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Funder-Grantee Relationships

Grade Level: 
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Keywords: 
Video
YGFGgrant
Youth Advisory Committee
Video Clip and Discussion Guide: When a foundation gives money to help a nonprofit carry out its mission or project, the funder and grantee are helping each other make a difference for something they both care about. A healthy funder-grantee relationship is a partnership. Both need the other to do good.

Anticipatory Set

Do you have a great idea to make something better? Is money the only thing holding you back? If you write a grant proposal and get funding, you become a grantee. From the other perspective, a foundation looks for greatness in ideas in their interest area and provides funding to make good things happen. What do you think makes the funder-grantee relationship work? This video gives some ideas.

Video

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think it is important for the funder to know its grantee well, even what their office looks like and all the people working there? What might a funder learn in a site visit?
  2. Why is it important for a funder and grantee to trust one another? What are some ways they gain trust? 
  3. What does "do nothing for me without me" mean related to mutual trust and addressing needs? 
  4. What power-dynamics exist between a funder and grantee, and what are some ways for power to be balanced?
  5. Operating support is funding to cover expenses of the nonprofit, such as salaries and rent. How does covering operating expenses build trust? 
  6. Describe what multi-year funding does for both members of the funder-grantee relationship.

Follow-Up Activity

  • Give an example of a great idea for solving a problem that needs money to help it be successful. In what way does the foundation help a grantee demonstrate greatness? Why does a funder need a grantee in order to be successful? 
  • Plan to make some nonprofit site visits in your area of interest. Do some research to learn about the nonprofits that are addressing the needs you have identified. Make a contact and arrange a site visit. Prepare questions in advance to learn about their work and values to see how they align with your values and motivations. Be ready to share about your own values and motivations. Here is a Personal Values and Motivations activity.
  • When you are trying to make change related to an issue, it is essential to include in the problem-solving the people who are most impacted by the need and solutions. Who would you invite to be part of the process?
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