Guidelines Program Overview: The purpose of the National Safe Boating Council’s (NSBC’s) Local RBS Grant Program is to further the North American Safe Boating Campaign’s efforts to reduce accidents and enhance the boating experience through public education, marketing and outreach, and expanding on the North American Safe Boating Campaign. Local projects of national significance will be considered as well. With funding from the Program, local efforts addressing boating safety concerns will be identified and grants will be awarded to improve those efforts. Such programs may include developing and printing posters, purchasing billboard posters and leveraging additional free billboard space for a local flotilla or chapter, educational displays, or promotional items with safe boating messages. Programs expanding on the North American Safe Boating Campaign will be given preference. The NSBC will not consider applications proposing to purchase items such as laptop computers, projectors and other non-expendable equipment. Program Goals: The goal of the Local RBS Grant Program is to reduce boating safety accidents and enhance the boating experience by distributing grants for local recreational boating safety programs. These programs should include, but not be limited to, the following: Improve the quality or quantity of essential safe boating services or materials Provide funds to small local non-profit groups to build on and support the national campaign’s effort to enhance safe boating Develop innovative ideas that can be replicated by groups in other areas to improve boating safety. Provide an opportunity to improve boating safety for specialized activities, including, but not limited to, paddlesports (including canoeing and kayaking) and sportsmen programs. Develop children’s programs or adaptive boating for the disabled. Funding Cycles: The NSBC Board of Directors will appropriate funds for the Local RBS Grant Program each calendar year. There will be one funding cycle per calendar year. The Local RBS Grant Program must receive completed applications no earlier than October 25 and no later than January 25. Grants will be awarded in March. After the Grant Committee has selected the applications to fund, the recipients will receive written notification. Please do not contact NSBC staff before March 1; this will slow down the selection process. Grant checks will be distributed following the execution of a letter of agreement with the recipients. Any eligible application not funded may be resubmitted for the next funding cycle. Program Criteria: All grant decisions are solely within the discretion of the Grant Committee and are not subject to appeal. The Local RBS Grant Program does not require that the recipient match grant funds, however the grant amount awarded must represent at least 50% of the project’s budget. The Program offers grants up to $1,000 for each boating safety project. The Grant Committee will have the discretion to award a grant amount lower than the requested amount. The project may not exceed one year in length. Methods to measure expected results must be identified and included in the application. The NSBC will not provide grants to fund: Salaries, transportation, meals or lodging Start-up money for new organizations or businesses Membership drives for organizations Endowment programs Debt reduction General operating expenses Who May Apply: The Local RBS Grants will be offered to: Volunteer boating groups, clubs and associations Non-profit corporations or organizations Local organizations (including local chapters of national organizations) Noncommercial organizations Local governmental entities The Local RBS Grants will not be provided for: Lobbying purposes Individuals Projects by private clubs or groups which are not for public benefit For-profit entities Project Oversight: Grant recipients must keep accurate accounting records and comply with the reporting intervals specified in the letter of agreement. Excess funds must be returned to NSBC and will be included in program funding for subsequent years. All printed materials must be submitted to the Executive Director of the NSBC for approval prior to being printed. Camera-ready artwork of required Grant Program logos will be provided to grant recipients for display on all printed materials. The annual report for the Local RBS Grant Program is prepared and distributed at the close of each funding cycle. In the annual report, NSBC showcases all projects that were funded during the previous year. Because groups and organizations often wish to replicate a project, it is important to provide a descriptive narrative and to include photographs and other helpful information that may be helpful in replication. Therefore, upon completion of the project or event funded by an NSBC grant, the grantee must submit the following information in electronic format: A written narrative in Word format that includes: Description of the project Why it was important or significant Impact of the project on the local area What was accomplished by the project Approximate number of people who benefited from the project How the goal stated in the application was achieved Photographic records of the project in jpeg or bitmap format. Please document the project not only at its culmination but also during its development. Pertinent brochures, flyers, posters or other promotional materials developed for the project in jpeg or bit map format.