TT Inc. Proposed Grant Policy

NOTE: This is only a draft of Policy, and is intended for comment ONLY!

The Bylaws of Troubled Times, Inc. Article 9:Grants, describes specific requirements for Grant Proposals and Funding.  ( ../grants.htm ).  The Bylaws are written, however, in a rather general manor so as to allow some amount of flexibility.

In that TT Inc. is now reasonably expecting large donations to be forthcoming, and in-so-far as there are currently a large number of Proposed and Accepted Projects which have no site nor individuals to pursue these projects, TT-Inc. is becoming pro-active in recruiting individuals to bring these, and yet-to-be-proposed Projects to fruition.

In order to implement the Article 9:Grants requirements, a set of specific Policies are hereby being proposed to provide specific guidelines to potential Investigators, and to provide a clear mechanism to insure that funded Projects are adequately monitored, managed, and progress reported to the Board of Directors.

Policy 1 - Control of Funded Projects

Projects funded by Troubled Times Inc. shall require a Project Plan as described in this Policy Statement.  All such Projects shall require both a Principal Investigator and a Project Manager, who shall perform the duties as described in this Policy Statement.  It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to monitor and insure, as reasonably possible, that the Project Manager performs those duties as described in this Policy Statement.  It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to determine (and choose the means of determination) that the Name and Physical Address of any Principal Investigator be independently verified.  It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors, in the event of default by the Principal Investigator, to investigate and determine if recovery of assets and/or funds is warranted.

Policy 2 - Incremental Funding

The Treasurer of Troubled Times, Inc. shall disperse Project Funds in increments whenever possible.  Mile Stones shall indicate when specific funds are required.  I.E., if paper design or research is required before actual construction can begin, completion of the design or research represents a Mile Stone, after which funds for construction may be distributed.  Funding distribution shall be included in the Project Plan.

Policy 3 - Duplication of Effort

Any Proposed Project which duplicates an existing Project shall not be funded if the existing Project can be expanded to include any unique aspects of the new proposed Project, AND the existing Project Manager and Principal Investigator agree to modify that Project's Plan to include those unique aspects.

Policy 4 - Arbitration

In the event of irreconcilable differences between the Project Manager and the Principal Investigator, either party may request Arbitration to the TT Inc. President.   It shall be at the President's discretion whether to provide Arbitration him/herself, or to appoint an Executive Committee.

Policy 5 - On Site Inspections

The Binding Agreement, which shall be signed by any Principal Investigator, shall, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, include a clause permitting on-sight inspections at the address where the Project is being conducted.

Policy 6 - Binding Agreement

The Binding Agreement shall be worded such that good-faith-effort shall be considered as basically success by the Principal Investigator.  Any penalty which may be specified by the Binding Agreement shall NOT be exercised when good-faith-effort or unanticipated conditions arise which adversely affect a Project is evident.  The Binding Agreement shall be focused upon discouraging fraud, and in the case of fraud, shall provide a basis upon which the Board of Directors are able to initiate the recovery of Assets and/or funds expended.

NOTE:  Very small Projects, i.e., review a selection of books at the library or book store and compile a list of the 10 most valuable, shall, at the Board's discretion, be wavered from any part or all of the Project Plan requirements described below.

In formulating the above policies, the following terms/concepts are used extensively.  All descriptive sub-items below each term shall be included implicitly within the Policy.

Project Plan

• The Project Plan is a Formal Document which includes, but is not limited to:
  • A concise and complete description of the Project
  • A detailed description of resources required by the Project:
    • Equipment
    • Supplies
    • Rental
    • Outside Contractors
    • Personnel
    • Man Hours
    • Any other Cost Items
    • Any other Items which could affect the Project Schedule
  • A Schedule
    • The detail required of the Schedule will be dependent upon the characteristics of the project, but must include:
      • An Executive Summary
      • Individual Tasks, specifically when the implementation of a Task requires completion of one or more different Tasks
      • The anticipated Time expected to perform each Task, both in Calendar duration and in man-hours.
      • Major Mile-Stones (specific Events of great importance)
      • Anticipated delays which are dependant upon outside activities.  i.e. Shipping of items is not under the control of the Principal Investigator but must be itemized on the schedule and the time estimated.

Project Manager

• A Troubled Times Inc. Member
• Assigned by the Troubled Times Inc. President
• Willing to function in this capacity
• This person shall assist with the creation the Project Plan
• Responsible for review of Status Reports provided by the Principal Investigator, and Report a Summary of Status periodically to the President, or as requested by the President or Board of Directors.
• The PM shall send a copy of the Project Plan, any updates, interim and final Project results and any appropriate documentation to the TT Inc. Office, as well as to the Secretary.  As always, all receipts shall be sent to the Treasurer. 
• Responsible for high-level supervision of the Principal Investigator in order to insure that the project remains "on track" as described by the Project Plan
• Responsible for requesting and assisting in a Project Re-Plan when needed.  (Such assistance is also available from the TT Inc. Headquarters.)

Principal Investigator

• This is the person who shall be responsible for carrying out any particular Project.
• This person shall create the Project Plan with assistance from the Project Manager.   (Training and Assistance shall also be available from the TT Inc. Headquarters.)
• This person shall be required to provide to the Project Manager any reasonable information which might be requested such as:
  • Current Resume - to help determine the qualifications of the individual to carry out the Project Plan
  • Germane experience/skills, and proof of such experience/skills as requested by the Project Manager - i.e. if a project requires welding, does the investigator have adequate welding experience
  • Time available to perform the Project Tasks
  • A site where the tasks can be performed
  • Whether the Principal Investigator wishes monetary compensation or to retain the Project product as part of a survival site.
• This person shall sign a binding agreement, in accordance with Article 9, Section 2 Request Approval
• This person shall sign a Binding Contract, which provides for recovery of TT Inc. assets associated with the Project should the Principal Investigator, fail to perform good faith effort, in achieving the Goal(s) of the Project.

This site was designed and maintained by Ron Darby

This page was last updated 8/20/00