By Laura Hennighausen
There are a lot of disconnects in modern philanthropy, but one of the most obvious and perhaps easiest to address is the lack of connection between grants professionals and funders.
The consequences of this disconnect are stark: humanity appears to have vacated the philanthropic arena, reducing constituents to mere demographic statistics and impact to sterile infographics. Grant professionals often find themselves disengaged in virtual meeting rooms, their cameras and microphones turned off as they multitask, while funders remain enigmatic figures, akin to the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain, pulling levers that the rest of us can’t see, let alone understand.
So much of grant professionals’ time is spent navigating unwritten rules of engagement such as if an organization accepts a letter of interest (LOI) or if you have to be invited. Do you have to have a relationship with a trustee? If you call them, are they going to be annoyed? Meanwhile funders are hesitant to attend meetings and events where they know they’ll encounter prospective grantees lest they be asked for their support and have to decline in the moment.
Trust lies at the heart of Trust-Based Philanthropy, as the name implies. To foster trust, however, we must first establish familiarity. There is a pressing need for more spaces where funders and grant professionals can interact on a human level.
Here are some ways to dismantle these invisible barriers:
- Foster Conversations:
The first step is as simple as picking a time and place. Meetings should serve a dual purpose: addressing a specific topic, issue, or theme while also facilitating personal connections. For instance, the Georgia Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association hosts a weekly virtual roundtable discussion that brings funders and grant professionals together. Another group facilitates large town halls and funder briefings where 80+ representatives have gathered in person to dig into data around a certain topic.
- Establish Trust Agreements
Begin meetings with a reminder of the purpose: “This is a no-solicitation space. We are here today as individuals, pooling our lived and learned expertise to discuss issues affecting our sector and constituents.” Such a statement, delivered by a facilitator, clarifies attendees’ roles within the larger ecosystem and assuages funders’ concerns about being overwhelmed by solicitations. Consider drafting a comprehensive trust agreement document to formalize shared expectations and values.
- Choose Timely Topics:
Select themes or topics relevant to the community. At the Georgia Chapter’s roundtables, success has been found in predetermining timely topics, such as “The Implications of AI in Granting,” and providing optional pre-reading materials like articles or podcasts. During the meeting, a facilitator poses questions related to the topic, sparking organic discussions. It need not be overly formal; think of it as a book club where reading the book isn’t mandatory.
- Maintain Consistency:
Many initiatives aimed at rallying funders and nonprofits around specific issues falter due to inconsistency. The Georgia Chapter Task Force has been meeting just about once a month for more than two years at this point. While attendance fluctuates, the conversations have grown more robust as participants become more acquainted with the group’s purpose and trust agreement. Continuity fosters familiarity and trust.
These are just the first steps toward building trusting relationships, and they are simple. By fostering genuine connections and nurturing open dialogue, we pave the way for a more empathetic and collaborative approach to philanthropy. It’s time we get back to the humanity of our work.
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Laura Hennighausen is director of strategic philanthropy at Purpose Possible in Atlanta. Her email is [email protected]
