Grants Development - Office of College Advancement
How to Use Grants?
There are several ways that grant money can benefit a program at Ohlone. Some grants, especially those from government organizations at the state and federal level are intended to help build programs that strengthen community, target underserved populations, build a workforce, and a variety of other activities. Usually the request for proposal has specific requirements that must be fulfilled to qualify for the grant money.
Other grant opportunities come from private sources, typically foundations. These foundations can represent the community relations arm of a corporation such as the Hewlett Packard Foundation, foundations formed by wealthy individuals or families such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, or large non-profits. Request for funds from private foundations must match their particular giving interest, such as education, health care, or environmental concerns.
Some stipulations to be aware of:
Partnerships: Often grants require the applicant to engage in partnerships with other organizations. The College may administer the funding while the actual program is run by one of the partners. Partnering organizations can include:
- Other institutions of higher education (e.g., CSUEB or other Community Colleges),
- K-12 education (e.g., Newark, New Haven, or Fremont Unified School District),
- Other nonprofit organizations (e.g., Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) )
- Other government agencies, (e.g., Alameda County WIB (Workforce Investment Board) or City of Fremont Redevelopment Board)
Often the programs are run by these organizations, but the money must be funneled through the Community College. (This is often the case with Chancellor’s Office grant programs).
Matching funds: The granting institution requires the grantee to help fund some of the cost of the project the grant will fund. This can often be accomplished by leveraging money from other grants against the grant you are applying for.
Sustainability: The program is expected to become self-sustaining without outside funding after a certain period. This must be built into the design of the program.
Several state and federal grant programs are available in a variety of areas that may meet your program needs. You can conduct regular searches or sign up to be notified of all new opportunities. Included in this section is a list of websites that list many private foundations.
