The Impact of FGDC Grants upon the Success of Metadata Clearinghouse Projects Do Grants Really Make a Difference

Abstract:  Abstract: This article examines the role of government grants in the creation of metadata clearinghouses by organizations that received financial help from the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) over the period from 1994 to 1999. The results of a postal survey of FGDC grant applicants are presented. The survey included a sample of successful and unsuccessful applicants, and covered the lifespan of FGDC?s metadata program from 1994 to the present. A sample of eligible organizations that did not apply for FGDC grants was also included in the project. Our findings suggest that successful applicants typically operate with larger in-house geographic information system units than their unsuccessful counterparts. The data also point to a significant relationship between proposal success and the extent of external collaboration during the grant-writing process. From a public policy perspective, our data suggest that large organizations often do not need external grants, whereas small organizations are highly grant-dependent. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the extent to which social benefits might be maximized by funding smaller rather than larger applicants.