CONGRATULATIONS, YOU GOT THE GRANT. NOW WHAT?
Morrison’s Grants Manager, Sarah DeForest, shares her insights on navigating Grant Administration.
LEARN ABOUT SANDRA FEINGOLD
Hear from Sandra who serves clients on our Grants team.
MORRISON SNAPSHOTS
Check out some of our highlights from this event-filled season!
CLIENT CORNER
Get caught up with our latest client news blurbs.
Nestled between the Sacramento River and the Colusa Wildlife refuge, just south of the town of Colusa, California, sits a nearly 200 year old family farming legacy. Founded in the late 1850s by Howell Davis and his wife Sibyl “Sebia” (Jeffreys) Davis, the Davis family farmed nearly 8,000 contiguous acres, producing wheat, corn, and cattle.
Serving the town of Sycamore, Davis Ranches was originally part of the Rancho Jimeno Mexican Land grant and sits on the headwaters of Sycamore Slough. An integral part of the town’s development, the Davis family also owned and operated a successful mercantile, warehousing operation, and a ferry service along the Sacramento River. The ferry service provided Davis Ranches a significant advantage by transporting goods and food produced by the ranch south along the Sacramento River.
Today the ranch continues to thrive under the direction of the Davis family, having diversified their crops to include rice and a rotation of row crops. With a mission of responsible stewardship for their family land, Davis Ranches focuses on sustainable farm practices and has partnered with many organizations to conserve natural resources.
Davis Ranches’ rice fields provide over 2,000 acres of winter habitat for over 230 species, including waterfowl and shorebirds. Davis Ranches has participated in post-harvest field treatment studies to improve the benefits of the seasonal floodplain habitat. To ensure minimal waste, the residual straw is baled, the ground is disked, and the fields flooded to provide habitat for more than 30 species of bird while the straw decomposes for the next season. To ensure their many
conservation projects are successful, Davis Ranches partners with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Unilever, Audubon California, Wildlife Conservation Board, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.
Davis Ranches has worked closely with Audubon California to restore riparian habitat throughout the ranch. Establishing hedgerows along the fields and slough banks, these plants provide refuge for many native and beneficial species in the area. Having restored over 50 acres with native habitat species, Davis Ranches provides a space for pollinators, beneficial insects, and other wildlife.
As a leader in sustainable farm practices, Davis Ranches provides educational workshops and events. By collaborating with Colusa County Master Gardeners, Colusa County Resource Conservation District, the University of California Extension, and the Center for Land-Based Learning, Davis Ranches provides a platform for students to learn about California agriculture, integrated pest management, home fruit orchards, hedgerow installation and benefits, and land restoration.
In 2007, the family owners formed the Sebia Duck Club, a space for the family to share their hunting traditions while also providing memberships, which help fund additional conservation efforts on the ranch. The club participates in the California waterfowl wood duck program, building wood duck boxes and placing them around the fields. Sebia Duck Club has helped hatch thousands
There’s no such thing as free money. Nowhere is this truism more accurate than in the world of government grants. Beyond the considerable investment in time and financial resources to apply for a grant, the true work begins once the grant is awarded.
In 22 years of grant writing on behalf of clients, the Morrison team has heard and witnessed numerous stories of grant project execution and administration gone awry. So much so, in fact, that Managing Principal and grants practice lead Toni Scott began assisting clients with grant administration in order to help prevent missteps that would leave clients unable to claim their full grant awards or lose out on future grant funding entirely. The demand for these services has grown, and Morrison now has two dedicated grant administrators on the team, Michelle Genova and Melissa Deen. In guiding and assisting clients through post-award grant administration, the Morrison team has learned what works and what doesn’t work towards smooth and effective grant administration. The following are some common mistakes that can cause headaches when trying to carry out a grant project.
