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Grants and Contracts

Grants and contracts are very similar. The main difference is that grants usually support projects that benefit people with disabilities but do not directly benefit the Council. Contracts may produce a product that the Council will use, such as a book or web site.

The WCDD often works on its State Plan goals by giving grants to individuals or small groups of people with disabilities or their families. These grants are used for advocacy, training, inclusion and many other areas. The Council believes that working with the “grassroots” can have a greater impact than formal projects.

To get a grant, the applicants have to set “outcomes.” These have to show specific improvements in consumers’ lives. This method helps the grantees succeed. If they don't make enough progress toward an outcome, we'll help them. Together we’ll figure out if they should try another way or pick easier objectives.

The Council also needs contractors to conduct research, write, edit, manage databases, provide technical assistance and training, organize outreach or build coalitions in order to achieve the goals in our State Plan.

As with grants, contracts are managed by outcomes. Contractors give a good faith estimate of their outcomes during the application process; these are further negotiated with the contract manager before the project begins.