Past Webinars

2024

(December) Award Closeout: Let’s Start at the Beginning
Presented by Jennifer Zarek, CGMS, AmpliFund

While closeout may come at the end of the award program, preparing for it starts on day one. Closeout requires reconciliation of both expenditures and activities against the budget and within the parameters of the award agreement. Ultimately, you must show that you spent your funds in a way that enabled you to achieve your documented goals. This presentation covers what is needed for closeout; common missteps to avoid; and practical strategies to implement. Read blog article on key webinar takeaways 

(November) Received ARPA, Now What?
Presented by Yara Ibrahim and Damon Armeni, Deloitte

Recipients of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have received ~$350 billion to support the response and recovery from COVID-19. Many are diligently working to comply with Treasury’s evolving guidelines. However, in doing so, are they overlooking critical criteria that could put their funds at risk for Claw back. This session covers five common opportunities for improvement.

(September) Audit-Proof Your Organization:
Mastering the Art of Financial Transparency
Presented by Tasha Fox, CPA, Graduate School USA

This comprehensive course equips leaders and finance professionals from federal, state, local, and tribal governments, nonprofits, higher education institutions, and K-12 organizations with essential knowledge and strategies to effectively prepare for large-scale financial audits. Participants will gain insights into audit requirements specific to their sectors, learn about internal controls, and discover best practices for financial documentation, ensuring their organizations are audit-ready and transparent.
Read blog article on key webinar takeaways

(August) Practical Tips & Tools for Streamlining
Pre- and Post-Award Grants Administration
Presented by Jacqui May, City of Stuart (FL)

This session addresses challenges faced by a wide range of grants professionals across sectors and experience levels. Receive tips and tools for navigating and streamlining your grants administration, managing capacity and expectations, and enhancing soft skills with colleagues and stakeholders - even on a zero budget! Leave this session with customizable free resources for immediate implementation.
Read blog article on key webinar takeaways

(July) From Strategy to Closeout: How to Use Generative AI
for the Grants Management Lifecycle
Presented by Edwige Stephen, Stephen Elsaker and Daniel Mishkin, Accenture

This session provides an overview of Generative AI and how participants can utilize the technology to support the grants management lifecycle. Gain a solid understanding of the core principles of Generative AI. Delve into general real-world use cases, to discover how Generative AI can enhance various aspects of the grants management lifecycle. This informative session will equip you with the knowledge needed to assess the potential benefits and potential challenges of implementing Generative AI solutions in your grants management initiatives.

(June) Compliance Conversations: 2024 Uniform Guidance Updates
Speakers: Tiffany Kesslar, The Bruman Group, PLLC and
Edward “Ted” Waters, Feldesman Leifer LLP

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released its updates Uniform Guidance on April 4, 2024. Subject matter experts provide an overview these updates and how they affect the federal funding and overall grants management landscape.
Additional information on 2024 Uniform Guidance compliance

(May) Identifying Fraud and Key Red Flags in Grant Awards and the Role
of Certified Fraud Examiners in Your Anti-Fraud Program
Presented by Iván González and Rebecca Silva, Falcón Sánchez & Associates
and Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the San Juan Field Office of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

In today’s federal grants funding landscape, the risk of grant fraud has increased significantly, posing an enormous challenge for organizations across all sectors and levels. This webinar provides an overview of fraud and the risks in relation to grant award programs together with expert insights and strategies to identify common red flags and reduce fraud risk.
Read blog article on key webinar takeaways

(April) Understanding EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)
– How Can This Help Your Community?
Presented by Vasanth Ganesan and Ben Miller, Guidehouse

With $27 billion in funding earmarked towards expanding clean energy usage, this presentation provided an overview of GGRF; types of projects the program can fund; and tips on maximizing this funding via partnerships and managing such large grant operations while remaining compliant.
Read blog article on GGRF

(March) Mastering the Art of Leadership and Teamwork in Grants Management
Presented by Vicky Cooper, Lee County Utilities

Learn how a mid-size utility went from no grants or grant process to leading major grant efforts and setting the framework for other departments. The fiscal manager for Lee County Utilities shares strategies used to put together a collaborative and efficient process to develop a team-oriented grants management.
Read blog article on key webinar takeaways

(January) Maximizing Recovery on Your Grants by Leveraging Indirect Cost
Presented by  Nicolie Lettini, Cherry Bekaert

As the diversity of public sector and non-profit services increase, the true cost of delivering a service becomes increasingly opaque. This blurring of costs across different programs is not due to lack of proper planning and budgeting, but the uncertainty of indirect costs and how to apply it. This session discusses the problems, solutions and outcomes to realize the true cost of service needed. By leveraging indirect cost, true costs can be fully understood. Read blog entry on key webinar takeaways

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2023

(December) Making Sense of Your Data: How Grantmaking Intelligence & Impact Measurement Help Improve Decision-Making
Presented by Muhammad Siddiqui, Fluxx and Drew Payne, Upmetrics

(November) Federal Audit Clearinghouse
Presented by Matt Jadud, U.S. General Services Administration

(September) Don't Become Another Finding: Common Single Audit Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Presented by Claire Hilleary and Ariel Lybarger, Moss Adams
Read blog entry on key webinar takeaways

(August) Subrecipient Monitoring: Managing Risk in the Real World
Presented by Lucy Morgan, MyFedTrainer, LLC and Rachel Werner, RBW Strategy, LLC

(July) Procurement  Committees Under Federal Awards: Ensuring Compliance and Maximizing Efficiency
Presented by Dan Durst and Sly Atayee, BDO
Read blog entry on key webinar takeaways

(June) Preparing for Post-Award – What You Need to Know
Presented by D’Laun Oubre and Kristen Krey, Kim Joyce & Associates, LLC
Read blog entry on key webinar takeaways

(May) How Can We Develop Grants Management Capabilities to Sustainably Deliver Long-Term Impact? 
Presented by Greg Kowalski, Ranjana Ramchandran, Ernst & Young LLP & Shamiah Kerney, Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs (Baltimore)
Read blog entry on key webinar takeaways

(March) Creating a Risk-Based Monitoring System
Presented by Tiffany Kesslar and Madelaine Cleghorn, The Bruman Group, PLLC
Read blog entry on key webinar takeaways

(January) Panel Discussion: Best Practices and Lessons Learned from Implementing a Grants Management Solution
Presented by Kajal Patel, Guidehouse & Steve Thompson, State of Rhode Island Grant Management Office
Moderator: Katie Kirstein, Guidehouse

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National Grants Management Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual course for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.