NPDI - LUK

The New Program Development Initiative (NPDI) is an opportunity for members of the LUK Community to help design and create a new LUK program.* NPDI is an internal program development and grant-making process. The NPDI Team has released an RFR, or Request for Response. LUK Community members interested in applying can attend info sessions and technical assistance sessions, ask questions, and receive support while developing their idea into a fundable project. Applicants will share information about their proposed project, such as need, activities, results expected, and budget.

For more questions or more information, please contact NPDI@LUK.org.

ATTENTION!!! We know there are some folks frantically working on the NPDI Intent to Apply. We have decided to move the deadline for the Intent to Apply to Friday, 1/31/25, at Noon. Please send any questions to NPDI@LUK.org.

*Any individual, or combination of individuals, affiliated with the agency may submit a proposal. This includes:

Current Members of LUK’s Board of Directors
Current Volunteers (e.g., mentors, Mentoring Advisory Board members, LAAB members)
Current Youth Leaders and AmeriCorps Members in Good Standing
Current Foster Parents
Current LUK Staff in Good Standing (e.g., full-time, part-time, relief/per Diem, direct care, supervisors, Youth Action Board [YAB] members, interns, apprentices), with prior approval of their Division Director

Key Dates

Tuesday, January 7, 2025: RFR Will be released
Wednesday, January 8, 2025: Virtual info session at 12 PM EST (click here to watch the session recording)
Wednesday, January 15, 2025: Virtual Q&A session at 12 PM EST (click here for Q&A session Zoom link)
Friday, January 31, 2025: Intent to Apply (required) is due (email NPDI@LUK.org)
Friday, February 28, 2025: Responses are due

Materials

Get the Request for Response (RFR) here:

Request for Response (RFR)

Get the Application here:

Get the Attachment Templates here:

Read LUK’s Mission, Vision, and Values

View the LUK Organizational Chart

Read LUK’s AI Policy

LUK Directors Contact Information

Resources

Virtual Information Sessions

View the NPDI Virtual Information Sessions playlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Support

I’ve never written a grant before. How do I even start?

If you have never written a grant before, don’t panic! There are plenty of resources and support available. These are some recommended grant writing resources to start:
• Grants.gov: grants.gov is a federal grant platform. It has a Grants 101 page as well as multiple grant cycle articles that are good to read if you are completely new to grants. You do not need to keep all the federal wording in mind when writing your own LUK application. Find the website here at https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/.
• Instrumentl Blog: Instrumentl has a lot of free resource tools for you to look at, as well as tips and tricks in both articles and videos. To access, go to https://www.instrumentl.com/blog. (Make sure you are looking at the blog for Instrumentl, not the platform website!)
• LearnGrantWriting: This is a resource hub run by the Global Grant Writers Collective, and it hosts lots of grant writing resources. You can browse their options here at https://www.learngrantwriting.org/.

In addition, LUK has resources that you can access at www.LUK.org/NPDI. View the Virtual Information Session playlist here.

Where should I go if I need help?

Please reach out to the team at NPDI@luk.org if you need help. Weekly support will be offered virtually during LUK’s Program Development Seminar on Wednesdays at noon. (See LUK Meetings Google Calendar for the Zoom link or ask for it by email.) These sessions will also be recorded and uploaded to TalentLMS, the learning management system used by LUK. Resources will also be posted on www.LUK.org/NPDI.

I don’t understand what you’re saying! Where can I find definitions?

There is an NPDI Glossary of Terms available at www.LUK.org/NPDI. If there is something we missed or something you still don’t understand, you can reach out to NPDI@LUK.org for further support.

I’ve never done a budget/logic model/timeline before. Help!

The NPDI Team has provided templates for all attachments. Each one will be the focus of at least one Virtual Technical Assistance Session. Samples will also be available at www.LUK.org/NPDI.

I have drafts that I need to look at later… where do I save what I am working on?

After submitting an Intent to Apply, Program Development staff will create a secure folder where you must save all of your work. Folders will be located here: T:\LUK\Administration\Operations\Program Development\Program Development Initiatives\NPDI\Proposals\FY26
Applicants who don’t have access to the LUK server can use LUK’s Google drive. For technical assistance, you may reach out to NPDI@luk.org.

My question wasn’t answered. What do I do?

If you have submitted a question before the question deadline of 2/14/2025 and have not received an answer, please resubmit your question. If no response is received, feel free to contact NPDI@LUK.org. Please note this email is checked during regular business hours.

