Alternatives to final reports

TramKieuTramKieu Posts: 7 ✭✭
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edited February 2022 in Grants & Scholarships

Are you doing typical final reports (asking for outcomes, measurables, future plans etc.) or does your foundation have a different take on it?

During the pandemic we created a new rapid response cycle for our grantees which streamlined our grant process. This included making calls instead of using our typical LOI form, we shortened our grant application, and switched to Zoom calls to close out grants. The Zoom calls replaced final reports, notes were taken by foundation staff and later uploaded to grantee profiles for record keeping. After so many calls with nonprofits, an astounding number of nonprofit leaders said we should stick to this type of final reporting in general. We took on some of the burden of grant management and realized how much time/work our nonprofit partners were really spending on our grant process, even when it was streamlined for this rapid response cycle. While this was a great opportunity to meet and build relationships, it was not feasible in the long run. It was difficult to manage scheduling calls, tracking grants and additional time spent to summarize our meetings. Now that we are nearing the end of our rapid response cycle, we want to implement an alternative to final reporting and want to see what other funders are doing in this realm.

Comments

  • An alternative process certainly sounds like it could save your team(s) some time, @TramKieu. I hope others have some suggestions for you!

    Kara Adams, M.Ed., CAE (she/her/hers)|Community Manager|kara.adams@foundant.com

    Headquartered: Bozeman, MT| Remote Location: Chicago, IL | Direct: 312-802-1374 |www.foundant.com|

  • RhondaThomsonRhondaThomson Posts: 52 ✭✭✭
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    We are definitely moving to this type of "trust based philanthropy" with our grantees. We realize they are the experts in their work and us bogging them down with a lot of extra reporting hinders them to do the great work they do. We have decided on no longer requiring final reports on anything funded under $1000. We still require some basic final reporting; however, are moving towards connecting with them, as you did, in another way to not only see what they are doing with the funding, but if there is any other way we can support them. As a community foundation, we not only grant money, we also provide leadership to organizations in many other ways.

    This webinar was a great starting point for us! https://youtu.be/ukKULgY6qh4 I think, moving forward, we need to look at many different ways to connect with the people we fund and look at changing the way we have "always done things".

  • @TramKieu - Here is an additional discussion thread about trust-based philanthropy! https://community.foundant.com/funders_community_foundations/discussion/936/trust-based-philanthropy

    Kara Adams, M.Ed., CAE (she/her/hers)|Community Manager|kara.adams@foundant.com

    Headquartered: Bozeman, MT| Remote Location: Chicago, IL | Direct: 312-802-1374 |www.foundant.com|

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