expired, you will need a high-level administrator to work on the sam.gov account. Note that the US Department of Education (ED) has done a really nice of job of including detailed information about grants.gov this year in the PEP grant Federal Register Notice. Use that resource as well as the information available on the grants.gov and sam.gov sites and their respective helpdesks. Establishment of these accounts can take a few minutes or a more than a month depending on your organization’s situation. Begin work preparing your accounts ASAP to ensure they are ready well in advance of when you need to submit the grant. Extensions are not granted for organizations that miss the deadline because their accounts are not ready to submit in time.

Good luck!

-Rosalie

Carol M. White PEP grant competition opens Monday, 3/21/2016!

The Federal Register Notice that will officially open the 2016 PEP grant competition will  be posted MONDAY, 3/21/2016. This is very likely to be the final PEP grant competition ever, so this is particularly exciting.

 

The grant deadline will be 60 days from the Notice publication date and will be listed in the final publication on Monday.

The full RFP may be available Monday, or it may take a few days. The release is not always immediate. Grants.gov submission is required, and the grants.gov application package will be available for download by Tuesday.

A few quick notes:

  • Recommended award range is now $200,000 – $800,000 per year, with average size expected to be $500,000 per year.
  • Total amount available for new awards is $23 Million.
  • Awards are still for 1, 2, or 3 years. Forward funding will apply as anticipated. This means funds for all years of each awardee’s grant will come out of this year’s $23 Million since this is the last year of funding.
  • Anticipated number of awards is 15—this could go up or down some depending on the size of the requests of the applicants chosen for awards.
  • There are three opportunities for bonus points via Competitive Preference Priorities. The first involves partnerships. The other two are related to student achievement.
  • There is an Invitational Priority (not required and not attached to any additional points) for discussion of Evidence of Promise–research showing program elements are proven to work.

If you’d like assistance, please contact us today. Good luck to all applying!

2016 Carol M. White PEP grants coming soon!

The Carol M. White Physical Education Program–also know as the PEP grant–will be holding what is almost certain to be its last competition this spring. This is because the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which goes into effect in 2017, did not include PEP as an authorized program. Congress did, however, appropriate $47 Million to PEP for 2016, and PEP is still authorized for this year. Insight was able to confirm with US ED PEP Program Manager Carlette KyserPegram a little over a month ago that US ED does plan to hold a PEP grant competition in 2016.

For months now the US Department of Education’s Forecast of Funding Opportunities has indicated PEP may open on or around 3/15/2016 with applications due on or around 5/13/2016. While those dates could change at any time, and we won’t know for certain when the application period will be until the actual RFP is released, this information suggests the application period could open as soon as this coming Tuesday. Therefore, organizations interested in applying should begin preparing immediately, if they aren’t already doing so.

PEP is always very competitive, with just 5-18% of applicants nationwide receiving awards depending on the competition year. Here are a few reasons why PEP is expected to be even more competitive than usual in 2016:

  • Due to PEP not being included as an authorized program under ESSA, 2016 will almost certainly be the last time ever that PEP will be funded. Many districts will be looking to apply this year since it will be their last chance.
  • Since PEP cannot receive funding after 2016, US ED was considering applying a forward funding approach to this year’s awards. If that happens, that would mean that the applicants selected through the competition would have all of their grant years funded out of the 2016 appropriation, rather than just the first year which is the usual approach. This means each award would cost the 2016 PEP appropriation the full project period cost rather than the just the first year cost. Ultimately, this would mean fewer total awards could be made.
  • Fewer funds are available in total than in previous years because the Congressional appropriation was lower than in most PEP years at $47 Million total compared to the $70-80 Million total for most of the program’s past years.
  • The last PEP competition was held 3 years ago in 2013. The last set of new awards were made 2 years ago in 2014, but only high-scoring but non-winning applicants from the 2013 were eligible for consideration. Many districts have literally waited years for a chance to apply, and some of them have been preparing for most of that time.

Preparation will be critical to applications being highly competitive!

If you’re not too familiar with PEP, here are the basics:

PEP exists to support physical activity and nutrition education programs that help K-12 students meet or exceed state PE standards.

As of the most recently concluded competition, PEP grants could be 1, 2, or 3 years in length with award sizes of up to $750,000 per year. Matching is required at 10% of the total project cost in Year 1, and 25% of the total project cost per year in Years 2 and 3. Matching may be inkind and/or cash. PEP grants must adhere to a supplement not supplant rule.

