Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 7, 1 July 1986 — Federal Grants Game [ARTICLE]

Federal Grants Game

By Carol R.H. Ford Federal Grants Officer With the continuing threat of Gramm-Rudman budget slashing, many federal agencies are facing the prospect of drastic reductions in their 1987 budget appropriations. As a result of these cutbacks, fewer federal dollars are being made available to organizations seeking grants. Competition among such organizations has increased as have restrictions in terms of eligibility guidelines. This fiscal belt tightening has made it necessary for those seekingfunding to expend greater energy and creativity in developing a strategy. No longer is the simple process of submitting proposals sufficient. While it is still an important aspect of the process, it is just one of several steps whieh must be taken. The first step in attempting to secure funding concerns research. Many sources of funding are seemingly obscure, hidden within the bureaucratic structure. Appropriate programs within agencies as well as specific administrators must be identified through publications searches andpersonal referrals. Also, monitoring legislative action contributes research into the shifting of appropriations and responsibilities among the various governmental departments and agencies. Onee potential sources of funding have been identified, the various criteria for consideration, or guidelines, must be researched. This is more than simply reading what a given agency publishes as guidelines. Frequently thgre are unprinted policies and "unofficial" positions whieh govern the grants award process. These ean only be ascertained by personal eommunieahon with the relevant officials. For this necessary communication to take plaee a working relationship must be developed between the grants administrator and a loeal representative of the agency requesting funding. Onee the research phase has been accomplished, an appropriate proposal must be developed. Using the information gathered, a basic proposal for funding ean be tailored to meet the requirements of a specific program or grant. Attention must be given to published policy. Further, it should be taken into account that a proposal for funding is similar to a sales presentation. Harry Woodward of the Chicago Foundation offers the following advice: "Keep in mind that the foundation or federal program has goals of its own. Thought should be given to how your program will further these goals . . . Too often, organizations appear to be concerned only with what the grant will do for them and not with what it could accomplish for those individuals and organizations contributing the money." Not only do Mr. Woodward's comments address the proposal development stage of the fund seeking process, but also the notion that the process entails the establishment and nurturing of a relationship between the requesting organization and the funding source. The process of obtaining funding is not confined to individual grant awards. It is an ongoing activity. In order to be eligible for future funding, follow-up activities must be conducted. By continuing personal contact, an organization's representative ean clear the path for future funding efforts. Clearly, in an age of decreasing appropriations and increasing lobbying efforts, a well-planned and organized approach to funding must be employed. As the newly appointed Federal Grants Officer for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 am gratified at having the opportunity to work with other members of the OHA staff in developing and implementing such a program. It is my sincere hope that my activities in the Nation's capitol ean provide OHA, and the native Hawaiians it represents, with the additional eyes, ears, and hands required in these times of budgetary drought.