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Dear “Government Funding” Colleague,
Below
are a couple of tips on the purpose of government support and an
example of a social profit’s annual calendar of cultivation
through to budget submission and eventual funding. If you are having
trouble reading this issue, click on the link at the top of this
page to download a printable edition.
Do you have questions about goverment funding? Any other needs?
Contact us through LEADline@CampaignConsultation.com.
Access previous issues of On-the-Go eTA by clicking on the title
at the right.
Government
Support – a part of your funding mosaic
Here
are some characteristics related to what government funders are
looking for in a proposal application:
- Seed
funding
Much like you would use foundation support, apply the same principle
to government funding. Look at public funding as an opportunity
to launch new, improved initiatives for two or three years. During
that period of time, you have the chance to build up private individual
awareness and support and begin to wean the now established program
off of public support into the purvey of annual unrestricted funding.
- Replicable
Again similar to foundation funders, government funders are partial
to projects that serve as prototypes that other organizations
can replicate.
- Community
Support
Local government funders usually require strong evidence
of community support for a project – demonstrated community
impact; demand for services; strong volunteer leadership and advocacy;
significant donor base of contributions; etc.
- Accountability
Keep careful records about how you spend a government
grant, since an audit is always a possibility.
- Organizational
Capacity
Make sure you have the staff capacity and infrastructure
in place to manage the project, handle the reporting requirements,
evaluate program impact, etc.
- Match
Ability
Many government awards, particularly bonds for capital,
buildings, etc. require local matches raised from foundation,
corporate or individual resources.
As with every area of fund raising methodology – individual
annual giving campaigns, foundation proposals and corporate solicitations
– treat your government funders with the same principles of
cultivation. Keep them on your database and inform them of your
activities. Provide short program updates even outside of the required
reporting schedule. As a result of your growing relationship and
demonstrated success, they will be ready and willing to fund your
next improved initiative.
Partially adapted from the Donors Forum of Chicago
Working
the Government Calendar
Legislative
schedules vary from state to state with some meeting for a few weeks
or months and others meeting yearlong. To pursue state funding,
you will want to build a calendar of activities that addresses cultivation,
visibility and accessibility based on the legislative calendar.
Read below to see how one social-profit organization works to request
continued funding from its state’s general assembly that meets
the first third of the calendar year. This schedule begins following
the close of the legislative session through to the conclusion of
the next.
Volunteer Maryland
Maryland General Assembly
Support Initiative
|
End
of March |
Session
concludes with positive outcome |
| Month
1—Apr |
Letters
sent to Governor and Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff.
Personalize outcomes funding will provide (e.g. number of
volunteers to be mobilized, examples of human and environmental
services provided by volunteers, number of Maryland citizens
served)
Personal note to Director of Governor’s Finance Office
(he’s our greatest champion in the budget process)
Encourage colleagues to thank Governor’s Office for
Volunteer Maryland support
|
|
Month
2—May |
Review
final appropriation and adjust program budget and/or timeline
as necessary.
Annual Fiscal Officers Meeting to receive new FY financial
guidance (next budget cycle instructions, target current
services amount, standard fiscal operating issues or processes)
|
| Month
3—June |
Send
update, newsletter on program to Governor/department/legislative
leaders (occurs quarterly)
Review current FY expenditures versus appropriation; identify
gaps in program cost structure and adjust
Solicit input from staff and program participants re: program
resource development (i.e. wish list)
Compile, analyze, and report annual program results in the
State of Maryland Managing For Results (MFR) submission
(standard State evaluation system)
|
|
Month
4—July |
Draft
next FY budget request, staffing request, and Managing For
Results target levels
Review plan and budget request with Governor’s Office
to gain insight and input. Make revisions, gain approval |
|
Month
5—Aug |
Continue
negotiations with Governor’s Office as necessary.
Complete and submit final, approved budget and staffing requests
and MFR targets to Governor’s Finance Office. |
|
Month
6—Sep |
Send
update, newsletter on program to Governor/department/legislative
leaders (occurs quarterly)
Provide information and update data as requested by Governor’s
Finance Office, Department of Budget and Management, and Department
of Legislative Services |
|
Month
7—Oct |
Provide
information and update data as requested by Governor’s
Finance Office, Department of Budget and Management, and Department
of Legislative Services. |
|
Month
8—Nov |
Provide
information and update data as requested by Governor’s
Finance Office, Department of Budget and Management, and Department
of Legislative Services. |
|
Month
9—Dec |
Update
annual program results and track FY expenditures to date.
Send mid-year/holiday season “good news” to Governor,
State Service Commissioners, legislative contacts, and other
colleagues
Keep in touch with Governor’s Office staff. |
|
Month
10—Jan |
Identify
and research legislative committee leaders and members; schedule
Annapolis visits with new legislators and/or committee members
Review Governor’s Budget Bill and Department of Legislative
Services recommended actions
Prepare testimony and supporting documents as necessary (depends
on DLS recommendations)
Track bill’s progression in committee, hearings, etc.
Keep in touch with Governor’s Office staff and other
Executive Department contacts to gauge General Assembly session
tone |
| Months
11 and 12—Feb and Mar (actual hearing dates vary each
Session) |
Prepare
hearing testimony and supporting documents
Deliver hearing testimony and supporting documents
Track bill’s progression in committee, hearings, assembly
floors, etc.
Keep in touch with Governor’s Office staff and other Executive
Department contacts to gauge General Assembly session tone (adapt
testimony/presentation as appropriate) |
Let
us know
Do
you have insights to share about raising government resources?
Contact
us at LEADline@CampaignConsultation.com
(LEADline
is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service
through its Resource & Fund Development Initiative.) We would
be happy to answer questions or to give you more support.
Thank you for your interest in On-The-Go eTA. We encourage you to
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this and other issues of OTG eTA to friends and colleagues
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