Webinar | Finding a Unicorn! Small Wastewater System Funding Series: Negotiating Indirect Rate Agreements
Successfully securing and managing federal funding for publicly owned and decentralized wastewater treatment systems is no small task, especially with shifting program priorities and uncertainty about future allocations. This no-cost webinar series from the Capacity Collaborative will guide participants through the entire funding process: where to find nationally available funding, how to craft competitive proposals, and how to stay in compliance through project completion. Designed for small wastewater systems, each session focuses on a step in the funding application and management journey, equipping participants with tools and knowledge to increase their chances of funding success.
Sessions will be held from 1–2 PM Eastern (10–11 AM Pacific) on Tues., December 2; Tues., December 16; and Thurs., December 18, 2025. The series will then resume every other Tuesday from January 13 through May 5, 2026
April 7, 2026 | Session 10 | Negotiating Indirect Rate Agreements
Description: This webinar will review the federal requirements around establishing an indirect rate with a cognizant agency for organizations receiving federal awards or contracts. This session will also focus on how to apply indirect rates to allowable costs including recent updates to federal Uniform Administrative Guidelines.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the costs vs benefits of applying for an organizational indirect rate for federal grants
- Understand annual Negotiated Indirect Rate application and methods for calculating indirect rates
- Understand requirements for maintaining an indirect rate
- Learn to apply indirect fees to direct costs
Presenters: Sarah Diefendorf, Director and Tamira Jones, Federal Grants Officer, Capacity Collaborative
Certificate: This webinar has NOT been submitted for continuing education credit approval. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.
Who Should Attend:
- Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
- Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
- Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems
Partner:
Organizer
Program Associate at the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center