 

Will your district be applying for PEP this year? Don’t miss out! For 16 years, PEP has been the biggest and best-fit funding source for PE, physical activity, and nutrition programming for schools and community-based organizations serving school-age kids. While the competition will be tough, this year’s competition is your “last chance” opportunity to obtain a PEP grant. So start preparing now to submit a stellar application.

If you’re interested in grant writing or editing-only assistance, please contact us. Insight has a strong track record with PEP. The Insight Team includes several writers who have each won many PEP grants over the years. I myself have written 24 and edited an additional 46 winning PEP grants (70 total) for districts around the country.

Good luck!

-Rosalie Mangino-Crandall

SAFER Grants Are About to Open!

FEMA recently announced that the FY 2015 Staffing and for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant application period will open Monday, 2/22/2016. Applications will be due Friday, 3/25/2016. A total of $340,000,000 is available and is expected to fund about 300 awards. FEMA states, “The goal of the SAFER Grant Program is to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies, and assure that communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.” The program has two funding categories: Hiring of Firefighters and Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters.

Project periods will begin 6/30/2016 and can run 12-48 months in length. Eligible applicants are as follows (quoted from pages 3 and 4 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity):

  • Volunteer fire departments and combination fire departments may apply for funding under both the Hiring of Firefighters category and the Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters category. Separate applications must be completed for each category. Applicants are limited to one application per category, per application period. If an applicant submits two applications for the same category during a single application period, both applications will be disqualified.
  • Career fire departments may apply for funding only under the Hiring of Firefighters category. Applicants are limited to one application per application period. If an applicant submits two applications, both applications will be disqualified.
  • Municipalities and fire districts may submit applications on behalf of fire departments lacking the legal status to do so, such as those under the support of the municipality or district. The municipality or fire district may submit only one application for hiring per application period for each eligible fire department within the municipality or fire district.
  • National, state, local, or tribal organizations representing the interests of volunteer firefighters and individual fire departments (volunteer or combination) may only apply for funding under the Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters category. Applicants are limited to one application per application period. If an applicant submits two applications, both applications will be disqualified.

Matching is not required, and award ranges are undefined. No annual limits are placed on grant-funded salaries, leaving awardees free to compensate as needed for their localities.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity can be accessed at http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1455644730889-1856450d66491b2137fafdc07a5707cc/FY15_SAFER_NOFO.pdf.

The FAQs can be accessed at https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1455740082967-8a61e97579d9fe3feb94f8c611a99a5b/FY_2015_SAFER_FAQs_updated_2.17.16.pdf.

All program information is available at https://www.fema.gov/staffing-adequate-fire-emergency-response-grants.

Featured Grant Opportunity: SAFER

Fire departments in need of funding for staffing should be aware that application period for FEMA’s staffing grant opportunity–Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)–will open in the near future. The following information is quoted from an email blast issued by FEMA on 2/10/2016. 

THE FY 2015 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANTS APPLICATION PERIOD IS COMING SOON
The FY 2015 SAFER application period is right around the corner.  The open application period dates will be released as soon as the information becomes available.

Start planning your FY 2015 SAFER Grant application now by reviewing the technical assistance tools below.  These tools were produced specifically to help potential applicants begin to plan their 2015 applications ahead of the application period.  The tools can be viewed on the AFG website or downloaded to your computer.

SAFER Grants Help Desk:  If you have questions about the technical assistance tools listed below, call or e-mail the SAFER Grants help Desk.  The toll-free number is 1-866-274-0960; the e-mail address for questions is firegrants@fema.dhs.gov.

 

SAM.GOV REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO APPLY AND RECEIVE GRANTS
The FY 2015 SAFER application period will be here before you know it. All eligible applicants must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) before you can submit an application. Per 2 CFR § 25.205, FEMA may not make an award to an entity until the entity has complied with the requirements to provide a valid DUNS number and maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information. SAM.gov consolidates federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).

To register, or validate your information, please visit: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.

SAM.gov Registration Tips:

Please ensure the following items are current in SAM.gov and the DUNS number used in SAM.gov is the same one you use for all FEMA applications:

  • Organization’s name
  • Address
  • Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Banking information (type of account (checking or saving), routing number, and account number
  • Many websites may look official in appearance but are not. As a reminder, registration in SAM.gov is FREE
  • SAM.gov registration is only active for one year and must be renewed annually
  • FEMA has prepared a technical assistance document, the SAM.gov Get Ready Guide. This document is designed to walk you through the SAM.gov registration process
  • This information should be consistent in all registration documents

Should you need assistance with your SAM.gov account, there are several ways to get
help:

If you have questions or concerns about your SAM.gov registration, please contact the Federal Support desk at https://www.fsd.gov.

