Brownfields Toolbox

Your staff may be interested in the technical or operational aspects of job development but not interested in, or trained for, writing grants and soliciting funds. However, when you dedicate outside assistance or a budgeted position to raising funds, you must consider additional issues. In most cases, funds received from public sources cannot be used to support fundraising activities or positions. Again, the importance of partnering, sharing costs, and being part of larger organizations becomes clear.

If you succeed in building an established organization with funding from a variety of sources, you may have the ability to allocate unrestricted funds for staff specialized in program maintenance and fundraising. Skilled staff experienced in working with legislators, government agencies, foundations, and the private sector must also be familiar with state and federal grant regulations. Program maintenance may include resources and staff to write and track grants, submit progress reports, and perform administrative follow-ups. If you use federal funds, your program may be audited and grant regulations enforced. For these reasons, it may not be prudent to subcontract these activities to individuals unfamiliar with the program operation.