Frequently Asked Questions: Cohort 6 Standard Track RFA

Q:  What is the best way for a new applicant to participate in the grant? Do you assist new applicants in any way prior to application submission?
A:  The best way for a new applicant to participate in the grant is by reviewing the request for application (RFA) for full information before applying and watching the proposers’ webinar. The Center at Sierra Health Foundation (The Center) scheduled two proposers’ webinars to present the funding opportunity and the application process, and is available to answer questions during the office hour sessions and via email. RFA resources are posted on the EYC website under News.

Q:  Can you define a fiscal sponsor and who is eligible to be a fiscal sponsor under this grant?
A: A fiscal sponsor is an organization, usually a nonprofit organization, that provides financial oversight and other administrative services to support another organization or project. In this case, a fiscal sponsor will utilize its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as the grantee on record and accept payment from The Center. Fiscal sponsors must meet the eligibility criteria listed in the RFA with the following exception: fiscal sponsors may serve in this role for more than one EYC grant.

 Q:  If our fiscal sponsor is the applicant organization, do you want organizational information, annual budget and financial audit from the fiscal sponsor or our program (which is under the fiscal sponsor)?
A:  Yes, whether the applicant organization is the fiscal agent or under the fiscal sponsor, The Center needs the information about the fiscal sponsor in the RFA. Review the RFA for full information about applying. The application will ask for information about both the fiscal sponsor and fiscally sponsored project. If the applicant organization is the fiscal agent, then the applicant organization information would be added in each section. Please follow the directions closely to ensure the correct information is being provided in each section.

Q: What happens if we change fiscal sponsors after we apply?
A: If awarded, The Center will work with the applicant organization’s new fiscal sponsor to confirm the new fiscal sponsor qualifies and is willing to take on the fiscal sponsor responsibilities.

Q:  Could two distinct youth programs in California that each operate under one organization’s EIN both apply?
A:  Yes, two separate organizations using the same fiscal sponsor can apply for the funding opportunity. Please note that the implementing organization can only submit one application.

Q:  My organization applied for previous rounds of funding but was not awarded.  We are planning to submit another application this round; are you able to provide feedback?
A:  The Center offers feedback sessions to declined applicants after the round of funding is announced. The Center is unable to provide feedback on previously submitted applications.

 Q: How do we decide whether we should apply for a capacity-building grant or the current grant? We are actively running a program and need funding for it, but we also hope to deepen and expand our program.
A: It is up to each organization to determine which funding opportunity to apply for based on the activities in the RFA that most align with organizational goals. Please note organizations who have received a Capacity Building award will only be eligible for the Standard Track.

The EYC Capacity Building funding track is to support emerging grassroots organizations to build their operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational infrastructure to implement youth social justice programming that impacts policy and systems change.

The current Cohort 6 EYC Standard Track funding is to expand youth and young adult substance use prevention through policy, systems, and environmental change.

 Q:  How much demonstrated experience should applicants have working with young people of color and other marginalized communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs? Should we also refer to the experience of members with long-term experience (for example, a director)?  
A:  There is no minimum number of years required to have worked with the proposed focus population. The Center weighs the organization’s experience working with the proposed population and includes the collective experience of staff and leadership in the organization, not solely focus on one staff member. The experience provided should be suited for the work.

 Q:  I’m currently working on the Cohort 6 Standard Track application, and I have a question regarding narrative question 4 concerning the qualifications of the project team. I’d like to know if there are specific credentials the team should have. Should everyone be credentialed?
A:  There are no specific credentials required. Your application should describe your organization’s project team’s capacity to implement the proposed project. The Center encourages you to provide details on how your team will carry out the proposed activities and support the evaluation and reporting requirements of the funding opportunity.

Q:  Is collaboration with other agencies a requirement? Can you speak to how partnerships should be handled/managed?
A:  Collaboration is not a requirement. The Center welcomes collaboration if that is your organization’s approach and partnership is encouraged where it makes sense. Refer to specific requirements for collaboratives and coalitions in the RFA.

