Hogg Foundation: 2013 Community Education Grants for Children\'s Mental Health

<< Back to Request for Letters of Interest: Ima Hogg Community Education Grants for Children\'s Mental Health

How many grants will the Hogg Foundation award through this RFP?

The foundation intends to fund one to two organizations, based on the quality of proposals submitted and available funds.

Why is the Hogg Foundation requesting letters of interest instead of full proposals?
The foundation hopes to reduce the time and effort required of those submitting responses. The letter format enables respondents to express their interest in the grant, provide a general overview of their intentions and goals, and gather more information through the teleconference before beginning the time-intensive task of drafting and submitting a full proposal.

Who is eligible to apply?

Texas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to submit letters of interest. The lead organization may be an organization with expertise in providing training or an organization with an identified need to receive training.

Providers of training must have experience providing training on children’s mental health; those located in Houston/Harris County will be given preference. Examples of organizations that could provide training include mental health or health and social service providers, consumer advocacy organizations, and colleges and universities.

Recipients of training must be based in Houston/Harris County. Examples of possible recipients who could receive training include day care providers, members of local faith-based organizations, child-serving agency staff, schools, youth and family members.

In the RFP document, it lists 501 (c)(3) and governmental organizations as eligible for the grant. Yet, all of the examples and references are for 501(c)(3) organizations. What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Additional examples of governmental organizations might include state, local or county entities, or universities and school districts. If you have questions about a specific organization and are not sure whether or not it qualifies, please provide specific agency information and we will let you know whether or not the entity is eligible.

Can entities outside of Harris County/Houston apply, even though the training must take place in Harris County/Houston?

All Texas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to apply. However, the goal of this grant is to increase the skills and knowledge about children’s mental health among professionals and individuals who do not have a mental health background and who work with children and youth in Houston and Harris County.

Is the grant available for training provided in other counties in addition to Harris County?

No. The foundation’s benefactor stipulated that these funds may only be used to provide training in Houston/Harris County.

Can a for-profit organization serve as a subcontractor on a grant?

Yes, a for-profit organization may serve as a subcontractor as long as the lead is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Proposals may be developed by multiple organizations. For example, a faith-based organization may choose to partner with a mental health service provider for this initiative. In the case of collaborative proposals, a single, Texas-based organization must serve as the lead and as the fiscal agent for the collaborative proposal.

Is a health plan eligible to apply for this grant?

All Texas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, including colleges and universities, are eligible to apply.

Can a current Hogg Foundation grantee submit a letter of interest?

Yes.

As a current grantee, should we use the same log-in name and password or do we need to create a new one?

Applicants with an existing user log-in name and password should use that one. If you forgot the password please contact: Hogg-Grants@austin.utexas.edu to have the password reset.

Can organizations submit two separate letters of interest requesting funds to provide and/or receive training for two different populations?

Yes. Organizations may submit more than one letter.

Is training on children with developmental disorders eligible for funding?

Training proposals that address single diagnoses of substance abuse or developmental disorders are not eligible due to the interests of the foundation’s benefactor.

Is training on children with a dual diagnosis of a developmental disability and a behavioral health condition eligible for funding?
Yes, the focus may be directed toward issues relevant to children and youth with mild, moderate or severe mental health conditions, including co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions or developmental disability.

When are the letters of interest due?

Letters of interest must be submitted online by 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Monday, March 18, 2013.

How can I learn more about the grant program and the letters of interest process?

The foundation will host a teleconference for potential respondents on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Central Time.

How do I participate in the teleconference?

The foundation will host an informational teleconference for potential respondents from 10:00 a.m. –11:00 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. Please register online on the webpage in advance of the teleconference. Dial-in instructions will be provided to registrants prior to the teleconference.

Questions for the teleconference may be emailed in advance to hogg-grants@austin.utexas.edu by 1:00 p.m. Central Time Friday, February 22, 2013. Information provided during the teleconference will be posted as questions and answers on the webpage by Friday, March 8, 2013.

Click here to register for the teleconference: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NRNC2QG

Do I have to submit a letter of interest to be considered for a grant?

Yes.

How will I know if I should submit a full proposal?

The foundation will evaluate the letters of interest and invite qualified respondents to submit a full proposal. Invitations will be based on the quality of the proposed project, its match with the foundation’s goals for the grant program, and the respondent’s ability to implement the project.

When will the notice of invitation to submit a full grant proposal be released?

The foundation will notify selected respondents in April 2013.

If selected to submit a full proposal, when will it be due?

Full proposals will be due approximately three weeks after notification.

When will the notice of awards occur?

Grant recipients will be notified by the foundation in early June 2013.

When will the funds be released?

Notice of awards will be made in June 2013. Funding for the first grant period will begin in July 2013.

What is the maximum grant amount?

The foundation has budgeted up to $65,000 for this grant initiative for the first two years. Additional funding for up to three subsequent years will total no more than $7,500 annually.

Is the maximum $65,000 per year, or is the total $65,000 for the two-year funding period?

The total award amount is $65,000 for a one to two year period. Agencies may request a total of $65,000 for the first one to two years and then $7,500 per year for the subsequent three to four years.

Can proposals request funding for one OR two years and then the additional years or does the request for funding have to be for two years?

Applicants may apply for funding for one or two years for initial funding and then an additional $7,500 per year for the subsequent three to four years.

What is the time period for the grant?

Applicants may propose a one-year or two-year training plan. Applicants may also submit a plan outlining how subsequent training funds would be used to continue the training for an additional three to four years following the initial $65,000 funding period.

Are applicants required to obtain matching funds for this RFP?
No.

Can the Hogg Foundation’s funds be used as matching funds for a federal grant?

Yes.

Does the Hogg Foundation have a specific training model in mind or is a training program required to be considered an evidence-based practice?

No, in an effort to be responsive to diverse needs and the wide variety of potential training areas, the foundation does not have a specific curriculum or preferred training module. Applicants are asked to include any successful outcomes or professional research literature validating the effectiveness of the training if such information is available.

Do we need to submit a line item budget, or just the amount requested?

No, an itemized budget is not required with the submission of the letter of interest. Applicants invited to submit a full proposal will be asked to provide an annual detailed budget outlining program expenditures.

Are pediatricians working at clinics in low-income/underserved neighborhoods an appropriate population to receive training?
Yes, it would be appropriate to propose offering training to pediatricians working in a clinic that serves individuals with a low-income and/or who live in underserved communities.

Is the foundation more interested in funding larger numbers of people with less intensive training or more interested in serving less people with more intensive training?

The foundation does not have a preference for the size of training or number of people receiving training. If asked to submit a full proposal, the foundation will review detailed budget information to ensure the amount of funding requested is in line with the number of participants being recommended for training. We are most concerned that the training offered is high quality and enhances the skills and knowledge of the intended audience.

What age range is considered a child under this grant initiative?

For this grant, children and youth would include individuals between birth and twenty-two years of age. This grant is intended to offer funding to increase skills and knowledge about children’s mental health among individuals who do not have a mental health background and who work with children and youth in Houston and Harris County.

What is the range of amounts an organization can request (e.g., $10,000 - $20,000)?

There is no set range for funding. A single applicant may request up to a total of $65,000 for the first two years of the proposed training program. The organization may also request additional funding up to $7,500 per year for an additional three years.