Finding your peer group. I recently returned from my first National Grants Managment Association conference, called AGT, the Annual Grants Training offers continuing education on all things grants. Less about research and writing proposals, as the associations name reflects, this conference content is more about “managing” grants. And…. I found ”my people!”, across many disciplines, higher education, non-profit, local, state and federal government, disaster relief, conservation and on and on. All sizes of staffing, from a one-person shop, like myself, to departments that included teams of grant professionals focused on writing, administering and financial management of awards. It was awesome, it was Grant Nerd Shangri-La! Compliance is Key A large part of the conference centered around over-all compliance. The opening keynote sessions were entitled “Grants Compliance: It Takes a (Very Large and Very Complicated) Village” offered by the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at the US Department of Energy, and an update from the Deputy Controller for the Office of Mangement and Budget (OMB) on federal policy directives for grants, and a teaser on the upcoming 2 CFR 200 revisions that should be coming out in the next several months. I know you just can’t hardly contain your excitement… Continue Reading Grant Nerds Unite!Read More
An Imperative for Planning and Success Collaborations can be complicated. These relationships take effort, energy and often, time away from the day to day work you need to stay engaged with. Yet, collaborations can be an investment in the longer-term impact that your daily work seeks to achieve overall. Collaborations Are Valued Components of Grant Projects Collaboration speaks to how well your organization is connected with its community and the ability to meet the needs of your target population. According to Eleanor Barnes with testlabs 1, within grant applications and projects, “organizations can leverage collective strengths, expand their capabilities and enhance the overall quality of projects.” Further, collaborations offer opportunities for complementary expertise among organizations, shared resources, increased credibility of your proposed project, and expanded research and impact. Think of some of the collaborations that are internal within our college campus, as well as, those which are external. For example, Great Expectations is a program that seeks to connect with students who formerly experienced the Foster Care system. While VWCC’s focus is on ensuring opportunities for educational success, the projects collaborators within our community can assist with a multitude of resources that our college does not have the ability to… Continue Reading The Power of CollaborationRead More
Innovation LOI Deadline Approaching – November 1st Faculty and Staff Friends, We are approximately 1 month away from the Educational Foundation’s Innovation Grant Letter of Intent deadline, so here is a reminder of the details! Let’s keep it simple to start with the definition of innovation: Innovation in·no·va·tion ˌi-nə-ˈvā-shən 1: a new idea, method, or device: NOVELTY 2: the introduction of something new The Educational Foundation’s Innovation Focus Innovation is creativity in action: The introduction of new ideas, projects or methods to address a need or solve a problem. The Educational Foundation annually awards the Faculty and Staff Innovation Grants to encourage academic enrichment activities. These awards are typically not funded by the VCCS’s professional development initiatives, the Equipment Trust Fund or the college’s regular operating budget. Faculty and staff, which includes adjunct faculty and part-time staff, should consider proposing innovative projects, novel approaches, and creative activities that support Virginia Western’s mission, vision, core values, and goals. What type of projects are considered for funding? Some sample ideas include: • Experimental or instructional equipment not funded through the college’s operating budget process• Innovative instructional methods and procedures, including technology-based approaches• Materials (as pertain to the direct design/creation/methodology of the proposal)• Activities in support… Continue Reading Time to InnovateRead More
About Shelley
Shelley Lyons is glad to be back on campus as she is a Virginia Western alum, and has served as the Administrative Officer for Grants Administration at Virginia Western since early 2022. Prior to VWCC, her career focus was within the Human Services and Arts fields. She wrote her first grant in 1996 on a whim and has continued to plan and learn since that time. She most enjoys seeing a well-planned project come to fruition, where funder, project manager and beneficiaries can all feel success and see impact.
Recent Posts
- Have you heard? October 28, 2024
- The Game of Life – Innovation Edition! August 29, 2024
- Why Try An LOI? May 10, 2024
- Grant Nerds Unite! March 12, 2024
- The Power of Collaboration November 17, 2023