HOW WE GOT STARTED

In 1991 two New York City grants managers began to meet informally to discuss shared experiences at their respective foundations. They soon decided it was important to broaden their reach and engage others who were performing similar tasks. As a result, a group of individuals who shared responsibility for the operational aspects of grantmaking (i.e., intake, review, and reporting) was organized in New York. As membership grew, an open and sharing network developed. In 1996, the Grants Managers Network (GMN) expanded nationally and became a recognized affinity group of the Council on Foundations. In 2007, GMN received its IRS determination as a 501(c)(3) public charity. In 2008, GMN hired its first Executive Director, Michelle Greanias.

GMN TODAY

Today there are more than 1,200 members representing more than 800 grantmaking organizations that look to GMN to provide ideas, support, and a community to exchange information about grants management and its relevance to efficient and effective grantmaking.

Membership in the GMN is open to any person currently employed by a grantmaking organization who holds responsibility for grants management or for a portion of the grants management function.

Ideas

ENewsletter: The GMN eNewsletter, written by members, provides information on promising practices, current topics, and available resources for grants management.

Project Streamline: Project Streamline is a collaboration between eight prominent organizations representing grantmakers and grantseekers working to i) raise awareness among grantmakers of the impact of their application, monitoring, and reporting requirements on grantseekers and ii) develop principles and resources to help reduce the costs of these practices for both grantmakers and grantseekers. A just-released report, Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted from Purpose examines the impact of grant application and reporting requirements and makes recommendations for how these practices can be streamlined. For more information visit www.projectstreamline.org.

Salary Survey: GMN produces a salary survey to provide reliable salary and position information to the field.

Staffing Grants Management: Defining the Standards for Philanthropy: The staffing needs and duties of the grants management function vary between grantmakers. This booklet was created as a guide to inform the philanthropic community about the diverse tasks assigned to - and staffing needs necessary for - the grants management function.

Support

Online Knowledge Community: The online knowledge community (known as GIGI) is a forum and resource where members can look up information, contact other members, download documents, and post items useful to other grants managers in their day-to-day activities. GMN members can ask questions and receive answers from the national membership through the threaded discussion functionality. This site also contains job postings, GMN's salary survey results, samples of grantmaking documents from a variety of foundations, and other resources vital to grants management staff.

Annual Conference: GMN convenes an annual conference, including presentations on issues relevant to efficient and effective grants management.

Community

Members: The GMN membership is composed of grants administrators, grants managers, directors of grants management, financial officers, program officers/associates, and other grants professionals. Members perform a number of responsibilities at their organizations including grants processing, setting grantmaking policies, selecting grants management technology, and performing due diligence.

Board of Directors: The Board of Directors, elected by the membership, governs the Grants Managers Network by the rules set forth in its bylaws.

Committees: Standing committees made up of board members and volunteers implement GMN's strategic priorities, delivering member services and completing projects that support GMN's mission.

Regional Groups: GMN members organize at the regional level to improve the practice of grants management and build collegial relationships. Regional GMN groups meet in the Delaware Valley, the Midwest, Minnesota, New England, New York, Northern California, Ohio, the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, the Southeast, Southern California, and Washington, D.C.

WHAT'S NEXT

• The 4th Annual Conference will be held from March 23-25, 2009 in Denver, Colorado
• Project Streamline is sponsoring in-depth conversations among grantmakers and grantseekers to elicit feedback on the Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted from Purpose report findings. Ultimately, this feedback will be used to develop a final set of Principles and the resources to support their adoption in the field.
• The Certification sub-committee has begun a project to define the entire body of knowledge needed to practice grants management as a profession from entry through expert level.
• A new step-by-step instruction guide to grants management will be released online.
• GMN is working on a technology plan to enhance its online presence, including the next generation of GIGI, the online knowledge community.
• The board is completing the current three-year strategic plan and beginning to develop a 2009-2011 plan.