KEYSTONE 21 The Pennsylvania Food System Professions Education Project
KEYSTONE 21 is seeking proposals from the four partner institutions which will address one or more of the six initiatives discussed under "KEYSTONE Initiatives." Collaboration between partners or between partners and others who are not members of the partner institutions (such as community organizations, business, government, academic, and other non-KEYSTONE 21 institutions) is required. The proposal and one of the principal investigators must either 1) be from each of two or more partner institutions, or 2) be from a partner institution collaborating with a non- KEYSTONE 21 partner. For example, a faculty member at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania can collaborate with someone at the Rodale Institute Experimental Farm. A faculty member in the Penn State Commonweatlth Educational System can partner with a business, or a local high school. A faculty member at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences can work with a member of the faculty of the College of Liberal Arts of Penn State.
If assistance is needed in identifying appropriate partnership linkages among institutions, contact Sharon Cannon at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, (telephone: 610-399-2104, email scannon@cuop.cheyney.edu); Amadou Diop at Rodale Institute Experimental Farm (telephone 610-683-1453, email adiop@rodaleinst.org); Hassan Gourama at Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College, (telephone: 610-320-4803, email hxg7@psu.edu); or Jeff Bridger at Penn State - College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park (telephone 814-863-8626, email jcb8@psu.edu).
Two categories of competitive grants are available: Mini-grants, and Keystone Grants. Both Mini-grants and Keystone Grants should address one or more of the KEYSTONE 21 initiatives. These two grant opportunities differ primarily in the amount of funding and length of grant period.
Mini-grants
Mini-grants provide funding for smaller short-term projects. These grants are not to exceed $7500, are to be funded for a 12 month period, and are not renewable. A final report must be submitted at the end of the 12-month project period.
Three types of Mini-grants are available: 1) Mini-grants are offered to stimulate and encourage participants to explore innovative ideas and approaches to address new food system education programs; 2) Mini-grants as planning grants to encourage interchange and development of ideas that lead to a proposal for a Keystone Grants; and 3) Mini-grants that complement ongoing Keystone Grants or other related grants.
Proposals for Mini-grants should contain:
1. A cover page which includes
- the title of the Mini-grant
- the name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of the principal investigator(s) and collaborator(s).
2. The text, not to exceed five pages, which must include
- a narrative containing (1) a description of the project and type of Mini-grant; (2) a rationale for the project, (3) anticipated outcomes for the project; (4) a description of the division of effort and coordination among co-investigators; and (5) an indication of possible sources of funding to sustain the project after the grant period.
3. Appendices which must include
- a brief resume (one to two pages) for the principal investigator(s) and collaborator(s). Information on relevant experiences and accomplishments should be included.
- a detailed budget. Fringe benefits may be included. Indirect costs are not applicable. Include the principalsı and collaboratorsı names, percent of time, and amount of salary and fringe benefits for each key participant. KEYSTONE 21 will not provide substantial funds for educational technology. Requests for such equipment should be kept to a minimum. Questions about budget format should be referred to Elise Gurgevich, (telephone: 814-865-0114, e-mail: PAFSPE@psu.edu).
- an evaluation plan that details how progress toward the objectives and goals of the proposed project will be assessed. The KEYSTONE 21 evaluator will work with the project leader and collaborators to develop an evaluation plan for proposals that are funded.
Keystone Grants
Keystone Grants will provide funding for larger and longer-run projects. Maximum funding for these grants is $30,000 per year, not to exceed $50,000 for two years. After the initial yearıs funding, continued funding will be dependent on an annual evaluation of the project. An annual report must be submitted at the end of each 12-month period. A final report must be submitted at the end of the project period.
Keystone Grant proposals should contain:
1. A cover page which must include
- the title of the project
- the duration of the project (not to exceed two years)
- the name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of the principal investigator(s) and collaborator(s).
2. The text, not to exceed ten pages, which must include
- a narrative indicating (1) the importance of the proposed work to food systems education in the 21st century and to one or more of the six initiatives; (2) the problem(s) the proposal is seeking to solve; (3) if pertinent, a brief summary of previous activities and initiatives that are related to the proposed work; (4) the specific objectives of the proposed project and the likelihood of achieving the objectives in the specific length of time; (5) a brief description of the methods that will be used to initiate and conduct the proposed work; (6) the division of effort and coordination among co-investigators; (7) the expected outcomes and anticipated impacts which the proposed work is expected to achieve; and (8) the potential for developing new approaches and the likelihood these efforts will be sustained after the grant has expired.
