What do you think of this email?
"We recently got
approved (from an LOI) to submit a grant to (a very well-known foundation). When we got the application, it had all sorts
of conditions. Like, we had to keep our cost per service day under $10.00 per
person, we had to serve at least 300 people per year, we had to submit a
monthly report and we couldn't use any of the money to advertise the service.
We can't begin to
match those conditions, and we don't feel that $10.00 cost per service day is
anything close to reasonable. But we desperately need the grant. What would happen if we tried but didn't meet
the conditions after we got the money?"
The answer to the person's question was right in the
requirements…the money would have to be returned if the grantee failed to meet
at least 90% of the requirements.
One of the hardest things for some nonprofits to understand
is that the grantor wants to have control of how their money is spent.
Most NPO's understand that they will have to submit some
sort of report when the grant ends, detailing what was done with the money. What
they seem less prepared for are interim reporting requirements.
Admittedly, this foundation had some pretty stringent
requirements, but the amount of money was substantial.
In many grantor/grantee relationships, the nonprofit is basically
acting as a subcontractor for the grantor.
Remember, foundation grantors are nonprofits too. They have a mission and a vision just like
you do, and they want assurances that you can and will help them achieve that
mission. The larger the grant, the more control the grantor may want to retain.
Not all grants are structured so tightly, but be sure that
you are fully aware of the grantors' expectations before you submit the
application.
Even if your grant doesn't require interim reporting, grantors
may appreciate receiving some sort of communication letting them know how your
program or project is going. And by all means, and even if it isn't requested send them a summary report and a
thank-you message when the grant is done. It's human nature to want to be appreciated,
and your courtesy could very well mean the chance to form an ongoing
partnership with the grantor.
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