Q: How does the BIRC&D council application process really work?

A: The Big Island RC&D Council reviews requests for assistance via a 3 page application. If accepted, the applicants are directed to work with the RC&D Program Manager, to help them look for funds from a wide variety of possible grant making organizations and funders.

The basic application that the BIRC&DC uses is a "concept" application form and not a detailed proposal, so the council is looking for the basic game plan that the organization or individual has in mind.  Detailed proposals will be forthcoming if an applicant proceeds beyond the intake level.  If the concept is developed into a proposal and that project is funded, the Big Island RC&D Council, as a 501c3 non profit corporation, acts as the applicant for the project. 

The RC&D Council needs a minimum of 2 work weeks to attach any needed documentation (boiler plating) as applicants on behalf of partners. Some grantors require financial compilations, signatures of RC&D Council board members, by laws, organizational profiles and other items that we may or may not have right at hand.

As partners need to know what proposals are going to be submitted to whom, we'll have active communication with our applicants on planned submissions well ahead of deadlines, so no one gets caught off guard.  Keep in mind, that coming to our office 3 days before a deadline and only having a rough idea in hand to try and submit to a funder won't work out well.

Q: How are funds distributed?

A: All funds come to the council, which in turn, acts as fiscal manager for project implementation. Project principals and managers have payments made from their partitioned accounts to get the projects implemented. Participants implement their projects and the council handles the books, reports and fiscal management responsibilities in partnership with successful applicants and the funding organization.

Q: What is the involvement of the BIRC&D in the ongoing project?

A: The RC&D Program Manager acts as liaison and facilitator between the council, bookkeepers, project principals/managers and funding organizations to document project implementation and insure proper procedures are communicated and followed.  The council files those periodic and final reports with the funders as required in the grant criteria and contracts until projects are completed and closed out.