Q:  Who is the letter from the executive director addressed to and what specifically should it say?
A:  All letters should be addressed to The Center. If an individual organization is applying, the executive director needs to indicate support for the application. If applying as a collaborative, each organization’s executive director needs to indicate support and identify the role their organization will play in the collaborative project. Additionally, all letters of support should affirm the applicant’s ability to submit bi-annual data and financial progress reports, willingness to participate in external evaluation activities, and participation at two in-person convenings held by The Center. There is no template for the letter of support.

Q:  Can we submit more than one letter of support?
A:  Yes, you can submit more than one letter of support, and if applying as a coalition it is required that you also submit letters signed by the executive of those partners. If you run into any technical difficulties with uploading multiple letters, please email The Center at elevateyouthca@shfcenter.org.

Q:  Is funding expected to supplement an existing program or only new programs funded entirely by this?
A:  There is no requirement; this is an applicant’s decision.

Q:  Can a currently funded EYC organization join a consortium in an RFA as a subcontractor? Can current grantees be a subcontractor in this RFA
A:  If the organization will have an active agreement as of 2024 to January 2025, then it would not be eligible to be the applying entity. If a new partnership is developed with a coalition, the coalition would be eligible to apply. The coalition would be eligible to apply if the applicant organization is not a currently funded EYC partner and meets the eligibility criteria set in the RFA. Current funded partners are eligible to be a subcontractor on another organization’s application if the activities are unique and do not overlap with current funding activities.

Q:  If we are a subcontractor for another EYC grant with another organization, can we apply as a direct grantee for this specific grant?
A:  If you are a subcontractor conducting training for an organization that has an active EYC grant, you are eligible to apply as a direct grantee. The activities in your new application should be unique and should not overlap with the subcontracted funding activities.   

Q:  Do we have to identify all subcontractors in the proposal, or can they be confirmed by a certain time as we select additional coalition members? 
A: The Center highly encourages applicants to list all potential subcontractors in the application. If you have not selected a subcontractor, please note the subcontractor has not been selected in the budget justification as To Be Determined. Be sure to provide information on the role of the subcontractor and how they will strengthen your organization’s capacity in the application.

Q:  Can applications propose new positions?
A:  Yes, new positions can be proposed in this funding opportunity.

Q:  Can we hire a consultant to write grants to sustain funding for the program beyond EYC funding?
A:  Yes, organizations may utilize EYC funding to hire a consultant to help write grants to sustain their local EYC program. However, it’s important to note that organizations should continue to align with the goals of the EYC Program: Standard Track. This involves implementing policy, system, and environmental changes through youth civic engagement, mentorship, and peer-led support based on social justice youth development.

No, hiring consultants to write grants to help sustain future funding for the program is not an allowable expense. The goal of the EYC Program: Standard Track is policy, system and environmental change through youth civic engagement, mentorship and peer-led support rooted in social justice youth development.

Ultimately, The Center hopes funded organizations are in a stronger place than when funds were awarded. To support this, The Center offers training and technical support to funded partners.

Q:   Do you allow any attachments (e.g., brochures, milestones, and accomplishment pages) in the application?
A:  No, applicant organizations are not allowed to add additional attachments to their application. The proposed work plan, budget and justification, W-9, support letter(s), the project narrative questions, and project information sections of the application are opportunities to convey information about your organization.

Q:  Is the work plan a yearly requirement or do applicants submit the three-year work plan with the final application?
A:  Applicants must submit a three-year work plan at the time of application and will use this work plan for their program if awarded unless The Center requests changes. The full work plan allows reviewers to better understand the proposed program. Awarded partners are able to submit work plan modifications and information regarding modifications will be provided to awarded partners.

Q:  Where will the two regional convenings take place?
A:  Convening locations will be offered in Northern and Southern California, timing has not been determined. Applicants are encouraged to build in travel and/or lodging in the budget. Once the convenings are finalized, grantee partners will be notified and will have the opportunity to adjust their budget, if needed.

Q:  Can our organization apply for more than one EYC funding opportunity, i.e., Capacity Building Track and Standard Track?
A: Yes, as long as the organization does not have an active EYC grant. Each EYC funding opportunity is planned in a way to allow applicants to know the result of their application prior to the release of the next RFA.  If an organization is not awarded, they are eligible to apply for another funding opportunity as long as the organization does not have an active EYC grant.

