Summer 2026

IN THIS ISSUE:

WESTERN CANAL WATER DISTRICT: STEWARDING WATER, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES STRATEGIC GRANT PLANNING: TURNING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES INTO LONGTERM IMPACT Morrison Grants Manager Sarah DeForest shares the importance of strategic grant planning and how it benefits businesses and nonprofits.

In the Sacramento Valley, water fuels one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. It nourishes fields of rice, provides habitat for millions of migratory birds, supports thriving fish populations, and sustains the communities that call this region home. Every season, every harvest, and every ecosystem depends on a delicate balance of water managed with care and foresight.

At the center of that effort is Western Canal Water District, which plays a vital role in stewarding this essential resource across approximately 67,500 acres in Butte and Glenn counties.

GETTING TO KNOW HANNAH SCHIEK

Learn more about Morrison’s newest Business & Accounting Advisory Services Consultant, Hannah Schiek!

MORRISON SNAPSHOTS

Check out some of our highlights from this past quarter!

CLIENT CORNER

There is always something new going on, so get caught up with the latest news from our clients.

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Established in 1984, with canal infrastructure dating back to 1911, Western Canal supplies agricultural water to local farmers while supporting critical fish and waterfowl habitat throughout the region.

Western Canal holds pre-1914 water rights to 150,000 acre-feet of natural flow from the Feather River and 145,000 acre-feet of storage water from Lake Almanor. Together, these water rights and infrastructure form the foundation of a water delivery system that has sustained agriculture, protected valuable habitat, and strengthened local communities for generations.

With approximately 90 percent of its service region dedicated to rice production, Western Canal delivers water through a network of 258 canal turnouts serving 150 customers for agricultural irrigation, rice straw decomposition, waterfowl habitat, and other agricultural uses. Behind every turnout is a commitment to balancing productive agriculture with responsible resource management.

That commitment has made Western Canal a recognized leader in water stewardship throughout the region. Beyond delivering water, the District plays a critical role in protecting and enhancing the health of the broader watershed. One of its most notable achievements is its $9.5 million Butte Creek Fish Passage Project, which has helped recover the spring-run Chinook salmon population from fewer than 100 returning adults before construction to an average of approximately 10,000 fish annually.

Building on this legacy of innovation, Western Canal continues to invest in the future of its water delivery system.

To strengthen long-term reliability and resiliency, Western Canal has embarked on a plan to replace aging infrastructure and construct a fully automated water control structure. By improving the precision and efficiency of water deliveries, this project will increase water savings, enhance water quality, and create additional benefits for fish and wildlife throughout the Butte Creek watershed. Additionally, agricultural users will also gain a more reliable year-round water supply, helping sustain the farms that contribute to the local economy, feed communities around the globe, and provide critical winter habitat for nearly seven million migratory birds traveling the Pacific Flyway.

Recognizing the significance of this effort, Western Canal partnered with Morrison to pursue funding through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's 2024 WaterSMART Planning and Project Design Grant Program. Working closely with district staff, Morrison's Grants

C ONT INUE D ON INSIDE RIGHT PANEL

NEWSLETTER | SUMMER 2026

STRATEGIC GRANT PLANNING: TURNING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES INTO LONG-TERM IMPACT For many businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies, grants are essential to pursuing strategic objectives and advancing missiondriven work. Yet too often, organizations approach grants reactively: a funding opportunity appears, a team rushes to assemble an application, and valuable time is spent trying to retrofit programs to match the funder’s priorities. While this approach may occasionally result in success, it rarely creates sustainable growth or long-term funding stability.

Strategic grant planning offers a different path.

Rather than treating grants as isolated opportunities, strategic grant planning positions funding as part of a broader organizational strategy. It helps organizations identify priorities, align programs with realistic funding pathways, build internal systems, and pursue grants intentionally rather than opportunistically. Organizations that engage in strategic grant planning are generally more competitive, more efficient, and better prepared to manage and sustain awarded funds.

WHY STRATEGIC GRANT PLANNING MATTERS 1. It Creates Alignment Between Funding and Mission A common mistake organizations make is pursuing grants simply because funding is available. While this may bring in short-term revenue, it can also create “mission drift,” where programs become disconnected from the organization’s core purpose. Strategic grant planning helps organizations stay focused on initiatives that genuinely advance their mission. Instead of chasing every opportunity, organizations can evaluate whether a grant aligns with their long-term goals, community needs, and operational capacity.