- a plan of work which indicates the phases of the work to be undertaken, the duration of each phase, and the location of the work.
- a description of available resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, etc.) and in-kind contributions.
- an evaluation plan that details how progress toward the objective and goals of the proposed project will be assessed. The KEYSTONE 21 evaluator will work with the project leader and collaborators to develop an evaluation plan for proposals that receive funding.
3. Appendices which must include
- a brief resume (one to two pages) of the principal investigator(s) and collaborator(s). Information on relevant experiences and accomplishments should be included.
- a detailed budget for each year and a summary budget (see Budget Guidelines listed at the end of this webpage). If applicable, show all matching funds by category (personnel, equipment, materials and supplies, travel, other). Fringe benefits may be included. Indirect costs are not applicable. Include the principalsı and collaboratorsı names, percent of time, and amount of salary and fringe benefits for each key participant. KEYSTONE 21 will not provide substantial funds for educational technology. Requests for such equipment should be kept to a minimum. Questions about budget format should be referred to Elise Gurgevich (telephone: 814-865-0114, e-mail: PAFSPE@psu.edu).
Review Process
The KEYSTONE 21 staff, comprised of representatives from each partner institution, will review and rank all Mini-grant proposals on the basis of their relevance to the KEYSTONE 21 initiatives. The staff will forward their recommendations for funding to the Governing Committee (the President of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the President of Rodale Institute Experimental Farm, the Dean of the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Dean of the Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College) who will make the financial award decisions.
All Keystone Grant proposals will be reviewed by an independent review panel selected by the KEYSTONE 21 staff. Criteria will include: congruence with KEYSTONE 21 initiatives, the likelihood of resulting in real and sustainable positive change in food system professions education, and the probability and feasibility of achieving objectives within the term of the project. The proposals and results of the peer reviews will be submitted to the Governing Committee who will make the final decision on projects to be funded. Funding for projects will be authorized for the full term of the project, but allocated for year-one only. Subsequent year funding will be contingent upon the completion of satisfactory annual progress reports.
Submission Procedures
For both Mini-grants and Keystone Grants, submit an original and four copies to Ted Alter, KEYSTONE 21 Project Director, The Pennsylvania Food Systems Professions Education Project, 139 Agricultural Administration Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. For the first round of proposal funding, Mini-grant proposals, are due by June 15, 1997 and Keystone Grant proposals, are due by August 15, 1997. Funding for Mini-grants will begin on August 1, 1997. Funding for Keystone Grants will begin on November 1, 1997. Questions concerning proposal ideas should be referred to Elise Gurgevich, (telephone: 814-865-0114, e-mail: PAFSPE@psu.edu).
Upcoming Funding Cycles
Mini-grants
| Submission Deadline | Funding Start Date |
| 6/15/98 | 8/1/98 |
| 11/15/98 | 2/1/99 |
Keystone Grants
| Submission Deadline | Funding Start Date |
| 8/15/98 | 11/1/98 |
| 2/15/99 | 5/1/99 |
Requests for Proposals will be issued 4/15/98 and 10/15/98.
The following requirements must be fulfilled to be considered for funding.
1. All proposals must receive approval from the institution acting as fiduciary agent for the proposal.
2. All proposals must adhere to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation General Requirements for grants. (Contact the KEYSTONE 21 project office for these requirements.)
3. Budgets should be prepared with the following categories:
4. Since all grant cycles span at least two Penn State fiscal years (July 1-June 30) please develop your budget to correspond to the fiscal years, not the grant period.
Examples:
Mini-grant funding cycle 2/1/98 - 1/31/99
Prepare budgets for:
2/1/98 - 6/30/98
7/1/98 - 1/31/99
Keystone Grant funding cycle 11/1/98 - 10/31/00
Prepare budgets for:
11/1/98 - 6/30/99
7/1/99 - 6/30/00
7/1/00 - 10/31/00
5. When applying for a Keystone Grant, proposals must include yearly budgets and a summary budget.
Funded projects will enter into either an Internal Agreement or Subcontract Agreement with the KEYSTONE 21 project. The type of agreement is dependent on the lead institution of the project.
If you have any questions please call Elise Gurgevich, KEYSTONE 21 Project Coordinator, at (814) 865-0114.