Q:  How many proposals will be funded in the two different EYC funding opportunities?
A:  The total number of funded proposals is dependent on available funding to be awarded and the amount that applicants are requesting in their applications for each funding opportunity.

Q:  How long are the grant periods for the two funding opportunities?
A:  The EYC Standard Track will be three years and the EYC Capacity Building Track will be two years and six months.

Q:  If my organization is not selected for the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity, will we be given information about the other tracks?
A:  Yes, funding opportunity information is made available to the public on the EYC website regardless of funding status. If your organization’s proposal isn’t selected, your organization is eligible to apply for a different track. Information on all the funding opportunities will be available once they’re released on the EYC website under “News.” The Standard Track RFA includes a summary of each track with the anticipated release date of the RFA(s). Additionally, you can request to receive e-blasts from The Center online at https://www.sierrahealth.org/mailinglist.

Q: Can our organization apply for more than one EYC funding opportunity, i.e., Capacity Building Track and Standard Track?
A: Yes, as long as the organization does not have an active EYC grant. Each EYC funding opportunity is planned in a way to allow applicants to know the result of their application prior to the release of the next RFA. If an organization is not awarded, they are eligible to apply for another funding opportunity as long as the organization does not have an active EYC grant.

Q: How many proposals will be funded in the two different EYC funding opportunities?
A: The total number of funded proposals is dependent on available funding to be awarded and the amount that applicants are requesting in their applications for each funding opportunity.

Q: How long are the grant periods for the two funding opportunities?
A: The EYC Standard Track will be three years and the EYC Capacity Building Track will be two years and six months.

Q: If my organization is not selected for the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity, will we be given information about the other tracks?
A: Yes, funding opportunity information is made available to the public on the EYC website regardless of funding status. If your organization’s proposal isn’t selected, your organization is eligible to apply for a different track. Information on all the funding opportunities will be available once they’re released on the EYC website under “News.” The Standard Track RFA includes a summary of each track with the anticipated release date of the RFA(s). Additionally, you can request to receive e-blasts from The Center online at https://www.sierrahealth.org/mailinglist.

Q: Are there any annual organizational budget restrictions for applying organizations?
A: No, there is not a minimum or maximum annual budget restriction for the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity.

Q: For organizations that have a current EYC grant expiring on December 31, 2024, will continuation projects be competitive for renewed funding or should such applicants propose new projects?
A: EYC-funded partners whose current award ends December 31, 2024, are eligible to apply and may consider a continuation of their existing project or propose a new project; both are eligible for this funding opportunity.

Q: Can a local 501(c)(3) faith-based organization apply?
A: Yes, any 501(c)(3) organization is eligible to apply for this funding. See the RFA for more information on eligibility criteria.

Q: Are Offices of Education eligible to apply?
A: No, Offices of Education do not meet eligibility requirements for this opportunity. See the RFA for more information on eligibility criteria.

Q: If we have a grant funded by Prop 64, that’s not related to EYC, are we eligible?
A: Yes, an organization may be eligible for a grant under a different funding source if they do not have an active EYC grant and meet additional eligibility requirements. See the RFA for more information on eligibility criteria.

Q: Would organizations that aren’t headquartered in California, but provide services and have staff in California qualify?
A: Yes, however, the organization must have an office located in California and must provide services in California.

Q: The emerging entity just received its nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, but the organization has yet to build any administrative infrastructure (no payroll system, no insurance coverage, etc.). For this reason, the emerging entity would still like to work with a fiscal sponsor for this grant and use some grant funds to build infrastructure. Is that permissible?
A: Yes, the organization is welcome to apply for the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity with a fiscal sponsor. Funds used to build administrative infrastructure are an allowable expense.

Q: My agency is both a federally qualified health center and a 501(c)(3). How does this impact our eligibility?
A: If your entity has a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, you are eligible to apply for the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity as long as your entity adheres to the rest of the eligibility requirements listed in the RFA. Please review the eligibility criteria listed in the RFA when considering applying for the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity.

Q: If we are collaborating with several organizations, should we all submit an application or just one?
A: Collaboratives or coalitions are only eligible to submit one application. Please be sure to review the Eligibility Criteria section in the RFA before applying.