2. It Improves Grant Competitiveness By creating the time and space to thoughtfully identify stakeholder needs, operational challenges, market opportunities, and long-term goals before funding opportunities arise, organizations can develop stronger, more focused project concepts. Strategic planning also enables the advance collection of supporting data such as operational metrics and economic impacts – strengthening both the credibility and quality of applications while avoiding last-minute data gaps. It further supports the cultivation of meaningful, trust-based partnerships; realistic, well-informed budgets; and strong evaluation frameworks with clear, measurable outcomes and systems for tracking and communicating impact. When these elements are in place before a grant

opportunity is released, applications become more cohesive, compelling, and competitive.

3. It Strengthens Organizational Capacity Grant readiness is about far more than writing ability. Funders want confidence that grant funds will be managed responsibly and effectively.

Strategic planning encourages organizations to evaluate internal capacity, including financial management systems, staffing structure, program oversight, reporting capabilities, data collection practices, and compliance procedures. By identifying gaps early, organizations can strengthen systems before major funding opportunities arise. This preparation is especially important for government grants and largescale initiatives that require extensive reporting, procurement, or compliance processes.

THE “HOW” OF STRATEGIC GRANT PLANNING Successful strategic grant planning does not happen overnight. It requires intentional reflection, coordination, and ongoing refinement.

However, organizations of any size can begin building a more strategic approach by following several key steps: Step 1: Clarify Organizational Priorities The first step is identifying what the organization is truly trying to accomplish over the next one to five years. This may involve reviewing your strategic plan, capital plan, deferred maintenance plan, and other applicable internal documents. Key questions include: • What programs or services are most critical?

• What business/community/industry needs are we trying to address?

• What expansion goals do we have?

• Which initiatives are financially sustainable?

• What programs and initiatives will we pursue regardless of grant funding? Which are grant-dependent?

Clear priorities help organizations focus their funding efforts and avoid pursuing opportunities that distract from long-term goals.

Step 2: Conduct a Grant Readiness Assessment Before pursuing grant funding, organizations should conduct an honest and comprehensive assessment of their readiness to apply for, implement,

manage, and sustain grant-funded projects. A grant readiness assessment helps identify strengths, gaps, risks, and operational constraints before significant time and resources are invested in an application process.

expand overall impact. Partnerships should be developed intentionally and well before application deadlines. Strong collaborations are built on trust, shared goals, and clearly defined roles.

It also allows organizations to make more strategic decisions about which opportunities are truly feasible and aligned with their capacity.

Below are questions organizations should consider during the readiness evaluation process.

Step 5: Create a Grant Roadmap

• Can our accounting system track grant expenditures separately by project or funding source?

• Do we have established internal controls for procurement, approvals, reimbursements, and financial oversight?

Once organizational priorities are identified, a grant readiness assessment is conducted, and potential funding opportunities and partners are engaged, it is time to create a grant roadmap that outlines logical grant opportunities to which the organization will apply over the next one to five years. A strong roadmap will list out each potential grant opportunity, including: • Funding agency and grant program

• Do we have sufficient cash flow to sustain operations while awaiting grant reimbursements?

• Total funding availability, as well as minimum and maximum grant award amounts

• Do we have the staff capacity to pursue grant opportunities without overextending the team?

• Eligible project costs

• Are decision-making authority and accountability clearly defined?

• Does organizational leadership support the pursuit of grant funding and the proposed project?

• Do we already have established relationships with key project partners?

• Do we know how project success will be defined and measured?

• Are there gaps in our current data systems that could affect reporting accuracy or funder compliance?

Step 3: Research and Prioritize Funding Agencies and Programs A great place to begin in the search for grant opportunities is Grants. gov, the federal clearinghouse for grant opportunities. Many states and localities have similar grant portals. Another resource for grant seekers is their own industry and professional organizations, who are often on the forefront of advocating for state and federal grant programs through their lawmakers.

As you begin exploring the grant funding landscape, the volume of available opportunities can quickly feel overwhelming. However, it’s important to keep in mind that grant success depends as much on discernment and alignment as it does on opportunity. Strategic grant planning involves researching prospective funding agencies to understand their funding priorities; geographic focus; typical award sizes; eligibility requirements; past grantees; match requirements; and reporting expectations. Even within the same agency, these factors can vary widely from grant program to grant program, often as a result of how the original funding legislation and/or regulation was written.

