Giving Compass' Take:

• After creating a grantseeker survey, Foundant Technologies found that it could shape a collaborative library of resources leading to greater impact. 

• How can grantmakers utilize this survey to better understand organizations and achieve desired goals? 

• Read more about impact-driven philanthropy. 

In June 2017, we hatched a plan. What if we created a survey to gather experience, advice, opinions, and knowledge from our grantmaker and grantseeker communities? (At Foundant, we provide grantmaking software solutions to grantmakers and grantees.)

What kind of response would we get? How could we use the information we received to further our mission — to maximize the impact of the philanthropic community?

Our idea morphed into an inspiring, at times daunting, opportunity to shape a collaborative library of resources beyond our wildest dreams. Our “little survey” became longer and more in-depth, but we went with it. What did we have to lose?

Our grantseeker survey was 13 open-ended questions on topics ranging from funder-grantee relationships to tracking outcomes to efficiency. Our grantmaker survey was more than double that length, asking about impacts and outcomes, relationship building, the future of philanthropy, and more.

As we create worthy resources from the information our community provided, we’ll will most certainly share them with the field. Here is a sample of grantseekers’ responses to this question:

What do you wish grantmakers knew?

“That we want to be in touch with them and develop relationships, but often don’t have the time. I wish they would initiate more follow up and relationship development. Ask how we are doing with their money.”

“I wish they knew us personally. As a service organization, it is hard to grasp the value of our services without actually experiencing them or talking to people who have experienced them.”

“Please please please have a phone number or email where we can ask questions.”

Read the full article about what your grantees wish you knew by Foundant at Exponent Philanthropy.