Q: Is it possible for an applicant to submit more than one proposal in response to this RFA? For example, if the same applicant has different programs that would target different populations or geographic areas?
A: An applicant is only eligible to submit one application. The exception is if the organization is acting as a fiscal sponsor for another project.

Q: Would organizations that aren’t headquartered in California, but provide services and have staff in California qualify?
A: Yes, however, the organization must have an office located in California and must provide services in California.

Q: If an organization doesn’t have significant Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) representation in leadership, but has started integrating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work and committees within the organization, would the organization still be considered based on other application components?
A: Yes, it is not required that leadership representation of the population served be considered. This funding opportunity requires applicant organizations and collaborative partners to deeply engage and reflect the proposed communities served that are disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Grantee partners should have a history of working with impacted communities, including representation on the board and staff, clients served, and neighborhoods served. Not having significant BIPOC representation in leadership will not disqualify organizations. Please refer to the RFA for additional eligibility and selection criteria.

Q: For County Behavioral Health applicants, do you want the department makeup or the County Board of Supervisors when it asks for board makeup?
A: County Behavioral Health applicants should provide demographic staff makeup of the department proposing the program and implementing staff.

Q: Does the RFA apply to the entire state of California?
A: Yes, this is a statewide funding opportunity.

Q: Are we able to focus on more than one geographic area or region?
A: Yes, applicants may provide services in more than one county and geographic area. Visit the EYC Program Impact web page.

Q: Can our program serve both urban and rural?
A: Yes. In the application, applicants can identify if the proposed project will benefit people living in an urban or rural area, or both.

Q: Are rural organizations less competitive?
A: No, rural organizations are not less competitive. Applications are scored according to the requirements in the RFA and without bias.

Q: Are we required to provide evidence to demonstrate communities that have been impacted by the war on drugs in our local geography?
A: You should be able to look at population impacts of the war on drugs at the macro level. It may not be specific to local geography but may reflect data in California or in the U.S. Demonstrate your understanding of which communities have been impacted. Resources on this can be found in the RFA.

Q: How do you define rural?
A: As stated in the RFA: Rural: For purposes of this grant program, The Center defines rural as a Medical Service Study Area (MSSA) that has a population density of 250 persons or less per square mile and has no incorporated area greater than 50,000 people. To determine if the geographic area to be served by your proposed project is rural, please connect to the California Resources and Human Services Agency website to find your county and specific area.

Q: How many grants will be approved per geographical area?
A: Up to 85% of this funding will be set aside to support urban programs and organizations, up to 15% will be set aside to support rural programs and organizations.

Q: Will you be awarding two different organizations within the same geographical area?
A: Multiple grants in the same geography is not uncommon. It is a possibility.

Q: My organization is working with a rural community but is not specifically working with any of the disproportionately impacted communities that were highlighted in the RFA (African American, Asian-American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, LGBTQ2S+). Would we still qualify for this funding opportunity?
A: Yes, organizations working with youth with disabilities or those who have life experiences that increase the risk of substance use disorder, including being system-impacted and formerly incarcerated, youth who have experienced the foster care system, and youth experiencing homelessness are also encouraged to apply. Additionally, this funding opportunity has a geographic consideration. As listed in the RFA, up to 85% of this funding will be set aside to support urban programs and organizations, and up to 15% will be set aside to support rural programs and organizations.

Q: Besides the 85/15 funding split between urban and rural programs/organizations, will evaluators be prioritizing proposals that target implementation in any particular counties?
A: The Center evaluators will take into consideration the proposed population to be reached in each of the counties, counties with funded projects, and counties without funded projects. While certain counties may historically have a higher number of applications, we strive for geographic coverage across the state in the final selection. The Center encourages you to visit the map on the EYC website to learn about projects currently supported.

Q: I’m having a problem with the application link.
A: Feel free to e-mail The Center at elevateyouthca@shfcenter.org if you continue to have issues. They can provide the link via e-mail and offer further technical assistance if needed.

Q: Do I need to make a new account to apply to this funding opportunity?
A: The online portal does not require the creation of an account. When saving your application, you will need to provide an email address and password that will be used to access your in-progress application. The application will send a link to the provided email address to return to the saved application.

