Help! New to all of this!

[Hiouchi]

I just joined the fire dept my husband has been on for 2 yrs and am finding out that they have basically no one trying to get grants. With almost no money and needing new equipment, I figure I could at least try to get them some grants, but I pretty much have no idea where to begin. I applied for a DUNS number yesterday, and have checked out the CHIEF site, but that's about it. I have no idea how to write a Grant Proposal, or where to look for grants. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!

[CKVFD1]

I am a Lieutenant and Training Officer with my volunteer department and we have a small budget and little income. I could use some help on finding and applying for grants. If anyone can help that would be great. My email is jonesja@hillsboroughcounty.org or reply on here.

[Wolf8552]

This forum is frequented by many accomplished grant writers specializing in fire department needs, and they are all very generous when it comes to answering questions and giving out information.

My first recommendations are to:

1) Do a needs assessment: prioritize what your department needs and let that list guide you in your grant requests.
2) Get ready to apply to the 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The application period is usually 30 days long starting sometime in March. The 2006 program guidance document has not been released yet, but you can get familiar with the 2005 PGD at: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs...FGguidance.pdf
3) Ask lots of questions on this forum and on www.firegrantsupport.com. Here are a few names on this forum that I would pay close attention to: dixiechicnc, bc79er, ktb9788, onebugle, not2l84u2. Sorry if I left anyone out!
4) Look for and attend an AFG workshop, here is the schedule: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/Work...workshops.aspx

Hope this helps in getting you started towards an award.

Wolf

[CJPTRUCKIE]

This is also my depts first year trying to get a grant. Being our first time we to are having a problem getting started. I have looked over both links previously listed and still dont know where to go and what to do next.

What is our first step? I was told we needed to apply for a DUNS number, How do we do that?

Thanks for any help.

[Wolf8552]

This is out of the 2005 Program Guidance Document:

DUNS Number
Effective October 1, 2003, all Federal grantees must obtain a DUNS number, (a unique nine-character identification number provided by the commercial company Dun & Bradstreet). The Federal government will use the DUNS number to better identify related organizations that are receiving funding under grants and cooperative agreements and to provide consistent name and address data for electronic grant applications. Additional information about DUNS numbers can be found on the Dun & Bradstreet Web site (www.dnb.com/US/duns_update/index.html).
There is no charge to obtain a DUNS number, and it is the applicant's responsibility to obtain one. Applicants are encouraged to apply for a DUNS number well in advance of the application period because it may take 2 to 3 weeks or more to obtain the number online. It is recommended that applicants request a DUNS number as soon as possible by calling 1-800-333-0505. When completing the online application, there is a special data field for entering the DUNS number. If applying on paper, use the box entitled “Federal Identifier” on the SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance, to enter the DUNS number. Be advised that this number is required for all Federal grant applications, and there may not be any extensions granted for applicants who were unable to obtain their number prior to the end of the application period.

Wolf

[Not2L84U2]

I would also look over the Workshop presentation for 2006. Go through it and write down any questions you have then go to a grant workshop in your area and you can already have in mind some questions that you want to ask before they start because they will basically use the same presentation in their workshop. You can find the presentation at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/afg/presentation.aspx and if you have any more questions then post them on here and get the help you need.

I think that my first step if I were in your shoes would be to perform an informal risk assessment. Put a small committee together from your department and identify one area that you want to focus on for this year (read some of Brian's articles on laundry lists). This should be your greatest need. Whether it is PPE, SCBA's, etc. Then focus on that area, do your research (read the program guidance, go to workshops, review the presentation), start getting cost estimates, confer with your department and/or board and make sure that they are going to be able to cover the 5% (or greater dependant upon the size of your population) of the costs, and then re-read your research material and make your first draft of your narrative. Take the narrative back to your committee and make sure that the majority is in agreement of what is stated. Then make your revisions. After you have the 2nd draft of your narrative then find a school teacher in your area to review your narrative. Have them check for spelling errors, grammar errors, and in general make sure that someone from outside your department can make heads or tails of what you are requesting. After you make the revisions they suggest then get in touch with someone from these forums (don't want to offer anyone's services for them, but you might try Kurt, Brian, or Alana) and ask them to review it. As you're putting this narrative together also realize that you are going to need a lot more information aside from just the project. You will also need to know budget information for your department, call volumes, population bases, etc.

I hope this starts you in the right direction, and if you need more information then just put up another post.

Good luck!

Ryan

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

For all of the new folks: Welcome to the Premier site for information about funding and grants.

As Ryan mentioned, I have 3 articles published over in the MemberZone, so that would be a good place to start. And don't just pay the $2 for my articles, what you'll learn from Chief Goldfeder and Harry Carter is worth a heck of a lot more than that. I paid my $2 long before I wrote those articles.

