What You Say is What You Get: How Grantmakers Set the Tone of Philanthropy

After a well-received plenary speech, Tony Proscio spoke with a smaller group of grants managers. The conversation ranged from how to put Proscio’s ideas into action, to sharing communication strategies between grants managers.

Fei Chin, the program administrator at Open Society Institute was concerned about the line between professionalism and practical, clear writing.

“I'm not sold there's something to reconcile,” Proscio answered, explaining that what is expected as a “professional” is largely jargon, and what communicators within an organization should shoot for is a tone of respect. “I think there's a wide comfortable space of English that is respectful and dignified but isn't pompous.”

The conversation turned to contracts, and the number of crucial documents that communicate information that are created by foundation employees who are more familiar with legalese. Frank Rybak from the Missouri Foundation for Health shared how his foundation created a boilerplate contract, with twenty key points, that is more accessible and easier to read. (See MFH's sample contract here.) “It's got all the information that it really needs. After we fund our grants, we go through that grant [contract] with the grantee,” Rybak said. “It fosters open communication.” The contract was created with the input of both external counsel and the grant making staff.

During the plenary, Proscio had given side-by-side examples of writing that was too heavy on jargon and their practical, but respectful “translations.” Many of these translations included the word “please” in front of requests for information and deadlines for submitted material. Ann Frost from the SSJ Charitable Fund shared an example from her own foundation where removing the “please” from external communications actually helped them to receive information by the deadline. She wondered if there was a compromise.

Proscio said that this was an example of where a rule won't fit every time, but he suggested always using pronouns (e.g., you, your organization) to address a subject, as well as relaying why the information is still important and necessary, even if you don't add in a please. Another grants manager commented that they had sent their grantees reminder stickers to place on their calendars, and this action was a huge success.

Proscio ended the session with his list of “Top 5 Jargon Words” of 2008: linkage, catalyst, convening, synergy, and alignment.

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