Q: Are forms for budget and workplan available on the portal?
A: Yes, all required documents are in the portal in the attachments section located towards the end of the application.

Q: If there are multiple people working on the application, after one person saves their work, can they share the link they receive with the other people working on the grant?
A: At this time, only one person can submit an email and password per application. Consider creating a shared document to collectively work on the application questions prior to submitting. You may use copy and paste functions to enter your responses into the application itself.

Q: If we made an error on our budget and submitted the application early, would we be notified so we can make corrections?
A: Due to the high volume of applications anticipated for the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity, The Center is unable to email applicants regarding suspected errors. If an applicant identifies an error before the application submission deadline (e.g., uploads an incorrect budget), they may email elevateyouthca@shfcenter.org and request that the corrected budget be added to the application.

Q: Is there a minimum program reach?
A: No, there is not a minimum program reach under the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity; however, we do ask all applicants to be reasonable with the amount they are requesting, the proposed program activities, and their program reach.

Q: Are planning sessions to inform activities an eligible activity in this opportunity?
A: Yes, this is an eligible activity. Please review eligibility criteria in the RFA.

Q: Can our program include stipends to participating youth?
A: Yes, stipends can be provided to youth for participation.

Q: Can our program include prevention education with families?
A: Yes, prevention education with families is allowable, however, The Center cannot weigh in on the specifics of project design; this is up to the applicant. Family engagement can be included in the program design. Please review the RFA in detail for more information about the various components of the program.

Q: Do you require a curriculum? Or do we use our current material?
A: There is no required curriculum. Applicants may propose to utilize the curriculum they already have in place or other curricula that is culturally and linguistically relevant to the community being served.

Q: If our program primarily focuses on girls and women of color to explore the impact on gender, would our application still be competitive and eligible?
A: Yes, as long as the application describes the need, opportunity, and historical context of the disproportionate impact of the war on drugs on the community to provide rationale on the focus area.

Q: Our organization has a small program that serves 15 young people. Would we be expected to ramp up immediately or can we build up time to increase?
A: Your activities are responsive to your local environment and context. Review Selection and Evaluation Criteria in the RFA to guide your response.

Q: Are we required to provide advocacy on a particular issue?
A: The EYC Standard Track funding opportunity is related to substance use in the community and preventing youth substance use through policy, environmental, and systems change. Advocacy needs to focus on substance use prevention. The Center encourages you to refer to the Glossary (harm reduction, trauma-informed practices, and recognizing the developmental path young people are on).

Q: Can our project focus primarily on youth but also families outside of the age bracket?
A: Yes, the EYC Standard Track funding opportunity allows for family members outside the ages of 12 to 26 to be served by the proposed project. You are encouraged to lift up strategies around family engagement in your application.

Q: Can you define what a youth listening session is?
A: Youth listening sessions are a designated time for youth to provide feedback on the program strategies and how the implementation of the program is going. This is a unique activity separate from regular programming and is centered around youth voices. For some, a youth listening session may be called a healing circle or focus group. It should include a series of questions that seek feedback and input from youth on a specific aspect of the program, including, but not limited to, program planning, program activities, policies to change, prevention campaigns, program materials, or youth engagement.

Q: Does The Center provide support for listening sessions?
A: The Center can provide best practices, helpful resources, and tips for implementing listening sessions.

Q: Define impacted youth for listening sessions. Does this mean youth with substance use issues?
A: Impacted youth is defined by the applicant. This is based on the youth population your program focuses on in your proposal.

Q: If our organization has youth directly leading activities, can youth listening sessions include youth not working with us?
A: Yes, youth listening sessions can include youth who are leading activities within your program or youth who are not a part of your program. The structure of youth listening sessions is determined by the applicant organization and should help inform the program’s implementation.

Q: If an organization is led by current and former foster youth, can listening sessions be hosted with community stakeholders?
A: A minimum of one listening session is to be held annually with youth and young adults ages 12 to 26. Additional listening sessions can be held with community stakeholders; however, these sessions will not be counted toward the annual youth listening session requirement.

