Strategic Plan

2004 GEM$ Strategic Plan

Mission Statement:
To increase the state of Iowa's non-state financial resources by identifying, coordinating and tracking grants and providing support to grant seekers.

Vision: Iowa has the funds it needs to provide quality services.

Goal 1: To increase the number of applications for discretionary grants, including joint or multi-state agency grant applications.

Strategies:

1. Share information on grant opportunities from GEM$ office through the Web site and e-mail notifications.
2. Technical assistance and training (Panel of private funders)
3. Access information
4. Add a research and development function to the GEM$ office.
5. Collaboration with university grant offices.

Measures:

1. Number of grants submitted

Goal 2: To develop and maintain a state-of-the-art system that facilitates coordination of grant activities.

Strategies:

1. Web site (have visitors register to track users?)
2. Technical assistance and training
3. Track all grant dollars to state agencies
4. Connect I/3 budget system with the grant tracking system
5. Evaluation - status and reports

Measures:

1. User satisfaction rates
2. Grant dollars secured by participating GEM$ agencies
3. Training statistics (sessions held/users trained)
4. Web site statistics

Goal 3: To make GEM$ a statewide resource for policy-makers, legislators, and the public.

Strategies:

1. Search engine positioning of Web site.
2. Link to GEM$ Web site on State home page, Governor's page and Iowa Legislature’s page.
3. Publicity/marketing campaign (Business cards / GEM$ kick-off event/launch / Individual meetings with departments)
4. Liaison with funders, legislators, Iowa's DC Office and Iowa's Congressional Delegation

Measures:

1. Percentage of state agencies using the GEM$ database
2. Total number and types of users of Web site