Jeff Allen, Executive Director at Forth and Jessica Stoll, Program Manager at Electrification Coalition gave this presentation at Forth Design and Fund Equitable Electric Mobility For Your Community workshop on March 14, 2024.
2. WHAT IS A FUNDING STRATEGY?
● It’s more than writing a
proposal
● Identifies and matches both
sources and uses of funds
● Helps partners invest in ways
that work best for you and them
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3. WHY DO YOU NEED A STRATEGY?
● No single grant is likely to pay for your comprehensive strategy
● Helps you meet formal “match” requirements, especially for federal grants
● Makes your program more resilient, less dependent on any single funding decision
● Shows many different stakeholders support your program, building funder
confidence
● Gives you more flexibility to stack funds, using the most flexible ones for the
purposes that are hardest to fund
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4. FUNDING STRATEGY CASE STUDY
● Scenario: Regional network of about 15 cities
● Objective: Reduce charging as a barrier to EV adoption by historically
underserved drivers
● Tactics: Focus on L2 charging at affordable housing, workplaces, and
public facilities
○ Install at least 1,000 charging ports
○ Provide community outreach and education, including ride & drives
○ Shared EVs at several large apartment complexes
○ Total budget about $20M
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5. STEP 1: ITEMIZE THE WORK
● By program function (e.g.
charging, outreach, carshare)
● By expense category (e.g.
charging hardware, installation,
make-ready, staff FTE, cars…)
● By year (some early, some
late)
● CapEx vs OpEx
● Estimate costs for each 18
6. STEP 2: IDENTIFY INVESTORS
● Who might support this program - or
any part of it? Which part? Why?
● Capacity - how much do they have?
Affinity - how supportive, which part?
Propensity - how likely to give?
● Brainstorm
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Investor Capacity Affinity Propensity
7. STEP 3: MATCH SOURCES & USES
● Match investors to what they are most
excited about
● Use most restricted funding first, save
most flexible for last
● In kind: What expenses can other
investors cover for you directly?
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8. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
● Climate action plans
○ What other projects could you pair with TE
to pursue a bigger funder pool?
● Regional approaches
○ Are others in your area applying to funding?
● Project teaming
○ Is your team poised to pull the application
together and administer it if awarded?
● Backup plans
○ What is your backup plan if you primary
funding strategy doesn’t work?
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11. TABLE EXERCISE
● Now it’s your turn!
● Take about 3-5 minutes to make notes:
○ Summarize a TE program you might want to
fund in your community, and what the major
work elements would look like.
● Break into groups of 2-3 people.
○ Take one minute to introduce yourself and
summarize your program.
● Take about 5 minutes to brainstorm together about
potential investors.
● Reconvene to debrief and answer questions
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