Also, there are a few outlets for free assistance in doing all of the above: assessments, project design, narratives, etc, etc. There are some samples of narratives on my web site: www.firegraphics.org. Also in there is a set of links for two ways to have me work on your grant for free. If you have any other questions feel free to drop me an email also: brianv@firegraphics.org

We're here to help.

- Brian

[ktb9780]

I still have three seminars going on before AFG opens up also and my assisitance is free of charge for reviewing and consulting to any public safety agency. www.chiefgrants.com or check my profile and email offline.

[gfpdwh]

Hiouchi: There will be an AFG grant workshop at the
Medford Fire Dept.

2-14-06 1pm
200 South Ivy
contact Tom Clemo
541-774-2300

I'm assuming you are the Hiouchi in Or.

Hope this helps.
Good Luck
Bill

[Dobieg]

Nicely done gang...I think these folks just got the 'full court press' from our local grant guru's...
FYI Brian, we've turned about face and are going O&S instead of the vehicle. Thanks again for your assistance and advice.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

No problem. WIth a 1 in 10 shot for any truck, and a 1 in 92 to get one above $300K, I'd hate to see a wasted app if it's really not going to be highly competitive.

KB you slowing down in your old age? Only 3? I'm off today to the frozen NE, then 4 more on the books and 2 more in the works. Good thing I got the newborn training me that sleep is overrated.

[ktb9780]

No problem. WIth a 1 in 10 shot for any truck, and a 1 in 92 to get one above $300K, I'd hate to see a wasted app if it's really not going to be highly competitive.

KB you slowing down in your old age? Only 3? I'm off today to the frozen NE, then 4 more on the books and 2 more in the works. Good thing I got the newborn training me that sleep is overrated.

Yeah but my seminars are two days long. Besides, I'm still stoking up and building a sleep bank for next month. Lords knows we are all going to need it this year.

[Hiouchi]

I got my DUNS number yesterday, so we are all set there.
I also just found out that two other Dept's, that are experienced in getting grants, are going to help us with this too.

gfpdwh(Bill): Hiouchi is actually in California, on Hwy 199. But we are only about a 2 hr drive from Medford. You wouldn't happen to know if there is a charge for the workshop would you? (Kinda sucks that it's on Valentine's Day, but oh well. Gotta do what you gotta do...)

If anyone has sample proposals, narratives,(these are the same thing right? Jeez, I feel soo stupid!), it would really help me to look at some examples...

[ktb9780]

Hiouchi it is great that some neighboring departments are willing to help you out but, don't overlook the fact that the three grant guru's in here have hudnreds of funded grants under their collective belts ( and sashes dixiechicknc) and many of us offer that assisitance free of charge. Keep in mind that the workshops will tell you ABOUT the grant but, certainly will not tell you how to WRITE the grant. 2 hours is not nealry enough time to do that in.

[Hiouchi]

Oh yah, I will be using you guys probably more than the other dept's around here, cause they don't have near as much experience as all you do! I am sooo glad I found this site!

[dixiechicknc]

To add to what Kurt said, the DHS Workshop is a FREE workshop designed to let you know of changes to the program and updates. The ones I have attended ask if there are new applicants, and often will address comments specifically towards the new applicants. Also, it is only 2 hours, and as Kurt said, only so much can be covered. However, still a valuable resource, as the person hosting or teaching the class is often the Regional Fire Protection Specialist from your Region, and it's very good to make the contact.

You can also utilize the neighboring FDs as you mentioned for ideas, etc. These forums are an excellent tool, as others have mentioned. No one here ever speaks down to you for asking a question you may think is insignificant. So, fire away. And good luck! And it does suck that it's on V-Day....But, I guess as you said...you've got to do what you've got to do!

[Not2L84U2]

Hiouchi,

If you are looking for sample narratives then go to Brian's website. www.firegraphics.org

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Hey Kurt, how much does that bank charge to stockpile sleep? I need an account there too.

[Greenacres2]

Nicely done gang...I think these folks just got the 'full court press' from our local grant guru's...
FYI Brian, we've turned about face and are going O&S instead of the vehicle. Thanks again for your assistance and advice.

All right!! One less to compete with.

Actually, we are still on the fence between brush truck and O & S, with parts of both narratives written. It'll be a decade or more before we could hope for a pumper and 20 to 30 years for a much needed tender, but the attacker looks like a good shot. Still a 1 in 10 instead of 1 in 4 though--that's spooky!!

earl

[onebugle]

Greenacres2,

The odds for a vehicle are spooky, but can be beat. We did it last year with a brush truck. Take a look at what is happening with the funding, being cut. If this trend continues the odds will only go up, making it much more competitve for dwindling dollars.

Being from the NE, our proposal showed how the truck would be used year round. Not many brush fires in the winter months. Being from Indiana you would be in the same boat.

If you would like a copy of the narrative, send me an email (finally up and running on the profile).

Your odds are already improving, now there are 2 that you do not have to compete against.