Fundamentals of Federal Grants Management 

Exclusive Two-Day Event

Small-Group Grants Management Training in Orlando

 

Effective leadership of a grant-funded entity involves both the governing body and the management team and is essential for any grant-funded entity's success.  Effective leadership of a grant-funded entity, in turn, is rooted in a solid foundation in Federal grants management.  That foundation is shifting, though, with the Office of Management and Budget's issuance of new uniform guidance for administrative standards, cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal grants.  The OMB's  uniform guidance (which is commonly called the "Super Circular" or the "Omnicircular") provides a new framework for managing Federal grants and affects both grantees and subgrantees.  Leaders of grant-funded entities (whether recipients or subrecipients) need to know the requirements of the new Super Circular, but knowledge of the Super Circular (or Omnicircular) is just part of Federal grants management and of the knowledge needed to lead a grant-funded entity.  Leaders of grant-funded entities also need to know about the legal basis and underpinnings of Federal grant programs, effective legal and financial controls and compliance programs for grant-funded organizations, and the major policies and procedures that a successful grant-funded entity should have in place. Fundamentals of Federal Grants Management will provide leaders of grant-funded entities with the foundation that they need to succeed.

Over the course of two days, the conference will explore the fundamentals of Federal grants management in detail, including: 

• The legal and regulatory underpinnings of Federal grants and the distinctions between grants and other forms of financial assistance;
• Changes to the structure of the OMB grants management guidance and the reasons behind the changes under the new OMB Super Circular;
• Differences between the existing and new administrative standards in the OMB Super Circular (including the new procurement and property management standards and changes to records retention requirements, closeouts and later adjustments, and funding source remedies);
• Revisions to the OMB's cost principles under the Super Circular (including changes to the general cost principles and the specific items of cost);
• Changes to the audit requirements under the OMB's new Super Circular;
• The importance of establishing a culture of compliance and ethics;
• The on-going shift from simple compliance to performance and the effect on grants management;
• The role of appropriate legal and fiscal controls within a grant-funded entity in the prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse, and the consequences of fraud, abuse, and mismanagement to the organization and individuals involved;
• Essential policies (including conflict of interest and record-keeping policies) and compliance obligations; and,
• The roles and responsibilities of governance and management and how those within the governance structure and on the management team can fulfill those roles and responsibilities.

The conference will discuss these topics and more to provide attendees with the essential information needed to effectively lead grant-funded entities while meeting their funding sources' compliance and performance expectations.  There will also be extensive opportunities for attendees to ask questions about Federal grants management.

AGENDA

The conference will be held over two days, October 14 and 15, 2014.  The planned agenda for each day is as follows:

Day One (Tuesday, October 14, 2014)

7:00 A.M. Continental Breakfast
8:00 A.M. On-site Conference Check-in
8:30 A.M. Session I:  The Tone at the Top
10:00 A.M. Morning Break
10:30 A.M. Session II:  Effective Controls
12:00 P.M. Networking Luncheon (Included)
1:00 P.M. Session III:  Federal Grants Management:  A Legal Perspective
2:30 P.M. Afternoon Break
3:00 P.M. Session IV-A:  The OMB Super Circular:  Administrative Requirements
5:00 P.M. Adjourn (Day One)

Day Two (Wednesday, October 15, 2014)

7:00 A.M. Continental Breakfast
8:00 A.M. Session IV-B:  The OMB Super Circular:  Cost Principles and Audit Requirements
10:00 A.M. Morning Break
10:30 A.M. Session V-A:  Keeping It Legal:  Key Policies
12:00 P.M. Lunch (On Your Own)
1:00 P.M. Session V-B:  Keeping It Legal:  Fulfilling Roles and Responsibilities
3:00 P.M. Adjourn (Conference)

OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES

Participants in this two-day workshop will learn the legal, regulatory, and technical information essential for leading a grant-funded entity as part of the governance structure or management team; conference attendees will:

• Gain a better understanding of the legal basis for Federal grants;
• Understand the reasons for the reforms and structural changes resulting in the OMB's new uniform grants guidance (the "Super Circular");
• Learn about the changes affecting the grants administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit standards under the new OMB Super Circular (including which changes may be good and which changes may be bad for Federal grant recipients and subrecipients);
• Understand how to establish effective legal and fiscal controls for their organizations;
• Know which policies are essential for grant-funded entities and what those policies should contain;
• Understand the elements of an effective compliance program and the importance of internal monitoring; and,
• Better understand the differences between management and governance and the roles and responsibilities of each group.

AUDIENCE

Emerging and seasoned administrators and professionals of varying specialties will benefit from this unique learning experience: Executive Directors, Program Directors, Fiscal Officers, Content Area Managers, Governing Board and Policy Council Chairs or members, and any key staff members in positions of responsibility and accountability.

REGISTRATION AND PRICING

To allow for increased interaction and to promote a small-group feeling, the number of registrations available for this conference is limited.  Registration for the Fundamentals of Federal Grants Management conference is just $499 per person.  Cancellations before September 22, 2014, are subject to a $25 administrative fee, and all cancellations on or after September 22, 2014, are subject to a $125 administrative fee.  In lieu of cancellation, participants may substitute another participant from his or her organization at no charge.  Please note that conference registration does not include lodging or transportation; conference participants are responsible for making their own hotel and transportation reservations. However, Orlando was selected as the site for this conference because of the large number of budget-friendly transportation options from throughout the country. 

Given the limited number of spaces available, at the door registration will not be available for this conference.  You must register in advance.  Please bring your event "ticket" or registration confirmation with you to speed your on-site check-in on the morning of October 14, 2014.  Check-in will begin at 8:00 AM.  The morning session will start promptly at 8:30 AM.

HOTEL

The conference will take place at the all-suites DoubleTree Hotel Orlando, which is conveniently located in the Downtown Disney area inside the Walt Disney World Resort.  The DoubleTree Hotel Orlando is the only all-suites hotel in the Downtown Disney area.  Rooms are available for a special conference rate of $119 per night (plus tax) for single or double occupancy.  Triple and quadruple occupancy are also available at slightly higher rates.  Subject to room availability, this special conference rate will also be honored for the 3 days prior to and following the nights of October 13 and 14, 2014.  Participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations directly with the hotel.  Hotel reservations can be made by calling 1-800-222-TREE (8733).  The group code is "PCL"; please mention this special group code to receive the conference rate.  Reservations can also be made on-line by clicking here for the reservations page.  The room reservation cut-off date is September 22, 2014 (or until the block is exhausted, whichever occurs first).

Register Now!

Continuing Education Credit

Courses on the Fundamentals of Federal Grants Management qualify for Technical Business (Specialized Industries:  Nonprofit and Grant-Funded Organizations) CPE credit for Florida CPA's.  Written proof of attendance will be supplied.  Up to 13 hours of credit (50 minute hours) may be earned.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

R. Brian Tipton is a practicing attorney with more than a decade's experience working with nonprofits and grant-funded organizations across the United States.  Currently, Brian is Managing Director with The Private Client Law Group, P.C., in Atlanta, where he heads the firm's charitable solutions practice.  He is a summa cum laude graduate of the Louisiana State University and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.  Brian regularly represents grant-funded entities (including Community Action Agencies and Head Start programs) in the areas of regulatory compliance, audits, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, and litigation.  Brian also consults with organizations on governance, human resources, programmatic, and corporate matters, and develops and presents training programs for nonprofits.