Funders of grants are charged with ensuring strong performance and compliance of their grantees. This training will focus on principles, best practices, and systems for effective monitoring and oversight. We will present a practical approach to grant monitoring and illustrate the necessary systems to do this work well. Subject matter will include:

• Risk assessment of grantees
• Specific conditions to mitigate risk
• Types of monitoring
• Creation of a monitoring plan
• Drafting monitoring reports
• Resolution of monitoring issues and corrective action plans
• Using monitoring data to inform grant portfolio management
• Technical assistance to grantees
• Practical tips and techniques

Policies and procedures built with compliance, efficiency, and clarity lead to success in managing grants. We will cover key grants and financial management policies/procedures, and provide tools, samples, and checklists related to important policies/procedures for federal grants management. Participants will have an opportunity to submit policies and procedures in advance for review by Public Impact Advisors and will receive one hour of P&P technical assistance up to 30 days post-event. You will leave more prepared for strong grants/financial management systems and with an action plan for improvement of your policies and procedures. Topics covered include:

• Key policies/procedures for strong organizational, financial, and grants management
• A framework for policy/procedure development
• Key components of effective/compliant policies/procedures
• Guidance on developing an action plan for continuous improvement

Ensuring allowable costs is a must for federal grant recipients and subrecipients. We’ll explore key topics related to the financial/cost allowability side of grants management, including:

• Grantee financial management system requirements
• Key cost-related directives
• The reliable framework to ensure allowable costs on your federal grants
• Treatment of selected items of cost
• Practical application of cost-related requirements for important grants management functions, including budget preparation, spending decisions/justifications, grant monitoring, audit/monitoring resolution and corrective action; and when prior approval is required for cost-related grant changes.

Stay abreast of recent and emerging developments in federal grants management, including:

• 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) revisions
• Audit and monitoring trends
• Statutory and regulatory changes
• Presidential administration directives (including executive orders and grant termination/reinstatement implications)
• Artificial intelligence

Understand and get refreshed on the full grants management life cycle and best practices, including:

• Key attributes and premises of the federal grants system
• An overview of the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200
• Internal Controls for Grants Management
• Post Federal Award Requirements (including Cost Sharing, Program Income, Budget and Program Changes, Property Standards, Procurement Standards, Subrecipient Monitoring and Management)
• Cost Allowability and Adequate Documentation
• Indirect Costs and Cost Allocation
• Common Pitfalls/Grants Management Myths
• Grants Management Scorecard (you’ll leave with an improvement plan for your organization’s grants management); and
• Federal Grants Management Updates (including new requirements/developments and current trends)