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Mini Grant Timeline/Budget Form The
DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is soliciting
proposals of up to $500 for a reimbursable mini-grant to be used for
celebrations and/or purchase of trees or tree related materials or native
prairie establishment for schools or
groups. Eligible Applicants: All
elementary schools, 4-H, Boy Scout, or Girl Scout troops in DeKalb County. Grant evaluation guidelines: One
of the goals of this program is to leverage the grant awarded with technical or
educational resource assistance from the DeKalb County SWCD/NRCS office and its
partners. Professionals will be
available to help awardees with selecting native plants and educational
materials and to provide trainings or outreach programs. You
are not required to show a match for your projects but projects that provide a
match will be reviewed favorably. Successful
projects will: F Enhance grantees curriculum and/or schoolyard/community
habitat F Clearly show that youth helped to plan and/or will
implement the project F Have specific goals that demonstrated positive and
sustainable impact on natural resources. F Utilize outside resources such as professional staff from
local offices and/or agencies and community involvement. F Make use of existing environmental education curriculum
and materials when these are applicable and available. F Have a plan for how the project will be publicized F Use native trees, shrubs and plants in their plans. F Complete the application, budget and timeline and submit a proposal max of 2 pages along with letters of commitment by October 31, 2008 F Be completed and have final report submitted by November
1, 2009. Eligible costs and projects: Funding
requests should focus on items necessary for enhancement and development of a
schoolyard habitat, or resources to augment natural resource lessons in the
curriculum. Examples of possible
projects include: a student planned Arbor Day event, the creation or expansion
of a unit on trees or plants, the establishment of a native prairie which would
include native grasses and forbs, or a schoolyard/community habitat that utilizes
native trees or plants.. This grant will not fund: F Non-native plant species or landscaping (beautification
projects). F Food or beverages for workshops or ceremonies. F Indirect costs, general operations, or overhead charges:
phone calls etc. F Salaries or stipends for staff or parent volunteers. F Offsite field trips. Funding and Payment: The
DeKalb County SWCD mini grant program will be a competitive process.
A committee will evaluate each proposal based on the above guidelines.
Project coordinators will be notified of acceptance by early November.
Funds used for the project will be reimbursed.
A check from the DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation district will
be sent to the grantee when the final report including all receipts is
submitted. Project Reporting: A
project report is required within one year of being awarded the grant.
The report should include a summary of the allocation of the grant funds
along with copies of all receipts. Grantees
are encouraged to include examples of student work, pictures of the site and
copies of publicity in this report. Additional
information on reporting requirements will be provided to successful grant
recipients. Publicity: Successful grant recipients will be required to acknowledge the funding source in any project publicity, signage or materials produces. Describe the proposed project. Complete each
of the following statements or questions on separate paper not to exceed 2
pages. Include supplemental letters
of commitment. Fill out the
application, and budget/timeline forms and staple it on top of your proposal. 1. Title and a brief description of the service project. Include goals
and measurable objective of the project. If
this grant will be used as an addition to an existing program or project, please
describe how these funds will further the goals of that project/program. 2. Proposed use of funds.
If you will be purchasing plant materials, a specific list of trees, shrubs
and plants that you intend to purchase should be included. 3. Briefly describe why this project should be done at your
local school or community. How will your project enhance, benefit or conserve a
natural resource or promote natural resource education? 4. Will you be working with other partners in this project? If so list
the agencies. 5. How do you plan to publicize your service project? This may be
through local newspapers, school newsletters, brochures or other methods. 6. How will the project be managed and maintained on a
long-term basis? How will this project be continued or expanded in the future? It is
important that there is a commitment for long-term care on the proposed site.
Who is responsible for maintenance? Letters of commitment from
administration or landowners should be included.
These letters are not considered part of the 2 page proposal. 7. How will the success of the project be evaluated? This may be
qualitative or quantitative. 8. Provide a timeline and budget. The budget
should list supplies, equipment, plant materials, classroom materials, other
expenses and any match or in-kind required to make this project a success. Send your completed
grant application and proposal to: Dean
Johnson For
questions contact (815) 756-3237 ext. 3 or dean.johnson@il.nacdnet.net. |