Grant FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $25,000 maximum grant request for one year or two?
The maximum request that will be considered is $25,000 per year. The funding cycle is for July 1-June 30 of the first year and July 1-June 30 of the second year. All budgets should be annual, reflecting project costs for the first year. Note that a budget revision will be required if the amount of the funded grant differs from what was requested.
How about the second year of the grant? Does it make sense to submit another budget for the second year?
Yes, it does. We may ask that you submit a second year budget, to reflect possible changes in funded activities. But for now, in your proposal, your budget should be annual, and only for the first year of your proposed project.
Can programs submit joint proposals?
Yes, but the lead agency must have 501c3 status. Also, all classes and services in the proposed project must be provided within First Literacy’s service area and must be free of charge.
What about the required forms? Do they count toward the 10-page limit?
No, they don’t. The 10-page limit applies to the narrative of your proposal. Other forms, such as the diversity or program information forms or the budgets, resumes, or lesson plans, do not count toward that 10-page maximum length.
Question number one in the Proposal Guidelines instructs applicants to fill out the Program Information Form. Where should the Program Information Form be placed in our proposals?
It would be easiest if all sections of the proposal were submitted in the order listed on the checklist. But as long as it’s included, we’ll find it. Also the Program Information Form should include all classes offered by your ABE program and does not count toward the 10-page limit.
How many budget forms are we submitting?
There are two First Literacy forms for your proposed project only. You will also need to submit a budget for your entire Adult Basic Education Program (not the entire agency if you are part of a larger multi-service organization). This budget can be in the format of your choice and needs to include categories of expenditures and revenue, including the sources of revenue.
The categories listed in the Diversity Form don’t seem to reflect the true diversity of our program. Can we create our own categories and submit that?
First Literacy is often required to submit to our funders diversity forms which describe the ethnicity of adult learners in our funded programs. Therefore, we must ask that you provide us with this information about your agency as a whole and the project that you are hoping First Literacy will support. Please submit descriptions of your board, staff, and learners in the categories listed on the form. (If you’d like to create an additional attachment with people categorized differently, feel free.)
If you have any further questions about the grant process, please contact us at info@firstliteracy.org or call (617) 482-3336