Cecelia Walter presentation
Cecelia Walter presentation
The main presentation was delivered by Cecilia Walter, Regional Grants Officer, who provided an overview of Rotary Foundation grant types, focusing on global grants, disaster response grants, and programs of scale. The discussion covered key aspects of sustainable project implementation, including community assessments, measurable goals, and available resources on rotary.org/grants, with participants asking questions about application scoring and review processes.
Rotary Foundation Grant Overview
Cecilia Walter, the Regional Grants Officer since 2013, presented an overview of Rotary Foundation grant types, focusing on global grants, disaster response grants, and programs of scale. She explained the requirements, funding mechanisms, and unique aspects of each grant type, emphasizing the importance of international partnerships for global grants and the competitive nature of programs of scale.
Rotary's Sustainable Project Framework
Cecelia explained Rotary's requirement for sustainable projects, emphasizing that outcomes must be maintained locally after Rotary's involvement ends. She outlined six steps for sustainability, starting with community needs assessment and local ownership, followed by providing training and knowledge sharing to ensure long-term project success. Cecelia used an educational project example to illustrate how both physical resources and capacity building are essential components of sustainable global grants.
Sustainable Project Implementation Strategies
Cecelia discussed strategies for sustainable project implementation, emphasizing the importance of buying local materials and finding local funding to ensure community buy-in and long-term project viability. She highlighted the need for measurable goals and data collection to assess project success, particularly in areas like disease prevention and treatment. Cecelia also stressed the requirement for community assessments in global grants, especially for projects new to this model.
Community Assessment Toolkit Overview
Cecelia explained the importance of conducting community assessments as part of project design, emphasizing a grassroots approach where community members identify their own needs and priorities. She highlighted the benefits of these assessments in understanding community dynamics, making informed decisions, and identifying overlooked challenges. Cecelia recommended using Rotary's updated community assessment toolkit for guidance and stressed the importance of involving underrepresented groups and maintaining open communication with grant staff.
Rotary Grant Resources Overview
Cecelia provided an overview of resources available on rotary.org/grants, including the updated Guide to Global Grants and community assessment guides. She suggested using the Service Project Center to find partners and connect with Rotary action groups and CADRE members for technical advice. Cecelia emphasized the importance of community assessments and provided guidelines for each of Rotary's seven areas of focus.
Grant Application Review Process
Cecilia presented data on global and district grant approvals, noting a recent increase in applications and highlighting disease prevention and treatment as the top area of focus. She clarified that pre-project impact data is needed for community assessments, and Wade Nomura suggested collecting broader demographic data for unexpected impacts. Jerry Munson inquired about a scoring rubric for grant applications, and Cecilia explained that while there isn't a formal rubric, comprehensive and well-documented applications are preferred. Someone suggested involving the grants officer for preliminary reviews of global grant applications, but Cecilia noted that this might not be feasible during peak seasons. Wade Nomura recommended engaging the Cadres team for such reviews. The conversation ended with an invitation to provide feedback on the district's international website.