I have more questions but the deadline passed. What do I do?

If you have a question that has not been submitted by the question deadline of 2/14/2025, you may reach out to NPDI@LUK.org, but please note that a response past the question deadline is less assured.

What is the timeline?

The RFR will be released on January 7th, 2025
There will be a virtual info session at noon on January 8th, 2025 (click here to watch the session recording)
There will be a virtual Q&A session at noon on January 15th, 2025 (click here for Q&A session Zoom link)
Intent to Apply (required) is due January 27th, 2025 (email NPDI@LUK.org) (Extended to 1/31/25)
Responses are due on February 28th, 2025
The selected project(s) will run July 1st, 2025 to June 31st, 2026

What resources are available?

Volunteers who are not submitting their own applications will be available to help people complete and fill out their applications. In addition to the info and Q&A sessions, you can also reach out at any time for support, technical assistance, or more information from NPDI@LUK.org.
Other resources include:
https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/
https://www.learngrantwriting.org
https://www.instrumentl.com/blog
NPDI glossary attachment

Eligibility

Who can participate?

– Current Members of LUK’s Board of Directors
– Current Volunteers (e.g., Mentors, Mentoring Advisory Board members, LAAB members)
– Current Youth Leaders and AmeriCorps Members in Good Standing
– Current Foster Parents
– Current LUK Staff in Good Standing (e.g., full-time, part-time, relief/per Diem, direct care, supervisors, leaders, Youth Action Board [YAB] members, interns, apprentices), with prior approval of their Division Director

I have an idea for a proposal, but it isn’t in my Division/Component, or I’m not employed by LUK. What should I do?

Eligible applicants include the following:
• Current Members of LUK’s Board of Directors
• Current Volunteers (e.g., Mentors, Mentoring Advisory Board members, LAAB members)
• Current Youth Leaders and AmeriCorps Members in Good Standing
• Current Foster Parents
• Current LUK Staff in Good Standing (e.g., full-time, part-time, relief/per Diem, direct care, supervisors, leaders, Youth Action Board [YAB] members, interns, apprentices), with prior approval of their Division Director

We encourage partnerships! For all LUK staff, you must obtain approval and support of your Division/Component Director to submit an application. If your idea fits best in a Division/Component other than the one in which you work, you must also receive support/approval from that Division/Component Director as well.

What do you mean by Director approval?

LUK staff must first communicate with the Division Director in which they are employed. Your supervisor (if not the Division Director) can assist with this process. Reach out by email, Slack, phone, or in person and share your idea. They can provide support and guidance and/or address any concerns about time management and performance.

For all applicants, you must connect with the Director of the Division where the project fits best. Reach out by email, Slack, phone, or in person and share your idea. They can also provide support and guidance.

Applicants will be expected to described these communication processes in their Intent to Apply and full application. Members of the NPDI Review Team will connect with each Director to verify that approval was obtained. Applicants submitted without Director approval will be disqualified.

I am a supervisor/Director. What should I consider when I am signing off on a proposal?

The Intent to Apply and application both require Director sign off, and conversations should happen between involved supervisors and Directors to ensure that the primary work being done by the applicant is prioritized. When considering a request to work on an NPDI application, Directors should consider questions such as the following:
– Do I have concerns about this person’s work, the quality, quantity, or anything else?
– Is this person currently on a work plan?
– Does the idea fit in with the Division? If not, does it fit into another Division? If this is the case, engage that Division’s Director involved in the conversation.
– Will the proposed project duplicate an existing program and/or supplant existing resources? These are not allowable uses of NPDI funds.
– What factors do we need to consider in terms of internal capacity, sustainability, etc.?

My friend/coworker and I have similar ideas for a proposal. Can we work together?

Collaborations are encouraged! Please make sure your Intent to Apply and application follow the guidelines.

Intent to Apply

Why do I need to submit an Intent to Apply? I’m not sure if I’m going to apply or not yet.

If you have an idea, you must submit an Intent to Apply. An Intent to Apply is a required part of the application process. The information provided will allow the NPDI Team to offer suggestions, feedback, and potential partners. The Intent to Apply is not scored, but you must submit an Intent to Apply to have your full application reviewed and scored.

I submitted an Intent to Apply, but I can no longer submit a proposal. What do I do?

If you have submitted an Intent to Apply and can no longer continue the application process for whatever reason, that is fine. The Letter of Intent is nonbinding, and can be withdrawn if you choose to do so. Please let the NPDI Team and the appropriate Director(s) know if you need to discontinue your application.