• Anticipated release dates and application deadlines • Project duration • Any additional considerations such as required partnerships, funding priorities, competitive factors, special registration requirements, etc.

This planning tool improves organization-wide coordination and prevents missed opportunities. It should be a living document, reviewed by the leadership team at least every six months and updated as needed.

STRATEGIC GRANT PLANNING AS A LONGTERM INVESTMENT Strategic grant planning is not merely an administrative exercise. It is an investment in organizational effectiveness, sustainability, and community impact. Most importantly, strategic planning allows organizations to focus less on chasing funding and more on advancing their mission.

In a rapidly evolving funding landscape, organizations that succeed will not necessarily be those with the largest staffs or budgets.

They will be the organizations that approach grants thoughtfully, intentionally, and strategically. Grant funding should not drive an organization’s mission. Instead, strategic grant planning ensures that funding becomes a tool for advancing mission success.

Many grant programs publish lists of previously funded projects, providing valuable insight into the types of initiatives, organizations, and outcomes the funding agency prioritizes. Reviewing past award recipients can help grant seekers better understand the agency’s funding preferences, identify patterns in successful applications, and assess how closely their proposed project aligns with the funder’s strategic objectives.

Organizations should prioritize funders and programs whose goals genuinely align with their mission and programs. This targeted approach is generally far more effective than submitting large numbers of lowalignment applications.

Step 4: Build Strong Partnerships Strategic partnerships expand organizational reach; increase technical expertise; improve credibility; strengthen project outcomes; and demonstrate community support. In some instances, an organization may not meet the eligibility criteria to apply directly for a grant, but by partnering with an eligible lead applicant, both organizations can meaningfully participate in – and benefit from – the funded project, leveraging complementary strengths to advance shared goals and

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Morrison’s Grants Manager Sarah DeForest helps clients in government, food, agribusiness, manufacturing, production agriculture, processing, and marketing to plan, prepare for, and secure competitive state and federal grant funding. For more information on Morrison’s Strategic Grant Planning services, Sarah can be reached at sdeforest@morrisonco.net.

WESTERN CANAL WATER DISTRICT, CONTINUED Team developed a competitive application, the result of which was a successful award that will help advance the planning and design necessary to bring this important project to fruition.

Alongside planning for the future of its infrastructure, Western Canal also recently prepared for an important leadership transition. In 2025, longtime General Manager Ted Trimble announced his planned retirement after years of dedicated service to the district. As Western Canal looked toward its next chapter, the Board knew they needed a leader capable of navigating California's increasingly complex water landscape while continuing the district's long-standing tradition of stewardship.

Western Canal partnered with Morrison again – this time engaging Morrison's People Solutions

team to lead a comprehensive executive search for a talented and experienced professional to serve at the helm of their organization. After an extensive vetting process, the Board selected Jenny Scheer as its next General Manager. Since joining Western Canal in December 2025, Scheer – a Sacramento Valley native with extensive experience in policy development, water district management, and infrastructure projects – has transitioned seamlessly into leadership, building upon the District's strong foundation while helping guide its vision for the future.

investments in modern infrastructure, and strong leadership for the future, the District is well-positioned to continue serving farmers, protecting natural resources, and strengthening the communities that depend on water for generations to come.

Today, Western Canal Water District stands at an exciting intersection of tradition and innovation and Morrison is grateful to partner with them in their efforts. With a century-long legacy of water stewardship,

MOR R I S ON S NAPS H T S TONI SCOTT HONORED WITH COMMON THREADS NORTH RECOGNITION Our very own Managing Principal, Toni Scott, was named a Common Threads North honoree at an awards ceremony in April. Karen Ross, CDFA Secretary of Agriculture, helped present the awards to Toni and five other honorees. This recognition reflects her leadership that we see every day and the values we strive to carry forward as a team. In addition to leading Morrison’s overall management and operations and guiding the firm’s grant services that have supported hundreds of millions of dollars in successful projects, Toni has remained deeply committed to the communities and industries Morrison serves.

NSAC FAR WESTERN CONFERENCE Managing Principal Toni Scott, Grant Administration & Bookkeeping Consultant Michelle Genova, and Grant Administration, Bookkeeping, & Support Services Specialist Melissa Deen attended the annual National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) Far Western Conference in Palm Springs. This event is designed for cooperative financial and accounting professionals to come together and network with peers from across the region. Morrison has been a longtime member and supporter of NSAC.

