Annual Federal Grants Management Update 2021


  • Start: December 14, 2021 8:00 am
  • End: December 15, 2021 4:30 pm

Stay up-to-date with Federal grants management requirements and recent developments affecting the Uniform Guidance when you attend the 2021 edition of our Annual Federal Grants Management Update in Savannah, Georgia, on December 14-15.

Grants management requirements continue to evolve.  Make sure that you are staying current with the latest rules and expectations by attending the Annual Federal Grants Management Update 2021 in Savannah this December.  We have two full days of educational and entertaining sessions planned, starting with the opening session.  During this “deep dive” double-session, you will learn about the Office of Management and Budget’s revised Uniform Grants Guidance (also known as the OMB Super Circular).  In later sessions, you will explore the requirements for internal controls and learn how to plan for audit success.  You will also discover fundraising strategies that will help your organization diversify its funding streams to weather the post-pandemic funding landscape.  Finally, the training will debunk common grants management myths and discuss the real requirements to help you and your organization avoid these problem areas. 

When you attend the Annual Federal Grants Management Update 2021, you will learn about the key developments and requirements for managing your grants today as well as how to remain in compliance during the coming year.  However, seating is extremely limited for this once-a-year training.  Make your plans now to join your fellow grants professionals for the Annual Federal Grants Management Update in Savannah, Georgia, on December 14-15, 2021.

 

 

TOPICS

During this exclusive two-day training, you will learn about recent developments in grants management and changes to the Uniform Grants Guidance as well as how to better manage your grant-funded programs.  Our new curriculum for 2021 will cover a range of important topics.  When you attend, you will learn about the following:

  • Key changes and an overview of the revised OMB Uniform Grants Guidance;
  • Updated pre-ward requirements and how they affect your grant-funded organization;
  • Revised procurement standards under the updated Uniform Grants Guidance;
  • Changes to indirect cost rates and the cost principles;
  • Simple strategies for your grant founded organization to diversify its funding streams;
  • Internal control requirements under the Uniform Grants Guidance;
  • Implementing effective internal controls for your organization;
  • Successfully navigating the Single Audit Act audit process; and,
  • Avoiding common grants management myths and mistakes.

The Annual Federal Grants Management Update will explain these topics and more to provide you with the information needed for continued grants management success both now and into 2022.  In addition, you will also have opportunities throughout the training to ask your individual Uniform Guidance and grants management questions.

AGENDA

This year’s Annual Federal Grants Management Update training conference is scheduled for December 14-15, 2021, in historic Savannah, Georgia.  The planned agenda for each day is as follows:

Day One (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)

Sign-in for the day and enjoy a Continental breakfast before the first session.

The Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Grants Guidance (also known as the OMB Super Circular) is the basis for Federal grants management.  Make sure that you understand the revised version of the Uniform Grants Guidance by attending this two-part workshop.  Attorney Brian Tipton will explain the background behind the OMB's updates to the Uniform Guidance and present an overview of these important requirements.  After attending this session, you will be able to outline the Uniform Guidance's current administrative requirements.

Enjoy a coffee break between the morning sessions.

Join us for the second half of "The Revised Uniform Guidance."  This session continues the discussion of the updated version of the Uniform Guidance begun in Part I.  During this session, you will learn about changes affecting procurement, the cost principles, and the audit standards.  Other recent developments will also be discussed.  After attending this session, you will be able to list at least three key differences between the revised and original versions of the OMB Uniform Guidance.

Take the opportunity to have lunch at one of Savannah's many renowned restaurants, or make other use of this 90 minute break between the morning and afternoon sessions.

Effective internal controls not only represent one of the most important elements of every grant-funded organization's financial management system, but are required by the Uniform Guidance.  Join accountant and auditor Keith Hundley for a lively discussion of internal controls for grant-funded organizations.  During this session, you will learn about effective internal control structures, areas of internal control posing the greatest risk, and ways to strengthen controls.  After attending this session, you will be able to describe the preferred internal control frameworks under the Uniform Guidance and identify the most commonly encountered areas of weakness for internal control.

Enjoy a 15 minute break between the afternoon sessions.

What is the Single Audit Act and what do grant-funded organizations need to know to achieve audit success? Keith Hundley, CPA, will explain the Single Audit process under the Uniform Guidance and share insights from the auditor's perspective.  You will learn about selecting the audit firm, preparing for the audit, conducting the audit, and responding to the audit.  You will also learn about the most common audit findings so that your organization can avoid them.  After attending this session, you will be able to describe the Single Audit process and outline the audit standards in the Uniform Guidance.

The first day of the conference will conclude at 4:30 pm on December 14, 2021.

Day Two (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)

Sign-in for the second day of the conference and enjoy a Continental breakfast before the morning sessions.

Many grant-funded organizations saw an influx of funding during the pandemic but are now concerned about maintaining funding levels as pandemic-relating grant spending ebbs.  However, the thought of diversification often leaves traditional grant-funded organizations with more questions than answers.  Are we ready and where should we start? What do we need to be successful with donors, sponsorships, and events? Join fundraising expert Jean Block to learn the answers to these and other questions about how your organization can create a diversified funding plan.  After attending this two-part workshop, you will be able to list at least five practical ideas for diversifying your funding streams.

Enjoy a 15 minute coffee break between the morning sessions.

