Annual Grant Cycle Help Center

• What’s the difference between TOT and TBID funds?
  • TBID-funded projects require NTCA Board approval.
  • TOT-funded projects require Placer County Board of Supervisors’ approval.
• Is the funding upfront or reimbursable?
  • Funding is reimbursable. Grantees must submit quarterly progress reports for reimbursement processing.
• Is partial funding a possibility?
  • Yes. If partial funding is recommended, applicants will be notified and given options to adjust their proposal.
• How will I be notified about the status of my application?
  • All communication will happen through Submittable. Please make sure to check your junk mail and/or Submittable for updates on the status of your application or any other matters concerning your application.
• I’m applying for Emergent Grant Cycle funding. Can I apply multiple times a year?
  • Yes. Applicants may submit multiple requests throughout the year. However, approval of one request does not guarantee future funding.

Tasks:

1. Definition:
   • Tasks are specific actions or activities that need to be completed to achieve the project’s objectives.
   • They are the individual steps or assignments required to implement the project
     plan.
2. Examples:
   • Conducting shoreline clean-up events at three different beach locations.
   • Hosting educational workshops on invasive species management for
     residents.
   • Installing erosion control measures along a sensitive creek bank.
3. Characteristics:
   • Actionable: Clearly defined actions that can be executed.
   • Operational: They describe how work will be done to achieve objectives.
   • Sequential: Often listed in a chronological order of implementation.
4. Role:
   • Tasks are the building blocks of a project plan and provide a roadmap for
     project execution.
   • They are assigned to specific team members or stakeholders responsible for
     their completion.

Objectives

1. Definition:
   • Objectives are specific, measurable outcomes that the project aims to achieve within a defined timeframe.
   • They articulate the desired results or accomplishments of the project.
2. Examples:
   • Increase the clarity of Lake Tahoe’s water by reducing nutrient runoff by 20% within three years.
   • Restore 50 acres of native vegetation in the Tahoe Basin over the project’s five-year duration.
   • Educate 500 residents on sustainable practices to reduce wildfire risk by the end of the grant period.
3. Characteristics:
   • Measurable: Quantifiable criteria to determine achievement.
   • Time-bound: Associated with a specific timeline or deadline.
   • Strategic: Directly related to the overall goals of the project.
4. Role:
   • Objectives provide a clear focus and define success criteria for the project.
   • They guide the selection and prioritization of tasks and activities to ensure
     alignment with project goals.

Outcomes:

1. Definition:
   • Outcomes are the changes, benefits, or results that result from a program or project.
   • They focus on the broader, long-term changes the grant aims to achieve.
2. Examples:
   • Improved literacy rates in targeted communities.
   • Increased employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
   • Enhanced environmental sustainability practices in local businesses.
3. Characteristics:
   • Qualitative: Often described in terms of improvements, changes in behavior, or societal impact.
   • Long-term: Typically measured over a period of extending beyond the project’s duration.
   • Broad: They encompass the overall achievements or changes the project brings.
4. Measurement:
   • Outcomes are assessed through evaluations, surveys, case studies, and other qualitative and quantitative methods.
   • They may involve indicators that track progress towards achieving them but are not direct numerical measures.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

1. Definition:
   • KPIs are specific, measurable values demonstrating how effectively an organization or project achieves its objectives.
   • They are quantifiable metrics that track and evaluate progress towards achieving desired outcomes.
2. Examples:
   • Number of participants enrolled in the program.
   • Percentage increase in revenue generated from the project.
   • Reduction in carbon emissions achieved by project activities.
3. Characteristics:
   • Quantitative: Numerical data that can be objectively measured.
   • Short-term: Often measured within the project’s timeframe to assess ongoing performance.
   • Specific: Directly linked to specific activities or objectives outlined in the project plan.
4. Measurement:
   • KPIs are tracked regularly using data collection tools, software systems, surveys, or direct observation.
   • They provide concrete evidence of progress and help make data-driven decisions to adjust strategies if necessary.