The much anticipated seventh round of Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities is now forecasted on grants.gov. The forecast went live on Friday, July 20, 2018.
A total of 131 Head Start/Early Head Start grants were forecasted in 30 states. Check out the full list of open competitions here. According to the forecast, Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are expected to post on September 19, 2018. Proposals will be due November 20, 2018. This is about a 9-week turnaround.
One of our top recommendations for how to prepare for your upcoming DRS grant writing is to familiarize yourself with an FOA that may be similar. On the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Grants & Funding page you can find open Head Start/Early Head Start grants. Find one that was recently posted and download the FOA (for example, this FOA). There are no guarantees that the FOA for DRS round 7 will be the same, although we don’t anticipate any major surprises.
If you missed our posts earlier this year, now is a good time to explore 5 Factors that Make a Difference in DRS Proposal Development. Also check out Data Gathering Tips for a Strong Start to Your DRS Process.
Leveraging the time between now and September 19th for planning and preparation will help to ensure your grant writing process is smooth and successful. If your program needs assistance determining a path forward for your grant proposal, or is interested to explore Foundations for Families grant writing services, please be in touch.
Thank you.