Mental Health Policy Projects

<< Back to RFP: Texas Mental Health Policy Projects 2013

Can a university apply as the lead applicant?
Yes. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) and governmental organizations in Texas are eligible to submit proposals. Respondents must be Texas-based or have offices, chapters or affiliates in Texas. Examples of eligible organizations include nonprofit mental health and consumer advocacy organizations, colleges and universities, research-based organizations, and state, regional and local government agencies.

Is it looked upon favorably to include collaborators/partners with different areas of expertise?
The answer depends on the proposed project and the expertise of the respondent organization. If the respondent organization does not have the necessary expertise to carry out the proposed project, the respondent organization should consider partnering with an eligible organization that can fill this gap in expertise.

For national organizations with branches in Texas, does the lead fiscal agent need to be a Texas branch?
Yes. Respondents must be Texas-based or have offices, chapters or affiliates in Texas that can serve as the lead fiscal agent.

Does the foundation prefer to fund projects focusing on state or federal mental health policy?
The mission of the foundation is to advance mental wellness for the people of Texas. Projects that focus on state and federal policies are eligible to receive funding through this grant initiative, but the foundation is only interested in projects that focus exclusively on federal policy to the extent that those projects have the potential to improve the lives of Texans.

Other states have mental health policies that do not exist in Texas. Would studying these policies be of interest to the foundation?
Researching or studying mental health policies of other states is not sufficient for receiving funding though this grant initiative. Projects that focus on researching or studying mental health policies of other states must contain additional activities that will improve mental health policy in Texas.

Will the foundation consider local and regional policy projects?
Yes.

Have Local Mental Health Authorities pursued policy project grants in the past?
Yes, Local Mental Health Authorities have applied for funding through this grant initiative. For a list of past grant recipients, please visit: http://hogg.utexas.edu/initiatives/policy_grants.html.

Is it permissible for one project to explore multiple policy issues?
Respondents can pursue multiple policy issues as long as the proposed activities adequately address each issue.

What is the scope of policy activity that is eligible for funding through this grant initiative?
The foundation is interested in state, regional and local level policy projects. The foundation is interested in federal policy insofar as it impacts the state of Texas. Additionally, the foundation is interested in policy issues at the legislative, judicial and administrative agency levels of government. Projects that advance mental health policy in any of these areas are eligible for funding through this grant initiative.

Does the policy project have to be at the legislative level?
No.

Can the foundation share proposals from past Mental Health Policy Project grant recipients?
The foundation does not share proposals from other applicants. You can find additional information about past recipients at: http://hogg.utexas.edu/initiatives/policy_grants.html.

What are reasons that the Hogg Foundation has chosen not to fund applicants in the past?

The foundation receives many competitive proposals through this grant initiative and is unable to fund all of them.
Many proposals were submitted on behalf of universities and focus largely on research, to the exclusion of policy implementation. These projects are not eligible to receive funding. Projects should contain a specific plan for implementation and a description of activities to be performed in furtherance of that plan.

How many projects are typically funded?
4-5

How many grants are typically submitted?
30

Is the foundation interested in projects that help remove barriers that keep organizations from implementing current policy?
Yes.

Who evaluates proposals for funding through this grant initiative?
Hogg Foundation staff and possibly external reviewers with expertise in mental health policy.

How does the foundation evaluate how much funding a proposal receives? Is it all or nothing?
The foundation will evaluate whether the proposed activities and overall quality of the proposal justify the funds requested. In the past, the foundation has worked with respondent organizations to adjust budgets so that they reflect a more accurate estimation of the cost of executing the proposed project activities.

Does the foundation look favorably upon lower funding requests?
No. Proposals should reflect the respondent organization’s best estimate of the cost of implementing the proposed project.

Will the foundation consider a proposal to fund a piece of a larger project that either has obtained or will obtain funding from another source?
The foundation will consider funding a distinct piece of a project that either has obtained or will obtain funding from another source as long as the activities related to that piece clearly advance mental health policy in Texas. The foundation will not consider requests for general matching funds.

The RFP states: "The median amount awarded to grantees is $83,729, although actual amounts varied significantly." Is this the annual award amount or the total award amount, and are the amounts listed at http://www.hogg.utexas.edu/initiatives/policy_grants.html for a two year period or a one year period?
The median award amount listed in the RFP represents the total funds awarded for a project, not the median amount for one year of a multi-year project. The amounts listed at the indicated website also represent the total funds awarded for each project.

Is there a requirement that a proposed project focus on the public mental health system? Can projects focus on the private mental health system, the public mental health system or both?

No, there is not a requirement that proposed projects focus on the public mental health system. The foundation will consider projects that focus on the private mental health system, the public mental health system or both.

Is the 250-word project summary included as part of the 2,500-word project narrative?
The Project Summary (maximum 250 words) is not included in the word count for the Project Narrative (maximum 2,500 words).

Does a higher education entity need to submit the fiscal documents identified in the RFP?

Institutes of higher education are not required to submit the fiscal documents identified in the Texas Mental Health Policy Projects RFP.

One of the files we are attempting to upload as part of our proposal is too big. What should we do?

Please email the documents that are too large to upload to hogg-grants@austin.utexas.edu. The remaining proposal documents should be uploaded to the website.