Competitive Grantmaking: An Evolving Process

1
Competitive GrantmakingAn Evolving Process

• Comparing
• Grantmaking
• Strategies

2
"The foundation typically doesn't resort to

rock-paper-scissors for grant awards."
3
Competitive Grants 2005 2009LETTERS OF INTENT
4
Competitive Grants 2005 2009GRANT AWARDS
5
Competitive Grants 2005 2009GRANT GUIDELINES

• Grant types Project/Program Support
  Specific Equipment Needs
• No Operating or Capital Grants
• Not be a sprinkling fdn.
• 1 LOI per/Nonprofit per/yr.
• Two Step Process
• Site Visits
• Interim/Final reports required

• Philosophy Encourages innovation
  Builds capacity Recognizes diversity
• Funding Priorities Art
  Culture Community Development
  Education Health
  Human Social Services

6
Competitive Grants 2005 2009PROGRAM AREAS
7
Competitive Grants 2005 2009REGION SERVED
8
(No Transcript)
9
Key Facts on Community Foundations

• Outlook for Community Foundation Giving
• CFs account for 1 of all US grantmaking
  foundations...but about 10 of giving
• CFs raised giving 6.7 in 2008 (this increase
  surpassed rate of growth by independent
  corporate foundations)
• 62 of CFs expected to decrease giving in 2009

10
Key Facts on Community Foundations
Giving Patterns
2005 data published
September 2007
2007 data published May
2009
11
Key Facts on Community Foundations
Giving Patterns
2005 data published
September 2007
2007 data published May
2009
12
Key Facts on Community Foundations
Giving Patterns
2005 data published
September 2007
2007 data published May
2009
13
"We're trustees, Farnsworth. We
don't play with the numbers."
14
Five Grantmaking Strategies
Responsive Grantmaking
Collaborative Grantmaking
Strategic Grantmaking
Proactive Grantmaking
Initiative Grantmaking
Direct grants to address specific community
needs with a defined impact in mind. May
engage in a variety of grantmaking
models. Board shapes grantmaking program around
the change or benefit the board hopes to
accomplish, rather than randomly.
Identify NPOs or programs that target
specific issues. Multi-year (3 5
year) commitments. Issue RFP or invite
application. Interested in system change,
policy change and/or policy development
work. Specific outcomes In mind.
React to needs of the community. Concerned
with todays needs. Wait for proposals. Complet
ely receptive to NPOs that approach the
foundation. Applications reviewed on a
competitive basis.
Launching a specific leadership effort where
the foundation assumes the leadership
role. Will convene and collaborate with
funders, agencies and stakeholders. Focus on
problem solving and achievable
outcomes. Significant investment of money and
time.
Work with other funders on specific areas of
interest that all agree to mutually
support.
15
Proactive Grantmaking Things To Consider

• Long-term commitment of board and staff
• Organizational capacity to see it through
• Cost how much of unrestricted dollars will go
  toward proactive grantmaking
• Are we prepared to go 3 to 5 years on same
  project
• Costs incurred to train CF staff
• Will a shift to proactive grantmaking leave
  responsive grantees in the lurch?

16
How to Focus Grantmaking

• Community Needs Assessment / Report Card
• Focus groups listening sessions
• Commission research
• Attend meetings
• Read the newspaper
• Talk with other funders

17
Comparing Grantmaking Strategies

• No right/wrong way
• If you ask 10 CFs where how grant dollars make
  the most difference you would get 10 different
  answers!
• Think of grantmaking strategies along a continuum
  and choose different approaches at different times

18
Hey! This year let's fund a whiney
19
Betting On The Future

• Shifting Fundamentals
• The old question
  was...

20

• What did our grant accomplish?

21
Betting On The Future

• The new question is...

22

• How do we work with others to contribute to
  community improvement?

23
"We were going to approve your grant,
but America voted against it."
24
Were Listening

• Thoughts to Ponder
• How often a nonprofit may receive funding
• Project Equipment vs. Operating Capital
  support
• Broaden funding categories?
• Include volunteers in decision-making process?
• Uniform LOI application
• Funding priorities based on current economy
• Other?
• and more...to be determined

25
"One year YVCF's holiday party got so crazy,we
started making unrestricted grants."
26
Competitive GrantsAn Ongoing Process

• NOT
• THE
• END