Nonprofit Adviser

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Historically, most foundations haven’t made it easy for charities to land a grant. Many force nonprofits to complete onerous applications or keep details about the work they’ve supported private, making it almost impossible for grant seekers to learn which issues interest them.

Yet during the pandemic, many grant makers eased application and reporting requirements. Now many people wonder whether any of these new approaches will become permanent.

In a recent article, two former grant makers urge foundation decision makers to keep up the good work and become more empathetic.

“We believe every person working at a foundation has the power to bring greater respect, empathy, and equity into grant making, whatever their role,” write co-authors Gemma Bull and Tom Steinberg, who recently published the book Modern Grantmaking.

The authors draw from their book and urge foundations to improve communication, information sharing, and applications processes to advance equity and change lives.

To learn more about their vision of a “humble modern grant maker,” read Grant Makers, Here Are 4 Ways to Demonstrate Respect and Empathy to Grantees, and for more insights into what lies ahead for grant making, read Big Shifts for Philanthropy: What’s Coming in the Decade Ahead.

Regards,
Maria Di Mento
Senior Reporter

Tip of the Week

If you plan to bring employees back to the office, set and communicate your expectations. Determine what kind of flexibility your organization will allow and where it will draw the line, says Lisa Wright Ponce, senior consultant at Nonprofit HR. For example, if you expect people to return by a certain date, say that and explain what options exist for those who aren’t comfortable with that.

If your group does not plan to allow remote work and an employee doesn’t want to come back, she says, you could say you’ll accommodate that individual until a specific date, after which he or she would need to return or leave. Find more tips in What to Consider — and What to Avoid — When Reopening Your Nonprofit Office.

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New Grant Opportunities

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Family Planning. The Department of Health and Human Services supports comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services. The program seeks to ensure access for low-income or uninsured clients, including adolescent clients. Family planning services include a broad range of medically approved services, such as FDA-approved contraceptive products and natural family planning methods for clients who want to prevent pregnancy and space births, pregnancy testing and counseling, assistance to achieve pregnancy, basic infertility services, sexually transmitted infection services (such as HIV prevention education, counseling, testing, and referral), and other preconception health services. The application deadline is January 11.

Grassroots organizing. The Emergent Fund supports grassroots organizing and power building in communities of color that are facing injustice based on racial, ethnic, religious, and other forms of discrimination. The focus is on activities that help communities respond to rapidly changing conditions, including resisting new or amplified threats and building power to move a proactive agenda. Grants will also go to efforts seeking long-term social justice and economic justice in a political and social climate that seeks to dismantle such efforts. Grassroots organizations may submit requests throughout the year.