Not surprisingly, respondents named the economy as the top challenge -- securing adequate funding in a time of declining donations and increasing demand for services. Other challenges include the high number of nonprofits and improving organizational capacity and effectiveness.
Grant seekers value the following Foundation support:
- Most importantly, continued responsive grant funding
- In particular, unrestricted funding for general operations
- Non-monetary roles such as leveraging support from other funders and fostering nonprofit collaboration
See 2009 Grant Seeker Survey for more detailed information on the fundings.
Our Response
The Foundation will continue to focus on those qualities that grant seekers most appreciate: open and direct communications, a responsive and supportive process, and a sense of partnership as nonprofits seek to fulfill their missions.
Feedback from the survey informed the April 2009 board of directors' decision to adjust the grant program temporarily in response to the economic downturn, including:
- total annual grant payments equal to or more than those paid in 2008
- special consideration to requests for operating support
- special consideration to requests to build organizational capacity
- suspension of the consecutive year rule
See Response to Economic Recession for more information.
The Foundation reviewed each suggestion from the survey's open questions. As appropriate, some of these will be implemented in 2009, including:
- links to grantees' sites on the Foundation Web site
- communication regarding any changes to the grant program
- support for nonprofit viability assessments
