El Dorado County contracted with GMA to help county agencies and local nonprofits bring new funding streams into the area. By providing capacity building, grant research, and grant writing, GMA was able to secure over $800,000 in new funding in the first six months of the program. Projects ranged from disaster mitigation to recidivism reduction to dental health and more.
The step-by-step process that GMA put forth for El Dorado County:
Shovel Ready Workshop and Training: GMA presented an interactive seminar on how to design shovel ready projects, identify available funding, and build strong relationships with key funding agencies.
Open Application Period to Join the Grant Development Program: GMA invited the workshop attendees to submit a “Shovel Ready Survey” for projects that are ready to receive grant funding. GMA worked within the program budget to provide capacity building, advice, and networking opportunities to all applicants and will help shovel ready projects pursue available funding.
Determine Funding Needs
- GMA helped identify funding needs and research appropriate funding opportunities
- GMA prepared accurate, compelling and timely grant proposals
- GMA conducted strategic business planning and establish the foundation for program development
- GMA followed up on and managed all aspects of grant administration and program management
Funding Identification
- GMA worked with staff and community leaders to understand and fully grasp pragmatic needs
- GMA aligned program needs with actionable funding opportunities
- GMA analyzed previously funded applications for important trends and determine the level of competition
- GMA favorably positioned agencies at the forefront of funder’s attention
- GMA provided agency with a funding matrix aligning possible funds specifically linked to agency pragmatic needs
- GMA made strategic recommendations to agency on the most lucrative funding opportunities
Grant Proposal Preparation
- GMA reviewed the needs of each proposal to determine the number of hours required to complete each component and provide this to program directors
- GMA prepared a cost estimate specific to each proposal with a predetermined budget.
- GMA only charges program for actual time spent and will work diligently with the program team to repurpose material previously used to apply for and/or secure funding to save time and resources
This resulted in the following successful applications over a six month period:
- HRSA Mobile Dental Health Grant: $600,000
- El Dorado Integrated County Wildfire Protection Plan: $73,250
- El Dorado County Firewise Education Plan: $50,000
- Logtown LT-10 Fuel Reduction: $219,557
- GF-13 GFFSC Fuel Reduction Project: $135,100
- Lakehills 1 Fuel Reduction and Hazard Removal LH-1: $196,500
- Weber Creek Fuel Reduction Project PP-1: $191,000
- Caswell Road Fuels Reduction and Community Protection: $53,200