Session Level: Core

A panel of individuals with experience in grants management will provide their perspectives on creating grant applications and share their ideas of what might improve an application's use. The panel discussion will be followed by a working session. All attendees are required to bring a hard copy of their organizations’ applications in order to receive feedback from their peers based on information received during the panel section. 

As the nonprofit community's interest in global philanthropy has risen, more private foundations are awarding grants for charitable purposes to non-U.S. based organizations. This session will go beyond the basics of international giving and explore best practices in giving outside the U.S. through Equivalency Determination (ED) or Expenditure Responsibility (ER). You will learn about the benefits and challenges of each alternative, how to integrate these practices into your grantmaking, and how best to get the information you need from your applicants. You also will develop a clear understanding of how to create a coherent and workable process that complies with the myriad laws surrounding charitable giving abroad. If time permits, there will be a brief discussion regarding grants to for-profit entities, issues to be aware of regarding grants to supporting organizations, and why you may or may not wish to make a grant to a "friends of" organization.

In 2011, the GMN Grantmaking Gone Green Team (G4) challenged GMN members to go on a “paper diet” to see if grants managers could curb paper use at their organizations. To aid “dieters” in this task, G4 began sharing tips and tricks on how to decrease paper usage, with particular attention to implementing electronic processes. This session will share some results of the paper diet and look at how to manage the shift to electronic processes for grantmaking, file retention, board books, payments, and communication. The presenters will focus on how to implement new processes and procedures, including staff buy-in, sharing best practices, and proven methods in creating change. 

Investing staff time into improving and streamlining grant application and reporting processes is important. Working with staff so they understand the organization’s needs and have buy-in into the streamlining process is critical. Can things be done easier? What needs streamlining? What is the best approach? Come learn how different philanthropic organizations have taken on this challenge. Hear how they have developed and implemented their plans, and learn what impact this has had on their overall grants management and foundation goals.