Attachment A: Template Program Narrative

Note of category weight:

1. Executive Summary (5 points)
2. Capacity/Agency Qualifications (30 points)
3. Community Identification/Description of Need (10 points)
4. Quality/Description of Program Services, Design and Implementation (Project Plan) (45 points)
5. Budget & Cost Justification (10 points)
   

1. Executive Summary (up to 1 page)
   • In this section, summarize at a high level the information contained in sections 2-5 below. This is the "elevator pitch" for your grant application. A reader should be able to understand your agency mission and background related to this grant opportunity, the proposed program goals, the program design, any key partners and proposed budget from this section.
2. Capacity/Agency Qualifications (up to 3 pages)
   • Explain your agency's background and mission.
   • Explain your organization's current programs and areas of focus.
   • Highlight any directly relevant prior or ongoing work, or directly relevant prior work program staff or organizational leadership have experience with at your organization or at another organization.
   • Discuss your agency's history and current work related to systems-level improvement in homeless services and/or housing programs.
3. Community Identification/Description of Need (up to 3 pages)
   • Demonstrate your agency's understanding of the community need this grant opportunity is responding to. Reference the purpose described in Section 3 of the NOFO.
4. Quality/Description of Program Services, Design, and Implementation (Project Plan) (up 10 to pages)
   • The Project Plan should give the reader a comprehensive overview of the model and plan for the proposed program. This should include a description of the scope of services, key dates in the program over the course of the fiscal year, program objectives, activities, strategies, staffing, partners, and how the design will enable you to best address the problem or need identified in the NOFO.
   • Reference the goals and objectives described in Section 3 of the NOFO and describe any strategies in the Project Plan to best meet the community need and NOFO purpose.
   • Explain the staffing model you propose using to carry out this program. Explain any anticipated subcontracting, if known. Subcontracted partners do not need to be known at time of application.
   • Explain whether people with lived expertise of homelessness will be involved in program delivery.
5. Justification of Budgeted Costs (up to 2 pages)
   • In this section, provide a narrative of your budget for the proposed program. The budget narrative in this section should be identical to the Budget Narrative section of the Uniform Grant Budget.
   • Explain how costs were estimated and briefly justify the need for each cost. Explain any assumptions on which the budget was based.
   • Explain any unusual budget items.
   • Explain any in-kind expenses and donations or matching funds, if applicable (these are not required or weighted).
   • Attach your budget to the program narrative. Budget must match the budget entered into CSA.