CPRE Grant Writing and Alternative Funding 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A park district wants to apply for a LWCF grant to develop a new trail. Which federal agency administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund program?
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- National Park Service (Correct answer)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Land Management
Correct answer: National Park Service
The National Park Service administers the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program, which provides matching grants to states and localities for outdoor recreation.
Question 2: When developing a logic model for a grant proposal, what does the 'outputs' section typically represent?
- The long-term community changes resulting from the program
- The direct products or services delivered by the program activities (Correct answer)
- The financial resources available for the program
- The assumptions underlying the program design
Correct answer: The direct products or services delivered by the program activities
Outputs in a logic model are the direct, tangible products of program activities, such as number of programs held, participants served, or facilities constructed.
Question 3: A parks department is considering a public-private partnership (P3) to fund a new recreation center. Which of the following is a PRIMARY advantage of a P3 arrangement?
- The public agency retains full operational control with no private oversight
- The private partner assumes all financial risk with no public contribution required
- Private sector capital and expertise can supplement limited public funding (Correct answer)
- P3 agreements are exempt from public procurement regulations
Correct answer: Private sector capital and expertise can supplement limited public funding
Public-private partnerships leverage private sector investment and operational expertise to deliver public facilities and services when public budgets are constrained.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes an 'in-kind match' in the context of grant compliance?
- Cash donations from local businesses deposited into the project account
- Non-cash contributions such as volunteer labor, donated materials, or use of facilities (Correct answer)
- Federal funds transferred from one grant to offset another project's costs
- Matching funds drawn from the agency's general operating fund
Correct answer: Non-cash contributions such as volunteer labor, donated materials, or use of facilities
In-kind matches are non-cash contributions — including volunteer time, donated equipment, or loaned space — that count toward the grantee's required match percentage.
Question 5: A recreation agency is crafting a needs statement for a federal grant. What is the MOST important element to include?
- A detailed budget justification for all line items
- Quantitative data demonstrating the gap between current conditions and the desired state (Correct answer)
- A biography of the project director and key staff
- A list of other grants the agency has received in the past five years
Correct answer: Quantitative data demonstrating the gap between current conditions and the desired state
A compelling needs statement uses data and statistics to clearly document the problem or gap the project will address, making the case for why funding is necessary.
Question 6: Under most federal grant regulations, what is a 'cost allocation plan' used for?
- Setting the pay scale for grant-funded employees
- Distributing shared indirect costs equitably across multiple programs or grants (Correct answer)
- Documenting the competitive bidding process for procurement
- Scheduling the drawdown of grant funds over the project period
Correct answer: Distributing shared indirect costs equitably across multiple programs or grants
A cost allocation plan establishes a methodology for fairly distributing shared or indirect costs — such as administrative overhead — across all programs benefiting from those costs.
Question 7: Which alternative funding mechanism allows a parks agency to receive payment for verified outcomes rather than for services delivered?
- General obligation bonds
- Pay-for-success (social impact bonds) (Correct answer)
- Tax increment financing
- Special assessment districts
Correct answer: Pay-for-success (social impact bonds)
Pay-for-success or social impact bond models provide government payment only when an independent evaluator verifies that the program achieved its target outcomes.
CPRE Grant Writing and Alternative Funding 4
A park district wants to apply for a LWCF grant to develop a new trail.
Which federal agency administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund program?