Spending money before the grant contract is executed. It can take a long time – several months to a year – between when a grant application is submitted to when it’s awarded. Sometimes businesses and organizations can’t wait that long: down-payments are required, contractors may be lost to other work, harvest is coming and they can’t go another season without replacing equipment. If pre-award spending on items in the project budget is necessary, just know that most grants will not reimburse awardees for funds spent before the grant contract is executed. However, the granting agency staff is usually understanding that businesses must move forward and will often work with the grant recipient to shift funds spent pre-project to other project-related tasks or activities.
Going off-script from the contracted work plan and budget. The work plan and budget submitted
in the grant application will typically be written into the grant contract so that the award recipient is contractually obligated to follow the plan as it is written. A common mistake that grant recipients make is to put the work plan and budget on a shelf and not refer to it until the next reimbursement or grant reporting deadline. It can be really hard when writing a grant application to know exactly what tasks and strategies will be most effective and necessary in one, two, or sometimes five years. But if a project strategy is shifted without a work plan and budget revision, whether intentionally or unintentionally, future reimbursements may be put at risk. For example, a grantee might decide to shift marketing tasks from a staff person to a contractor. Or maybe the budget was written to support attendance at a trade show in Dallas, but the grantee decides to attend one in San Diego instead. Whenever changes like these are considered, the agency should be notified and consulted in advance to ensure that the budget shift is eligible and approved for grant funds.
Waiting until reimbursement time to compile documentation. Just like with taxes and audits, it’s a whole lot easier to track grant expenses and save all invoices and proof of payment into a single file folder as the money is spent than to wait until it is crunch time and try to remember what was spent. Most grant programs will allow for monthly or quarterly reimbursements; Morrison recommends sticking with a consistent reimbursement schedule in order to stay on top of grant and match spending and avoid the potential for missing or insufficient documentation. And while we’re on the subject of grant reimbursement, it’s important to point out that matching funds are subject to the same reporting and documentation requirements as grant funds, so keep track of those time cards and any other budget items you’re using as match. Finally, it’s important to remember that expenses are not the only thing you have to keep track of – most if not all grant programs also require reporting on progress toward project goals. Whether your goals and outcome measures are related to sales, production, energy savings, or some other metric, it’s helpful to have a system in place from the onset of the grant to track and
Mistake #1 Mistake #2 Mistake #3
monitor that information over time so the grant administrator is not scrambling at the end to hunt down the required information.
Asking forgiveness rather than permission.
Granting agencies and their staff want nothing more than to see their funded projects succeed. When grant recipients are communicative and transparent about their challenges and agency staff can recognize the grantee is doing its best to abide by the contract and follow policies and procedures, staff are usually incredibly supportive and accommodating to help find solutions. However, when they perceive that the grantee is unresponsive or trying to circumvent policies by asking for forgiveness and not permission, the process of working with the agency can become increasingly difficult, and future grant applications may be jeopardized. Another Morrison tip to avoid surprises upon report submission is to register for any e-blasts and join every program-related webinar the agency offers grant recipients. This will ensure you have the latest information and agency interpretation of program requirements.
Trying to go it alone. Morrison recognizes that none of our clients really need us for this service… grant administration is not rocket science, and our clients are fully capable of doing it themselves. But they also have businesses to run and projects to execute aside from grant administration. So why not use the services of a consultant like Morrison, whose grant administration experts have likely already read the grant program guidelines 100 times and have positive working relationships with the agency staff? Furthermore, grant administration costs can be written into many grant applications, so depending upon the program, Morrison’s fees may be reimbursable as funds. Morrison’s multidisciplinary grant administration services range from simple pre-submission reviews of clients’ own reimbursements and reports, to full bookkeeping and accounting services paired with grant writing expertise in writing and designing semiannual and final reports.
While grant administration can sometimes be a real headache, advanced preparation and regular attention will always help to streamline the process, support successful and effective grant execution, and set the grantee up for future funding success…so you have the privilege of doing it all again!
