It is safe to assume that a grant’s purpose is to provide necessary resources to an organization in order for them to meet their objectives and create a positive impact in our communities. Some organizations will define “necessary resources” as dollar amounts, while some funders go beyond that definition and develop long-lasting relationships with those they fund.

Does your foundation’s approach to grant awarding reflect the commitment you want to make to your grantees?

Money isn’t everything.

Grant seeking organizations have gaps between their desired goals and their ability to achieve them. These gaps are often connected to finances, but knowledge gaps are also important to address. Connect your grantee with your available resources in appropriate networks to help them become self-sustaining and continue the program when the grant period concludes.

Encourage engagement with grantees before and during the application process.

When your organization announces opportunities to apply for grants, give grant seekers an opportunity to reach out by phone or email as well as connect via social media platforms. By offering an opportunity for a potential grantee to meet and ask questions, you’re giving them an opportunity to learn more about what your foundation strives to achieve.

You can make your grant dollars go further by getting to know your grantees and establishing a connection early in the grant process. By simply ending emails with a call to action like “reach out by email,” “give us a call,” or “connect with us on social media,”, your foundation is taking the first step to encourage a professional relationship.

Become partners with your grantee.

A current client of ours is a large arts commission in the DC area. They do a great job of facilitating personal connections with their grantees by sending their Senior Grants Manager on regular visits to the offices and venues of their grantee projects. The organization recognizes that if their grant award is attached to a project, the project outcome will be a reflection of their organization as well their grantee.

It is important to view your grantmaker – grant seeker relationship as a partnership in order to reinforce your commitment to the grantee’s cause.

You’ve selected a grantee, now develop a plan and implement it.

After reviewing the grant seeker’s application, specifically the project overview, be sure that you both agree on the project’s desired outcomes and measurements of success. You may even find it in the best interest of both parties to create an official document that includes these terms as well as an implementation timeline for both partners to sign. This will ensure that there are no gray areas in terms of expectations and ease the project review process.

Create a Funder to Grantee Agreement by incorporating:

  • An understanding of program requirements
  • An implementation timeline
  • Desired outcomes
  • Measurements of success
  • Defined terms of the agreement

In conclusion…

There is more than one way to approach the give and take dynamic of your awarded funds but getting to know your grantees certainly won’t hurt.

Funding plays a huge role in the nonprofit sector, but nonprofit organizations and other grant seekers have ambitions and goals that cannot be reached with grant dollars alone. Foundation professionals have the ability to connect grantees to network professionals and provide insight and advice from leaders in their fields in order to drive real change.

 

Sources:
https://www.bridgespan.org/insights/library/philanthropy/how-can-a-philanthropist-support-nonprofits-beyond
http://www.exponentphilanthropy.org/blog/going-beyond-the-grant-in-rural-communities/
http://cep.org/five-tips-building-strong-relationships-grantees/

 

 

Subscribe to our blog by providing your information in the spaces below!