Northeast SARE
Outcome Funding and
Grant Writing Workshop
Tom Morris & Janet McAllister
Delaware State University
May 25, 2011
nesare.org
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Northeast SARE uses the
Outcome Funding Approach for
• Research and Education Grants
• Professional Development Grants
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Research and Education Grants
For: University and extension staff,
agricultural nonprofits, scientists &
educators in applied research and
education of farmers
Typical awards: $30,000-$190,000
Content: Projects should lead to
adoption of practices by farmers
that help them meet Northeast
SARE’s outcome statement
Requirements: Projects must have
an education component; preproposal required.
2011:
$950,095 awarded for
8 Research and Education
projects
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Professional Development Grants
For: Extension, NRCS, agricultural
nonprofits, university and
experiment station faculty and staff
Typical awards: $30,000-$120,000
Content: Train the trainer programs
in sustainable practices and
technologies, education strategies
Requirements: Must educate
extension and other ag service
providers (NRCS, non-profits, FSA,
consultants); preproposal required
2011:
$331,095 awarded for four
Professional Development
projects
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Northeast SARE Uses Outcome
Funding for R&E and PDP Grants
Outcome Funding is:
• A system for assuring measurable results…
• …for both the grantor and grantee!
• Focus is on a ‘positive change’ as the end
result for participants, not well-intentioned
activities.
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Key Components and Terminology
• Beneficiaries – the target audience who participates,
learns, makes beneficial change; FARMERS for R&E, AG
SERVICE PROVIDERS for PDP
• Performance target – project’s “outcome” statement;
describes change and benefits
• Milestones – interim steps of learning, skill building,
preparation for beneficiaries
• Key individuals – lead, guide, contribute to project
• Verification – finding out how much beneficiaries
learned during milestones and accomplished at end of
project (verifying the performance target)
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Northeast SARE’s
OUTCOME STATEMENT
Agriculture in the Northeast will be diversified
and profitable, providing healthful products to its
customers; it will be conducted by farmers who
manage resources wisely, who are satisfied with
their lifestyles, and have a positive influence on
their communities and the environment.
Performance targets in all projects must
contribute to this overall outcome…which is
Northeast SARE’s ‘vision’ for Northeast Ag
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Northeast SARE Grant Proposal
To meet requirements of Outcome Funding,
key project design requirements:
• Engagement of project beneficiaries, who participate
in the project and accomplish specific, essential
milestones in learning and skill development that
prepare them to take specific beneficial actions
described in the performance target
• Verification of beneficiary progress in achieving
milestones and accomplishing target outcomes
• Key individuals who will make the project successful.
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Writing the Proposal
Whatever tool you use –
there are some key ingredients needed…
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Helpful Hint 1
You are a salesperson when writing a proposal.
Imagine you are selling your idea to your supervisor, who
will be a stand-in for the people we refer to as “THE
REVIEWERS”.
Think of how you would convince your peers/supervisor
you have a good idea, know how to implement the idea,
and will obtain good results from the idea.
Reviewers, like your supervisor, are born skeptics!
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Helpful Hint 2
Don’t assume reviewers know everything you know
about your area of work and proposed project
Don’t make them wonder or question why your project
idea is important and who will benefit
Back up claims you make with explanation and data that
is sufficient to convince someone with knowledge, but
not necessarily expertise, in the your topic area
Reviewers are kind to authors who lead them logically
down an easy path!
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Questions?
www.nesare.org
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