Gifts Versus Grants

image of wrapped gift boxes to illustrate the difference between gifts and grants

Many in the nonprofit world use the terms “gifts” and “grants” interchangeably, so if you’re second-guessing yourself or are confused about the terminology many nonprofits and funders alike are using, you’re not alone. In fact, larger nonprofits have developed and published guidelines to help their staff distinguish between gifts and grants. JCCI has witnessed a … Read more

Federal Grant Eligibility for Title III and Title V Programs

Image of arrows in flow chart arrangement to illustrate federal grant eligibility process.

Knowing your organization’s federal grant eligibility is key to monitoring and applying for grants that help sustain and grow institutional programs and priorities, but questions of federal grant eligibility can often be confusing. That’s especially true regarding eligibility for the multiple programs offered under the Title III and Title V umbrellas. The U.S. Department of … Read more

The Importance of Grant Planning

Flow chart illustrating the grant planning process.

If you wait until you see the latest funding announcement or RFP from a private or federal funder before beginning the grant planning process, you’re already behind. Funding announcements typically have tight turnaround deadlines for applications and don’t allow time for gathering data and formulating a competitive project and proposal. Theoretically, the reasoning behind those … Read more

Why Title III SIP is Unique

Image of one red apple on a black and white photo of apples to illustrate the uniqueness of the Title III SIP grant.

Among all the U.S. Department of Education’s grant opportunities, the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) is most unique. The JCCI Resource Development Services team monitored the federal budget proposals presented in 2017 and was shocked to learn that the initial budget from the president’s office removed the entire line item for Title III SIP. … Read more

How Competitive is Federal Grant Funding?

Image of cyclists racing to illustrate competitive federal grant funding.

It’s the question on everyone’s mind when considering applying for federal grants: what are the odds of being approved for funding? Just how competitive is federal grant funding? The question is legitimate since applying for a grant can consume both human capital and financial resources when organizations and institutions often have little of either to … Read more