How can you ensure that grant recipients feel valued and supported?

Like many things in philanthropy we make this more complicated than it is. Answer the call. Return the email. I’m astounded at how many foundation representatives don’t practice basic business etiquette. When you engage with grantees early and often you are more likely to attract proposals that meet your philanthropic goals.

While managing a large multi-year grant in Asia, I had the privilege of directing funds to incredible unsung heroes in remote places. One project offered medical care along the border with Myanmar and another provided support for AIDS orphans. Long after I finished the due diligence and arranged the wire transfer, I began to check in with the beneficiaries regularly about their wellbeing and how their projects were going in a rural, isolated area. I was concerned they were so far from their family and friends. Years later, I discovered they were far more encouraged than I realised by a simple call or email to say, “How are you doing?" Being sincere and consistent is vital when communicating with grant recipients so they feel supported.

Investment in Relationships: Recognize and appreciate their contributions: Publicly acknowledge their hard work and achievements through awards, testimonials, or social media recognition. Invite feedback and participation: Actively seek their input.

Our giving circle, HERitage Giving Fund, provides technical assistance support to grant recipients throughout the funding year.

As the Chair of charity that provides a limited number of small grants per year, we trustees keep focused on the word 'proportionality' - what is the smallest amount of questions required to understand the project's funding needs to make a fair and robust decision. An online form with drop-downs on the objectives met will be our next development. Keeping our website updated on our priorities, so no-one wastes time applying. Being clear on what is the minimum requirement of reporting from the grant recipient to provide assurance (currently one page on reach and impact) and not be administratively heavy. So balance without burden in the process is key to maximize those who benefit the most.

Put grantees in the driver seat of the grantee\funder relationship by establishing communication channels on their terms (the modality and cadence should be most easeful for the grantee). Grants made to nonprofit organizations reveal an acknowledgement that grantees are the subject matter experts. The most fruitful and trusted grant partnerships treat grantees as such.

That's so true. It is imperative that the indigenous expertise is valued and complement the external technical support. This ensures ownership demonstrated by the grantee.

Watching our clients who range from grant makers to grant recipients both listen and give feedback has been critical in my own philanthropy education. It’s been amazing to watch the grant makers hear the challenges of the recipients including the sometimes onerous application processes and reporting requirements. Sometimes the fiscal restrictions impede the nonprofit recipient from delivering their best programs or services. By active listening, grant makers have been able to evolve their processes and requirements to better support their recipients including shortening the application and reporting and lifting fiscal restrictions. By bravely articulating their needs, recipients are helping to evolve the grant making process overall.

A periodic review of the agreed milestones should be a non negotiable and the recipient should feel valued at every table. Conversations should be respectful, empathetic , empowering and a sense of mutual appreciation should be wrapped around. Learning from each other and enjoying the success together with all stakeholders should be the motto .

Here are some strategies to achieve this: 1. Tailor your interactions to the specific needs and context of each grantee. Understand their goals, challenges, and unique circumstances. This demonstrates a genuine interest in their work. 2. Offer capacity-building opportunities such as workshops, training sessions, or networking events. This enhances the capabilities of grant recipients, showing your commitment to their long-term success. 3. Publicly acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of grant recipients through newsletters, social media features, or awards ceremonies. This boosts their morale and also also highlights the impact of your funding.

One of the most helpful experiences I have had with a grant maker was when I was able to come to them and be transparent about some challenges we were having on a grant they had funded for a big DEI project where we hired a team of consultants to train our staff with grant funding. The consultants were not meeting our needs, and I was able to go to funder and authentically share our challenges. They empathized with us, shared some of their own DEI journey with us, and gave some really solid advice on how we should move forward - including allowing us to extend the grant period for a few months while we found a new team of consultants to support our work. It was so refreshing to have such an honest conversation and get solid support.

Flexibility and responsiveness is so important, and far to often not offered by donors to grantees! Just as donors should view grantees as partners and leaders, grantees should see donors as partners toward achieving their goals. If a donor has access to knowledge, resources, or expertise that can help the grantee achieve their goals, offer it!!

Flexibility and accommodation are crucial ways to support grant recipients, particularly when embarking on new initiatives. The implementation phase of a project can bring unforeseen challenges, necessitating adaptability. Grant goals and deliverables may undergo changes as, and grantees navigate both internal and external challenges. In this context, foundations should exhibit a similar level of adaptability to maintain a supportive partnership.

