Yes, excellent advice, Wanda.

Our original grant (in 2000) required us to have some numbers, so we
started tracking things.

And we still do, mainly because we find it helpful to see how things
might change over the years, but also in case we ever need to ask for
help again (whether financial or in-kind). We were lucky, and worked
hard. The goal of our grant was to make us self-sustaining within
two years. We did it in about 14 months, and have been self- sustaining ever since. Of course, with ongoing help from the
community, since we get donations from MEC and occasionally local pro
bike shops.

Mark

On 11-Sep-09, at 6:04 PM, Wanda Pelegrina Caldas wrote:

Hey Jason,

WoooHooo! Congrats! That is awesome news!!!

At work (not for CC), I deal with big (aka pain in the) ass fed and
other gov’t. grants. Yep, they require lots o’reporting, but a few
mostly simple things you can do to make em less of a pain:

1.   Track everything. I assume that you had some specific  
   

goals tied to getting the funds – make sure you keep track of em –
most grants want outcome reporting ie. If your goal is to get 200
bikes into the community, they wanna know if (and sometimes how)
200 bikes got out

2.   But it’s also ok if you didn’t meet a specific goal as  
   

long as you have backup ie. We only got 180 bikes out b/c we didn’t
think abt xyz being a barrier –but on the other hand, now, we’ve
learned that xyz is a prob so we’re taking this measure to make a
change. Oh and if you tend to set “wimpy goals” and you way over
exceed the expectation without altering the goal from year to year
then they’re gonna bug ya abt that too.

3.   Most grants will wanna know how you spent your (er, their)  
   

$ esp if you provided a budget stating $X goes to program, $X go to
admin, $X to supplies, etc -so keep track of your budget. Usually
they aren’t as nitpicky as wanting receipts, but it doesn’t hurt to
hang on to em. If anything they help with (watch out I’m gonna use
the A word) accounting. If you did give em a specific budget, it
usually doesn’t matter if you shuffle funds here and there, but
they’ll be a little peeved if they see oops, actually $x didn’t go
to supplies, it went to admin or something super off.

4.   Depending on when the reporting period is – some are  
   

quarterly, others biannual, others once a year, etc…take a look at
your numbers, goals, etc every few months and make sure you are on
track. Being off or over is normal, but keep in mind how it’ll all
look at the end of the funding term.

5.   Know what they expect and have a plan for what you’re  
   

doing (which I’m sure you do already) then turn all your shit back
to em on time

6.   Oh and if you don’t get something or aren’t sure. Ask.  
   

Better to get it right than screw it up b/c you didn’t ask.

And now, we all know that I am a little bit of a nerd on the topic… but seriously, for all the shit and stress it can be, if it’s
funding your project and you are doing what you love, believe,
wanna spread to others then it’s not a big deal. It’s only around
reporting and writing grants that you have a few hours/days of
wanting to tear out your hair and remove your fingernails with a
cone wrench

Ok, seriously, it’s not all that bad/hard…if you spend a whole lot
more time doing than thinking/worrying/fussing abt what you gotta
tell the feds about their $$$ then you’ll be fine.

Good luck and enjoy!!! wanda

Wanda Pelegrina Caldas Community Cycles, Boulder's only non-profit bike shop Sponsor an Earn-A-Biker for $100 today. Use our secure online donation form. Thanks!!

From: thethinktank-bounces@bikecollectives.org [mailto:thethinktank- bounces@bikecollectives.org] On Behalf Of Jason Tanzman Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 2:37 PM To: Subject: [TheThinkTank] Community Partners Bike Library

Hey everybody,

I just wanted to send an email and let folks know about an exciting
project that Sibley Bike Depot (St. Paul, MN) is beginning. Sibley
received funding in full on Tuesday for a $200,000 program to run a
Community Partners Bike Library! The funds were approved by
Transit for Livable Communities, a not-for-profit transit advocacy
group in charge of allocating a $21 million federal Non-motorized
Transit Pilot program in the Twin Cities.

This funding will allow Sibley to build up a fleet of 200 bicycles
– outfitted for transportation purposes with a rack, fenders,
lights, lock, and helmet – to lend out to community members for up
to six months. The bike lending will be coordinated through
Community Partners – other agencies, such as affordable housing
organizations, job placement centers, homeless shelters, and more –
who will help identify patrons who will benefit from reliable
transportation. Through this program, Sibley hopes to increase the
availability of bicycles within working class and poor communities,
thus helping to increase access to bicycles and diversify the
bicycling movement in the Twin Cities!

I am interested to hear any thoughts/feedback/suggestions from
anyone who has 1) coordinated a bike library program; or, 2)
handled large federal or other government grants (rumored to be a
tremendous pain in the ass).

Jason Tanzman

-- Sibley Bike Depot Volunteer Coordinator 612-232-2737 (cell) 651-222-2080 (shop) www.sibleybikedepot.org Sibley Bike Depot's mission is to be an open, accessible space to
educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation,
helping to build a sustainable environment and community.
Volunteer with us to help build a bicycling movement in the Twin
Cities!

---

Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank- leave@bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- bikecollectives.org