Grant Writing and Alternative Funding Flashcards
7 cards from real CPRE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Grant Writing and Alternative Funding flashcards as text
A park agency discovers mid-project that grant expenditures will exceed the budgeted amount in one line item. What is the FIRST action the project director should take?
Answer: Review the grant agreement for budget modification policies and contact the program officer
Most grant agreements require prior approval for budget modifications; the project director should review the terms and communicate proactively with the funder before making changes.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a 'capacity-building grant' as distinct from a program implementation grant?
Answer: It supports infrastructure, skills, or systems that strengthen the organization's long-term effectiveness
Capacity-building grants invest in an organization's internal capabilities — such as staff training, technology, or planning — rather than directly funding service delivery.
When writing grant objectives, which format best meets funder expectations for measurability?
Answer: SMART objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
SMART objectives give funders clear benchmarks to evaluate project success and hold grantees accountable for defined, measurable outcomes within a set timeframe.
A recreation department is exploring tax increment financing (TIF) to fund park improvements. What is the fundamental mechanism of TIF?
Answer: Dedicating the incremental increase in property tax revenues generated by development to fund improvements in the district
TIF captures the increase in property tax revenue that results from new development within a designated district and redirects those incremental revenues to finance public improvements.
Which federal grant program specifically supports planning and development of trails, parks, and recreational facilities through transportation funding?
Answer: Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
The Transportation Alternatives Program, funded through the federal highway bill, supports non-motorized transportation projects including trails, sidewalks, and recreational trails.
A parks foundation raises $200,000 in private donations to support agency programs. Under what condition can these private funds typically be used as matching funds for a federal grant?
Answer: If the funds are not already committed as match for another federal grant and meet the funder's match requirements
Private donations can serve as matching funds as long as they are not already obligated as match on another federally funded project and comply with the specific grant program's match rules.
Which element of a grant budget is MOST likely to trigger funder scrutiny during the review process?
Answer: Indirect costs exceeding the agency's federally negotiated indirect cost rate
Indirect cost rates must be federally negotiated or use a de minimis rate; claiming indirect costs above the approved rate is a common compliance finding and raises red flags during review.