Resources for potential applicants and current grantees

The sections below provide resources for potential applicants and current grantees, including a list of our current policies. A list of the relevant policies for each grant program is listed on the program pages, which can be found on our Apply page.

Applicant Resources

Project Budgets

Please use the following instructions to complete your required detailed budget worksheet in the online application.

  • Complete one detailed budget that is cumulative and a detailed budget for each year of the project
  • For preproposals, complete one project budget that is cumulative

Proposals must provide a budget itemizing line items by the following classifications:

  1. Expense Category:
    These are the expected expenses in each budget category (salaries, fringe benefits, materials and supplies, other direct expenses, indirect costs/administrative and overhead, contracted services, engineering/design, facility construction, and land acquisition). While you may add individual line items within these categories, you may not change expense categories.
  2. GLFT Funds:
    Indicate the amount of funds requested from the GLFT for each expense category.
    – Itemize how the grant monies will be expended within each expense category.
    – There are only two line items currently under each major expense category; if you have more than two line items per category, add more rows. If a budget category doesn’t pertain to your project or you don’t expect any costs associated with it, place a ‘0’ in the column. Do not delete the budget category.
  3. Matching Funds:
    Indicate and itemize the amount of matching funds anticipated for each expense category. A match is the amount of cash (not in-kind) contributions for the project (in-kind contributions can be explained in the budget narrative section of the application). Matching funds are not required but are encouraged. If funding from other sources will be involved, itemize the sources in the budget narrative section.
  4. Total Project Cost:
    This is the total for the entire project, which adds columns II and III, GLFT Funds and Matching Funds.

Nonconstruction Projects

Salaries
List the salary and/or wage of each individual whose role in meeting the project objectives is substantive and outlined in the Narrative Sections and whose number of hours worked on the grant will be clearly identified and documented. Such compensation to individuals employed by the grant recipient shall be limited to the actual wage rate paid on an hourly basis (prorated on the basis of a 2,080-hour, full-time salary or appropriate fractions thereof). (See GLFT Graduate Assistant Funding Policy, if applicable.)

Fringe Benefits
For all staff employed by the grant recipient, list the fringe benefits that will be charged against the project. Fringe benefits are reimbursable under either of two alternative approaches. Reimbursement of fringe benefits for individuals working on the grant and employed by the grant recipient can be either actual fringe benefits paid, or based on a formula established by the grant recipient that applies to broad classes of employees (such as full-time faculty, other faculty, technicians, students, etc.).

Materials and Supplies
Items that are consumed during the performance of the service or required to complete a task, such as building materials, laboratory supplies, and printing costs. (See GLFT Equipment Policy for allowable expenses.)

Other Direct Expenses
Expenses that are directly used to perform the services or complete the tasks in a grant agreement but are not consumed during the project or defined as Administrative or Overhead.

Indirect Costs Administrative/Overhead
Salaries/wages/fringe benefits or other costs of any administrative support staff employed by the grant recipient not specifically identified in the grant or charged to the project. This also includes the cost of routine office supplies, materials, phone service, mail handling, utilities, copying, faxing, office workspace, and other similar items not specifically identified in the grant award as reimbursable direct costs. Reimbursement is limited to 10 percent of the total salaries and wages authorized for reimbursement under the terms of the grant. (See GLFT Overhead/Indirect Policy for allowable expenses for other reimbursement limitations and exclusions.)

Contracted Services
Services that are performed to complete the tasks in a grant agreement but are completed by a third party.

Construction, Engineering and Design, or Land Acquisition Projects

Engineering/Design Costs
The costs associated with creating the detailed description of the new facility, usually represented by detailed construction plans/drawings and specifications.

Facility Construction Costs
The costs associated with implementing the plan developed during the design phase. Examples of cost items include boardwalks/walkways, railings, staircases, ramps, bridges, fishing piers, parking, benches, pavilions, soil erosion control, site restoration, shoreline stabilization, demolition, mobilization, electrical improvements, and signage. (See the GLFT Policy on Tribal and Recreational Fishing Access Amenities for allowable amenities.)

Land Acquisition
Itemize costs associated with the purchase of property. Examples of cost items, in addition to the cost of the land itself, include fee acquisition, easement acquisition, appraisal fees, title insurance policy, real estate transfer tax, closing costs, recording fees, site management/cleanup, education, and outreach. Please include any project management expenses as a line item within this category.

Charts of Work

To complete the chart of work, list (in bold) each major outcome of your project. An outcome is a specific change that occurs in individuals, groups, communities, organizations, or systems as a result of your project.

Beneath it, in the same row and in plain text, list planned activities associated with that outcome. Activities are the processes, tools, events, technology, and actions that are an intentional part of achieving your outcome. Indicate the duration of each activity on the timeline by marking an “X” or shading in the relevant months. Also indicate the amount of funds requested from the GLFT to complete the activity as well as the total cost.

Below each outcome, indicate the deliverable(s) associated with the outcome. Deliverables are the tangible results of your work toward each outcome. They can be, but aren’t necessarily, written products. They may be processes, agreements, or organizational structures as well as reports, communications documents, and other literature.

There are six paired rows for six outcomes/associated deliverables in the chart. If you have more than six major outcomes, use “copy and paste” to add additional rows. There are 24 columns for months. If your project will take more or less than 24 months to complete, add or delete extra months (columns).

Letters of Support

Letters of support from project partners or stakeholders are encouraged when submitting an application to the Trust. The letters should accurately portray the partnership or support provided by the submitting entity. Please include any letters of support for your project as a single PDF file when submitting your application.

Research and Human Dimensions Webinar

This webinar provided assistance to Great Lakes Fishery Trust grant applicants or potential applicants under the Research and Human Dimensions request for proposals. GLFT staff and the Scientific Advisory Team chair discussed the research priorities for the two grant areas, walked through the online application, summarized the review process, and answered applicants’ questions.

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Great Lakes Habitat Protection and Restoration Webinar

This webinar provided information for potential applicants under the Great Lakes Habitat Protection and Restoration program request for proposals.

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