Thank you to
all the agency partners who called into the conference calls on April 1st,
6th, or 13th. We
wrote down your questions and wanted to make them available to others who may
not have been able to participate in the calls. (These questions are in the
order they were asked on the phone calls, and all questions are listed here, so
some information may seem repeated.)
Please let
your Agency Services Team know if you have other questions, concerns, or need
more information.
Completed
applications are due Friday, May 29th!
Q: CBG Application Question #4. How might
we quantify effectiveness of a strategy such as adding shelving to increase efficiency
of pantry operations?
A: For some
capacity building projects the effectiveness of the changes can be measured
qualitatively. Volunteers should sit down together when thinking about their CB
goals and figure out what they want to see improve and that should lead to what
to measure. Kathy gave the example that they could monitor volunteer hours to
complete a task before the new shelving vs. hours to complete after new
shelving or how a more efficient storage model would save volunteers time to do
other things.
Q: May more than one project be submitted
on one application?
A: Yes. If
there are several ideas that the program wants to implement to build capacity
they still all need to fall under the $5000 maximum. No agency will receive
more than $5000. Also, if multiple projects are proposed, some part of the
overall plan may be funded instead of the total. Reasoning on how it will build
capacity should be included for each project proposed.
Q: Would a box truck to transport food be
considered for grant funding?
A: Yes, if
it is tied to capacity building efforts of the program. Another caller talked
about their affordable version of this that might work well for other programs.
They are using a CoolBot cooling device to turn a tow-behind trailer into a
cold transport vehicle for under $5000.
Q: Would a project to partner with the
Maine Community Health Worker Initiative to train a food pantry volunteer to
become a community-based public health worker to link people to health and
social services through the pantry be an appropriate grant request?
A: Yes, if
proper details are provided about how this would enhance the pantry’s services
and how the money would be utilized, this sounds like an innovative and
promising program.
Q: Is the program required to get a
community match for the grant amount they are requesting?
A: No.
However, if you plan to use the Capacity Building Grant as a kick start to a
matching funding request in your community, please let us know on your
application.
Q: Are program’s going to be selected based
on how large they are or how high they score themselves on the Self-Assessment
for Partner Agencies at this time?
A: No. We recognize
that all of our partners are at different stages of program development and
capacity building. Applications will be evaluated based on the strength of the
capacity building goals as detailed in the application, the link between the
goals and the Self-Assessment findings, and the likelihood that the capacity
building goal will create sustainable changes after the funding period ends.
Q: When completing the Self-Assessment, our
program falls somewhere between two levels on the rating scale. Or, in some
cases our program meets all except one part of the level. What should we
choose?
A: If two
categories seem to fit when filling out the Self-Assessment, mark both and
underline or highlight all the items that best describe your organization. If
parts of the category don’t apply, simply cross out the information that does
not describe your organization.
Q: Can a program applying for a Capacity
Building Grant submit supplemental materials that better show or describe the
project/needs, such as photos of graphs?
A: Yes! A
committee will be reviewing the CBG applications and some committee members may
not be familiar with your program. Details are appreciated.
Q: What if the applied amount for through
the CBG is less than that which is received by the partner agency? So, if a
specific model of refrigerator costs $1000 and that is what is requested, but the
Food Bank awards $700, does the agency need to come up with the difference in
order to buy the exact same model proposed?
A: No, Good
Shepherd Food Bank will work with the partner if the full amount requested is
not awarded to determine how any changes to the original proposal will impact
what is purchased with the award.
Q: Why the change from Matching Challenge?
How much money will be distributed through the CBG program?
A: Not only
food is needed by partners, and this gives the opportunity to purchase some of
the “other” items that are needed.
Partners are often challenged to find funding for projects or
infrastructure (technology, refrigeration, or training) but want to enhance
their service. We do not know exactly
how much money will be awarded yet.
Q: How closely the self-assessment results
needs to be tied to the request for funding? Does an area that you are doing
well in already exclude you from asking funding in that area?
A: No. The
Self-Assessment is a tool to be used to assess your capacity. The grant
application is competitive; as long as you can show how what you are applying
for is going to further build your capacity, your application will be
considered.
Q: How long after the grant is awarded does
the money need to be spent?
A: It depends
on the project and how soon the project will be able to be implemented. Details
about this will be discussed with awardees and timeline will be sent with
specific award letters.
Q: Does the application need to be a
cohesive ask? Can you apply for multiple projects that are not necessarily
related?
A: You can
apply for multiple projects within the $5000 limit. Clear explanations about why
each project is going to help build your capacity are needed. If awarded a CBG
grant, it is possible that only part of the request will be funded.
Q: Can you apply for a grant to buy food?
A: Possibly.
Some examples that might be considered would be to buy food to appeal to
special dietary considerations (such as demand for gluten-free) or some other
special project to increase ability of the program to better serve the needs of
their community. Compelling arguments for the need should be clearly expressed
in the application.
Q: Can funds be used for purchases already
made?
A: No. Receipts
for purchases need to be dated after the grant awards are made.
Q: Would empathy training for volunteers be
considered for funding?
A: Yes.
Volunteer training tied to capacity building that will allow your program to
better serve your community would be considered.
Q: Would a volunteer recognition event be
considered for funding?
A: No, not
unless there was a clear indication of how it would help your program build
capacity to serve your community.
Q: Would expanding service into the area
high school be considered for funding?
A: Yes, if
it is a satellite distribution of your program that will expand your reach into
the community. However, there is often money specific to funding child hunger
programs that would be important to explore before we would consider using
capacity building funds for such a project.
Q: Will you consider funding nutrition
education activities?
A: Yes, but
it needs to be tied directly to measurable outcomes and linked to your growth
and/or improvement of your program. Also, there are many community partners
throughout Maine that provide nutrition education and resource materials to
your program free of charge, such as Healthy Maine Partnerships, the University
of Maine Cooperative Extension, SNAP-Ed. We’d want to see how you incorporated
those resources.
Q: Will you fund projects to replace
equipment, such as buying a larger scale that allows you to weigh product in
and out quicker and provide accurate information to donors, or to buy a new
computer for your program that has updated software to help the efficient
running of the program?
A: Yes, however
the request needs to be tied directly to measurable outcomes that show how
you’ve built the capacity of your program to serve your community more
efficiently.
Q: Would you consider funding a one-time
senior nutrition education event?
A: The grant
is intended to help your program build capacity for the long-term. A single,
one-time program has limited capacity to create sustainable change for your
program into the future and likely would not be considered. There are other
resources in the community that may be able to partner to offer such an event.