Folly #23: No Feedback
Funders say they can't, but that's absolutely not true.
Nearly every proposal I’ve ever written has been to a funder who says they are not able to provide feedback on proposals that are submitted but declined.
Frankly, that’s pretty hard to believe. Here’s why.
Online applications → accessible information
Most foundations use online portals where nonprofit grant applicants submit proposals. These are, basically, databases that capture information. Information that can be used to run reports and summaries. For the foundation.
That makes sense. Program staff and foundation board members need information gathered and shared in a way that makes it easy to review grant proposals.
A glimpse from the other side
Recently, I had the honor of serving as a reviewer for a grant that receives thousands of submissions and funds a very small number of grants. I was excited for this opportunity to see the other side of the process, and also to learn about the work of some amazing nonprofit applicants.
And guess what? I used that same exact grants portal to rate and review applications.
For every application, each reviewer was asked to:
Use this space to write out questions that you would ask the applicant based on your reading of the application. Was anything unclear? Would elaboration on a specific point be helpful? Would you challenge an assumption made? We know this is the hardest question for you to answer, but it’s also the most important! We use your notes and questions to inform interview guides and background briefs for later stages of the selection process.
If this question is so important, then why can’t the feedback be shared with the grantee?
Even here in these humble Follies, nonprofit leaders have talked about the importance of funders giving feedback and the impact of having received feedback from a funder. Feedback is invaluable to how we learn, overcome obstacles, and improve – playfully visualized in this What I Planned vs. What Happened graphic.
Grantmakers, are you listening?
Every grant proposal takes what feels like dog years of time by nonprofit staff. All that planning, strategizing, collaborating and, finally, describing it in a way that matches the exact questions each funder asks. Grantwriters work really hard to get it right. Think how beneficial it would be for them to learn if something was unclear. Or if elaboration on a specific point would be helpful. Or if they are presenting assumptions that others question or challenge.
Nonprofits want to hear feedback. Every funder who uses an online application captures that feedback in a format that can be shared.
Please share it.
Speaking of sharing … We’ve created some free tools, like how to find the right grants by doing great funder research.
I hope you’ll share a story about funders who give feedback! And let’s Do Good better. Kindly pass Funder Follies along to others. (Maybe even to a funder.)