Morrison’s Grants Manager Sarah DeForest enjoys working with clients to craft compelling and persuasive grant applications. Once they’re awarded, she is grateful to be able to turn the projects over to Morrison’s talented Michelle Genova and Melissa Deen, who do the real work of grant administration. Sarah can be reached by email at sdeforest@morrisonco.net.
Mistake #4 Mistake #5of baby ducks over the years of participating in this program. Club activities such as this work hand in hand with the ranch, increasing their ability to provide waterfowl and shorebird habitat through sustainable agricultural practices during the migration season.
As a core member of the Colusa community, Davis Ranches strives to support the farming community and works with their neighbors and tenants to improve agricultural practices. With the guiding principle of “Farming for the 22nd Century,” Davis Ranches keeps a progressive mindset on the agricultural frontier, not only incorporating conservation and sustainable practices into their farm but seeking state-of-the-art technology to improve efficiency. Davis Ranches’ newest orchard blocks include micro-jet sprinkler systems to allow fertigation (the practice of applying fertilizer with irrigation water) and efficient water delivery.
In addition to farming, Davis Ranches provides their family home as an event venue. Fondly known as the Brick House, the family home was designed in 1882, completed in 1894, and built with over 300,000 bricks that were made onsite at the ranch. The unique stained glass windows and decorative glass and river rock speckled siding on the upper floors has made this a truly unique historical landmark in Colusa County. Sadly, Howell Davis passed before the home was completed, but Sebia saw to the completion of the home where she raised their five children. Olive Percy Davis, or Aunt Percy, was the last to live in the Brick House mansion.
When not providing a backdrop for elegant weddings and parties, the Brick House is where the family continues to stay when they come home for family meetings. With more than 30 family members, the operations of the ranch are run by a family
trust, of whom Aunty Percy was the first official Chairwoman.
Morrison has been honored to provide Davis Ranches with ongoing bookkeeping and support services which include processing payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, financial reporting, trust-related tax filings, and general accounting and maintenance. It has been a delight working alongside the trustees and supporting a family farming legacy such as Davis Ranches.
Several members of the Morrison team had the opportunity to attend this year's Valentine’s Gala put on by Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley. It was a fun evening filled with familiar faces, delicious desserts, and friendly fundraising. The team recounted being brought to tears listening to the North Valley Youth of the Year share how the club provided needed support to her in a difficult season of life.
In November 2023, our own Sandra Swanstrom married Bradley Feingold. They exchanged vows at Neighborhood Church of Chico and celebrated with friends and family at the beautiful Lakeside Pavilion. We were thrilled to have Sandra join our Grants team last year and even more so when she shared photos from this special evening!
Several from our team attended the annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast. It was a time to celebrate with committee members, community leaders, staff, fellows, and alumni including our very own Sarah DeForest and Brent Morrison who are graduates of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.
Jeff Boian partnered with ChicoSTART to put on a workshop where he spoke to students during Global Entrepreneurship Week. The event celebrated initiative, innovation, & creativity in business and especially start-ups. Jeff spoke on entrepreneurship and wellbeing.
Sandra Feingold serves Morrison clients in areas of grant writing, grant administration, and project management. She brings her skills and experience in marketing, journalism, and public relations to effectively serve clients seeking competitive grant funding through the United States Department of Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Energy Commission, and other granting agencies.
Before joining the Morrison grants team, Sandra worked as a social media and content coordinator in an agency setting where she used her skills in social media and storytelling to write blogs, create content for platforms, leverage branding, and develop strategies to help clients achieve their goals across a variety of industries. In a previous role as a live events logistics coordinator for a philanthropic team-
building company, she planned events ranging from 15 to 3,000 participants. There, she later became the marketing administrator where she developed the inhouse marketing department and aided in rebranding. Sandra credits her beginning in sports events and journalism in intercollegiate athletics as the foundation for her career path to date.