Q: Can you explain more about youth civic engagement for policy, system, and environmental changes with examples?
A: The EYC website includes summaries of previously funded projects. Youth civic engagement can include a youth organizing model or it can look like system-impacted youth leading campaigns against substance use, housing insecurity, and access to shelter, as examples. The policy campaigns do need to be connected to substance use disorder prevention.

Q: As a grassroots organization, what would demonstrating partnering with young people of color look like?
A: Demonstrating partnering with young people of color includes, but is not limited to, describing how young people are involved in your organization’s proposed programming and sharing whether young people have leadership roles. If youth do not have a leadership role, describe your plan for engaging youth, including recruitment, training, and leadership development opportunities.

Q: Do the policy changes need to relate to the war on drugs, or can they be centered around racial equity as a whole?
A: The policy changes do not need to directly relate to the war on drugs and can be centered around a variety of topics including racial equity, substance use disorder prevention, access to services, etc. We invite applicants to think about the specific needs and changes needed for the youth and young adults they are working with and propose a policy goal that will help address those needs.

Q: For campaigns, can it be something such as a social media campaign led by youth surrounding the issue of substance abuse and mental illness/health? Not necessarily to push for a local policy change but more for awareness/peer support.
A: Yes, the media campaigns can include a social media campaign and are not limited to local policy change. The EYC Standard Track requires policy, systems, or environmental change goals and objectives. Many programs have social media campaigns in addition to a specific policy change.

Q: Can the youth-led civic engagement be campaigning or is it required to be policy change in the community?
A: Applying organizations should consider 501(c)(3) limitations around campaigning, especially public office elections. The EYC Standard Track does require a specific policy, systems, or environmental change goal as this should be determined by the applying organization and will be youth-led.

Q: Generally, the specific policy change goals of our youth leadership development and public civic engagement projects are defined by the youth participants themselves. How should we address the policy goal section, given that the policy goals will be defined as part of the project activities?
A: The Center anticipates and encourages applicants to consider the policy, systems, or environmental goal(s) the young people they work with will want to achieve. If this is the case, please be sure to list the specific activities that will need to occur for the anticipated policy goal. For example, list the activities that will need to occur to train the youth and young adults in the program and for the proposed goal.

Q: Can we propose to implement prevention programs for children in elementary school or are we restricted to serving youth aged 12-26?
A: Not at this time. EYC is a statewide program addressing substance use disorder by investing in youth leadership and civic engagement for youth of color and 2S/LGBTQ+ youth age 12 to 26 living in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.

Q: If you are still working towards a policy/environmental goal as part of a current award, can you continue to work on the same goal for this new round of funding?
A: Yes, all organizations can propose working towards the goals they have already started. A new goal or new program is not required.

Q: For this grant, are youth the ones who lead the civic engagement?
A: Yes, youth and young adults (ages 12 to 26) are expected to lead the implementation of policy change and civic engagement work.

Q: Can we refer participants to a partner we have for their harm reduction resources or do we need to supply the harm reductions with the funds we get?
A: Yes, funded organizations may use a referral system to a partner to connect young people with services (e.g., substance use disorder treatment). Applicants may expound upon partnerships in the narrative section of the application.

Q: Is treatment eligible for funding under this RFA?
A: No, treatment services, including Medication Assisted Treatment are not eligible for funding under the EYC Standard Track RFA. There are a variety of other funding opportunities for such activities. Education, prevention, and early intervention activities are allowable.

Q: In designing our proposals, is there any preferred combination of the three implementation strategies (youth civic engagement, mentorship/relationship building, peer-led support)?
A: The application requires proposed projects to utilize at least two of three implementation strategies 1) youth civic engagement for policy, system, or environmental change, 2) mentorship/relationship building, and 3) peer-led support/peer-led programming. Youth civic engagement is required. We do not have a preferred combination of implementation strategies. Applicant selections should reflect the program’s design and align with the work the organization is doing or aspires to do.

Q: Where can I find information on the proposers’ webinars?
A: Proposers’ webinar recordings and slides are posted on the EYC website under News: https://elevateyouthca.org/news/.

Q: Can you provide more details on biannual reporting requirements? Can we access the templates beforehand?
A: Reporting templates are not publicly available. Awardees will be required to report data to better understand the youth populations that are engaged from racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds, as well as the various systems the young people are touching. There is also an effort to understand the capacity that organizations may have from an organizational policy standpoint (e.g., professional development of staff, mentors, etc.). The Center will provide training and technical assistance for funded partners to complete the narrative and financial reports.

