Midwest EJ Network partners with the Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy to host federal grants training series
Midwest Environmental Justice Network is partnering with the Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy to host a series of virtual training opportunities centered on understanding the basics of federal grant opportunities, determining if they are the right fit for your organization, and if so, how to apply. The trainings will be led by Elevate, a grant writing consulting firm headquartered in Washington, DC - and we will also hear directly from EJ organizations with federal grant experience.
If you are an environmental justice organization in the Midwest, email Eartha at eborerbell@mwejn.org to receive registration details! Below are details on each of the three workshops in the series:
1 | Introduction to Federal Grant Opportunities
Date Thursday, February 9, 2023, 12:00-1:30 PM ET
Description
This session will cover introductory content, such as the types of federal grants that are available, where to find information about federal grant opportunities, and frequently used terminology; the basic steps necessary to prepare to pursue a federal grant before an RFP/NOFO is announced, including registration with SAM and Grants.gov, typical eligibility requirements, and commonly required documentation; and key organizational considerations for the implementation of a federal funding opportunity.
We will discuss how to determine if a federal opportunity is right for your organization, using an RFP/NOFO sample relevant to environmental justice organizations.
2 | How to Review a Federal Grant RFP: Key Terms, Scoring, Planning, and More
Date Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 12:00-1:30 PM ET
Description
Building upon the first session, during this webinar we will focus on reviewing and understanding a federal RFP/NOFO. Using a relevant sample, we will walk through and discuss each section. We will cover how to read the federal grant RFP/NOFO and how federal proposals are reviewed and scored. Finally, building upon the introductory webinar, we will continue our discussion of planning and preparation, including considerations at the RFP review stage for selecting appropriate partners/subgrantees and for teeing up project implementation.
We will welcome EJ organizational teams who will discuss their experience with applying to federal opportunities and lessons learned.
3 | How to Prepare an Effective Federal Grant Proposal
Date Thursday, April 13, 2023, 12:00–1:30 PM ET
Description
The third webinar in the series will cover the preparation of a federal grant request. We will discuss what grant reviewers are looking for in an effective response to each section/question outlined in the RFP, as well as how to prepare materials like logic models, work plans, timelines, budgets, and other attachments that are often required as part of your federal grant submission package. Building off our previous two sessions, we will offer checklists and tips for planning and keeping track of the important pieces of information that go into an effective federal grant request.