Als PHINEO haben wir immer den Anspruch gehabt, in unseren F?rderungen flexibel zu sein. W?hrend der Corona-Krise konnten wir dies unter Beweis stellen. Unsere im Rahmen der Skala-Initiative gef?rderten Organisationen konnten ihre Projekte nicht wie geplant umsetzen, etwa weil die Kommunikation mit ihren Zielgruppen erschwert war. Daraufhin haben wir unsere gef?rderten Organisationen unterstützt, ihre Projektpl?ne anzupassen. Au?erdem haben wir zus?tzlich einen Zukunftsfonds eingerichtet, damit die Organisationen in Digitalisierung und Organisationsentwicklung investieren konnten. Das hat den Organisationen nachweislich geholfen, sich krisenfester aufzustellen.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to try and dismantle the power hierarchy that is inherent. Remind the grantee that it is ok to have challenges, that you are partners working to achieve this shared vision of a goal, and that proposed programs naturally change once you are on the ground and implementing. Regularly invite open dialogue without burdening the grantee with additional “official” reporting.

Innovative conversation that aligns both grantors and grantees can lead to new opportunities that advance the vision and mission of both participants. On a recent project, through an atmosphere of respect and both parties focusing on the positive outcomes for the users, a new framework that could be used across the state was developed! Environemnts of respect, collaboration and innovation are key!

I completely agree that this needs to happen more effectively and a more collaborative environment should be fostered wherever possible. Unfortunately, when similar organizations are competing for the same funding it’s often not advantageous for them to be collaborative partners, especially when reaching smaller underserved populations. I have in my experience been told by funders that these services are ‘duplicative’ or ‘overlapping’ and the smaller organizations with niche clients continue to go unserved at all.

Being able to provide one-on-one technical assistance and support is key. Sometimes grantees are institutionally pressured to go in directions that aren't within the narrative, and that can be a terrible space to be in. Sometimes having a human to chat with about how to steward the grant properly is a game changer.

Be honest and clear about the relationship and the reality that a funder has power to determine the future of the proposal. It is not collaboration since it is the financial underwriting of an effort. I’d seeking collaboration then it is a mutual relationship with shared ownership and equality in decision making.

One thing that is always soothing is the celebration of grant recipients by the donors. It gives a sense of good will and applause for well doing. It spurs the person to do better in impact projects. It is a win win.

Encouraging ongoing check-ins and conversation more than just metrics reporting allows for understanding, deeper engagement and course correction if necessary.

Viele Menschen in gemeinnützigen Organisationen sind von ihrer Mission angetrieben. Nicht selten gehen sie bis an ihre Grenzen und darüber hinaus, denn jede Arbeitsstunde bringt sie ihrem gro?en Ziel ein Stück n?her. Und doch erreichen sie es selten, weil die Aufgaben zu gro? sind. Umso wichtiger ist es, innezuhalten und erreichte Meilensteine oder Projektabschlüsse zu feiern (statt nach der einen Sache zu suchen, die leider nicht geklappt hat). Sch?n w?re es, wenn F?rderer dies unterstützen. Eine handgeschriebene Karte zeigt, dass das Engagement gesehen wird und drückt Wertsch?tzung aus. Ich k?nnte mir aber auch gut vorstellen, dass ein F?rderer einmal ein Projektteam zum Essen einl?dt oder ein Offside-Event finanziert.

Its also important to be sensitive to the local political or cultural environment. While remaining neutral, a grantor needs to understand how the local people recognize and acknowledge success. This ensures that the celebration of a grantee success is mutually recognized by the local institutions as well as the grantor.

Visit your recipients! There is no better way to get to know them and their work and to ensure they feel valued. It is also a great way to help bridge connections between organizations that may not know each other.

Remember, valuing and supporting your grant recipients is an ongoing process. By demonstrating genuine care, providing relevant resources, and fostering open communication, you can build strong relationships and ensure that your grantmaking efforts have a lasting positive impact.

Remember, valuing and supporting your grant recipients is an ongoing process. By demonstrating genuine care, providing relevant resources, and fostering open communication, you can build strong relationships and ensure that your grantmaking efforts have a lasting positive impact.

Foundations should never forget the overarching impact of the grant. The foundation is at the service of that deliverable whilst the Non profit is the facilitator. In these relationships the critical third factor is the impact demographic & how that outcome has shaped out.