Q: Can you define the budget years?
A: The budget years are aligned to the calendar year – January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025; January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026; and January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2027.

Q: Is there an administrative budget line-item limit? (e.g., 15% administrative cost max)
A: No, there is no line-item limit in the budget for administrative costs. Competitive applications will include a budget justification with specific details on how they arrived at the budget amounts. There is a 20% maximum for indirect costs, which is detailed in the budget template.

Q: What are the funding restrictions under this grant?
A: Please refer to page 11 of the RFA for a list of funding restrictions. If you have any specific questions on funding restrictions, please send us an e-mail at elevateyouthca@shfcenter.org.

Q: Are counseling, therapy, and substance use treatment services allowable funded activities?
A: Counseling, therapy, and substance use treatment services are not allowable funded activities for the Elevate Youth California (EYC) Round 6 Standard Track Request for Applications (RFA). EYC is a statewide movement to expand youth and young adult substance use prevention through policy, systems, and environmental change, focusing on communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Additionally, the RFA defines prevention as activities that promote healthy behaviors, reduce risks, and build protective factors that either prevent new starts of substance use or mitigate consequences and contributing factors associated with substance misuse.

Q: Can indirect funding be more than 20%?
A: No, indirect funding cannot be more than 20% of the direct costs.

Q: Can evaluation be a funded expense?
A: Yes, evaluation is an allowable cost, and applicants can add it as a funded expense within their budget. Please include in the proposed project budget justification how you arrived at the requested amount, how the evaluation will be conducted, and the purpose. Additional information on the budget justification can be found in the RFA and budget justification template.

Q: If there are subcontracted services provided by a partner agency, where do we enter those costs in the budget?
A: Costs for subcontracted services provided by a partner agency can be listed under Consultant Fees. Be sure to explain subcontracted services and consulting services in the budget justification.

Q: On the budget template, how should we indicate that staff full-time equivalents (FTEs) may fluctuate between years? Should the FTE column only represent Year 1 staffing levels?
A: On the budget template, you can provide the average FTE or a range (for example, 0.5 – 1.0). Be sure to include details in the budget justification and indicate the specific FTE for each staff position by year.

Q: Can we have a subcontractor that is not based in California but provides services in California?
A: Yes, there are no restrictions on partnering with subcontractors outside of California. The Center encourages applicants to be mindful of subcontractors that are not based in California, as travel outside of California is not allowed unless prior approval is received. All services from the subcontractor must be provided in California.

Q: Does the budget justification need to be for each year or for the total budget (all three years)?
A: The Center asks that you cover all three years in the budget justification. For example, if you have rent in the budget for Years 1 and 2 but not Year 3, explain that.

Q: Will we need to expand on the computations in establishing the indirect cost ratio, or is it an educated estimate?
A: Please include an explanation for the indirect cost ratio in the budget justification document.

Q: Are counseling, therapy, and substance use treatment services allowable funded activities? 
A: Counseling, therapy, and substance use treatment services are not allowable funded activities for the Elevate Youth California (EYC) Round 6 Standard Track Request for Applications (RFA). EYC is a statewide movement to expand youth and young adult substance use prevention through policy, systems, and environmental change, focusing on communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Additionally, the RFA defines prevention as activities that promote healthy behaviors, reduce risks, and build protective factors that either prevent new starts of substance use or mitigate consequences and contributing factors associated with substance misuse 

Q: Is salary for a development director an indirect cost?
A: If a development director is working directly on your program and has a specific role in the program, this will qualify as a direct expense. If they do not have a direct role in the program, this will be an indirect expense.

Q: Does this grant allow for construction or renovation of classrooms, overnight stay facilities, and retreats? For example, weekend counseling on privately owned property by the nonprofit organization.
A: No, renovation, construction, and building of new facilities is not an allowable expense.

Q: Is a van purchase for youth transportation an allowable expense?
A: No, the purchase of a vehicle is not an allowable expense.

