Eastern Grants Forum 2021
- Start: October 5, 2021 8:00 am
- End: October 6, 2021 4:30 pm
The Eastern Grants Forum is back! Make sure that you understand current Federal grants management requirements and recent developments affecting the Uniform Guidance by attending the Eastern Grants Forum 2021 in Philadelphia, on October 5-6.
The Eastern Grants Forum will return to an in-person format for 2021. Join your colleagues in Philadelphia this October as the Forum examines evolving requirements for Federal grants as well as the post-pandemic environment facing grant-funded organizations. The Eastern Grants Forum will feature two full days of educational and entertaining sessions, starting with the opening workshop. During this special double-session, you will learn about the Office of Management and Budget’s revised Uniform Grants Guidance (also known as the OMB Super Circular). Following the opening session will be our “deep dive” exploring the Uniform Guidance’s cost principles in details. Then, on the second day of the Forum, you will discover tested strategies for diversifying your organization’s 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 2021 edition of the Eastern Grants Forum, you will learn about the key requirements for managing your grants, current issues for grant-funded organizations, and what to expect for the coming year. However, seating is extremely limited for this year’s conference. Make plans now to join your fellow grants management professionals for the Eastern Grants Forum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 5-6, 2021.
TOPICS
During this special two-day training, you will learn about changes to the Uniform Grants Guidance, recent developments affecting grant-funded organizations, and strategies for better managing your programs (as well as your organization as a whole). Our 2021 agenda will cover a range of important topics. By attending, you will learn about the following:
- Key changes and an overview of the OMB’s revised 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 under the Uniform Guidance;
- Effective strategies for diversifying your organization’s funding sources;
- Cost allowability rules in the Uniform Guidance’s cost principles;
- Proper treatment of direct and indirect costs and selected items of cost;
- Changes to the Single Audit standards for grant-funded organizations; and,
- Avoiding common grants management mistakes.
The Eastern Grants Forum 2021 will explain these topics and more to help you and your organization stay up-to-date with grants management requirements and current issues for grant-funded entities. In addition, you will also have multiple opportunities over both days of the conference to ask your individual questions about the Uniform Guidance and grants management.
AGENDA
This year’s Eastern Grants Forum training conference is scheduled for October 5-6, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The cancellation deadline for this event is the same as hotel reservation deadline. The planned agenda for each day is as follows:
Day One (Tuesday, October 5, 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 15-minute coffee break between the morning sessions of the Eastern Grants Forum.
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.
Explore Philadelphia's many lunch options on your own during this 90-minute break between the Eastern Grants Forum's morning and afternoon sessions.
The Eastern Grants Forum's "deep dive" topic for 2021 is the Uniform Grants Guidance's cost principles. This double session will take an in-depth look at the rules for cost allowability in the Uniform Guidance. Brian Tipton will discuss both the general cost principles and the specific principles covering selected items of cost. The first part of this double session will focus on the general rules, including rules for direct and indirect costs. After attending this session, you will be able to outline the basic rules for cost allowability and distinguish between direct and indirect costs.
Enjoy a 15-minute break between the afternoon sessions of the Eastern Grants Forum.
Our "deep dive" discussion of the cost principles found in the OMB's Uniform Grants Guidance continues. The first part of the workshop looked at the general rules for cost allowability under the Uniform Guidance. However, the Uniform Guidance also contains dozens of more specific rules for selected items of cost. This second half of the workshop will examine the cost principles for significant selected items of cost. Following this session, you will be able to identify common selected items of cost and their general treatment.
The first day of the Eastern Grants Forum will conclude at 4:30 pm on October 5, 2021.
Sign-in for the second day of the Eastern Grants Forum and enjoy a Continental breakfast before the first 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 of the Eastern Grants Forum.
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 Philadelphia's many lunch options on your own during this 90-minute break between the Eastern Grants Forum's 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 most common grants management myths and identify the corresponding truths.
Enjoy a 15-minute break between the afternoon sessions of the Eastern Grants Forum.
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 common grants management mistakes and identify the correct associated rule or requirement.
The Eastern Grants Forum will conclude at 4:30 pm on October 6, 2021.
When you attend the 2021 edition of the Eastern Grants Forum, you will learn about major requirements found in the OMB’s updated Uniform Grants Guidance, recent developments in the field of grants management, and other important topics for grant-funded entities. After attending the training, you will be able to:
- Outline the major features of the updated OMB Uniform Grants Guidance;
- Identify changes to the Uniform Guidance’s pre-award requirements;
- List the changes to procurement standards in the revised OMB 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;
- Outline the key factors determining allowability of costs;
- Distinguish between direct and indirect costs for Federal awards;
- Identify at least ten specific items of cost and the general treatment for each;
- Identify recent changes to audit requirements under the Uniform Guidance; and,
- Describe at least six common grants management myths and the corresponding requirements.
AUDIENCE
The Eastern Grants Forum 2021 is intended for all types of grants management professionals, including governing body members, officers, executives, management, fiscal staff, program staff, and other members of the grant-funded community. The experience level for this training is overview/update. Attendees should have a basic understanding of Federal grants management. There are no other prerequisites for attendance, and no advance preparation is required.
SPEAKERS
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.
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.
The Eastern Grants Forum will return to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, for 2021. The training will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Center City Hotel, which is conveniently located in the heart of historic Philadelphia. Rooms are available for special conference rates starting at just $159 per night (plus applicable tax), which is less than the current government per diem. These special rates are available for October 4 through 6, 2021, and may be offered for up to three additional days before and after the conference subject to hotel availability. Hotel reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at 1-215-893-1600. Please ask the reservations agent for the special group rate for the “Kirk Private Client Law, LLC Training” to receive the discounted rate. However, the easiest way to reserve your room is online by clicking on this hotel reservations link. The room reservation cut-off date is September 3, 2021 (or until the block is exhausted). The reservation cut-off is also the cancellation deadline for this event. Because of the small number of rooms available, we advise making your reservations as soon as possible.