Help with Applying for a Matching Grant
How is it decided if my project will get funded?
CSCB Natural Resources Matching Grant applications are evaluated by a committee of seven people with natural resource conservation experience. Although they are given general guidelines, the committee members use their own judgment to assess project conservation merit and feasibility. There are many types of projects according to District needs, but ultimately it must be the combined expertise of the committee that decides which of the projects submitted that year offer the best natural resource benefits and are most likely to succeed. Each committee member brings their own valued expertise to the process, just as each project is unique. By its nature, the Matching Grants Program involves "apples to oranges" project comparisons that necessitate a certain amount of subjective evaluation.
Given that every year the competing projects submitted will vary in type and quality, here are seven tools to help you deliver your best possible proposal. All of these tools can be found on our web site:
1. The Application
The application itself contains a great deal of guidance on what is required expected, and desired. Be sure to carefully read the application materials.
2. Evaluation Committee Guidelines
Below is a link to the guidelines provided to the evaluation committee. They are mostly general in nature - because projects vary so much - but there are also some pointers for specific project types. These were provided to 'round-out' the knowledge of committee members who, inevitability, have their own areas of greater or lesser knowledge about specific subjects.
Click link for Application Assessment Criteria
3. Examples
The quality of applications varies from year to year, as may the individuals of the evaluating committee. This means that an application unfunded one year might get funded the next year because the pool of applications is different, or because the type/subject of project finds slightly more favor with that particular committee. As a secondary consideration, a project may be of a type or in a region that is under or over represented in a particular year and that could sway in it's favor or not.
However, there are things that you can do to increase your chances of getting funded. These are to design a well-thought out, feasible project for which you can demonstrate real need and accountability. Then communicate that in the way you write your application. Below are links to examples of applications for the same project narrative and budget, but one is an example of a well written application and one a poorly written one. These examples are in no way definitive - as already mentioned aspects such as conservation merit, feasibility, and applicant pool are key factors as to whether a project is chosen for funding. However, they will give you a feel for what makes a well-presented application.
Click links for Examples: Poor Narrative Poor Budget
4. Previously Funded Projects
On the Matching Grants web page, there are links to different years of the program. Under those links are lists of the projects funded that year and, as they are completed, summaries of the project accomplishments. You can look at these to get some idea of the kinds of projects that have been funded. However - this in no way means that other types of projects would not be funded - or even find more favor, or that these projects would be funded in other years. As always, each year is unique in its pool of applicants and therefore competition for funding.
5. General Grant Writing Help
CSCB has compiled some grant writing tips based on what they saw in the applications for their District Conservation Technician Program and Natural Resources Conservation program for 2008. These tips also contain a link to the Fundraising Guide we have on our web site, which contains more grant-writing help.
Click link for Grant Writing Tips
Click link for Grant Writing Tips
6. Match Identification
You will need to identify, and as far as possible secure, sources for providing a dollar-for-dollar match for your funding request from CSCB. The Application itself (see #1 above) has information on what the expectations are regarding cash and in-kind match. CSCB also has an Excel workbook with a template for use in helping identify grant match sources, and also suggested templates for help later on in tracking some types of match.
Click link for Match Identification and Tracking
7. Partner Match Agreements
Other than letters of support from County Weed Supervisors (required for weed projects), general letters of support will not be accepted. But specific agreements will be accepted as proof of secured partner match. Agreements must be signed by the partner and lay out specific contributions they will make in terms of funds, donations or actions. An example of a specific agreement is on our CSCB Forms and Publications page;