Q: Can funding be used for building and providing housing for young people?
A: No, the purchase of property is not an allowable cost for the funds. Applicants are encouraged to explore resource and referral partnerships to support young people experiencing housing hardships.

Q: Can we use the funding to provide transportation access to program activities (e.g., Uber)?
A: There is a limitation of $50 per youth per year for transportation incentives (e.g., Uber, Lyft, taxi). However, if the organization provides transportation services or does mileage reimbursement, there isn’t a limitation around this. Organizations should apply the CalHR state rate for travel/mileage reimbursement. The application should include details on anticipated mileage reimbursement expenses and transportation stipends in the budget justification.

Q: Is there a required minimum salary for employees (i.e., Project Coordinator) implementing our proposed program?
A: While there isn’t a required minimum salary for employees, The Center highly encourages applicants to provide a livable wage and consider the cost of living based on the geographic area where the organization provides services.

Q: Can you share any examples of stipend amounts for youth?
A: Stipend amounts vary based on program designs. Please be sure to include a detailed rationale for the stipend amount in the budget justification.

Q: Is travel allowed for staff and/or youth?
A: Yes, applicants are required to affirm participation in two in-person convenings as listed in the RFA. Travel costs to attend the convenings are the responsibility of the funded organization and must be included in the proposed budget. Travel outside of convenings is allowable; however, it must be within California.

Q: Can an organization apply without having a financial audit?
A: Yes, there is no requirement that applicant organizations must have a financial audit.

Q: Is there an email we can contact if we have any questions in the future?
A: Please direct your emails to elevateyouthca@shfcenter.org if you have any questions regarding EYC funding opportunities.

Q: Can you share excellent programs and outstanding outcomes from the past year?
A: 365 awards have been made through EYC. Brief information about the programs funded through EYC can be seen on the Program Impact webpage and through the annual reports on the News webpage.

Q: Is there any advice on how we can be more competitive on our application when we are already in a competitive county?
A: In counties with a higher number of funded partners, applicants are encouraged to specify the specific communities to be reached within the proposed county or counties. Overall, the application should demonstrate the ability through staffing, program strategies, and approaches to provide comprehensive prevention, education, and early intervention for youth substance use disorder that is culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate, and reflects the community served. Applicants are encouraged to review the Selection and Evaluation Criteria section of the RFA. Applicants are also encouraged to have someone unaware of their proposed program read the application to ensure it’s clear and covers all components.

Q: Can you update my email address on file to receive e-blasts from Sierra Health Foundation and The Center?
A: You can request to receive e-blasts from The Center online at https://www.shfcenter.org/contact/mailing-list/. You also can use this link to make updates to your information for our mailing list.

Q: Can you speak more to the type of evaluation designs that you are looking for?
A: The monitoring and evaluation design needs to be responsive to your approach. Explain why your evaluation plan is the right approach for your project.

Q: Who determines who will be awarded? If we are not awarded, will we be notified why not?
A: DHCS holds final decision-making authority in selecting funded projects. Organizations that are not awarded can request feedback from The Center after the application review process.

Q: How is payment for the funding being distributed? Will payments be reimbursed after the project period ends?
A: Understanding that a significant infusion of resources upfront may be a challenge for program implementation, The Center will offer flexible and phased payments. Payments will be issued based on the achievement of a set of agreed-upon deliverables as defined in the grant. Each grant will be divided into a minimum of four payments: (1) 35% of the total award amount upon execution of the grant agreement and fulfilling insurance requirements, (2) 35% of the total award amount upon approval of Progress Reports 1 and 2 and Financial Reports 1 and 2, (3) 25% upon approval of Progress Reports 3 and 4 and Financial Reports 3 and 4, and (4) a final payment of 5% of the award total upon approval of Progress Report 5 and 6 (inclusive of Cumulative Report) and Financial Reports 5 and 6. If a grantee partner achieves all required deliverables by the end of the grant, the entire grant amount can be paid.

Q: When will we know if we have been funded?
A: The approximate timeline for award announcements is December 2024. The award period begins January 1, 2025.

Q: Does the state do an audit after the program is done?
A: The Center ensures all funded partners are in compliance with their EYC funding. All programs are subject to a desk review/audit and must submit financial reports every six months.