When funders give general operating support, also known as gen op grants, they help sustain a nonprofit’s mission, rather than specific programs or projects. Grantees can use these funds to strengthen the organization, or further its charitable purpose as they see fit. This might mean salaries and overhead, investing in technology, furthering fundraising efforts, or something else.

Philanthropists working with few or no staff are uniquely positioned to offer this type of support. This is because they tend to be very familiar with the communities where they fund and they often have deep relationships with nonprofit leaders.

Gen op grants are valuable for many reasons as they:

  • Allow grantee organizations to focus on fulfilling their missions and building infrastructure, rather than on tackling peripheral projects and additional fundraising
  • Serve as a vote of confidence for nonprofit leaders, helping to decrease burnout
  • Lessen the inherent power imbalance between grantor and grantee, and shifts the conversation toward the outcomes of the grant and overall impact of the organization

Read the full article about general operating support at Exponent Philanthropy.