In the current world climate, where communities are facing urgent needs, rapid-response grantmaking has become increasingly important. Traditional grant management processes are often complex and multi-layered, but the current pandemic has highlighted the need for quicker responses from funders. Here are some best practices for rapid-response grantmaking that can help those in need more quickly and efficiently.
- Pre-screen applicants with an eligibility quiz
Fund applications can take tremendous amounts of time to complete, and once it’s been submitted, grantees are looking at a waiting time of anything between 3 months to a year. While that might be considered standard during normal circumstances, it’s simply unacceptable during a crisis. Pre-screening applicants with an eligibility quiz can quickly determine who meets your funding requirements, saving both yourself and the grantee heaps of time, stress and headache.
- Streamline the application form
Hopefully, your grant does not require applicants to complete a paper form. If it does—get everything online, asap. And if your application form is already online, it’s time to streamline it. That means you’ll need to simplify it, shorten it and clarify it. Make sure you’re only asking the key questions. Do you really need to know grantees’ date of birth? Probably not. Ask questions that require a simple yes/no answer, and get rid of long-paragraph responses—they’re unnecessary. Create a simple form with the necessary questions and collect data in form fields, not pdfs or other attachments. You need the basic, fundamental data here to measure your impact.
- Set up automated email alerts
Setting up automated email alerts can keep grantees updated on their application status. This can help reduce anxiety and uncertainty for applicants, and ensure that they are informed as quickly as possible about the status of their application.
- Be responsive and ask applicants questions
Being responsive and asking applicants questions can help gather feedback and make necessary adjustments. This can help ensure that the grant process is as efficient and effective as possible, and that the needs of the community are being met.
- Train staff and create quick onboarding resources
Training staff and creating quick onboarding resources can ensure a smooth process. This can help ensure that staff are able to manage the rapid-response grantmaking process effectively, and that the needs of the community are being met in a timely and efficient manner.
- Use technology to automate as much of the process as possible
Using technology to automate as much of the process as possible, including using smart-form builders and digital signature tools, can help streamline the grantmaking process and make it more efficient. This can help ensure that the needs of the community are being met in a timely and effective manner.
In addition to these best practices, it’s important to remember to review and adapt these rapid-response practices once the emergency subsides. The elements of the rapid-response grant that were useful in the crisis may be useful in future crises, and should be incorporated into a more relevant process.
Rapid-response grantmaking is an important tool for meeting the urgent needs of communities around the world. By implementing these best practices, grantmakers can help those in need more quickly and efficiently, and ensure that their grantmaking process is as effective and efficient as possible.
