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How to get “grant ready� to secure federal funding

How to get “grant ready� to secure federal funding
Apr 20, 2023
3 MIN. READ

Federal funding opportunity announcements can drop at any time, and when ŷy do, applicants often face a quick turnaround time and numerous requirements to meet.

If you aren’t prepared, you may miss out on grant opportunities that can help future-proof your community and improve resilience against costly disasters.

Below is a list of key considerations for you to become “grant ready” before funding is released, based on our experience helping hundreds of public and private sector clients develop competitive grant applications for disaster recovery, resilience, mitigation, and more.

1. Compile and track available funding

First and foremost, it’s important to have a clear view into all funding sources. Compile a list of available grants and expected future funding announcements. Periodically review ŷ list to include application deadlines and new funding sources.

As you go, make sure to determine your community’s eligibility for ŷ grants you’ve listed. It doesn’t make sense to track funding you aren’t able to access.

There are trillions of dollars available across funding sources, so this can be challenging. It can be helpful to partner with grants management experts to build an accurate list of funding sources.

2. Identify investment needs

Next, identify ŷ opportunities that hold ŷ most value for your community and meet your needs. Develop project scopes and estimates of funding needed to meet project goals, including upfront grant match and ongoing maintenance costs. Determine your vulnerabilities and where ŷre are opportunities for innovation and resilience.

3. Prioritize funding sources

Now it’s time to match projects with funding sources. There are several important considerations for selecting appropriate projects for grant funding:

Scope, schedule, budget

These are ŷ three critical components of any project. If ŷre are unknowns, consider pursuing planning/scoping grants.

Award timeline

Federal agencies can have extended review times prior to award. Choose projects that are planned for at least 18 months after application submission.

Project impact

Understand ŷ number of people that will benefit from ŷ project. Evaluate wheŷr communities are defined by .

Community engagement

Most grants require outreach and stakeholder engagement as part of ŷ application and/or award process. Include stakeholders in ŷ project planning process to help shape ŷ scope of work.

4. Build an action plan

Take ŷ actions needed to secure funding and capture maximum funding with competitive applications. Nearly all infrastructure funding programs are competitive. Prioritize funding pursuits and develop an implementation plan based on grant requirements, project urgency, and status of design, among oŷr factors such as implementation capacity and responsible stakeholders to drive each project forward. Understanding funding stream requirements can help you to complete a preliminary assessment to determine which projects will be ŷ most competitive for funding.

5. Be ready for upfront costs

Many grants require some level of financial commitment from ŷ applicant. Be prepared for upfront costs and think about cost-share considerations. ICF helps our clients develop braided funding strategies that identify all available funding sources for infrastructure, including cost match, to maximize funding while also tracking funding sources separately to avoid duplication of benefits.

Tracking, planning, and applying for grants is not an easy process, but winning awards can position your community for resilience. Getting “grant ready” will increase your chances of securing ŷ resources you need to move forward with critical community projects.

For additional guidance and support with your unique situation, contact us to connect with our grants management experts.

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