AFG Home Page: www.fema.gov/firegrants
AFG Regional Representatives: http://www.fema.gov/fire-grant-contact-information
AFG Help Desk: E-mail: firegrants@fema.dhs.gov
Telephone Toll-Free: 1-866-274-0960

Featured Grant Opportunity: Grants to help schools serve healthier meals to students!

The USDA and NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 are partnering to award $35 Million in grants that support healthier meals and better nutrition in US schools. Based on the fact that 88% of schools who utilize the USDA’s National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs lack the equipment to serve healthy meals, this partnership aims to help schools upgrade their kitchen equipment and infrastructure in order to offer students better access to nutritious foods. Grants will help schools meet updated national nutrition standards, serving meals with more grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein and low-fat dairy, and less sodium and fat. All US schools who participate in the National School Lunch Program are eligible to apply. Schools can apply individually, or districts may apply for multiple schools within their district. Each school involved in the application, whether applying as part of a district or as an individual school, can apply for up to $5,000 in school nutrition equipment. The online application will open in early March 2016. You can sign up to be notified when the application is open by entering your email address here. The deadline for all applications is Thursday, June 30, 2016. Interested in more information about these grants? Find out more and download the application materials here: https://www.fueluptoplay60.com/funding/nutrition-equipment-grant.

 

By Jen Adams

Featured Grant Opportunity: Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG)

FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is now open with applications due 1/15/2016.

“The purpose of the AFG Program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards by providing direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTA) for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.”

For complete information on the AFG Program visit the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program on FEMA.gov

We are offering three different AFG services: narrative writing and uploading and submission of the full application, narrative writing only, and editing for a narrative written by a member of your fire department or eligible EMS organization. If you are interested in discussing your project and our services please contact us by filling out our online form here or emailing info@insightgrants.com

Insight Client New London Public Schools of CT Awarded US ED Full Service Community School (FSCS) Grant

We are thrilled that New London Public Schools of New London, Connecticut was recently awarded a Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Grant through the U.S. Department of Education! New London originally applied to the FY 2014 program and was awarded funds in FY 2015 when awards were made “down the slate.” The Insight Team worked with key New London staff and administrative members to develop and write the comprehensive proposal. Funding for Year 1 is expected to be $497,307 and the 5-Year projected amount is anticipated to be $2,434,535.

The New London project, titled “Project Connect,” is a five-year service provision and coordination FSCS initiative designed in partnership with multiple community organizations, including: Connecticut College; United States Coast Guard Academy; New England Science and Sailing; Connecticut Science Center; Child and Family Agency of New London; Child Nutrition Program of New London; Appalachian Mountain Club Youth Opportunities Program; and New London Youth Affairs.

Project Connect is strategically designed to address four primary gaps faced by a highly vulnerable, at-risk youth with a primary overarching goal: To provide and ensure access to comprehensive services that improve the academic, health, and social outcomes of students.

Gap 1: The current academic program is insufficiently intense to facilitate academic standards

Gap 2: Lack of student engagement

Gap 3: Lack of parental/family engagement, involvement and parent services

Gap 4: Inadequate awareness/utilization of comprehensive services that support student achievement

The FSCS grant program has a 20% matching requirement and Ed Sweeney, Alison Burdick, and the staff at New London did a great job working to get commitments from community partners. The value of partner donations is $159,000 per year and $795,000 over 5 years! This is an outstanding example of a school engaging community partners to put together a competitive application and ultimately a strong, effective, community-changing project!

 

Grant Opportunity: Skills for Success (New Program Through ED)

A new grant program through the U.S. Department of Education titled “Skills for Success” is opening this week (6/11/15).

“The Skills for Success Program supports Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and their partners in implementing, evaluating, and refining tools and approaches for developing the non-cognitive skills of middle-grades students in order to increase student success. Grants provide funding for the implementation, evaluation, and refinement of existing tools and approaches (e.g. digital games, growth mindset classroom activities, experiential learning opportunities) that integrate the development of students’ non-cognitive skills into classroom-level activities and existing strategies designed to improve schools.”

The program has two absolute priorities:

Developing Non-Cognitive Skills in Middle-Grades Students and Supporting High-Need Students

Deadline: July 29th, 2015

Awards: 4 to 5 awards are expected to be made, with awards having an average size of $500,000

For complete information, look for the RFP to be available through the ED.gov Forecast of Funding Page under the Office of Innovation and Improvement. The Federal Register announcement can be viewed here.

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