Funders/donors and grantmakers are well-known for their ability to critically evaluate development organisations and intermediaries. This due diligence forms an important part of the funding cycle. The main reasons for conducting these critical assessments are to ensure that the organisation: Is credible and a registered entity. Complies with specific governance issues such as board oversight and local legislation. Has the …
Spending money is easy. Spending limited resources effectively and efficiently is extraordinarily difficult. Doing so in ways that please everyone is impossible as long as demand for money exceeds supply. Grantmakers are subject to a range of contradictory demands. For example, they are expected: To innovate – but not to risk failure. To make sure that funding decisions are sound …
Generally, grantmakers pay considerable attention to what they fund (grantmaking strategy and impact) and who they fund (the grantees, organisations and intermediaries they support). But what about the management practice of funding? In our experience, grantmakers should pay equal attention to how grants are made and managed, evaluating and continually improving the practices used to make grants. Practices matter. Grantmaking …
Failing at grantmaking? Low impact and low return: Funders and grantmakers should be concernedAfter conducting numerous impact assessments for some of South Africa’s largest donors and grantmakers, Next Generation Consultants came up with a list of contributing factors to low impact and low return aspects. In our search to build an industry body of knowledge, we would like to share …