Sandra’s professional experience is bolstered by her leadership and background in 4-H, FFA, athletics, collegiate student government, and Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity. She continues to volunteer for her sorority, her church, and American Legion Auxiliary. When she is not working, she can be found reading a book, spending time outdoors, and enjoying quality time with loved ones.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR?
They would be Jane Austen, Sarah J. Maas, and Hannah Whitten. Austen was my first favorite author because of Pride and Prejudice, Maas has built a multiverse of compelling characters with legendary storylines, and Whitten writes stunning contemporary prose. JRR Tolkien also gets an honorable mention.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
The first job I ever wanted was to be a marine biologist. I was on the Durham Dolphins swim team and loved watching animal planet. However, I later learned that biology was not my favorite subject and swimming in deep water slightly terrifies me.
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH THE MOST?
My friends, my husband, and irony. That isn’t to say it’s ironic my friends and husband make me laugh, it’s just how things played out.
DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING?
Do books count? I have a barcode scanner and catalogue of them. They will go with me wherever I move, including the solid oak bookshelf that holds most of them. My favorite places to shop for books are yard sales and the weekly Friends of the Library county library book sale.
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU?
One of the greatest blessings in life is to have friends who know and love us. My friends describe me as someone who is resilient, loves Jesus, and is adventurous, loving, and encouraging.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR MANTRA?
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT LIVING IN CHICO, CALIFORNIA?
Our seasons. It’s the smell of almond blossoms in springtime, driving down the Midway on a summer night when the sprinklers are on in the orchards, and the colors of the trees in autumn. Unfortunately, I have nothing nice to say about winter.
1385 Ridgewood Drive Chico, CA 95973
The Morrison Client Corner is a regular feature of our newsletter. Here, you’ll find updates on what a number of our clients are up to, their achievements and milestones, and the generally great things happening in their companies or organizations.
The newly elected president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, Shannon Douglass, was named the 2024 Distinguished Alumna by the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico. Douglass earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture at Chico State in 2005 followed by an interdisciplinary master’s degree in 2012. A diversified farmer in Glenn County with her husband Kelly and son Heath, Douglass founded CalAgJobs, an online listing of employment opportunities in California agriculture. In December she was elected to a two-year term as president of the California Farm Bureau, the first woman to earn the title in the organization’s 105-year history. Douglass received the Distinguished Alumni honor during a ceremony on the Chico State campus on
If you’re a client of ours, we’d love to stay up to date with what is going on within your organization and invite you to share your highlights in this space. Feel free to send any press releases, newsletters, or happenings to Hana Dill at hdill@morrisonco.net.
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) and the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation (FWF) have worked side-by-side as nonprofits since 2011, sharing staff between organizations. With each organization experiencing overwhelming success and growth, the NVG and FWF Boards of Directors decided to meet this growth and continue the momentum by staffing each organization independently, announcing the appointments of two executive directors with deep ties to the Napa winegrowing community. Sonya DeLuca assumed the Executive Director and CEO role for the FWF in December, having held leadership positions in the NVG for the past 17 years. Following a national search, NVG announced the selection of Caleb Mosley to serve as Executive Director in February. Mosely had served on the NVG board since 2019 and held several roles in vineyard management in Napa Valley since 2011.
$300,000 GRANT TO EXPAND VOCATIONAL FARM TRAINING
The Jesus Center continues its grantwinning success with the announcement of a $300,000 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to expand the non-profit organization’s successful Harvesting Hope Community Supported Agriculture program. One of just 33 projects awarded a collective $11.67 million to enhance the viability of urban agriculture across California, the Jesus Center will receive grant funding to both improve infrastructure at its existing Hegan Lane farm site and invest in new infrastructure, including greenhouses and raised garden beds to launch farm production at The Renewal Center. Grant funds will also spur the expansion of the Jesus Center’s experiential vocational training programs by providing $180,000 in stipends to support those in shelter in developing meaningful skills to enter or re-enter the local workforce, essential to support their transition towards permanent housing pathways.