The discussion of how grant-funded organizations can reduce their reliance on Federal grants will continue during the second part of "Diversifying Your Funding Sources."  Jean Block will explain how to involve your organization's governing body in fundraising efforts.  You will learn how to inspire and motivate members of the governing body to share their passion for your organization's mission.  In turn, effectively engaging the governing body in fundraising efforts will help your organization better diversify its funding streams.  After attending this session, you will be able to describe the role of the governing body in fundraising efforts.

Explore Savannah's lunch scene on your own during this 90 minute break between the morning and afternoon sessions.

Are you at risk of falling victim to harmful (but all too common) grants management myths? During this two-part session, attorney Brian Tipton will debunk 12 of the biggest Federal grants management myths.  You will learn about fiscal management, recordkeeping, matching, cost allowability, indirect cost, and procurement myths.  You will also learn the real requirements obscured by these common myths.  After you attend this session, you will be able to list the 12 grants management myths and identify the corresponding truths.

Enjoy a 15 minute break between the afternoon sessions.

The countdown of grants management myths continues during the second half of the workshop.  Brian Tipton will explain common misconceptions about Federal grants management requirements, with an emphasis on the Uniform Guidance.  By attending, you will learn about grants management myths so that your organization can avoid making the same mistakes.  After participating in this session, you will be able to list 12 common grants management mistakes and identify the correct associated rule or requirement.

The conference will conclude at 4:30 pm on December 15, 2021.

OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES

When you attend the Annual Federal Grants Management Update 2021, you will learn about recent developments affecting Federal grants management, key requirements under the OMB’s revised Uniform Grants Guidance, and other important topics for grant-funded organizations.  After attending the conference, you will be able to:

  • Outline the major elements of the revised OMB Uniform Guidance;
  • Identify changes to the pre-award requirements in the Uniform Grants Guidance;
  • List the changes affecting procurement standards in the revised Uniform Guidance;
  • Identify changes to the cost principles (including indirect cost rates) in the updated Uniform Guidance;
  • Outline at least three strategies a grant-funded organization can use to diversify its funding sources;
  • Explain the role of the governing body in fundraising;
  • Identify the preferred internal control frameworks under the Uniform Grants Guidance;
  • List at least three frequently reported internal control weaknesses;
  • Describe the Single Audit Act audit process and the audit standards under the Uniform Guidance; and,
  • Identify twelve common grants management myths and the corresponding actual requirements.

AUDIENCE

The 2021 edition of the Annual Federal Grants Management Update is intended for all members of the grant-funded community, including governing body members, officers, executives, management, fiscal staff, program staff, and other grants management professionals.  The experience level for this training is update.  Attendees should have a basic understanding of Federal grants management.  There are no other prerequisites for attendance, and advance preparation is not required.

SPEAKERS

R. Brian Tipton is a practicing attorney with more than two decades' worth of experience working with nonprofits, governmental units, and other grant-funded organizations across the United States.  Currently, Brian is Managing Director with Kirk Private Client Law, LLC, in Atlanta, Georgia, where he heads the firm's tax-exempt and grant-funded solutions practice.  He is a summa cum laude graduate of the Louisiana State University and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.  Brian regularly represents grant-funded entities of all types in the areas of regulatory compliance, audits, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, and litigation.  Brian also consults with organizations on governance, human resources, programmatic, and corporate matters, and develops and presents training programs for nonprofits and grant-funded organizations.

Keith Hundley is a CPA and partner with Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC (CRI), and has a combined twenty years of experience in private industry and public accounting.  Keith is a part of the firm’s governmental services and nonprofit practice recognized throughout the South for its knowledge of auditing standards and business practices.  Keith specializes in providing audit, tax and consulting services to nonprofits, as well as federal, state and local governments.  Keith regularly serves as a continuing education leader for CRI as well as a certified facilitator in the CRI Leadership Academy.  Keith is an active member in the American Institute of Certified Accountants (AICPA) and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA), and is a 2011 inductee to the Troy University Accounting Hall of Honor.

Jean Block is a nationally recognized consultant and trainer on nonprofit management, board development, FUNdraising and social enterprise.  She is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has held leadership roles as both board and staff in local, regional, and national nonprofits.  Jean has written several books on nonprofits, including “The Nonprofit Guide to Social Enterprise: Show Me The (Unrestricted) Money!”; “180+ Great Ideas to Raise More Money”; and others.  Visit her websites at jblockinc.com and socialenterpriseventures.com to learn more and sign up for her free e-newsletters.

CONFERENCE HOTEL

The conference will will be held at the DoubleTree Savannah Historic District, located along the beautiful Waterfront.  The DoubleTree is conveniently located within easy walking distance of major attractions as well as the many shopping and dining options in historic Savannah, Georgia.  Rooms are available for the special conference rate of just $120 per night (plus applicable tax), which is the current government per diem.  The special rate is available for December 13 through 16, 2021, and may be offered for additional nights subject to hotel availability.  Hotel reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at 1-912-790-7000.  Please give the reservations agent the special group code “CDTFGT” to receive the discounted rate.  In addition, you can reserve your room online by clicking on this hotel reservations link.  The room reservation cut-off date is November 12, 2021 (or until the block is exhausted).  Because of the small number of rooms available, we advise making your reservations as soon as possible.

 

$549 / Early Bird
(By September 24)

 

$599 / Regular
(After September 24)

 

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