The relationship between funders and grantees goes beyond the mere exchange of financial support. It’s about fostering mutual respect, trust, and collaboration to drive meaningful change. Yet, one aspect often overlooked is the profound impact that active championing can have on the work of grantee partners.

Delving into insights gleaned from our Grantee and Applicant Perception Surveys (GAPS), it is evident that grantees and applicants want funders and foundations to step into a more proactive role in championing their organizations and endeavors.

The Benefits of Championing Grantees

Foundations have many different channels where they can elevate grantee partners and their work at relatively little additional cost. Our members highlight a number of benefits:

  • Developing Additional Funding Streams

Foundations pay attention to what their peers support. And lean foundations are known for making bets on new and creative ideas – to be first-in. The new projects, pilot initiatives, and emerging fields that lean funders support can catch the attention of larger foundations.

  • Raising Grantee Profiles 

Likewise, elected officials and other public decision-makers, journalists, and leaders in your field look to you and other foundations in your area to learn about dynamic nonprofit organizations. These leaders may be interested in learning more about your grantees, and potentially collaborating with them.

“Not many foundations focus like we do on funding civil legal services. So, we’re trying to make other potential partners aware of what we do and why we do it, to encourage people to get in touch with us with field-specific ideas, innovations, and partnerships.”

Akilah Browne of FurtherJustice in New York, NY

  • Expanding Your Network and Nurturing Collaboration 

Spotlighting your partners can be a way of identifying organizations working in your field or issue that are unknown to you. Groups that reach out to your partners and to you have the potential to become grantees, coalition members, or collaborators in other ways.

Read the full article about supporting grantees' work by Andy Carroll and Hannah Smith at Exponent Philanthropy.