FUN AT THE GIANTS GAME Some of our Morrison Team members were able to enjoy a beautiful day in San Francisco and a Giants Game in May. The Giants sadly lost to the Padres, but a day out of the office is always a win!

TEAM MEMBER PROFILE

GETTING TO KNOW

HANNAH SCHIEK Hannah Schiek recently joined the Morrison team as a Business & Accounting Advisory Services Consultant. In this role she serves Morrison clients in a range of services including outsource controller roles and accounting support, business planning and budgeting, system documentation and improvement, loan compliance and cash planning, accounting system conversions, and audit support. Hannah assists Morrison clients in distribution, processing, agribusiness, agricultural cooperatives, nonprofits organizations, and other industries.

Prior to joining the Morrison team, Hannah was a Senior Associate at Pinion, the region’s leading public accounting firm. While there, she worked in a variety of industries, with a focus on agribusiness.

Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on accounting from California State University, Chico, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Q&A WITH HANNAH WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT LIVING IN CHICO, CA?

The people, the relaxed pace of life, and the beautiful trees! You're never too far away from a lovely place to walk.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES?

I recently bought a guitar and have been teaching myself a few songs, which has been a fun way to decompress at the end of the day (my roommates are very tired of hearing "Dust in the Wind"). I have also played the harp since middle school and piano since a young age.

Beyond music, I enjoy pickleball, card games, and being outside in nature.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?

I always have some Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mayer somewhere in the rotation, along with the occasional classical, country, and folk phases. I recently saw James Taylor in concert with my dad in Tahoe!

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST IN THE FUTURE?

My friend and I will be going to England and Scotland this summer! Some highlights will be visiting Chatsworth House and seeing some highland coos.

I am also a semi-new aunt and am looking forward to more visits with my adorable nephew in Oregon.

WHAT IS A FUN FACT ABOUT YOU?

I enjoy birdwatching, a hobby I inherited from my mom, and can identify a lot of birds by their song alone.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR CAREER?

I love that accounting is full of puzzles and problem solving, and I especially enjoy solving problems alongside coworkers and clients. Nothing beats the "accountant's high" you feel when you get everything tied out to perfection.

1385 Ridgewood Drive Chico, CA 95973 530-893-4764 • WWW.MORRISONCO.NET BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING ADVISORY • PEOPLE SOLUTIONS • GR ANTS

FOLLOW US

C L I E N T CORNER 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.

JESUS CENTER AWARDED $6.5M FOR RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT

The Jesus Center was awarded a $6,513,760 grant through the State of California’s Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2, as part of a historic $1.18 billion investment to expand behavioral health treatment. Through this award the Jesus Center will build a 16-bed residential substance use disorder treatment facility on its Fair Street campus for individuals experiencing homelessness. This first of its kind facility in Butte County will offer a structured, recovery-oriented environment with 24-hour staffing and clinical oversight under a licensed therapist, providing a path forward for those seeking to heal from substance use addictions. Morrison was honored to support the Jesus Center with this transformational grant.

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 jmcchesney@morrisonco.net

NAPA VALLEY GRAPEGROWERS BREAKS GROUND

On May 27, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers celebrated the groundbreaking of the Patrick Foley Center for Grape Growing & Farmworker Education. The organization’s new home will sit on 2.2 acres in Oakville and will feature a demonstration vineyard, handson training space, classrooms, and community meeting facilities to support Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ year-round work in education, industry research, and advocacy. The center is named for the late Patrick Foley, a dedicated Napa Valley winemaker whose passion for agriculture, winemaking, and the Napa Valley Community left a lasting impact.

The Morrison team can’t wait to raise a glass to Napa Valley Grapegrowers in their new home when it opens in late 2027.

CALIFORNIA OLIVE RANCH PURCHASED BY COBRAM ESTATE

California Olive Ranch, the Chico-based top selling brand of domestic extra virgin olive oil in the United States, was purchased by Cobram Estates through a deal announced in March. Founded in 1998, California Olive Ranch has grown to become the leading brand of domestic extra virgin olive oil in the United States, celebrated for its commitment to freshness, quality, and transparency. Cobram Estate Olives, headquartered in Australia and with more than 1 million olive trees under production in California, brings worldclass olive growing expertise and a shared commitment to premium, fresh olive oil.

The combination of California Olive Ranch and Cobram Estate is expected to create a global powerhouse in the extra virgin olive oil category.

WELCOME NEW CLIENTS California Finance Consortium

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Silver Creek Drainage District

NEWSLETTER | SUMMER 2026