How to Make the Most of a Grant Maker’s Visit

Getting out from behind the desk can be invaluable for grant makers.

In the latest installment of a series of videos produced by Exponent Philanthropy, foundation staff — and some grantees — speak about the value of site visits to grantees or potential grantees.

While many visits to nonprofits end up being structured “dog and pony shows,” as several grant makers refer to them, these formats don’t always provide a full picture of the organization.

Mary Sobecki, associate director of the Needmor Fund, suggests scheduling visits when the organization will be fully in action. “It’s not just about meeting with the staff or meeting with the board members.”

Bernadette Glenn, executive director of the WHH Foundation, describes an informal and memorable “site visit” where she happened to walk past a property belonging to one of her grantees and briefly observed activities taking place outside.

“I thought, that’s the most perfect site visit because nobody knows I’m here,” she says.

Hear tips, stories, and advice about how to create authentic learning experiences for visiting grant makers from Ms. Sobecki, Ms. Glenn, and others in the video below.

This is the final installment in a monthly video series in partnership with Exponent Philanthropy, previously known as the Association of Small Foundations. You can also see this video on the Philanthropy Lessons website.