Application

I’m not good at writing. Can I use AI?

Please review and follow LUK’s AI Policy. Applicants may not use AI to write responses to the application questions, but may be used to check grammar, brainstorm ideas, or other uses noted in the application.

Do I need to cite anything in my application? What are the format requirements?

Citations should be used in the Needs section of the application. In other parts of the application, citations may be helpful in supporting your project idea. If you are incorporating evidence-based practices in your proposal, please make sure these have citations. The NPDI Team does not specify the format of citations.

I have an idea for a proposal but I don’t know where it fits…

If you have a concept for a proposal but are unsure of where it may fit into LUK, please speak to your supervisor or Director for feedback. They can help you figure out where it fits best at LUK. Resources like an organizational chart, Director contact information, and descriptions of Divisions/Components are available at www.LUK.org/NPDI. You may also send questions to NPDI@LUK.org by the question deadline noted in the RFR.

Am I allowed to get feedback on my proposal?

You may receive verbal feedback on your ideas at info sessions, Q&A sessions, and technical assistance sessions. You may also submit questions to NPDI@LUK.org until the question deadline noted in the application. Please do not send full drafts to the NPDI Team for content review before submission. It is often helpful to ask a peer to proofread your proposal and provide feedback, which is also allowed and encouraged!

If you are able to submit your application by 2/26/25, the NPDI Team will review the materials for completeness, but not content. We can tell you if something is missing and you’ll have a chance to resubmit by the deadline.

After award(s) are announced, the NPDI Team will meet with all applicants to discuss strengths and challenges.

I need an accommodation. How do I get one?

Any accommodation requests can be sent to NPDI@LUK.org.

How will my submission be scored?

See the section in the RFR on the Application Evaluation Criteria. If you still have questions, attend a Virtual Technical Assistance Session, or send your question to NPDI@LUK.org by the question deadline.

What happens to my material once it’s submitted?

Anything you create is intellectual property. Intellectual property includes any original idea that you put out into the world, in any form. If funded, your NPDI project idea is incorporated into LUK’s organizational structure, including LUK’s intellectual property. Submitted programs cannot be implemented outside of LUK if they are funded.

I want to apply to put a personal mini fridge next to my desk…

Proposed projects cannot solely benefit the applicant or their team, nor can applications support any conflicts of interest. The proposal must align with LUK’s mission, vision, and values, and directly or indirectly benefit the people LUK serves.

Can I submit multiple proposals?

An individual may only submit one application. If you collaborate with someone else or a group of people, this counts as one.

Can I make changes to my proposal after I submit it?

No unsolicited amendments will be allowed after the submission date. If the Review Committee wishes to see something from the applicant, wants more information, or wishes to see specific changes (such as a budget change), the applicant will be contacted about an amendment.

Wait, I forgot how to submit!

You can submit your draft by emailing it to NPDI@luk.org with all attachments. You may submit it by 2/26/2025 for confirmation that you have completed all the necessary parts of the application, with the option to fix any missing pieces and resubmit by the deadline.

Awards, Funding, and Budget

How many awards will there be? How much?

LUK has allotted $45,000 for NPDI projects implemented in FY26 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The number of awards and amounts will depend on the number of fundable applications submitted. We anticipate one to three projects funded in this first year.

How will I know if my idea is funded?

Announcements are planned for April 16, 2025, at Program Development Seminar. If you are unable to attend, you will be contacted via email to let you know the outcome of your application.

My idea wasn’t funded…

This happens often in the grant world, more often than you’d think. The NPDI Team will meet with all applicants to share the Reviewer’s comments, strengths, and areas for improvement. A nonfunded proposal does not mean your idea was bad!

Are there any budget restrictions? What is NOT allowable to purchase?

Possible budget items could be staff salaries, incentives (such as gift cards), food, materials, or externally provided trainings. Be creative!

NPDI proposals cannot fund anything related to legal fees, entertainment costs such as the purchase of alcohol, items for personal use such as personal meals, or external donations that do not pertain to a provided service. NPDI is an internally run initiative.

Implementation

If my idea is funded, do I need to be involved in implementing it?

Yes, all applicants should commit to being part of the implementation process if their idea is funded.

What if there are barriers to implementation?

Implementation barriers happen, even with the best planning. Don’t let this stop you from sharing your ideas. The NPDI Team and the LUK Community all want to see the projects succeed and we’re ready to provide support throughout the application process and implementation.